Saturday, April 30, 2022

Make Your Mother's Day Cards Pop With Lovepop Magical 3D Pop-Up Greeting Cards Online

Mother's Day Is May 8th, 2022

Here at ChiIL Mama we love our moms -- biological, adoptive, and chosen. Celebrate all the moms in your life with gorgeous, playful, fun, pop up cards and gifts from Lovepop. We're happy to partner up with Lovepop on a sponsored post and have been compensated for sharing this product with our readers. 


Check out their Mother's Day collection HERE. Cards start at $13 with discounts for orders of 5 or more and a 10% off discount for signing up for their mailing list. 


Order by May 2, 2022 for guaranteed free US delivery in time for Mother's Day. We've ordered for the mamas, grammys and grandmas in our lives and will be adding a photo feature and review when those arrive.




Aiming for the favorite kid award? Go above and beyond with a fun card and gift set. Gift sets include more elaborate pop up cards, tea, candles, mugs, pins, cotton tote bags, and more. 




Is your mom into pop culture? Lovepop has you covered for Mother's Day and beyond!



Lovepop's got unique greetings for all occasions in a range of styles and options. Check it out. You can even have them send cards directly with a personalized message from you!






We have been compensated by Lovepop for this sponsored post. As always, all opinions are our own.

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR THE 11TH ANNUAL ILLINOIS HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL THEATRE AWARDS

The Jimmy Awards®/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®) 

Are Back In Person for 2022

Come check out the future famous!

Both of my kids were in their high school musicals, as was I, so we know what a great experience shows can be for the young people involved. Every year since it's inception, we've been happy to spread the world about The Jimmy Awards®/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®). They're back in person for 2022 on Monday, May 23rd, so get your tickets today.

Broadway In Chicago is thrillified to announce the 24 nominees for the 2022 Broadway In Chicago Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards (IHSMTA), which celebrates excellence in high school theatre throughout the State of Illinois and is the regional program that feeds into the National High School Musical Theatre Awards also known as The Jimmy Awards®.

NOMINEES FOR BEST ACTRESS

From Benet Academy: Madeline (Dee) Pace

From Coal City High School: Chloe Peacock

From Deerfield High School: Juliet Simon

From East Leyden High School: Athiana Moran

From James B. Conant High School: Emma Schuth

From Lane Tech High School: Charlotte Weissman

From Maroa-Forsyth High School: Katelyn Beller

From Prairie Ridge High School: Claire Jansen

From Prairie Ridge High School: Abby Malina

From Romeoville High School: Tiara Green

From Wheaton North High School: Isabella Diaz

From York Community High School: Regan Wright

 

NOMINEES FOR BEST ACTOR:

From Barrington High School: Josh Fermin

From Cary-Grove High School: Nicholas Anchetta

From Coal City High School: Derek Carlson

From Coal City High School: Aiden Kostbade

From East Leyden High School: Joel Arreola

From Harry D. Jacobs High School: Jesse Iroanyah

From Harry D. Jacobs High School: Alex Quast

From Lincoln-Way East High School: Joseph Kotze

From Mother McAuley high School: Aidan Edwards

From Mundelein High School: William Gonzalez

From Oak Park & River Forest High School: Joshua Bonds

From York Community High School: Owen Espinosa

The nominees (24 high school performers) selected from over 200 student applicants from 76 participating schools across the state of Illinois have been invited to participate in the Awards program, which will be held at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) on Monday, May 23, 2022, at 6:30 PM, hosted by Program Sponsor NBC 5’s entertainment reporter LeeAnn Trotter. Additionally the ceremony will feature a student group number number and Broadway workshop supported by WICKED. The students are taught the music number and are staged by a show representative and given the experience to work with a Broadway professional on a Broadway stage. Additionally, the show representative sits on the panel of judges made up of industry professionals in the city of Chicago to adjudicate and select the top 6 finalists along with Best Actor and Best Actress.

The 2022 program will be in person on the Broadway Playhouse stage for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic lead to 2 years of virtual events. This year, from the twenty-four nominees, two Illinois award recipients (one Best Actor, one Best Actress) will go on an all-expense-paid trip to New York City to represent the State of Illinois at The Jimmy Awards® and participate in a week-long theatre intensive of coaching and rehearsals with industry professionals in preparation for a one-night-only showcase on Broadway, where a panel of judges crowns the nation’s top performers. The Jimmy Awards® are named for legendary Broadway theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander. Broadway In Chicago is a Nederlander presentation and is excited to be a part of the network of theatres across the country participating in The Jimmy Awards®.

The Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards have proven to be a stepping stone for young performers, with several appearing in Broadway productions. Nathan Salstone (2012 IHSMTA Best Actor) made his Broadway debut in HARRY POTTER & THE CURSED CHILD and recently appeared in the National Tour of HADESTOWN, John Clay III (2013 IHSMTA Best Actor) made his Broadway debut in CHOIR BOY. Jack Cahill-Lemme (2016 Best Actor) is currently in the North American tour of MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL which premiered in Chicago in March 2022. Additionally, Wren Rivera (2017 IHSMTA Nominee) made their Broadway debut in JAGGED LITTLE PILL, and Joy Woods (2018 IHSMTA Finalist) made her Broadway debut in March 2022, joining the Broadway cast of SIX.

Other Illinois winners have also been successful at The Jimmy Awards®: Jonah Rawitz (2014 IHSMTA Best Actor) was awarded the 2014 Jimmy Award® for Best Performance by an Actor, Cecilia Trippiedi (2016 IHSMTA Best Actress) was awarded the 2016 Jimmy Award® for Best Dancer, Darian Goulding (2018 IHSMTA Best Actor) was a 2018 Jimmy Award® finalist, and Jacob Simon (2019 IHSMTA Best Actor) was the recipient of the 2019 Rising Star Award from The Jimmy Awards®.

The 76 participating high schools involved in the program are given opportunities to see Broadway In Chicago shows and receive invitations to special events throughout the year. In years past, students performed with the casts of DEAR EVAN HANSEN and HAMILTON at Broadway In Chicago’s Summer Concert at Millennium Park, and performed with HAMILTON Chicago Company’s Miguel Cervantes (Alexander Hamilton) at the Illinois Bicentennial Birthday Party at Navy Pier. Most recently students performed at Sunday’s On State, the Chicago Loop Alliance activation inviting people back to the loop after the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

For more information on The Jimmy Awards®, also known as the National High School Musical Theatre Awards®, visit www.JimmyAwards.com. For more information on both awards and complete rules and regulations, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com/about/IHSMTA/.


ABOUT THE JIMMY AWARDS®

The Jimmy Awards®/The National High School Musical Theatre Awards® (NHSMTA®) program impacts more than 140,000 students who participate in 46 regional high school musical theatre competitions sponsored by presenters of touring Broadway productions throughout the United States. Named for Broadway impresario James M. Nederlander, the program has been the catalyst for more than $5,000,000 in educational scholarships. Presented by The Broadway League Foundation, the NHSMTA invites one Best Actress and one Best Actor nominee from each local regional ceremony to New York City for a week-long theatre intensive that includes coaching, training, and rehearsing led by some of Broadway’s most accomplished professionals. Nominees will spend one week in New York City from Monday, June 20, 2022, through Tuesday, June 28, 2022, and their combined efforts throughout the week will lead to one extraordinary talent showcase performed live in front of an audience on a Broadway stage. The thirteenth annual Jimmy Awards will take place on Monday, June 27, 2022, at the Minskoff Theatre. For more information, please visit www.JimmyAwards.com.


ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

About WICKED

WICKED, the Broadway sensation, looks at what happened in the Land of Oz…but from a different angle. Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin—smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent. When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

From the first electrifying note to the final breathtaking moment, WICKED —the untold true story of the Witches of Oz—transfixes audiences with its wildly inventive story that USA Today cheers is “a complete triumph! An original musical that will make you laugh, cry, and think.”

Single tickets will go on sale on May 23, 2022. However, you can purchase group tickets now by visiting https://www.broadwayinchicago.com/tickets/groups/

About NBC 5 Chicago

NBC 5 (WMAQ-TV) is the NBC Universal owned-and-operated station in Chicago. In partnership with Telemundo Chicago (WSNS-TV) as a duopoly station, NBC 5 serves the incredibly diverse and bilingual audiences throughout the city and suburbs. As the third largest television market, NBC 5 provides news, weather, community initiatives and more for the Chicago metropolitan area, as well as, areas of northern Illinois and northwest Indiana. NBC 5 features daily local news on “NBC 5 News” and local lifestyle content on “Chicago Today.” All original content is available on-air, across streaming platforms, on NBCCHICAGO.COM and on the NBC Chicago Mobile App.

About Sound, Production & Lighting (SPL)

SPL is a full-service event production and system installation company. We provide production services for corporate meetings, galas and fundraising parties, marketing activations, and anything between – we’re always up for a challenge. We offer permanent installation services for a variety of venues in fields such as live performance, education, worship, and hospitality. Our goal for any project is to provide an unparalleled experience and service. www.splchicago.com

About Jennifer Heim Photography

​Jennifer Heim Photography specializes in live stage, rehearsal and headshot photography. Having shot over 900 productions and countless headshots, Jennifer is able to capture the emotion of a scene and create images that portray character depth and beautiful lighting design. Being a director and choreographer, she can anticipate blocking and movement to capture the best moments of your production for IHSMTA submissions. You want your students to stand out in their college auditions. Jennifer teaches them how to be in front of the camera to perfectly capture their personality for college auditions. www.jenniferheimheadshots.com   


ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and, over the past 20 years, has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop, including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at the Auditorium Theatre.

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @ihsmta ● Instagram @ihsmta ● #BICihsmta

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

CHICAGO DANZTHEATRE ENSEMBLE PRESENTS “ART.HEALS.,” MAY 6 – 14, 2022 AT THE AUDITORIUM at EBENEZER LUTHERAN CHURCH

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

CHICAGO DANZTHEATRE ENSEMBLE PRESENTS 

“ART.HEALS.,” MAY 6 – 14

AT THE AUDITORIUM at EBENEZER LUTHERAN CHURCH

“Art.Heals.” Includes Exhibitions, Music and Performances to 

Help Audiences Heal and Connect 


Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble (CDE) is proud to announce the  latest addition to its two-year 20th Anniversary retrospective season, “Art. Heals.,” May 6 – 14, gallery opens at 7:30 p.m. with performances starting at 8 p.m., in the Auditorium at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster Ave. The evening’s running time is currently two hours including an intermission. Tickets are on sale now for $20 general admission (adult non-students), $13 student general admission (high school students over the age of 16 and college students) and free general admission (under the age of 16). Ticket sales online end two-hours before the performance but will be available at the door for $30. Information on participants and tickets are available at Danztheatre.org.

“Art. Heals.” is a curated performance and visual art exhibition featuring music, dance, theater, poetry, multimedia and visual art created to bring the arts and the Chicago community together to help heal and connect after the effects of the global pandemic over the last two years.

Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 

Gallery opens at 7:30 p.m., Performance at 8 p.m.


GALLERY MUSIC:

House of DOV - Drew Lewis – “Anatomy”

“Anatomy” is a durational solo installation, which deals with working through and breathing with trauma caused by dance training. “Anatomy” is a glacial solo, a "living sculpture,” moving slowly across an empty space. The solo flips through images, much like a photo album: anatomy of disintegration, anatomy of a line, anatomy of depression, of the plow, of a beam of light. These are images of the past and present: references to our shared history as a community of dancers, images from historical modern dance and memories of childhood training which shaped who we are and how we think about our bodies and movement. Ultimately, “Anatomy” is meditation, a series of breaths which act to heal and bring the performer and audience into their body in the here and now.

VISUAL ARTISTS:

“Oceans Between”

An exhibition from “Oceans Between,” a cultural exchange between Germany and the United States of America featuring the work of  Hans-Ulrich Buchwald,  Marianna Buchwald, Katrin Hamann, NIgel Packham and Simon Parfrement. 

In addition to “Oceans Between,” other artists represented in “Art.Heals.” are Rhea Godot, mixed media painting; Olivia Hunter, photography; Jeffrey Allen Mendenhall, media art and Shauntrice, sculpture, Jean Parisi art sculpture installation. 

 

SPECIAL EXHIBITION: 

AAP(I Belong) & Creative Action Posters from CIRCA Pintig's Dismantling Hate COmmunity Workshop Series


PERFORMANCES:

Poets and Storytellers:

Emily Calvo from the Guild Literary Complex

Ada Cheng from the Guild Literary Complex


Multidisciplinary/Danztheatre: Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble – Letters of Healing

Letters of Healing is a danztheatre piece created by Artistic Director Ellyzabeth Adler based on her journey of healing from domestic abuse and understanding how she ended up in this relationship.  Commissioned in 2017 by Between Friends, a Chicago area social service agency dedicated to the prevention and healing support of domestic abuse victims and their families. It was performed for the agency’s annual gala and for several solo and women’s festivals and Columbia College in the Chicago area.  Adler believes that this piece is not only her story, it is at the same time, the voice of all survivors of trauma with the desire of creating empathy, understanding and healing. When artists create from a place of vulnerability, sometimes going against the grain, we find our artistic voice and follow our passion to inspire positive change in the world. 


Re/Dance Group presenting “Tiny Memories”

“Tiny Memories” is a dance theatre work centered on storytelling. It is performed by the full Re/Dance ensemble and weaves text and movement phrases together to share imagery from each dancers past. 


Paweł Grajnert (member, UEIR) with Arlo Wholgenant, bassist, presenting “Two Poems”

Two poems from a collection called, "Trauma in the Language Contraption."


DANCE:

Bekah Norwood – Untitled

This work uses breath to examine the incredible pressure in ballet to be perfect. Drawing inspiration from yoga, the piece explores the differences between moving without attention to breath and allowing breath to motivate the movement. It also investigates how a lifelong pursuit of perfection leads to tension settling deep in the body and how the healing nature of breath can lead to acceptance and release.


Kaleigh Dent -“Father, Father”

“Father, Father” explores how guilt lives in the body and the ways we can overcome it. 


The Meltdown Collective presents “Ode to Frankie” 

(Saturday performances only)

This piece is an uplifting work meant to bring joy to anyone viewing it. After such a tough two years, The Meltdown encourages all to celebrate.


THEATRE:

CIrca-Pintig - Panther in the Sky

Panther in the Sky is a play written by Lani T. Montreal about four mothers who are dealing with the murders of their teenage sons on the streets of Chicago.  The sons meet each other in the afterlife and grapple with the reality of their abrupt demise. They talk and banter as teenage boys do, as their mothers cope with grief, and struggle to make sense of it all. 

Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14

Gallery opens at 7:30 p.m., Performance at 8 p.m.


GALLERY MUSIC:

Davin Youngs

In the long-standing tradition of sound as a modality for healing, Davin Youngs stands out as a true musical innovator. He is a master of sonic enlightenment; mixing beats, electronic loops, gongs, tuning forks, crystal bowls and his own voice to create soundscapes that will take audiences on a transformative journey into the far reaches of your mind.

Youngs’s one-of-a-kind, ambient-electro-acoustic-sound healing concerts are heavily influenced by his passions for singing and meditation. By staying present in his body, Young is able to amplify his voice, layering the perfect harmonies for awakening.


VISUAL ARTISTS:

“Oceans Between”

An exhibition from “Oceans Between,” a cultural exchange between Germany and the United States of America featuring the work of  Hans-Ulrich Buchwald,  Marianna Buchwald, Katrin Hamann, NIgel Packham and Simon Parfrement. 

In addition to “Oceans Between,” other artists represented in “Art.Heals.” are Rhea Godot, mixed media painting; Olivia Hunter, photography; jeffrey allen mendenhall, media art and Shauntrice, sculpture.

 

SPECIAL EXHIBITION:

AAP(I Belong) & Creative Action Posters from CIRCA Pintig's Dismantling Hate COmmunity Workshop Series


PERFORMANCES:

Poets and Storytellers:

Ada Cheng from the Guild Literary Complex

Bianca Thompson from the Guild Literary Complex


Multidisciplinary/Danztheatre:

Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble – Letters of Healing

Letters of Healing is a danztheatre piece created by Artistic Director Ellyzabeth Adler based on her journey of healing from domestic abuse and understanding how she ended up in this relationship.  Commissioned in 2017 by Between Friends, a Chicago area social service agency dedicated to the prevention and healing support of domestic abuse victims and their families. It was performed for the agency’s annual gala and for several solo and women’s festivals and Columbia College in the Chicago area.  Adler believes that this piece is not only her story, it is at the same time, the voice of all survivors of trauma with the desire of creating empathy, understanding and healing. When artists create from a place of vulnerability, sometimes going against the grain, we find our artistic voice and follow our passion to inspire positive change in the world. 


Re/Dance Group presenting “Tiny Memories”

“Tiny Memories” is a dance theatre work centered on storytelling. It is performed by the full Re/Dance ensemble and weaves text and movement phrases together to share imagery from each dancers past. 


Paweł Grajnert (member, UEIR) with Arlo Wholgenant, bassist. presenting “Two Poems”

Two poems from a collection called, "Trauma in the Language Contraption.""


DANCE:

Bekah Norwood – Untitled

This work uses breath to examine the incredible pressure in ballet to be perfect. Drawing inspiration from yoga, the piece explores the differences between moving without attention to breath and allowing breath to motivate the movement. It also investigates how a lifelong pursuit of perfection leads to tension settling deep in the body and how the healing nature of breath can lead to acceptance and release.


Kaleigh Dent -“Father, Father”

“Father, Father” explores how guilt lives in the body and the ways we can overcome it. 


Ishti Collective presenting “Prakriti II”

“Prakriti II” is about how we, as individuals and as a collective, sustain and move forward in the current socio-political polarized world. We are guided by hope and trust in humanity that we can do better; we deserve better than the anxiousness and rage caused by the divisiveness.


The Meltdown Collective presents “Ode to Frankie” 

(Saturday performances only)

This piece is an uplifting work meant to bring joy to anyone viewing it. After such a tough two years, The Meltdown encourages all to celebrate.


THEATRE:

CIrca-Pintig - Panther in the Sky

Panther in the Sky is a play written by Lani T. Montreal about four mothers who are dealing with the murders of their teenage sons on the streets of Chicago.  The sons meet each other in the afterlife and grapple with the reality of their abrupt demise. They talk and banter as teenage boys do, as their mothers cope with grief, and struggle to make sense of it all


The creative team for “Art.Heals.” includes Ellyzabeth Adler (performance curator); Siobhan Kealy, (art gallery curator) and Joshua Paul Weckesser (lighting design and technical director). 

 


COVID PROTOCOL FOR ALL PERFORMANCES

Following current guidelines from federal, state and local government and its agencies, audience members must show proof of vaccination or wear a mask at all times during the performances. All performers and participants in this CDE performance are vaccinated and will perform without masks.



ABOUT CHICAGO DANZTHEATRE ENSEMBLE

Founded in 2001, Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble is Chicago’s only multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to social justice and socially conscious work that builds community through the arts “one voice, one story, one person at a time.” CDE’s mission is to engage, inspire and challenge the community, both onstage and in the classroom, through innovative and collaborative multidisciplinary storytelling to illuminate aspects of social issues. This is done in the genre of Tanztheatre, "which unites all art media to achieve an all-embracing, radical change in humankind.” Through its school-based art and performance programs, CDE helps students in Chicago schools explore their own creativity, supporting their social and emotional learning. CDE provides a physical and emotional space where community conversation and cultural change can happen.

For its performance series, CDE is dedicated to creating performances that blend together dance, theatre and visual art to tell stories about the human condition. They give an artistic voice to those who are not always heard.

Dedicated since its founding to diverse casting of age, body type and ethnicity

Consistently listed as a “Top Theater and Dance Performance to See” by New City and Chicago Reader

Unique collaborations with the Veterans Art Museum, Poetry Center Chicago, Cantigny Museum, Neighborhood Writing Alliance, Voice of the City and numerous dance and theater companies

MacArthur Award Grantee for International Collaborations.  

Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble is supported by The Illinois Arts Council, a state agency; Department of Cultural Affairs Chicago (DCASE) The Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Innovation 80; smART Growth of the Chicago Community Trust; Farny Wurlitzer Foundation; Mardi Gras Fund and the annual support of individual donors.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

The Pop-Up, Pixar Inspired Mini Golf PIXAR PUTT Opens in Chicago May 28, 2022

ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List

PIXAR PUTT CONTINUES THIS SUMMER

IN CHICAGO AT NAVY PIER

The Pop-Up, Pixar Inspired Mini Golf 

PIXAR PUTT

Opens in Chicago May 28, 2022

Tickets on Sale Beginning April 28, 2022



ChiIL Mama will be out to play on opening day in Chicago, so check back early and often for the scoop. Following stops in New York City, Houston, and San Antonio, Pixar Putt, the ultimate pop-up, open-air mini-golf experience will be arriving in Chicago this summer, with tickets available for purchase beginning April 28, 2022. Made up of 18 fun and interactive holes inspired by the stories, characters, and icons from some of Disney and Pixar's most beloved films including Toy Story, The Incredibles, Monsters, Inc., Finding Nemo, Coco, A Bug's Life, Wall-E, and Inside Out, Pixar Putt is set to take guests to infinity… and beyond!

Pixar Putt, co-presented by Rockefeller Productions and TEG Life Like Touring, is staged at the Polk Bros Park at Navy Pier beginning May 28, 2022, and running through August 21, 2022. The course will be open seven days a week, Monday-Friday from 12 pm-10 pm (last entry 8:30 pm) and Saturday-Sunday from 10 am-10 pm (last entry 8:30 pm); Pixar Putt After Dark, evening sessions for 18+, will take place Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 7:00 pm – 10 pm. Pixar Putt is also available to Private Groups and Corporate Groups. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.pixarputt.com/chicago

Following its run in Chicago, Pixar Putt will continue touring nationally, with more locations to be announced this summer.

Pixar Putt is a perfect socially distant outing for any Pixar fan. The safety of patrons and staff is a top priority for Rockefeller Productions and TEG Life Like Touring. Pixar Putt's standard COVID Safe measures include capped player numbers on the course, physical distancing measures in queues and on course; sanitizer stations located onsite; plus sanitizing of all golfing equipment between users for every session, each day. These measures follow all federal and local guidelines and will be updated as those guidelines change.


Advance Booking Recommended

Tickets are expected to sell out fast, and advance booking is highly encouraged. Tickets will only be available digitally through www.pixarputt.com/chicago. This online, contactless purchase process helps keep customers and staff COVID safe.  

The Pop-Up, Pixar Inspired Mini Golf

PIXAR PUTT

Begins May 2022-August 2022

Navy Pier at Polk Bros Park

600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

 

Hours of Operation:

Monday through Friday:  12:00 pm – 10:00 pm (last entry 8:30 pm)

Saturday and Sunday:  10:00 am – 10:00 pm: (last entry 8:30 pm)

7:00 pm onwards is 'Pixar Putt 18+ After Dark' for evening sessions Thursday through Saturday


Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.pixarputt.com/chicago

Directions and Parking: Located at Polk Bros Park, 600 E. Grand Ave. at Navy Pier, Pixar Putt is accessible by car or public transportation with several location parking options nearby, including Navy Pier’s two on-site garages, West Garage and East Garage.


 

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

OPENING: HIT MUSICAL THE PROM AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE APRIL 19-24, 2022

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

 THE PROM

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S

CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE

APRIL 19-24, 2022 

EVERYONE DESERVES A CHANCE TO CELEBRATE!

THE PROM will play Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph St.) for a limited one-week engagement April 19-24, 2022. I'll be there opening night, so check back soon for my full review. 

This hit musical stars Kaden Kearney (they/them) as “Emma, High School Student, Banned from the Prom,” Kalyn West as “Alyssa Greene, Head of Student Council with a Secret,” Courtney Balan as “Tony Award Winner Dee Dee Allen,” Patrick Wetzel as “Drama Desk Award Winner Barry Glickman,” Emily Borromeo as “Angie Dickinson, Broadway Chorine,” Bud Weber as “Trent Oliver, Esteemed Julliard Graduate/Cater Waiter,” Sinclair Mitchell as “Mr. Hawkins, High School Principal,” Ashanti J’Aria as “Mrs. Greene, President of the PTA” and Shavey Brown as “Sheldon Saperstein, Broadway’s Press Agent with a Plan.”

Rounding out the ensemble are Jordan Alexander, Gabrielle Beckford, Ashley Bruce, Olivia Rose Cece, Maurice Dawkins, Jordan De Leon, James Caleb Grice, Megan Grosso, Marie Gutierrez, Chloe Rae Kehm, Braden Allen King, Brandon J. Large, Christopher McCrewell, Adriana Negron, Lexie Plath, Brittany Nicole Williams, Thad Turner Wilson and Josh Zacher.

Directed and choreographed by Tony Award® winner Casey Nicholaw (Aladdin, Mean Girls), THE PROM features a book by Tony Award® winner Bob Martin (Elf, The Drowsy Chaperone) and Tony Award® nominee Chad Beguelin (Aladdin), music by Tony Award® nominee Matthew Sklar (Elf the Musical) and lyrics by Tony Award® nominee Chad Beguelin with scenic design by Tony Award® winner Scott Pask (The Book of Mormon), costume design by Tony Award® winner Ann Roth (The Book of Mormon) and Matthew Pachtman (The Book of Mormon), lighting design by Tony Award® winner Natasha Katz (Diana: The Musical), sound design by Tony Award® winner Brian Ronan (Mrs. Doubtfire, Mean Girls), wig and hair design by Josh Marquette (Pretty Woman, Means Girls), make-up design by Milagros Medina-Cerdeira (Mean Girls), orchestrations by Tony Award® winner Larry Hochman (Hello, Dolly!), music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Mean Girls) and casting by The Telsey Office. THE PROM is based on an original concept by Jack Viertel.

Everyone’s invited to the joyous Broadway hit that New York Magazine hails as “smart and big-hearted” while The New York Times declares it “makes you believe in musical comedy again!” THE PROM is a musical comedy about big Broadway stars on a mission to change the world and the love they discover that unites them all. 

Variety raves, “It’s so full of happiness that you think your heart is about to burst.” And The Hollywood Reporter cheers, “It’s comic gold!”  

Tony, Emmy, Golden Globe & Peabody Award winner Ryan Murphy (The Boys In The Band, American Horror Story) turned THE PROM into a movie event for Netflix starring Meryl Streep (DeeDee), James Corden (Barry), Nicole Kidman (Angie), Keegan-Michael Key (Principal Tom Hawkins), Andrew Rannells (Trent), Jo Ellen Pellman (Emma), Ariana DeBose (Alyssa), Kerry Washington (Mrs. Greene), and Kevin Chamberlin (Sheldon).

Viking Books also recently announced that Saundra Mitchell, author of over twenty books for tweens and teens, has written the YA novelization of the hit Broadway musical comedy, THE PROM to adapt the new original musical into a reading experience that reflects the energy and humor of the show, and echoes its message of acceptance and inclusion. The book was published on September 10, 2019 with Viking Children’s Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.

The producing team for THE PROM includes Bill Damaschke, Dori Berinstein, Jack Lane, NETworks Presentations, Natasha Davison, Merry & Jim Mosbacher, Terry Schnuck, Liz Armstrong, Elizabeth L. Green, Pamela Hurst-Della Pietra & Stephen Della Pietra, Seth A. Goldstein, Jane Dubin, Smedes-Stern-Palitz, Fahs Productions, Joe Grandy, Don & Nancy Ross, Three Belles & A Bob, Instone Productions, Fakler-Silver, Arment-Tackel, Cliff Hopkins, Larry & Elizabeth Lenke, Christopher Ketner, The John Gore Organization, Nancy & Ken Kranzberg, Independent Presenters Network, Mark Lonlow & JoAnne Astrow, Iris Smith, Sabrina Wallace, Garris-Morris-Masie Productions, Judith Manocherian, The Shubert Organization, Karen DeVerna & Jeremiah J. Harris, Fox Theatricals, Michael and Adrienne Blackman and Heidi & Stephen Distante. 

THE PROM made its world premiere at The Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, GA, Susan V. Booth, Artistic Director, in 2016, and played its final performance at the Longacre Theatre on Broadway on August 11, 2019 after playing 23 previews and 310 regular performances.

 

For more information visit:

Website: ThePromMusical.com

Facebook: @ThePromMusical

Instagram: @ThePromMusical

Twitter: @ThePromMusical

TikTok: @ThePromMusical

Hashtag: #ThePromMusical

 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, April 19 at 7:30 P.M.

Wednesday, April 20 2:00 P.M. and 7:30 P.M.

Thursday, April 21 at 7:30 P.M.

Friday, April 22 at 7:30 P.M.

Saturday, April 23 at 2:00 P.M. & 8:00 P.M.

Sunday, April 24 at 2:00 P.M.

 

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for THE PROM go on sale tomorrow and range from $31 to $107 with a select number of premium tickets available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more  information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 21 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

 

COVID-19 Protocol: When entering the theatre, audience members will be required to provide their valid ticket, be masked, and provide valid I.D. (ages 16 and up). Guests, ages 5 and up, will be required to provide vaccination card that proves full vaccination, meaning 14 days after their second dose of a two-dose FDA authorized COVID-19 vaccine or at least 14 days after a single dose vaccine. Those with vaccine exemptions, including children 2 – 4, religious or medical, will be required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test along with a photo ID and valid ticket. Acceptable tests are either a PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance start time or an antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance start time. No home tests will be accepted. Due to COVID-19 protocol, children under the age of 2 will not be admitted to any Broadway In Chicago Theatre. We are currently not serving or allowing food and beverage inside the theatres to allow audience members to remain masked throughout the performance. 


For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

 


Sunday, April 17, 2022

GIVEAWAY: WIN 4 Tickets to: The World Premiere Of Carmela Full Of Wishes (4 Winners) April 23-May 22, 2022

ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List

CARMELA FULL OF WISHES



ChiIL Mama and Chicago Children's Theatre are giving away Carmela Full Of Wishes 
Family 4 Packs of Tickets to FOUR lucky winners! 

Enter at the bottom of this post 
for your chance to WIN. 

Chicago Children’s Theatre has been a top favorite of ours here at ChiIL Mama since their inception decades ago. My own children grew up with their world class productions and my son is now majoring in theatre at Northwestern, specializing in children's theatre. I don't doubt the early influence of such high caliber productions had much to do with his later passions. I'll be out for the press opening, so check back shortly after for my full review. In the meantime, enter for your chance to win 4 tickets.


Chicago Children’s Theatre, Chicago’s largest professional theater company devoted exclusively to children and young families, continues its 2021-2022 “Season of Resilience” with the world premiere of Carmela Full of Wishes, April 23-May 22, 2022.

It’s Carmela’s birthday, and her wish has already come true–she’s finally old enough to join her big brother as he does the family errands. On their way to the laundromat, past fields of what Mamí calls “flores de cempazuchitl,” Carmela finds a lone dandelion growing in the pavement. But before she can blow its puffy white fluff away, her brother asks, “did you even make a wish?” If only she can think of just the right wish to make.

Carmela Full of Wishes is adapted from the book by Matt de la Peña and illustrated by Christian Robinson, the same Newbery Medal and Caldecott Honor winning team behind Last Stop on Market Street. Full of touching and funny fantasies, the book, and now the play, portrays Carmela’s migrant community as a vibrant place of possibility. 

Join families from all over the city for Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new, moving ode to family, to dreamers, and to finding hope in the most unexpected places. Chicago Children’s Theatre is located at 100 S. Racine Ave. in Chicago’s West Loop. Show times, April 23-May 22, are Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.  Run time is 60 minutes, no intermission. Tickets are $32 at chicagochildrenstheatre.org.  

In addition to weekend performances, performances for school and other groups are Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m., and Wednesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. Email groupsales@chicagochildrenstheatre.org for group rates. 

Please note: Chicago Children’s Theatre is a “no shushing” theater. The theater is located minutes from I-90 and I-290, as well as downtown and Ashland Avenue. Free, onsite parking is available on the south side of the building. Free street parking can be found nearby on weekends, or try the Impark parking lot, 1301 W. Madison St.


Pages from Carmela Full of Wishes by Matt de la Peña

Illustrations by Christian Robinson


WISHES DO COME TRUE! 

Chicago Children’s Theater’s wish? To work with Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson again after their 2018 hit world premiere, Last Stop on Market Street

In 2018, Chicago Children’s Theatre and Children’s Theatre of Minneapolis co-produced the smash hit world premiere play Last Stop on Market Street, adapted by Cheryl West from the best-selling picture book by Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson. Director Henry Godinez and Chicago leading lady E. Faye Butler helmed that production, described as “a kid's version of In the Heights" by the Chicago Tribune, and “a marvelous journey from page to stage” by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Since its 2018 premiere, CCT’s adaptation of Last Stop in Market Street has become one of the most produced contemporary show titles in all of TYA (Theater for Young Audiences). Since its 2018 Chicago debut, nearly a dozen theaters around the U.S. including in New York, Minneapolis, Washington D.C., and St. Louis have staged their own versions of Last Stop on Market Street, underscoring Chicago Children’s Theatre’s national reputation as a creator of important and entertaining new works for young audiences.

For Carmela Full of Wishes, Alvaro Saar Rios is the adaptor, and Michelle Lopez-Rios directs Chicago Children’s Theatre’s debut production. The cast features Christopher Alamo (Papi), Jasmin Cardenas (Mami), Juan Gonzalez Machain (Big Brother) and Maria Clara Ospina (Carmela).

The design team includes Regina Garcia, set; Christie Chiles Twillie, sound design and original music; Jazmin Aurora Medina, costumes; Jason Lynch, lights; Lonnae Hickman, props; Erica Cruz Hernandez, casting; Rebecca Ross is stage manager. Anastar Alvarez is assistant stage manager.

Carmela Full of Wishes, co-commissioned by Chicago Children’s Theatre and The Rose Theater, is made possible in part by a grant from The Bayless Family Foundation and by a grant from National Endowment for the Arts’ Grants for Arts Projects.

Access Weekend is Saturday and Sunday, Dates

Chicago Children’s Theatre continues to grow its commitment to all Chicago children by expanding services for patrons with disabilities. Access Weekend is May 14 and 15. Services include:

ASL interpretation and Open Captioning: Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15

Touch Tour:  Sunday, May 15 before the 9:30 a.m. show

Sensory Friendly: Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15

For more information about access and inclusion at Chicago Children’s Theatre, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/access or email access@chicagochildrenstheatre.org.



Covid safety policy



Health and safety protocols will be updated on a rolling basis based on prevailing city and state recommendations. For more, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/covid. 

 


(from left) Kirra Silver, Jesse Bhamrah, Alejandro Medina (as CJ, kneeling), Breon Arzell and E. Faye Butler (as Nana) in Chicago Children’s Theatre’s world premiere of Last Stop on Market Street, adapted from Newbery winning and Caldecott-honored book by Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson. Since its 2018 Chicago debut, nearly a dozen theaters have staged tLast Stop on Market Street, underscoring Chicago Children’s Theatre’s reputation as a creator of new works for young audiences. Photo credit: Charles Osgood


Biographies

 

Matt de la Peña (author) is the New York Times Bestselling, Newbery Medal-winning author of seven young adult novels (including Mexican WhiteBoy, We Were Here and Superman: Dawnbreaker) and six picture books (including Milo Imagines the World and Last Stop on Market Street). In 2016 he was awarded the NCTE Intellectual Freedom Award. de la Peña received his MFA in creative writing from San Diego State University and his BA from the University of the Pacific where he attended school on a full basketball scholarship. In 2019 he was given an honorary doctorate from UOP. de la Peña currently lives in Southern California. He teaches creative writing and visits schools and colleges throughout the country. mattdelapena.com



 

Christian Robinson (illustrator) was born in Hollywood, California. He grew up in a small one-bedroom apartment with his brother, two cousins, aunt, and grandmother. Drawing became a way to make space for himself and to create the kind of world he wanted to see. He studied animation at the California Institute of the Arts and would later work with the Sesame Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios before becoming an illustrator of books for children. His books include Gaston and Antoinette, written by Kelly DiPucchio, and the #1 New York Times bestseller Last Stop on Market Street, written by Matt de la Peña, which was awarded a Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, and the Newbery Medal. He presently lives in northern California with his rescue greyhound Baldwin and several houseplants. He looks forward to one day seeing the aurora borealis. theartoffun.com



 

Maria Clara Ospina (Carmela), an actress originally from Medellín, Colombia and a recent graduate of North Central College, is making her CCT debut as Carmela. Her other credits include Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Hamlet (Invictus Theater), Wellesley Girl (Compass Theatre), True Story of The 3 Little Pigs (ABS Productions) and Covid Chronicles (Corn Productions).



 

Alvaro Saar Rios (adaptor) is a Texican playwright living in Chicago. His plays have been performed in New York City, Mexico City, Hawaii, Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee and all over Texas. He has received playwriting commissions from various organizations, including Chicago Children’s Theatre, Kennedy Center, First Stage, Houston Grand Opera, Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Michigan’s Purple Rose Theatre Company, The Zoological Society of Milwaukee and Omaha’s Rose Theater. His award-winning play Luchadora! is published by Dramatic Publishing Inc. Other plays include On The Wings of a Mariposa, The History of Mexicans in 10 Minutes, The Day the Music Came Back and Unmuted, a virtual musical he co-created with composer Deborah Wicks La Puma. Saar Rios is a Resident Playwright at Chicago Dramatists and Playwright-In-Residence at Milwaukee’s First Stage. A proud veteran of the US Army, Saar Rios used to drive M1A1 tanks. He holds an MFA in Writing for the Stage and Screen from Northwestern University and teaches playwriting at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.



 

Michelle Lopez-Rios (director) is making her directorial debut with Chicago Children’s Theatre. She is a teatrista, teacher and activist. Together with Alvaro Saar Rios, she co-founded the Royal Mexican Players in 2004 and the two have continued to collaborate on workshops and productions since then. She is an Associate Professor and Artistic Director of Chicago Playworks at The Theatre School at DePaul (TTS). Directing credits include Squirrel Girl Goes to College, Luchadora! and Jane of the Jungle (TTS); The Mole Hill Stories (First Stage); Bocón! (University of Houston); Chapatti (Milwaukee Chamber Theatre); Enfrascada (Renaissance Theaterworks) and A Trip Through the Mind of a Crazy Mexican (Royal Mexican Players).


About Chicago Children’s Theatre

“The Chicago theater scene is legendarily vibrant, so naturally a number of companies tailor productions to younger audiences. The cream of the crop is Chicago Children’s Theatre.” – Chicago Tribune

Chicago Children’s Theatre was founded in 2005 with a big idea: Chicago is the greatest theater city in the world, and it deserves a great children’s theater. Today, Chicago Children’s Theatre is the city’s largest professional theater company devoted exclusively to children and young families. CCT has established a national reputation for the production of first-rate children’s theater with professional writing, performing, and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise.

In January 2017, the company celebrated the opening of its new, permanent home, Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, located at 100 S. Racine Avenue in Chicago’s West Loop community. The building, formerly the Chicago Police Station for the 12th District, was repurposed into a beautiful, LEED Gold-certified, mixed-use performing arts, education and community engagement facility that now welcomes all Chicago families.

CCT provides tens of thousands of free and reduced-price tickets to under-resourced schools each season in partnership with Chicago Public Schools. CCT also continues to grow its performing arts and STEAM education programs, offering classes, workshops, winter and spring break camps, and summer camps for ages 0 to 14.

In 2019, Chicago Children’s Theatre won the National TYA Artistic Innovation Award from Theatre for Young Audiences/USA. In addition, Chicago Children’s Theatre has garnered six NEA Art Works grants, and in 2017, became the first theater for young audiences in the U.S. to win a National Theatre Award from the American Theatre Wing, creators of the Tony Awards.


Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 2021-22 Season of Resilience is supported by Goldman Sachs, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts, The Shubert Foundation, Polk Bros Foundation, The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity and the Arts at Prince, Bayless Family Foundation, The Crown Family, Rea Charitable Trust, ComEd, US Bank, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Illinois Arts Council, Illinois Humanities Council, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), The Susan M. Venturi Fund in memory of James and Roslyn Marks to Support Theatre Education Accession, and Erin and Jason, Ben, Bici and David Pritzker.

Chicago Children’s Theatre is led by Co-Founders, Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell and Board Chair Todd Leland, with Board President Armando Chacon.

For more, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.


ChiIL Mama and Chicago Children's Theatre are giving away Carmela Full Of Wishes Family 4 Packs of Tickets to FOUR lucky winners! Enter now for your chance to WIN. 

Enter daily through midnight, Thursday April 21, 2022. Winners will be emailed and announced here and on our social media outlets. Winners will receive 4 complimentary tickets to the performance of their choice pending availability. Good luck and thanks for reading ChiIL Mama!

Enter HERE.

 

Friday, April 15, 2022

Northwestern's Imagine U forms theater partnership with Evanston/Skokie District 65

Fall's Gonna Be LITTT for 

Evanston and Skokie Elementary Schoolers 


All Photos of past Imagine U Productions Courtesy of Northwestern University



Northwestern University is launching a unique community-based theater arts partnership with Evanston/Skokie School District 65 and Imagine U, the nationally recognized producer of theater for young audiences at The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts. The partnership, Learn and Imagine Together Through Theater (LITTT), begins in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Community partnership can serve as a 'catalyst for advancing racial equity'

LITTT is a co-created community partnership developed by Northwestern and District 65, which is coordinated through the Office of Neighborhood and Community Relations. It is the University’s newest social impact partnership. Dave Davis, executive director of Neighborhood and Community Relations, said the program is designed to make live theater more accessible to hundreds of young people. 

Effort designed to make theater more accessible to young people

“The creative power of the arts crosses all cultural barriers, reminding us of our shared human heritage,” Davis said. “Co-created community partnerships such as LITTT can serve as a catalyst for advancing racial equity by exposing young people to artists who look like them and providing them an opportunity to see themselves in a way they never imagined.”

Lynn Kelso, founder of Imagine U and assistant professor of instruction in Northwestern’s theatre department, agrees that theater can be a powerful experience for young audiences. Kelso said Northwestern students will also benefit from the LITTT partnership.

“The partnership provides our students with the opportunity to step into the role of teaching artists while being mentored by outstanding District 65 teachers,” said Kelso. As the partnership develops, “it also presents an incredible opportunity to conduct groundbreaking research on the impact of the arts.”

 Nearly 800 students will be impacted when program launches in the fall

How LITTT works

In the fall of 2022, The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts will create weekday matinee performances of an Imagine U production just for District 65 students. Third-grade students, approximately 800 students from across the district, will take a field trip to Northwestern’s Evanston campus to see the Imagine U performance. For many students, this will be their first time experiencing live theater—and possibly their first exposure to a college campus. While on campus, students will meet the cast and production team and have lunch.

The Wirtz Center is creating four Imagine U matinee performances that District 65 students will see over two Fridays. This would recur annually so all District 65 students would get to visit Northwestern and experience an Imagine U production once during their elementary school experience, creating enhanced learning opportunities and access to live theater.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to have a shared experience viewing an Imagine U show,” said Dr. Stacy Beardsley, executive director of curriculum and instruction with Evanston/Skokie School District 65. “The shared experience allows for students to not only experience powerful stories together, but it also allows our students to learn about the story and the work that goes into a theater performance at a deeper level.”

 Making theater more accessible, allows young people to 'walk in the shoes of others'

Connecting theater curriculums

Prior to coming to campus, District 65 students participate in a classroom activity that is designed to introduce the production and engage students with complex themes they’ll witness in the play. Students will also watch a virtual backstage tour of the Wirtz Center to see how elements of the production were created. 

The learning continues after the play when the students return to the District 65 drama classroom. District 65 drama educators will lead students in one or two lesson plans, which revolve around the production to deepen their experience of seeing live theater. These drama lessons will help immerse students in the world of the play through dramatic skills such as pantomime, story dramatization, in-role encounters, scene work, storytelling, guided imagery, and other embodied creative activities. 

Betsy Quinn, drama department chair for District 65, said the live theater experience allows students in the district to connect with diverse characters and settings.

“This unique partnership with Imagine U brings District 65 students and teachers together as a community to experience powerful storytelling and artistry live and up close,” said Quinn. “Attending theater productions and engaging in drama classes develops empathy in young children by allowing them to walk in the shoes of others and see the world through their eyes.”

Lesson plans are collaboratively developed by District 65 drama educators, Northwestern faculty, and Northwestern undergraduate students. Northwestern students who are studying theater for young audiences will create a draft lesson plan focused on the Imagine U production. Draft lesson plans are workshopped by a Northwestern faculty advisor and a small group of District 65 drama educators. Lesson plans occur during District 65 students’ regularly scheduled drama class, roughly one to two weeks after students see the LITTT show.

“I’ve long been interested in narrowing the distance between ivory tower and front porch, and engaging Evanston’s children in our theatre for young audiences programming is a critical part of this effort,” said E. Patrick Johnson, dean of the School of Communication. “Not only will LITTT help us better connect with and relate to our neighbors, we’re helping to build a more compassionate, joyful and curious generation through exposure to the arts.”

The curriculum collaboration component of LITTT was piloted in Fall 2021 with the Imagine U production “Last Stop on Market Street.” Forty-five fourth-grade classrooms in District 65 viewed a recording of the production, which was streamed to their classrooms. D65 drama educators then led a 40-minute drama lesson which was collaboratively developed by Northwestern faculty and students.

About Imagine U

For more than a decade, The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts  at Northwestern has presented Imagine U’s popular performance series. Created especially for families with young children, the productions are often adapted from or inspired by children’s literature and include sensory-friendly performances, post-show workshops with teaching artists and the cast, and a program with themed activities to take home. In 2021, the National Theatre of Washington D.C. commissioned Imagine U to create another season of their “Life Now” series for its "Saturday Morning Live" programming.  

About the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts

The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts annually mounts more than 40 productions in theater, music theatre, and dance. Undergraduate actors, managers and playwrights, alongside graduate actors, designers, directors and dramaturgs, collaborate on works both classic and contemporary for audiences of all ages. The Center adheres to and reflects the academic mission of the University, the curricular needs of the theatre and performance studies departments and the educational priorities of communication students. It exists in service to the campus and the greater community of the Metropolitan Chicago area.

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