Category Archives: Theater in Chicago
Songs From An Unmade Bed in Chicago
Pride Films and Plays continues its 2013-14 season with Songs from an Unmade Bed, a theatrical song cycle with lyrics by Mark Campbell. Directed by PFP Artistic Associate Derek Van Barham with music direction by ensemble member Robert Ollis.
The production will run March 27-April 27 at The Apollo Theater Studio, 2540 N Lincoln Ave. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.
Songs from an Unmade Bed explores the experiences (romantic, sexual and otherwise) of gay men living in the city. Lyricist Mark Campbell worked with eighteen composers (one per song) to create a unique musical revue, accompanied by piano and cello, with gorgeous songs that range from funny, poignant, melancholy and ultimately hopeful about life and love. Songs from an Unmade Bed has previously been presented in New York City (Off-Broadway), Los Angeles and elsewhere; this will be its premiere professional production in Chicago.
“There’s something so beautiful about the simplicity of this show,” said director Barham. “Having one lyricist work with 18 different composers is ingenious. What emerges is a very personal, articulate voice. Each composer finds a different color and nuance of the character. The lyrics are so universal, and the music is just a delight. We’re lucky to be working in such an intimate space at The Apollo, so that we can allow the audience to feel up close and personal with the performers. The evening should have the feel of being invited over by a few handsome, young gentlemen on a cold winter’s night. Who doesn’t love that?”
Location: The Apollo Theater Studio, 2540 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago
Previews: Thursday and Friday, March 27 and 28 at 7:30pm
Press performance/opening: Saturday, March 29 at 7:30pm
Regular run: Thursday through Sunday, March 30 through April 27, 2014
Curtain Times: Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays, and Sundays at at 7:30 pm
Tickets: Previews $15. Opening $30. Regular Run: Thursdays $25; Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays $30. Students and seniors: $5 off all performances. Industry: $10 during previews. Tickets are at Ticketmaster. Or by calling the Apollo Theater at 773 935 6100.
We 3 Liza’s – A New Holiday Classic
Even if you don’t like Liza (with a Z!) You will LOVE WE 3 LIZA’S!
Ticklebottom’s life has hit a block. Once, Conrad and his purple box
ignited an entire movement in art and design, but now he finds himself
alone, forgotten and teetering on ruin.
A WICKED Night Before Christmas December 8th
Members of the National Touring Company of WICKED will host “THE WICKED NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,” a staged holiday performance at The Laugh Factory Sunday, December 8, at 8:00pm.
“A WICKED NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS” is part of an ongoing series of performances and appearances by the touring company to support charitable causes which advance WICKED’s theme of acceptance and illuminate the musical’s message that people should not be judged on first impressions. The company believes that in these divisive times we must come together to support those in need throughout the country and around the world. In its eight years on the road, the company has raised over $2.5 million in donations for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and local AIDS service organizations all over the country.
A throwback to the holiday variety shows of yesteryear, the WICKED company comes together to celebrate the joy of the holidays. Haul out the holly, spin the dreidel, harvest the fruit and celebrate the season in a way that only WICKED can. Company members making special appearances in the event include: Alison Luff (Elphaba), Jenn Gambatese (Glinda), Curt Hansen (Fiyero), as well as TV’s Kim Zimmer (Madame Morrible) and John Davidson (Wizard). The production also includes members of the ensemble, band, and touring staff. A WICKED NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS proves to be a once in a lifetime evening of magic and fun.
General Admission to “A WICKED NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS” is a $60 donation (includes 2 drinks). A limited number of VIP tickets are available for a $125 donation and include priority seating as well as a 6:30pm pre-show reception with members of the company. All proceeds from the evening benefit BC/EFA and Chicago House and admission donations are tax deductible. Tickets are available online at www.chicagohouse.org or by phone (773) 248-5200 ext 303. The evening is intended for mature audiences. Must be 16 or older to attend; 21 or older to purchase alcoholic beverages.
In addition to the performance, there will be live and silent auctions including several opportunities to join the company backstage at the Oriental Theatre, and a chance to bid on a walk-on role in a performance of WICKED. WICKED, Broadway’s biggest blockbuster is playing through December 21 at the Oriental Theatre. Tickets for WICKED at the Oriental Theatre start at $40.
Candi Cayne Midnight Cabaret at Taverna 750 November 9th
Join Taverna 750 and Nolet’s Gin on November 9th for a Midnight Cabaret Show with Candis Cayne benefiting the Gibbs Family Foundation.
Candis Cayne is one of the United States’ most popular and sought-after
transgender actresses being seen in shows like Dirty Sexy Money,
Nip/tuck, and Million Dollar Listing.. Candis first made a name for
herself at the famed NYC gay hot-spot “Boy Bar”, where her performances
drew rave reviews. A classically trained dancer, Candis has thrilled
audiences from coast-to-coast with her amazing gift for dance, choreography and glamour.
With Specials Guest Traver Rains, famed fashion designer, co-creator of the haute couture line Heatherette, and current owner of the T-Rains fashion line.
The Gibbs Family Foundation promotes healthy living and prevention
strategies for complex illnesses and rare diseases. The Gibbs Family
Foundation provides funding opportunities to organizations committed to
promoting health awareness, lifestyle modifications, and prevention
programs to improve health.
$10 Cover at the Door or reserve a private bottle service table with Timothy Rocklewitz at tim@taverna750.com for details.
The Normal Heart – 2 Nights for Charity
Larry Kramer’s The
Normal Heart returns to Chicago for the first time since its Tony
Award-winning Broadway revival in 2011.
This fall, TimeLine Theatre Company will breathe
new life into one of the strongest historical dramas of the 20th
Century.
For younger audiences who never knew the dark,
deadly days of the early epidemic, the play relives the fear and panic of the
early 1980s in urban America. To expose young viewers to this era—and the
grassroots activism it galvanize—seemed to me its greatest virtue.
But of course The
Normal Heart is so much more.
TimeLine Theatre Company graciously provided me a
behind-the-scenes viewing of The Normal
Heart, directed by Nick Bowling. I was moved to tears.
Yes, the drama chronicles the dawning of AIDS
activism in the wake of unconscionable political and institutional neglect.
Fueled by judgmental and homophobic disregard, the early crisis gained strength
in the absence of a robust government response. Yet a humanistic virtue will
always be at the heart of this drama.
Timeless and poignant, the play’s call to action
is as relevant now as it was when play debuted in 1985.
Ned Weeks, played by David Cromer, is a
confrontational activist in New York, fighting to bring attention to a disease plaguing
gay men. He organizes likeminded individuals and creates a grassroots movement
that struggles to gain steam in a culture that would rather turn a blind eye.
That’s not merely a glimpse at where we were. It’s
a commentary of where we are today.
Modern medicine has given many affected individuals
opportunities to survive and thrive with HIV, where once they faced certain
death. Yet the stigma associated with HIV continues to result in delayed or
deferred care for hundreds of thousands of Americans with HIV.
The AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) estimates
that more than 35,000 people are living with HIV in the Chicago metropolitan area;
however, less than half enjoy access to care. Half. That means that less than 50 percent of this population is
living with a life-threatening disease. Without interventions, they will remain
at risk of serious health decline. What’s more, studies indicate that more than
6,000 individuals in metropolitan Chicago don’t even know that they are HIV-infected.
This group is at high risk for other serious medical conditions and may
inadvertently be exposing others to HIV.
The Normal
Heart confronts these disparities and it does so with gifted acting and
storytelling.
Every character is deeply complex. Even in rehearsals,
the acting was so crisp and powerful that I looked beyond the lack of costumes,
beyond the missing props, beyond the bare stage, and I returned to the early
‘80s. I stood with Ned who knelt by his partner’s bed in the hospital room. I sat
in the grassroots campaign office, as the fledgling organization struggled to
get the government’s attention. I was
there because the characters became real to me.
Yes, I encourage young people to see The Normal Heart for historical reasons.
But more than that, this drama is about our time. It’s about spurring people
into action whether they’re gay or straight, government officials or private
citizens. Everybody has a role to play in ending this epidemic, and we can only
end it if we work together.
AFC isselling tickets to The Normal Heart
for two nights: Saturday, November 2 and Sunday, December 1, which is World AIDS Day. Proceeds benefit
AFC—but only on these dates and only if you reserve your seat through AFC.
We 3 Lizas Returns this Holiday Season
About Face Theatre’s sparkly, queer holiday hit musical WE THREE LIZAS is back and better than ever – with a new book and expanded score!
WE THREE LIZAS will feature many of the original cast members including Scott Duff*, John Francisco*, Sharriese Hamilton, Danielle Plisz (Jeff Award-nominated), Dana Tretta and Andrew Swan in addition to newcomers Mark David Kaplan, James Nedrud and Bethany Thomas. Musicians include Aaron Benham (piano/conductor), Jed Feder (drums) and Debra Johnson (bass). *Denotes AFT Artistic Associates.
Box
maker Conrad Ticklebottom’s life has hit a block. Once, Conrad and his
purple box ignited an entire movement in art and design, but now he
finds himself alone, forgotten and teetering on ruin. The holidays bring
three magical figures to his door – a trio of Liza Minnellis to escort
him on a fabulous journey through what-was, what-could-be and
what-the-f*?!, redeeming his lost promise and re-inventing a brand-new
Conrad Ticklebottom. It’s a quirky holiday musical tale of hope,
transformation… and the power of Liza!
“Liza’s
back and she’s better than ever! After having played to sold-out
audiences in 2012 at the Steppenwolf Garage and in concert at Joe’s Pub
in New York this summer, I’m thrilled to bring back this hilarious and
moving holiday musical,” comments About Face Artistic Director Andrew
Volkoff. “In this year of development at About Face, we are proud to
support the continued growth of this project and the artists who’ve
created it. Artistic Associate Scott Bradley and composer Alan
Schmuckler have developed a sensational new book and score and we’re
delighted to share it with Chicago audiences. If you missed it last
year, get your tickets now: it’s bound to sell out again this year! And
if you saw it last year, you’ve got to see this fantastic new version
and make We Three Lizas your new holiday tradition!” adds Volkoff.
The production team for WE THREE LIZAS includes: Jerre Dye (set design), Mieka van der Ploeg and Robert S. Kuhn (costume design), Mac Vaughey (lighting design), Josh Horvath (sound design), Eleanor Kahn (properties design), Davis McCarty (projections design) and Helen Lattyak (stage manager).
WE THREE LIZAS
Book and Lyrics: AFT Artistic Associate Scott Bradley
Music and Additional Lyrics: Alan Schmuckler
Director: AFT Artistic Associate Scott Ferguson
Musical Director: Aaron Benham
Choreography: AFT Artistic Associate Patrick Andrews
Featuring: Featuring AFT Artistic Associates Scott Duff and John Francisco with Sharriese Hamilton, Mark David Kaplan, James Nedrud, Danielle Plisz, Bethany Thomas, Dana Tretta and Andrew Swan.
Musicians: Aaron Benham (piano/conductor), Jed Feder (drums) and Debra Johnson (bass).
Dates: Previews: Wednesday, November 27 at 7:30 pm, Friday, November 29 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, November 30 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, December 1 at 3 pm
Regular run: Friday, December 6th, 2013 – Sunday, January 5, 2014
Curtain Times: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 3 pm & 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm
Tickets: Previews: $20 adults/$10 students. Regular run: $45 adults/$20 students. Group discounts available. Tickets are available online at www.aboutfacetheatre.com
Women for Women Event December 7th with Sandra Bernhard
Save the date for the next By Women For Women event on December 7th with Sandra Bernhard at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago,
as she arrives on stage with her band to perform a thrilling concert of
stand-up comedy and rock ‘n roll cabaret!
When Sandra Bernhard steps onstage, it’s a thrilling hybrid of
stand-up comedy and rock ’n’ roll—she performs with her four-man band
and “musicality to die for … a voice that swoops from the bluesey
basement to a top-floor falsetto and a campy soulfulness” (LA Times). Her take-no-prisoners shows are a raucous mix of political satire, pop culture commentary, and glamorous cabaret.
Bernhard arrives at MCA Stage with Everything Bad and Beautiful,
a work she originated in New York but has never before toured, in a
performance that careens through the worlds of fashion, celebrity, rock,
and religion.
Recommended for mature audiences
To reserve your tickets, call 773-661-0957.
The Holiday Smash hit WE THREE LIZA’S Is Coming Back!!
About Face Theatre’s sparkly, queer holiday hit musical WE THREE LIZAS is back and better than ever – with a new book and expanded score!
Featuring book and lyrics by Scott Bradley*, music and additional lyrics by Alan Schmuckler, direction by Scott Ferguson*, music direction by Aaron Benham and choreography by Patrick Andrews*, WE THREE LIZAS will play November 27, 2013 – January 5, 2014 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago.
Tickets will go on sale Friday, October 11 at will be available online at www.aboutfacetheatre.com
WE THREE LIZAS will feature many of the original cast members including Scott Duff*, John Francisco*, Sharriese Hamilton, Danielle Plisz (Jeff Award-nominated), Dana Tretta and Andrew Swan in addition to newcomers Mark David Kaplan, James Nedrud and Bethany Thomas. Musicians include Aaron Benham (piano/conductor), Jed Feder (drums) and Debra Johnson (bass). *Denotes AFT Artistic Associates.
Box maker Conrad Ticklebottom’s life has hit a block. Once, Conrad and his purple box ignited an entire movement in art and design, but now he finds himself alone, forgotten and teetering on ruin. The holidays bring three magical figures to his door – a trio of Liza Minnellis to escort him on a fabulous journey through what-was, what-could-be and what-the-f*?!, redeeming his lost promise and re-inventing a brand-new Conrad Ticklebottom. It’s a quirky holiday musical tale of hope, transformation… and the power of Liza!
“Liza’s back and she’s better than ever! After having played to sold-out audiences in 2012 at the Steppenwolf Garage and in concert at Joe’s Pub in New York this summer, I’m thrilled to bring back this hilarious and moving holiday musical,” comments About Face Artistic Director Andrew Volkoff. “In this year of development at About Face, we are proud to support the continued growth of this project and the artists who’ve created it. Artistic Associate Scott Bradley and composer Alan Schmuckler have developed a sensational new book and score and we’re delighted to share it with Chicago audiences. If you missed it last year, get your tickets now: it’s bound to sell out again this year!
And if you saw it last year, you’ve got to see this fantastic new version and make We Three Lizas your new holiday tradition!” adds Volkoff.
Location: Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago
Dates: Previews: Wednesday, November 27 at 7:30 pm, Friday, November 29 at 7:30 pm, Saturday, November 30 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, December 1 at 3 pm
Regular run: Friday, December 6th, 2013 – Sunday, January 5, 2014
Curtain Times: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 3 pm & 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm
Tickets: Previews: $20 adults/$10 students. Regular run: $45 adults/$20 students. Group discounts available. Tickets will go on sale Friday, October 11 and will be available online at www.aboutfacetheatre.com
Olympia Dukakis in ROSE November 16th
ROSE, by Martin Sherman, a one-woman play, is a portrait
of a feisty Jewish woman who has
survived some of the major events that shaped the 20th century with humor, guile, and
spirit. The play illustrates a remarkable life that began in a tiny Russian village, moved on
to Warsaw’s ghettos and ship called The Exodus, and
finally to the boardwalks of
Atlantic City, the Arizona Canyons and salsa-flavored nights in Miami Beach.
Dukakis first
performed ROSE in 1999 on stage at the Royal National Theatre in London and then in spring
2000 opened at the Lyceum Theatre on Broadway.
Recent praise for
ROSE “The
wonderful acting of Olympia Dukakis, herself a fighter for justice, an actress
with a forty-year
history of stage activity, as a university lecturer, the founder and director
of a New Jersey
theatre, in her classic roles, and especially in her total immersion into the
skin of a Holocaust
survivor as a symbol of the Jewish people and its suffering, make this play something so
sublime that the Cameri Theatre is deserving of applause for the third year of its cultural
enterprise (the International Theatre Festival).” – News1 Tel Aviv
4/18/2012
Long a vital,
respected actor of the classic and contemporary stage and the epitome of Mediterranean-styled
weariness, this grand lady did not become a household name and sought-after film
actress until age 56 when she turned in an Oscar-winning performance as Cher’s sardonic
mother in the romantic comedy Moonstruck (1987).
Since then movie (and TV) fans have
discovered — an acting treasure. Her adaptability to various ethnicities
(Greek, Italian, Jewish,
Eastern European, etc.), as well her chameleon-like versatility in everything from cutting edge
comedy to stark tragedy, has kept her in high demand for the past 30 years as of one
of Hollywood’s topnotch character players.
Olympia Dukakis
Starring in “Rose,” a concert reading by Martin Sherman
Saturday, Nov. 16 7:30 p.m.
Dorothy Menker Theater @ Moraine Valley Community College
9000 W. College Pkwy. Palos Hills, IL 60465-2478
Buy
Tickets
***Dinner and a Show: Enjoy 25% off your total bill at Cíao Ristorante (10296 S. 78th Avenue, Palos Hills) before or after any Mainstage Series performance by showing your tickets.
Reservations are required by calling Cíao at (708) 237-2426. Some restrictions apply.
Pride Film and Plays’ DIRECTIONS FOR RESTORING THE APPARENTLY DEAD
Pride
Films and Plays is pleased to launch its 2013-14 Season with the world
premiere of Martin Casella’s drama DIRECTIONS FOR RESTORING THE
APPARENTLY DEAD directed by David Zak.
the production will play October 4 – November 10, 2013 at Stage 773’s
thrust stage, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Tickets are available at www.stage773.com, in person at the Stage
773 Box Office or by calling (773) 327-5252.
year’s Great Gay Play Contest, won 2013 Non-Equity Jeff Awards for Best New
Work and Best Musical Production. It was FANTASTIC!)
THE APPARENTLY DEAD features PFP Ensemble Members Patrick Rybarczyk and Nicholas
Stockwell with Alanda Coon and Patrick Gannon.
In DIRECTIONS FOR
RESTORING THE APPARENTLY DEAD,
long-time friends take a vacation in England’s Lake Country after life-changing
events. As past and present overlap and intersect, they examine the origins of
their relationship and the limits of it. The play explores marriages and
relationships, gender and sexuality, and the time-tested bonds of friendship.
Regular
run: Thursday, October 10 – Sunday,
November 10, 2013
Curtain
Times: Thursday, Fridays and Saturdays
at 7:30 pm; Sundays at 3 pm
Tickets:
Previews: $20. Opening $30 (includes reception).
Regular Run: Thursdays $25 (all seats), Friday, Saturdays and Sundays $30
(center section) and $25 (side sections). Students and seniors: $5 off all
performances. Industry: $10 during previews.
Tickets
are available at www.stage773.com, in
person at the Stage 773 Box Office or by calling (773) 327-5252.
REDMOON Announces New INDOORS 2013-14 Series
Chicago’s acclaimed Spectacle-driven theater Redmoon
announces its 2013-14 series of indoor events and performances, known
as “Redmoon INDOORS,” its first season inside its mammoth new warehouse
headquarters in Chicago’s diverse Pilsen neighborhood at 2120 S.
Jefferson Street. Under the direction of Producing Artistic Director Frank Maugeri with Executive Artistic Director Jim Lasko and Managing Director Sophia Wong Boccio, the new “Redmoon INDOORS” begins November 1, 2013 and runs through April, 2014.
Redmoon’s
new home is a massive, multi-purpose performance space, open access
build shop and Chicago’s new hub for the production and presentation of
Spectacle art – interactive, imagistic and immersive experiences.
“Redmoon INDOORS” includes six large-scale ticketed events and
productions, with revenue directly funding Redmoon’s core civic mission:
to present powerful summer Night Out in the Parks, community celebrations throughout the City of Chicago, all for free and all outdoors.
“The
‘Redmoon INDOORS’ Spectacle Series amplifies the best of our work,”
said Maugeri. “This includes family-friendly events geared toward
children and their parents, 21-and-over happenings that Chicagoans look
forward to each year, and the professional Spectacle productions that
have earned Redmoon critical acclaim and a national presence.
Importantly, the ‘INDOORS’ series makes our ambitious free outdoor
events like Night Out in the Parks possible.”
2013-14 “Redmoon INDOORS” Spectacle Series
Boneshaker
Friday, November 1, 2013
Time: 9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Redmoon kicks off the Spectacle Series on All Saints Day (a.k.a. the Day of the Dead) with its 3rd annual Boneshaker
celebration, a night of costumed fun that combines interactive
site-specific design and unique contraptions with hours of unexpected
entertainment. Among the many offerings of this festive, immersive
world of Spectacle are large-scale projections, a chance to be in a live-feed movie, several mobile DJ contraptions, a Redmoon signature “wow” piece the Fire Organ and performance by punk marching band Mucca Pazza.
Tickets: $75
Includes food and drinks throughout the evening
21 and over
Skelebration (NEW)
Saturday and Sunday, November 2-3, 2013
Times: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
On the Saturday and Sunday following Boneshaker, Redmoon presents Skelebration,
a new family-friendly event for parents and children to celebrate the
fall season and adventure together in the exploratory Spectacle
playground of Redmoon’s transformed space. For two hours, families can
perform in
gigantic shadow shows, build masks, experience DJs on mobile
contraptions and play in Redmoon’s indoor park of swings and
roller-skating.
Families will find a way to explore, discover and connect with their
community through a diverse, multi-media experience celebrating the
ritual of Halloween in a new, alternative way.
Tickets: Adults $20, Kids $12, Kids under 3 FREE
Includes 2-hour entrance, food and activities
Winter Pageant
Directed by John Musial with Frank Maugeri
*Press Preview: Tuesday, December 10, 7 p.m.
Dec 13 – 15, Dec 20 – 22, 2013
Times: Fridays – 7 p.m.
Saturdays – 4 p.m. & 7 p.m.
Sundays – 1:30 p.m. & 4 p.m.
In December, the 15th Annual Winter Pageant features collaborators Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts and punk rock surf band San Andreas Fault. The approximately 50-minute-long production is directed by John Musial with Frank Maugeri. The 2013 Winter Pageant
presents a new original myth inspired by the poem “The Conference of
the Birds” by Farid ud-Din Atta and tells the story of a flock of birds
who journey to find their lost king. The
production evokes themes of hope and community. Audiences at this
nontraditional family production can expect Redmoon’s intricate
mechanics, inventive puppetry, expressive dance and unique style of
visual wonder.
On the Saturdays leading up to Winter Pageant, November 9 – December 7,
Redmoon will open its doors for Open Access Builds, where community
members of all ages can help Redmoon artists create art and objects for
the Winter Pageant production.
Tickets: Adults $25, Kids $15, Kids under 3 FREE
Revolution (NEW)
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Time: 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.
To ring in the New Year, Redmoon presents the brand new Revolution.
This one-night-only event is an evening of ritual and elegance that
includes Redmoon’s daring and unexpected interpretation of all the
classic elements of a typical New Year’s Eve celebration, though with a
typical Redmoon twist as attendees are invited to make not a
“resolution” but a “revolution.” An indoor circus tent, local dessert
artisans, the 8-piece brass R&B band The O’My’s, a theme of
candlelight and bubbles and a spectacular “fire” midnight countdown make Redmoon’s Revolution the hottest new Chicago New Year’s Eve tradition.
Tickets: $100
Includes food and drinks throughout the evening
21 and over
Spectacle Lunatique
Saturday, March 15, 2014
Time: 6 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Redmoon follows Revolution with its annual Spectacle Lunatique. One of Chicago’s most anticipated galas, Lunatique includes
a decadent night of inspired performance, some of Chicago’s best food
and drinks and an exciting announcement of Redmoon’s upcoming summer
events.
Tickets: Call 312-850-8440 x100 for ticket packages and rates.
Spring Spectacle
Created by Jim Lasko and Directed by Blake Montgomery
*April Fool’s Preview Night: April 1, 2014, 8 p.m.
Weekends from April 4 – April 20
Times: Fridays – 8 p.m.
Saturdays and Sundays – 2 p.m. & 8 p.m.
Tickets: Adults $25, Kids $15, Kids under 3 FREE
Redmoon
concludes its “Redmoon INDOORS” Spectacle Series in May with a massive
Spectacle production that captures the magnitude of Redmoon’s highly
acclaimed outdoor work, Spring Spectacle,
an ambitious production guaranteed to expand the audiences’ heart and
mind. Created by Jim Lasko and directed by Blake Montgomery, the
family-friendly Spring Spectacle will provoke audiences’ imagination with giant machines, larger-than-life visuals and original music.
All
productions and events are performed at Redmoon’s new home, located at
2120 S. Jefferson Street. Ample free parking is available in both the
adjacent parking lot and on the street.
Programming details and scheduling are subject to change.
Tickets
Tickets to the new “Redmoon INDOORS” are available now by calling the Redmoon Box Office at 312-850-8440 x123 or online at www.redmoon.org.
About Redmoon
Redmoon‘s
mission is to transform the experience of our city through free large
scale theatrical events that promote community, creativity and an
empowered democracy. Redmoon burst into Chicago’s cultural consciousness with its award-winning production of Moby Dick
in 1995. Commended for its unique aesthetic, the production boasted a
unique blend of puppetry, pageantry, gadgetry and robust physical
performance that became Redmoon’s signature. While the indoor
productions continued to receive critical acclaim and popular support,
Jim Lasko chose to focus the theater’s energy outdoors, where Redmoon
sought to deploy spectacle to bridge difference and transform the ways
that people see and understand public spaces. Over the past 23 years,
Redmoon has become a valued Chicago institution with its high-profile
collaborations, vibrant outdoor performances and genuine community
partnerships. Site-specific performances opened in Millennium Park,
animated the façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art and commemorated
the groundbreaking for the Modern Wing for the Art Institute. At the
same time, Redmoon brought its work to the parks and streets of
Chicago’s neighborhoods. Redmoon has performed for more than 250,000
people in 30 different neighborhoods. More details at REDMOON.org
VISITING CHICAGO?
Stay at one of these hotels in the heart of BOYSTOWN!
MOMIX is back in the Chicago Area September 28th
MOMIX is a company of dancer-illusionists based in Washington, Connecticut, founded in 1981 by Moses Pendleton, with a worldwide audience base. Momix is unusual among contemporary dance companies for being a for-profit organization.
Saturday, Sept. 28 7:30 p.m.
Dorothy Menker Theater @ Moraine Valley Community College
9000 W. College Pkwy., Palos Hills, IL 60465.
GET TICKETS!
GULP! Improv After Hours Extended Again at Stage 773
GULP! Productions diversifies its weekly show, “Improv After Hours”
with themed performances.
“Improv After Hours” features
performances by GULP!’s original core team and guest troupes flaunting a
variety of telent ranging from Musical Improvisation and Sketch Comedy
to Clowing and Puppetry.
Every Thursday at 10pm, in our cabaret room.
Jacob Welch
Thomas Einstein
Amber Linde
Marie Maloney
Coached by Tiffany Swalley
Coco Peru Comes to Center on Halsted September 20-21
Award-winning
comedy/cabaret performance artist, storyteller and monologist, Miss
Coco Peru, aka Clinton Leupp, got his/her start as a downtown favorite
in the cabaret world of New York after he wrote, produced, directed, and
starred in his first show “Miss Coco Peru in My Goddamn Cabaret” 20
years ago.
on TV and in theater and movies. On screen, Miss Coco is best known for
her roles in Jim Fall’s Fineline feature film, trick (Sundance 1999) and
Richard Day’s IFC feature length comedy Girls Will Be Girls.
September 20 and September 21 | 6 PM
Center on Halsted, Hoover Leppen Theatre
Includes Seated Dinner and Open Bar
VIP: $250 | General Admission: $150
Womens Work Weekend September 13-15, 2013
Women’s Work Weekend runs September 13 to 15, 2013, at Center on Halsted’s Hoover-Leppen Theatre. Find the schedule and information on the readings HERE.
sreenplays and stage plays written by women with lesbian characters or
themes.
The
program is open to all women, regardless of sexual orientation, whose
writing is pertinent to the lesbian community and relevant to the world.
While gay scripts have had a steady production history – from Oscar Wilde to Tennessee Williams, Tony Kushner, and today’s brashest writers – lesbian scripts have a checkered history at best.
Your support of our Women’s Work Weekend provides performance fees for artists, marketing for the festival, and enables writers from around the country to work with our Artistic Ensemble Members on these scripts, which are so full of potential.
Women’s Work Weekend runs September 13 to 15, 2013, at Center on Halsted’s Hoover-Leppen Theatre. Find the schedule and information on the readingsHERE.
In the Heights Comes To Paramount Theatre September 11 – October 6
Nominated in
2008 for 13 Tony Awards, taking home four including Best Musical, Best Score,
Best Choreography and Best Orchestration, In the Heights is an
exuberant contemporary musical that follows three days in the lives of
residents living in New York’s largely Hispanic Washington Heights
neighborhood.
Aurora’s Paramount Theatre will launch its third Broadway subscription
series this September with the first local professional staging of In the
Heights, one of Broadway’s most acclaimed contemporary musicals, a
potent reminder of the importance of chasing one’s dreams, and the show all of
Chicago will be talking about this fall. Performances are September 11 through
October 6, 2013.
For as little as $73.80, subscribers can purchase In
the Heights and see three more Tony Award-winning best musicals at the
Paramount in 2013-14 – Miss Saigon (directed by Jim Corti, October 30-November 24, 2013), 42nd
Street (directed by Rachel
Rockwell, January
15-February 9, 2014)
and Rent
(directed by Jim Corti, March 12-April 6, 2014). Join the nearly 20,000 Broadway series
subscribers who have already taken advantage of Paramount’s Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows Free offer. To meet growing
demand for its “better than Broadway” productions at such affordable prices, Paramount
has already extended the run of each show from three weeks to four in 2013-14.
Single tickets to In the Heights are also
on sale for $36.90 to $49.90. For renewals, new subscriptions,
single tickets and information, go to ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or visit the Paramount box office Monday through
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 2 hours prior to evening performances.
Conceived and
featuring music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, with a book by
Pulitzer Prize- winner Quiara Alegría Hudes, In the Heights
transports audiences to a Latino enclave on 183rd Street in New York
City where family bonds are strong and neighborhood ties are equally as
binding. But change is in the air that will impact everyone. In the
Heights is a story of dreams and sacrifices, loyalties and love, all
taking place in one city block surrounded by millions. The pure energy of the
barrio pulses with the poetry of rap, soaring ballads and powerful Latin-inspired
grooves resulting in one of the most original scores to hit Broadway in years.
In a community on the brink of change, full of hopes and dreams, the biggest
struggles can be deciding which traditions you take with you and which you
leave In the Heights. Rated PG.
As always, top theater artists from Chicago and all over the
country have been tapped to reward Paramount audiences with a breathtaking production
of In
the Heights. Rachel Rockwell, named “2012 Chicagoan
of the Year in Theatre” by the Chicago Tribune, and director of Paramount’s
wildly acclaimed productions of Hair, Annie and The
Music Man, will direct. The cast
features Nick Demeris (Usnavi), Paula Scrofano (Abuela Claudia), Lillian Castillo (Carla), Keely Vasquez (Daniela), Ricardo Gutierrez (Kevin), Lucinda Johnston (Camila), Luis Herrera (Sonny), Jonathan Butler-Duplessis (Benny), Caitlainne Rose Gurreri (Vanessa), Christina Nieves (Nina) and David Baida (Piragua Guy). Ensemble
members are Kasey Alfonso, William Carlos Angulo, Mary Joe Duggan, Courtney Landwerlen, Rachel
Marie LaPorte, Eric Lewis, Terrance Martin, Tommy Rivera-Vega, Daniel
Spagnuolo and Lauren Villegas.
The set is a beauty,
a replica of the original Broadway design by Tony nominee Anna Louizos. Tom Vendafreddo (music director/conductor) will lead the
Paramount Theatre Orchestra with live, lush renditions of the play’s rich
musical score. Paramount’s In the Heights production team also
includes Katie Spelman
(choreographer), Elizabeth Flauto
(costumes), Jesse Klug (lights), Jeff Dublinske (sound), Sarah Ross (props), Dianne Morrisette (wigs), Rose Marie Packer (stage manager) and Beth Ellen Spencer (assistant stage
manager).
About The Paramount Theatre
The Paramount Theatre is the center for
performing arts, entertainment and arts education in Aurora, the second
largest city in Illinois. Named “One of Chicago’s Top 10 Attended
Theatres” by the League of Chicago Theatres, the 1,888-seat Paramount
Theatre, located in the heart of downtown Aurora at 23 E. Galena Blvd., is
nationally renowned for the quality and caliber of its presentations, superb
acoustics and historic beauty.
The Paramount Theatre opened on September 3,
1931. Designed by nationally renowned theater architects C.W. and George L.
Rapp, the theater captures a unique Venetian setting portrayed in the art deco
influence of the 1930s. The first air-conditioned building outside of Chicago,
the Paramount offered the public a variety of entertainment, including
“talking pictures,” vaudeville, concerts and circus performances for
more than 40 years.
In 1976, Aurora Civic Center Authority purchased
the Paramount and closed the theater for restoration. The $1.5 million project
restored the Paramount to its original grandeur. On April 29, 1978, the
Paramount Arts Center opened, offering a variety of theatrical, musical,
comedy, dance and family programming. In 2006, a 12,000-square-foot, two-story
Grand Gallery lobby was added, with a new, state-of-the-art box office, café
and art gallery.
The Boys from the Book of Mormon present Trans Musical ONE NIGHT ONLY for Charity
The Boys from the Book of Mormon Present Trans Musical ONE NIGHT ONLY for Charity
PAGEANT: The Musical
Book and Lyrics by Bill Russell & Frank Kelly
Music by Albert Evans & Conceived by Robert Longbottom
7:30PM, SEPT 9th
The Laugh Factory
3175 N Broadway St, Chicago
General Admission$40.00
with 2 drink minimum
V.I.P $100 -7:00PM VIP reception, PRIORITY SEATING, 2 drink minimum
This special evening in the Chicago arts benefits The Abzyme Research Foundation: raising money for the most promising HIV vaccine trial in decades.
It’s a once in a lifetime event: Off-Broadway’s most hilarious trans-musical performed ONE NIGHT ONLY by the boys from Chicago’s The Book of Mormon.
Featuring Pierce Cassedy, Donell James Foreman, Eric Giancola, Eric Jackson, Nick Laughlin, Will Lee-Williams, Richard Traub and Jessica Hudson as our MC for the evening.
These girls have it all, plus a little something extra. Cheer them on as they sing, dance and claw their way to the Glamouresse Beauty Products Company’s Miss Glamouresse 2014 tiara. You won’t be able to contain yourself and you won’t have to, audience members get to decide who gets crowned and watch the mascara run!
“Pageant” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. eTickets Available online More information on the HIV vaccine at http://www.endhiv.com
Kill Your Boyfriends, Part of National Pastime’s Naked July Fest
(Erik Strebig (left)
Pride Films and Plays continues its exciting,
award-winning development of new works for the stage with Kill Your Boyfriends, a world premiere fever dream of movement and
text created, choreographed, and directed by PFP Artistic Associate Derek Van
Barham. “You must kill your boyfriends,”
poet Alex Dimitrov tells us. “You
must kill what wants, like death, to keep you.”
On a hot night,
we find two couples in a single bed. It’s just an old mattress, really.
Finding each relationship at a moment of strain, we watch the characters
try to make it through one more night, each unable to sleep, refusing to rest.
The performance uses text – from Richard Siken, Alex Dimitrov, Sylvia
Plath, Sharon Olds, Thom Gunn, Marty McConnell, Amanda Nazario, Shakespeare,
Edward Albee, and Walt Whitman – that voices the panic and obsession that
threaten to consume. Fear of sex. Fear of death. Fear of
sleep and the fight against its tranquil oblivion. You always hurt the
one you love. Or, at the very least, the one who sleeps next to you.
Kill Your Boyfriends features James Nedrud, Erik Strebig,
Sarah Goldberg, Karen Vance, Carmen Molina, and Christopher Young. Music is by The Dresden Dolls, Mogwai, Cat
Power, Lana Del Rey, The Civil Wars, Portishead, Andrew Bird, Patsy Cline, with
original compositions by sound designer Alex Mauney.
Kill Your Boyfriends will perform as part of The Naked July
Festival at National Pastime Theatre (June 28-August 10).
| 941 W Lawrence Ave Chicago, IL 60640 |
Performances are: Saturdays – July 6, 13, 20, 27 @ 8PM
Sundays – July 7, 14, 21, 28 @ 3PM
Friday, July 26 @ Midnight
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets
THE PRIDE playing through July 13th
What a wonderful play with top notch acting that is compelling and moving!
Two story lines, fifty years apart. Set in London, Alexi Kaye Campbell’s time-shifting play THE PRIDE maps the progression of the gay rights movement from the repression of the fifties to the freedom of today through the
fate of two twisted love triangles. In 1958, Philip is married to
Sylvia but in love with Oliver. In 2008, Oliver is addicted to public
sex with strangers, so Philip leaves him. Sylvia has to pick up the pieces. THE PRIDE is a sharp, witty portrait of urban gay couples and the punishing consequences of liberation.
The production team for THE PRIDE includes: William Boles (set design), Mieka van der Ploeg (costume design), Becca Jeffords (lighting design), Stephen Ptacek (sound design), Jamie Karas (props design), John Tovar (fight choreography), Anita Deely (dialect coach), Derek Matson (dramaturg), Rupert Priniski (production coordinator), Christopher Kristant (technical director), Hutch Pimentel (assistant director/associate producer), Katie Klemme (stage manager) and Claire Reinhart (asst. stage manager).
Title: THE PRIDE
Playwright: Alexi Kaye Campbell
Director: Bonnie Metzgar
Featuring: AFT Artistic Associates Patrick Andrews (Oliver), John Francisco (Philip) and Benjamin Sprunger (Man/Peter/Doctor) with Jessie Fisher (Sylvia).
Location: Victory Gardens Richard Christiansen Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago.
NOW through Saturday, July 13, 2013
Curtain Times: Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 pm; Saturdays at 5 pm & 9 pm; Sundays at 5 pm. Please note: there are no performances on Friday, June 14 and Thursday, July 4. There is an added performance on Monday, July 8 at 7:30 pm.
Tickets: Regular run: $30. $15 students. Group rates available. Tickets for THE PRIDE are available at www.aboutfacetheatre.com or by calling the Victory Gardens Box Office at (773) 871-3000.
About the Playwright
The Pride is Alexi Kaye Campbell’s first play. It premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in November 2008 and was awarded the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement, The Critic’s Circle Award for Most Promising Playwright and The John Whiting Award for Best New Play. The play was produced at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in New York in January 2010 and was nominated for Best Play by the Outer Critics Circle. His second play, Apologia, was produced at The Bush Theatre in London in June 2009 and was nominated Best Play at the Writer’s Guild Awards. As an actor Alexi Kaye Campbell has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court, Chichester Festival Theatre, Oxford Stage Company and Shared Experience.
About the Director
At About Face, Bonnie Metzgar has directed Philip Dawkin’s The Homosexuals, Sylvan Oswald’s Pony, a reimagining of Stupid Kids by John C. Russell and Taylor Mac’s The Young Ladies Of. Prior
to AFT, Metzgar was best known for producing a radical new grassroots
model for theatrical production with Suzan Lori-Parks’ epic 365 Days/365 Plays. Metzgar served for nine years as an Associate Producer at the Public Theater under George C. Wolfe and was the founding producer of the world famous entertainment venue, Joe’s Pub.
THE PRIDE sponsors include Paul Boskind and John Sanders.
About Face Theatre is one of Chicago’s most acclaimed theatre companies, and is a national leader in the development of new work exploring gender and sexual identity. Since its founding by Kyle Hall and Eric Rosen in 1995, the company has premiered more than 45 world premieres by writers and directors who have been recognized with several Tony Awards, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama, The MacArthur Fellowship and dozens of Joseph Jefferson Awards.
Bailiwick Theater After Work Benefit June 12th
Chicago Theater for SUIT & TIE: an after work affair on Wednesday,
June 12 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the swanky Hotel Palomar Chicago, 505
N. State. St. Mingle and network with Artistic Director Lili-Anne Brown,
Executive Director Kate Garassino and other prominent company members while
enjoying surprise performances, libations and hors d’oeuvres at the luxurious
and chic Hotel Palomar in downtown Chicago.
opportunities available to support Bailiwick Chicago Theater, including board
member recruitment, benefactor placement and high-level support for one of the
city’s most stylish storefront theaters. Guests will also enjoy an exclusive
inside look into the upcoming 2013-14 season as Bailiwick Chicago becomes one
of the first resident companies at Victory Gardens Theater.
Event: Bailiwick Chicago Theater’s
SUIT & TIE: an after work affair
Date: Wednesday,
June 12, 2013
Time: 6:30
– 8:30 pm
Location: Hotel Palomar Chicago, 505 N. State. St.
Tickets: $100 per person. Tickets are available at bailiwickchicago.com.
