Thursday, May 31, 2012

Parent's Night Out: Award Winning Brit Flicks at Music Box


No need to pop for airfare to London’s West End or even Broadway:
CHICAGO’S MUSIC BOX THEATRE PRESENTS SCREENINGS OF TWO NATIONAL THEATRE OF GREAT BRITAIN HITS:

2012 TONY© AWARD-NOMINATED ONE MAN TWO GUVNORS, JUNE 16 & 21, AND  DANNY BOYLE’S SMASH STAGE PRODUCTION OF FRANKENSTEIN, STARRING JONNY LEE MILLER & BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, JUNE 18-19, & JULY 22, 25-26
The Music Box Theatre, Chicago’s year round film festival located at 3733 N. Southport Avenue, is proud to present limited engagement screenings of two National Theatre of Great Britain hits this summer:  the 2012 multiple Tony Award-nominated One Man Two Guvnors, featuring the current Broadway cast that transferred from the National, and Danny Boyle's smash hit stage production of Frankenstein, starring Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch, who alternate in the roles of The Creature and Victor Frankenstein.   

The screenings are produced by National Theatre Live, a groundbreaking initiative of London’s renowned National Theatre to broadcast the best of British theatre to cinemas around the world, both live and in “encore screenings” (repeats of the live performances that are recorded and replayed without losing any of their magic and immediacy). The first season of events, which began in June 2009 with the acclaimed production of Phèdre starring Helen Mirren, was seen by over 165,000 people on 320 screens in 22 countries.
 

The comedy sensation One Man, Two Guvnors stars British breakout comic actor (and Tony nominee for Best Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role in a Play) James Corden as Francis Hensall (“One Man”).  Always famished and easily confused, Henshall agrees to work for a local gangster as well as a criminal in hiding (“Two Guvnors”), both of whom are linked in a web of schemes, extortions and romantic associations…none of which Francis can keep straight. He has to do everything in his power to keep his two guvnors from meeting, while trying to eat anything in sight along the way.  Simple.  Falling trousers, flying fish heads, star-crossed lovers, cross-dressing mobsters and a fabulous on-stage band are just some of what awaits at this most “deliriously funny” (Daily Telegraph) play.  

Richard Bean’s side splitting comedy, directed by Tony- and Olivier-award winning director Nicholas Hytner, is nominated for seven Tony awards for its Broadway engagement, following a sold-out run in London’s West End at the National Theatre.   Encore screenings of One Man, Two Guvnors take place at the Music Box Theatre Saturday, June 16, at 2pm and Thursday, June 21, at 7:30pm. Tickets, priced at $15 (advance) and $18 (day of), can be purchased at the Music Box Theatre box office or online at www.musicboxtheatre.com.

Academy Award© -winning film director Danny Boyle returned to the stage with an electrifying production of Mary Shelley’s classic 1818 novel Frankenstein about a scientist and his creation.  Called “the most viscerally exciting and stunning show in town,” (Daily Telegraph), Frankenstein enjoyed a sell-out run at the National Theatre in 2011, and went on to win awards including the 2012 Olivier Award for Best Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch ( PBS TV’s “Sherlock Holmes”) and Jonny Lee Miller (“Trainspotting”), who alternate the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature.  

Of note, the British Boyle (127 Hours, Slumdog Millionaire), who is orchestrating the $42 million Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London, has recently been quoted as saying he took some inspiration from the “Frankenstein” story while formulating his Olympic plans.  Encore screenings of Frankenstein take place at the Music Box Theatre, Monday and Tuesday, June 18 and 19, at 7:30 pm; Sunday, July 22 at 6 and 8:30 pm; and Wednesday and Thursday, July 25 and 26 at 7:30 pm.  There are two versions - Miller and Cumberbatch alternate as Victor Frankenstein and the Creature; for specific casting, please visit www.musicboxtheatre.com.  

Tickets, priced at $15 (advance), $18 (day of), and $20 to see both versions (advance sale only) can be purchased at the Music Box Theatre box office or online at www.musicboxtheatre.com


About the Music Box Theatre:
For nearly 30 years the Music Box Theatre has been the premiere venue in Chicago for independent and foreign films, festivals and some of the greatest cinematic events in Chicago. It currently has the largest theater space operated full time in the city. The Music Box Theatre is independently owned and operated by the Southport Music Box Corporation. SMBC, through its Music Box Films division, also distributes foreign and independent films in the theatrical, DVD and television markets throughout the United States. www.musicboxtheatre.com.  

SAVE THE DATES AND BEAT THE SUMMER HEAT:
Download the entire Music Box Theatre Summer Calendar here: http://www.musicboxtheatre.com/assets/calendars/MusicBox_Summer2012.pdf

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