Friday, May 16, 2014

ACT OUT KIDS: OPENING TONIGHT 2 Shows Only MANUAL CINEMA'S Lula del Ray (8+)

ChiIL Mama will be there... will YOU?!  Check back like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. We'll have our review and also Sage and Du's Reviews up shortly on our blog and social media sites.

We dig Manual Cinema and have been raving about this show for weeks now. It's finally here!  We're also super stoked that this show and Superman2050 kick off Chicago Children's Theatre's Later Stages Series for older kids.  


Spring 2014 Chicago Children’s Theatre will launch Later Stages, a series of four Friday evening performances for children ages 8+, performed by cutting-edge theatre artists in Chicago.  Tickets are only $15!


May 16 & 30, 7:30 p.m.
The Ruth Page Center for Arts
1016 N. Dearborn Street

Manual Cinema presents Lula Del Ray



Set in the mid-century American Southwest and inspired by the music of Hank Williams, Roy Orbison, and Patsy Cline, Lula Del Ray is the mythic reinvention of a classic coming-of-age story, performed with overhead projectors, shadow puppets, actors in silhouette, and live music.

Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic motifs, and live sound manipulation to create immersive theatrical stories.  Using overhead projectors, paper puppets, actors in silhouette, and a live band Manual Cinema transforms the experience of attending the cinema and imbues it with liveness, ingenuity, and theatricality.


*The run time is approximately 75 minutes with no intermission, plus a 10 min puppet show & tell after every performance.

**If you have special seating accommodations, please inform the Box Office 72 hours before the performance.


One Performance Left:


Theater Unspeakable presents Superman 2050

May 9 & 23, 7:30 p.m.
The Ruth Page Center for Arts
1016 N. Dearborn Street



*We cordially invite you to wear your finest superhero apparel to this performance!
Epic story, pocket proportions–seven actors share one tiny platform, just 3′ x 7′, and upon it an original Superman tale unfolds.  The cast members use only their bodies and voices to create every prop, scene, sound effect, and character in this fast-paced, physical production.
Theater Unspeakable is dedicated to telling stories using the entire body, mind, heart, and soul.  Working indoors and outdoors, TU create live theatrical performances combining elements of movement, dance, mime, circus, and clown.

*The run time is approximately 40 minutes with no intermission, plus a 10 min Q & A after every performance.

**If you have special seating accommodations, please inform the Box Office 72 hours before the performance.





Sage & Du's Reviews
(a kids' eye view)
2014 Launch



My kids have been immersed in the Chicago theatre scene their entire lives. Now at 11 & 13 they're still able to enjoy our city's stellar children's theatre offerings, but they've also become my go to +1's for big budget Broadway in Chicago spectacles, edgy storefront fare, and thought provoking dramas at Goodman, Steppenwolf and beyond.

My 13 year old, son, in particular has become quite the insightful critic, and we both love a good post show talk.  I was almost in tears on opening night of The Whale at Victory Gardens, as my son and I waited for the show to begin.   Instead of grousing about attending a play or burying his nose in a DS game as many boys would, he was busy perusing the program.   Then he turned to me and said "I'd really like to meet Chelsea Warren."   When I asked why he said, "Because the show hasn't even started yet, but the set design is so cool it really makes me curious to see who lives here.   It's really well done." Joy!

Though they've been my silent partners for years, they've recently been inspired by 9 year old critic, Ada Grey, to speak up and take an active role in our reviews for ChiIL Mama.   I'll still be writing reviews, as well, but they will have their own space for their own unique voices, too.  Sage & Du's Reviews (a kids' eye view) will be appearing here at ChiIL Mama on a regular basis!

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