WIN 4 Tickets ($68 Value) To The Adventures of Robin Hood directed by 500 Clown’s Adrian Danzig at Adventure Stage Chicago

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Casting announced for Adventure Stage Chicago’s

company premiere of

The Adventures of Robin Hood

directed by 500 Clown’s Adrian Danzig

  

October 19 to November 24, 2018

Production kicks off ASC’s 15th season, focused on challenges of hunger

**Enter below for your chance to win a family 4-pack of tickets ($68 Value), valid for any public performance of The Adventures of Robin Hood from Oct.27-Nov. 24.** 

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows, we've been fans of Adventure Stage Chicago for decades. They have exceptional community programs, outreach, social justice, and immigrant resources. They also produce wonderful, family friendly theatre. We also adore the work of director, Adrian Danzig. We've caught him on stage for years, and we're excited to see what he brings to the table from the director's seat. It's our pleasure to partner up with Adventure Stage once again on a giveaway for our readers. 

Adventure Stage Chicago (ASC), a program of the Northwestern Settlement, presents its company premiere of Oliver Emanuel’s adaptation of The Adventures of Robin Hood from October 19 to November 24, 2018 (press opening Oct. 20) at the Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble Street. Physical theater expert Adrian Danzig returns to ASC to direct, following his acclaimed 2011 ASC production of 500 Clown Trapped.

Casting for the new production includes Felipe Carrasco, Gabriel Fries, and Carlyle DePriest sharing and swapping the roles of more than 20 characters during each performance!

The Adventures of Robin Hood kicks off ASC’s 15th season, which explores the many challenges of hunger, both literal and metaphorical, as the company applies its mission of telling heroic stories to the Settlement’s objective: disrupting generational poverty through education, social services and the arts.

The Adventures of Robin Hood plays at Adventure Stage Chicago at the Vittum Theater (1012 N. Noble Street, Chicago) from October 19 to November 24, 2018. Tickets are on sale now and range from $7 to $17. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit adventurestage.org or call 773-342-4141.

The Adventures of Robin Hood offers a modern twist on the medieval legend with a cast of three at the center of the story, reimagining the tale with enthusiasm, tenacity and vigor. This irreverent telling of a timeless story still pits the despicable Sheriff of Nottingham against Robin and his band of Merry Men, the haves against the have nots – but this time just three actors will bring the whole cast of characters to life. In the capable hands of director and physical theater expert Adrian Danzig (500 Clown Trapped), this production promises to be energetic and fun while still asking important questions about the line between heroism and villainy.

Artist bios:

Felipe Carrasco (Ensemble) returns to Adventure Stage Chicago for this production of Robin Hood. He was last seen at ASC in 2016, as an ensemble member of Reprise. Other recent Chicago credits include: The Madres (Teatro Vista), Harbur Gate (16th Street Theater), The Lady Demands Satisfaction (Babes with Blades Theatre Co.), Othello: The Moor of Venice (Invictus Theatre Co.), Waiting for Godot (Tympanic Theatre Co.), Pinocchio: A Folk Musical (Filament Theatre), and works with Erasing the Distance.

Gabriel Fries (Ensemble) makes his Adventure Stage Chicago debut. Chicago credits include The CiviliTy of Albert Cashier (Permoveo Productions/PFP), Do Re Mi (Porchlight Music Theatre), The Kid Thing (Nothing Without a Company), The Picture of Dorian Gray (City Lit Theater Company), Peter and the Starcatcher (E.D.G.E. Theatre), Wicked City (Chicago Theatre Workshop), and King Lear (Eleusis Productions). Gabriel has also taught theatre workshops in Italy, France, and China. He holds a BA from Wesleyan University.

Carlyle DePriest (Ensemble) makes her Adventure Stage Chicago debut. Carlyle started acting at six years old when she was introduced to William Shakespeare. She’s since gotten a degree in Acting with minors in Voice Over and Teaching Artistry from Columbia College Chicago. She has appeared on stage with Shakespeare All-Stars and Theatre on the Hill. Carlyle is also a teaching artist with the Viola Project, empowering young women by using the works of William Shakespeare.

Adrian Danzig (Director) recently began directing after many years of artistic directing and acting. Last year, he directed both The? Unicorn? Hour? (The Neo-Futurists) and the clowning at Chicago Opera Theater’s production of Rita. He’s made over a hundred shows that have been performed mostly in New York and Chicago. He was an early Neo-Futurist; a founding member of Redmoon Theater and Hubinspoke Theater; and was producing Artistic Director of 500 Clown, where he made and performed shows for hundreds of audiences over 15 years. He received his BA from Oberlin College and his MFA from the School of The Art Institute of Chicago in Performance.

Oliver Emanuel (Playwright) is based in Scotland. He was born in Kent, England, and studied at Leeds University and the University of East Anglia before settling in Glasgow in 2006. He has written for most of the major theater companies in Scotland and his work has been seen across the UK, Ireland, Europe, Canada, the USA and China. He also writes extensively for BBC radio. Emanuel’s play Dragon won Best Show for Children and Young People at the UK Theatre Awards 2014.

About Northwestern Settlement and Adventure Stage Chicago

Northwestern Settlement nurtures, educates and inspires children and families across Chicago. The Settlement’s success results from a commitment to treating every person who enters its doors with dignity and respect, while supporting them with transformational programming designed to disrupt generational poverty. The Settlement has led the way in innovative programming by offering residential science and environmental education for inner-city youth, launching successful charter schools, and adding a theater so children and teens have a forum for expressing their life experiences. For more information, visit www.northwesternsettlement.org.

The Settlement’s Adventure Stage Chicago (ASC) is one of the only theaters in Chicago to develop and present works specifically for the pre-teen and teenage audience. Adventure

Stage Chicago creates and tells heroic stories about young people in order to engage the community and inspire everyone to be a hero in their own lives. ASC also offers: Neighborhood Bridges, the in-classroom arts residency program; Trailblazers, a youth mentoring arts program; summer drama camps; and drama instruction in the Settlement’s Rowe Elementary School.

Adventure Stage Chicago is a member of IPAY (International Performing Arts for Youth), League of Chicago Theatres, Theatre Communications Group (TCG), and TYA/USA. For more information, visit www.adventurestage.org.

Win a family 4-pack of tickets ($68 Value) To The Adventures of Robin Hood valid for any public performance from Oct.27-Nov. 24. 
Enter through midnight 10/21/18.

ENTER HERE

Original Video Interview With Three of The Creative Masterminds Behind The Elephant & The Whale & Ticket Giveaway #originalvideointerview #giveaway #review #ad

ChiIL Out with ChiIL Mama.   Pop a bowl of popcorn and get ready to see something amazing.  We're so excited to bring you our original video interview with the Co-Directors of The Elephant and The Whale, Frank Maugeri (Redmoon) & Leslie Buxbaum Danzig (500 Clown) and with actor, David Catlin (Lookingglass).   All 3 are parents and theatre professionals and they graciously took time out of their busy lives for an interview with us about the show.  They also shared their insights on "How Creatives Parent and How Parents Create" for ChiIL Mama's long running series on the theme.



We generally try to keep our original videos around 15 minutes, but these three had some seriously sweet gems of info on parenting and great stuff about The Elephant and The Whale, so we're going to go ahead and run it as a longer feature.   I'll also break the material down into shorter 15 minute individual interviews at a later date, to add to our Creative Parenting series.




Win 4 Free Tickets:

ChiIL out with free tickets to Chicago Children's Theatre & Redmoon's stellar collaboration!   Our last giveaway was so successful, we're going to do it again!  Enter now through midnight on 5/14.   This giveaway is short, sweet & hard to beat.    We highly highly recommend you catch this show before it closes May 26th.

Click The Rafflecopter Link Below For Your Chance to Win 4 Tickets To The Elephant & The Whale AND a free pizza party Thurs, 5/16, 6:30 pm.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

ChiIL Live Shows caught the opening weekend of The Elephant & The Whale at Chicago Children's Theatre and we were enormously impressed by this mammoth undertaking.   We've long been fans of Redmoon's mission statement "engineering wonder" and of the fabulous physical comedy and energy of 500 Clown.   These world collided in a BIG way for this show and adults and hard to please tweens and teens will dig this one, too!   Yes, Chicago Children's Theatre is not only for the littles, my friends.   A lot of blood, sweat & prep went into this production, but the end result is pure magic.

Credit for all Production Photos Charles Osgood

Click here for ChiIL Mama's past coverage of The Elephant and The Whale including ticket links, show times and plot points as well as more show footage & stills.

Check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often for loads of original content, fabulous happenings and great giveaways.   

**Final footage footnote:  It took me longer than I'd hoped to don my editor's hat and finish the interview above.  There were so many insightful comments in the interviews that I tried to chop it to about 20 minutes for days, and finally surrendered, and decided that this needs to be published as a longer piece... at least once.
   
We also got caught up in crazy busy parenting land over here, with two kids in and out of their own performances with CircEsteem, 2 Roller Derby halftime shows, a school variety show and 2 gymnastics team showcases.   And I had a 4 day International film fest to cover, and a German filmmaker to interview.

Thanks for your patience.   It's worth the wait!   

SPECTACLE IN MINIATURE TELLS THE TALE OF A GIANT FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE LARGEST ANIMALS ON OUR PLANET, APR. 10-MAY 26 AT THE RUTH PAGE CENTER

This all-new family fable features sea voyages, wild mechanical objects, circus songs, panoramic paintings, exquisite shadow puppets and an innovative sound design. Performances through May 26, 2013 at Chicago Children's Theatre's new home, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn, Chicago.

The Elephant and The Whale is recommended for all ages.

Schedule through May 26:  Tuesday at 10 a.m.; Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.; Thursday at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Friday at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Saturday at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 2p.m. 

Run time is approximately 60 minutes with no intermission.

FREE PIZZA PARTIES ON THURSDAYS & ART PARTIES FRIDAY

As if you need any more reasons to see this show...

Note:  Family-friendly 6:30 p.m. Thursday shows are preceded with a free pizza party starting at 5:45 pm.  Thursday evenings are $25 for dinner and show. On Friday evenings, families are encouraged to kick off their weekend at the 6:30 p.m. show, and stay after for a fun post-show craft party.  Friday evenings are $25 for show and party.

  

Regular single tickets are $26 for children, $36 for adults. To purchase, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555. For discounted school, scout, playgroup, extended family and other group rates, visit GroupTix.net or call (773) 327-3778. 

Disclaimer:  Thanks to the fabulous folk at Chicago Children's Theatre for giving us family 4 packs of tickets to share with our readers.   All opinions are our own.

ACT OUT: Circus acts, book, wine and talk at City Winery!

ChiIL Live Shows will be there... will you?   We're presently working out the details, but we hope to review and run a book giveaway for our readers as well!  Of course, if you follow us much, you know we cover the local and international circus community thoroughly here at ChiIL Live Shows and our family friendly site, ChiIL Mama.   

We've done multiple features on CircEsteem, Aloft, 500 Clown and major touring acts like Cirque du Soleil, Cirque Eloise, Cirque Shanghai, Ringling Brothers, and many more as well.   In fact, my own kids who will soon be 10 & 12, have been studying circus arts for close to 3 years now and perform with CircEsteem.  Both kids have studied aerial arts including silks & trapeze.   And my daughter's also studied lyra, Chinese Pole, and Spanish Web.   They're also learning clowning, acro, unicycle, trampoline & other skills!   

We plan to shoot stills on Monday and will have a photo filled recap up shortly.  As always, nothing compares to being there.   So what are you waiting for.   Get your tickets today.

Think you know the circus? Think again. Whether it's your first time in a long time, you're a fan, or a successful circus professional, come out to celebrate the diversity & artistry of today's circus. Join us on March 11 at City Winery for Circus Now: anevening celebrating contemporary American circus and the recently released book The Ordinary Acrobat, hosted by Duncan Wall with presentations and performances from the Chicago circus community.      Join CircEsteem's Executive Director Maribeth Joy as she presents on how CircEsteem uses circus as a tool for social change.  Also performing will be CircEsteem juggling instructor, Brian Dailey and CircEsteem graduate Will McGowan. Featuring presenations by:   Maribeth Joy, Executive Director, CircEsteem      Shayna Swanson, Artistic Director, Aloft Loft Adrian Danzig, Artistic Director, 500 Clown       Joe Yonek, Director, Divine Flight Chicago AcroYoga  Matt Roben, Professional circus performer    7pm Start Time!   Tickets: $10 tickets sold online, at box office, and at the door by City Winery.

ACT OUT: 500 Clown Halloween & Beyond Special Expiring Saturday Night

Some of our all time favorites are performing for Halloween and beyond.   For a hilarious, high caliber Halloween night out for parents, we HIGHLY recommend 500 Clown Frankenstein/ Mucca Pazza and Honey Buns the 26th-28th!   Check out our prior Mucca Pazza coverage by clicking here.

We saw Honeybuns at Collaboraction a few months back and couldn't stop laughing.   His physical comedy and mental mind games  are unlike anything I've ever seen, and I see a LOT of theatre!   He messed with everyone in the audience and even ended up leading the audience out of the theatre and onto the street, like some crazed pied piper.   His raunchy, irreverent show was beyond hilarious.   Adults only.

500 Clown Frankenstein is appropriate & enjoyable for tweens and up.

$32 gets you 4 great Hours of HALLOWEEN FUN!!! The Special Offer expires this Saturday night photo Michelle Kaffko Dean Evans, Jay Torrence, Pam Chermansky, Adrian Danzig, Leah Urzendowski Here's the deal. Buy one $32 ticket and see 500 Clown Frankenstein at The Viaduct at 7:30 PM next Wednesday night. Then Bike (or drive if that's more fun for you) to The Double Door - a distance of 2.4 miles To see Mucca Pazza, and before them The J Davis Trio! Our Trailer with Their Music tickets Special Feature 500 Clown Web Journey THE VIADUCT IS LOCATED AT 3111 North Western Avenue Chicago, IL 60618  Honey BUNS!!!!!!!!!!! Dean Evans of 500 Clown Frankenstein is also performing as: Honeybuns, "The World's Greatest Mime." He opens Collaboraction's season with a revamped show that will simultaneously delight, disgust, and defy all attempts at description. Honeybuns is at the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave in Wicker Park. LAST THREE SHOWS: October 26, 27, and 28 at 8pm Read this review BUY TICKETS

Final Weekend for a Galumphing Good Time With 500 Clown Trapped at Adventure Stage

Here are some of our fun shots from Trapped.   Of course, we're a bit limited as we can only shoot the post show-Q & A and ice cream after party and not the actual show, but the 500 Clown trio are still pretty colorful characters-even in relax mode.    


We had the great pleasure to check out Trapped at Adventure Stage, 500 Clown's first ever show for kids.   It was a galumphing, cavorting, improvisational implosion of fun.   We even got in on a free ice cream after party, a regular occurrence at Adventure Stage that had my son resembling a Blue Tongued Skink.


What...Did my use of galumphing have you groping for Google?   It's really the most appropriate word that came exploding into my brain during Trapped.    Back in my college theatre days, Free Play: Improvisation in Life and Art by Stephen Nachmanovitch was (and still is) one of my favorite books.    Here's his take on the word:


Anthropologists have found “galumphing” to be one of the prime talents that characterize higher life forms. Galumphing is the immaculate rambunctiousness and seemingly inexhaustible play-energy apparent in puppies, kittens, children, baby baboons – and also in young communities and civilizations. Galumphing is the seemingly useless elaboration and ornamentation of activity. It is profligate, excessive, exaggerated, and uneconomical. 


We galumph when we hop instead of walk, when we take the scenic route instead of the efficient one, when we play a game whose rules demand a limitation of our powers, when we are interested in means rather than in ends. We voluntarily create obstacles in our path and then enjoy overcoming them. In the higher animals and in people, it is of supreme evolutionary value. 

 photo by Johnny Knight

Oh yes. THIS is what the trio, known as 500 Clown, does so well in Trapped.   I've seen plenty of adults doing children's theatre over the years, who try to play like children, with varying degrees of success.   500 Clown nailed it, wrapped it in caution tape, and took it to a whole new level.   

photo by Johnny Knight

Could it be because mastermind, maestro clown, Adrian (AKA:  Bruce), is also the father of two young sons and has a front row seat to authentic child's play on a daily basis?

I thoroughly enjoyed Trapped, as I've been a sucker for improv since I discovered Chicagoan Viola Spolin's improv games in a high school class.    Back in the late 80's I even founded an improv troupe at Miami University that's still going strong 24 years later.   And it's this grand tradition that 500 Clown continues-bringing acting games, obstacles and challenges to the stage as performance instead of just practice.   That's really what Trapped is at the core...one big improv game.    Find your YES, indeed.   It's also a whole (or is that HOLE?) lot of fun.


I've been a fan of 500 Clown's adult pieces like 500 Clown Frankenstein and 500 Clown Macbeth for years, and we did see some of the cast in Chicago Children's Theatre's Go Dog Go, a few years back as well.   In fact, if there was any minor disappointment with Trapped, it's that there wasn't more of the gasp inducing scaffolding work and multi level gymnastic feats, we've come to love and expect.    I'd love to see Trapped remounted within a life sized game of Mousetrap.


That said, the family did enjoy the production.   500 Clown expertly pulls the audience in and breaks down the 3rd wall by literally climbing up and over the audience, scaling the seating like a mountain.   They grab our attention early with a madcap parade full of booming drums and wacky costumes, and they don't let go.   Then they involve everyone in their multilevel mental and physical escape escapades.  


    

photo by Johnny Knight

Be sure to stay for the Q & A-one of the coolest ongoing features of all Adventure Stage productions.    You can find out how old the characters were when each began acting, ask burning questions about the show, or offer your own creative suggestions.


We all hope this is just the first of many more family friendly 500 Clown pieces to come.   Trapped is highly recommended.   Catch 'em before they escape.

500 Clown and Adventure Stage Chicago proudly present the world premiere of 500 CLOWN TRAPPED, conceived by 500 Clown Producing Artistic Director Adrian Danzig and directed by Paola Coletto.

Experience 500 Clown's signature mix of daring physicality, tricky sets, raw emotion and powerful storytelling! Starting the show in the guise of musicians, three clowns explore what it truly means to be trapped...and to be set free. Who sets these traps? Who benefits from them? Are they even real? Using slapstick mishaps, vaudevillian turns and untiring resilience, the clowns struggle to move beyond their own limitations as they search for the answers they need. Recommended for all ages.

Adrian Danzig was driven to create 500 CLOWN TRAPPED because 500 Clown has been asked for a decade if it does children's shows, and the answer has always been a resounding NO. But at a certain point, the 500 Clown members began to ask themselves...why not? Why not create a show specifically aimed at breaking the boundaries of age-based theater? (Why not humbly and excitedly stand atop the awesome shoulders of Looney Tunes, Chaplin and Keaton?) These questions, combined with a deep inquiry into the roots of traditional red-nose clown, are the foundation for this new work.

The partnership between 500 Clown and Adventure Stage Chicago sprang from a mutual affinity between two men as people, parents and artists. Mr. Danzig and Adventure Stage Producing Artistic Director Tom Arvetis first met as fathers in a cooperative child care center, so creative parenting and playful learning are at the heart of their relationship. The huge knowledge and high level of integrity that Adventure Stage has about shows for younger audiences provided 500 Clown a perfect opportunity for collaboration and experimentation.

In addition to writing 500 CLOWN TRAPPED, Adrian Danzig also serves as the show’s scenic designer and appears as a performer alongside Timothy Heck and Leah Urzendowski. Stage management is provided by Clare Roche, with lighting design by Lee Keenan and costume design by Erin Cook. The show is directed by Paola Coletto.

500 CLOWN TRAPPED was commissioned by The College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University and is partly supported by The Boeing Company and an Access to Artistic Excellence grant from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA). This is Adventure Stage’s fourth NEA grant in the last seven years.

*Show Guide

Adventure Stage's Education Department produces a Learning Guide for all of their productions. This guide includes fun background information about the show, pre-show and post-show discussion questions, as well as art and language activities. While they primarily make it for educators, they think parents should check it out as well. Click here to join the fun!

Acting Out-Best of Chicago's Theatre Scene

We're devoting a giant chunk of today to theatre.   It's one of the best reasons to live in or near Chicago, and we just can't get enough.   Of course the shear number of choices can be daunting when you only have a little time and thousands of shows going on.    We'll give you a short list of our current favorites right here, and in depth reviews today, too, then tell you to get outta the house and off your computer and go see a show!

Ending:

We checked out opening night last night and will have a fun, photo filled recap up today.   This is a 3 night run only, so order your tickets before they sell out, and high tail it on over to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum for Redmoon's first ever youth spectacle.   Redmoon Theatre's esoteric yet accessible take on the world is all over this magical, kid-centric show.   

REDMOON YOUTH SPECTACLE 2011 Redmoon Theater at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum,  2430 N. Cannon Dr., Chicago Audiences of all ages from diverse Chicago neighborhoods will gather to witness a major cultural event designed, authored, built and performed by the young people of Chicago at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Produced by Chicago's acclaimed large-scale spectacle theater company, Redmoon, the first-ever 'Youth Spectacle' will give Chicagoans a fantastical glimpse into the way local youth experience and interpret the natural world every day. Check out Hot Tixs for a great deal on tickets HALF-PRICE TICKETS THIS WEEK: Thursday 6:00pm $5.00 buy now or at Hot Tix outlet Thursday 8:00pm $5.00 buy now or at Hot Tix outlet   Friday 6:00pm $5.00 buy now or at Hot Tix outlet Friday 7:00pm $5.00 buy now or at Hot Tix outlet Friday 8:00pm $5.00 buy now or at Hot Tix outlet

500 Clown  Trapped One weekend remains for 500 Clown Trapped! The Saturday show at 2:00 is sold out, but there are still tickets for Friday and Saturday at 7:00. Don't miss this amazing production!   Head on over to Adventure Stage and check 'em out.   Click here for more info!  ALL TICKETS $35*   Final 3 weeks-Must close June 5th Click HERE and use code TRUCKER when ordering. Check out ChiIL Mama's review HERE.

DON'T MISS THE SHOW THAT CRITICS ARE RAVING ABOUT! 

"HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!"
-Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times

"REMARKABLE!  1/2 stars (out of 4)
MOVING & FRESH!"
-Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

“WORKING will make you proud to be a Chicagoan!”
-Paul Lisnek, Comcast Network

800-775-2000

Tickets available at any Broadway In Chicago Box Office.
Special Group Pricing Available for 15+ 312-977-1710
*Offer valid on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday evenings only. Not valid on premium seating, with any other offer or on previously purchased tickets. Normal ticketing fees apply. Subject to availability. Other restrictions may apply. Offer ends at the close of business on Friday, June 3.

Extended:

Did you all watch 190North on May 8? If not, click here to get a behind-the-scenes look at the show!

"AN AWFULLY BIG ADVENTURE"

threesixty entertainment, in association with Broadway In Chicago, is excited to announce a unique event – a spectacular new production of J M Barrie’s classic story, PETER PAN, at the Chicago Tribune Freedom Center. Conceived by an award-winning creative team, the SMASH HIT Peter Pan features twenty-two actors, stunning puppets, epic music and dazzling flying sequences surrounded by breathtaking video projection using the world’s first 360-degree CGI theater set. Both cast and audience fly over Edwardian London. Performed in a state-of-the-art theater pavilion, this magical new “in-the-round” production of Peter Pan is an extraordinary experience for the whole family. 

Tickets for PETER PAN and Into Neverland are also available through Ticketmaster.

“A VISUALLY DAZZLING, LONDON-BORN PRODUCTION 

OF J M BARRIE’S PETER PAN.” 

- Wall Street Journal 

“THE WORLD’S FIRST FULLY 360-DEGREE PROJECTED MOVIE FOR LIVE THEATRE.” 

-Time Out

ADD TO THE MAGIC!

NEVERLAND CRUISE: Travel in style along the Chicago River to see PETER PAN, a spectacular new production based on the classic story by J M Barrie. On select nights, sail along Chicago's newly renovated Riverwalk to Neverland. Package includes cruise to and from the Freedom Center aboard Chicago’s Little Lady and price level 1 ticket to PETER PAN. Don't miss what the Wall Street Journal calls "a visually dazzling, London-born production." 

Click here for the details. 

INTO NEVERLAND: Begin your journey in the Pavilion, our foyer tent, and learn about J M Barrie, the story behind Peter Pan, and its 100-year theatrical and cinematic history. Take a tour of the extraordinary THREESIXTY° THEATRE. Watch video interviews with the creative team. Access exclusive information about the cast and the production, including the 360° CGI Technology. The tour is hosted exclusively by our very own cast members - Fridays at 5 pm! 

Click here to buy.

Dixie's Tupperware Party
Check out ChiIL Mama's video interview with Dixie, tupperware lady, and character extrordinare.   And check out our review of her smash hit, Off Broadway show, now extended an additional 4 weeks at The Royal George Theatre!



Beginning:

Watership Down at Lifeline Theatre

April 29 – June 19, 2011 Thu & Fri at 7:30pm, Sat at 4pm & 8pm, Sun at 4pm

"The novel’s message of empathy for the nonhuman world remains alarmingly relevant, and its tale of survival against the odds compelling, especially in this well-wrought production."  –Time Out Chicago

"Lifeline Theatre's brilliant production captures the epic sprawl and driving suspense of its source... In fact, Lifeline tops Adams's signature feat of delivering well-defined, often affecting characters who are--you know--rabbits"  –Chicago Reader 

When their birthplace is destroyed, brothers Hazel and Fiver lead a misfit band of survivors on a quest for a new home. Confronted with insurmountable dangers on all sides, the refugees must join forces with unexpected allies and conquer their deepest fears in order to endure. Join a pair of unlikely leaders in the journey of a lifetime, in this unforgettable story of survival against impossible odds. A stirring adventure, re-imagined for the Lifeline stage by the award-winning adaptor and director of Johnny Tremain.

*Recommended for ages 10 and up.

A world premiere based on the contemporary bestseller by Richard Adams
Adapted by John Hildreth
Directed by Katie McLean Hainsworth

One Show Only:

Get a sneak peek at some of Chicago's most exciting new works of circus art!  This next installment of the Actors Gymnasium performance series focuses on the development of new acts.  Professionals from the Chicagoland circus community will be featured as well as advanced students from The Actors Gymnasium's own classes.

One Show Only!

Saturday May 28, 2011

7:30pm

The Actors Gymnasium

927 Noyes Street, Evanston

Tickets: $10

Tickets are available through

Brown Paper Tickets 

online or by calling

1-800-838-3006.

These guys offer aerial classes for adults and children.    Check out their web site for details.

Guess Who's Stopping In Before They Take Off on Summer Tours?  Yup! You guessed it! The Circus Cats of Chicago Featuring the Amazing Acrocats The fantastic felines will perform at Gorilla Tango Theatre Saturday, June 4, 2011 at 2pm and 4pm! The Amazing Acro-Cats will perform their usual feats of agility pushing carts, riding skateboards, rolling barrels, ringing bells, turning on lights, walking tight ropes, jumping through hoops, knockabout acts and much more! These furry funambulists, aerialists and Pongers are no “dog and pony show” but real troupers! ADVANCE PURRRRRRCHASE HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Tickets are $18; click HERE for more info and to purchase tickets or call 773-598-4549. Gorilla Tango Theatre - 1919 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago IL, 60647

Celebrating:

That's Weird Grandma
Barrel of Monkey's long running, Monday night show, is neither beginning nor ending, but they are celebrating.   Like Broadway in Chicago and CircEsteem, they, too, are celebrating the big one oh!   April marked the 10 year anniversary of That's Weird Grandma.   It's rare for a show to run for a decade, so you can rest assured these guys are truly funny and well worth checking out.   We have loads of show photos and a video interview for you this month.    


If you read our "interconnected piece" a few weeks back, you'll remember that Anthony, Barrel of Monkey cast member, also teaches our kids at CircEsteem and choreographed Du-Jay's clown routine.   He's also married to one of the 500 Clown trio, currently wrapping up at Adventure Stage.    Tom, the Producing Artistic Director at the helm of Adventure Stage is a former Monkey, serendipitously sat next to us at Peter Pan, and enrolled his twin daughters in the same preschool Sagezilla attended 5 years ago with kids of actors and creative higher ups at 500 Clown, Lookingglass, The House Theatre, and The Curious Theatre Branch, among others.  Confused yet?   The coinkidink vortex of theatre in Chi Town spins on.


Over but awesome:

CircEsteem's Spring Circus was amazing.   We'll have a photo filled recap for you very soon, and video clips shortly thereafter.   If the show inspired you to take up aerial arts or clown around more, summer camp is coming.   If you want more circus in your kids' lives, sign ups are going on now.    You're never too old to learn new tricks.   If it's you who wants more circus in your life, stop living vicariously through your kids and do something fun for yourself.   Fall brings adult circus classes at CircEsteem as well.


The other great thing you can do is buy benefit tickets to Cirque du Soleil's OVO (details below under Save the date)

Hair rocked our world and we're sad it was such a short run here in Chi-Town.   If you're one of our national readers and the Broadway version of Hair is coming your way, go already.    It's an award winning revival piece and a great night out.   When I first got tickets I wanted to take my 10 year old son, but remembering the sex and drug laden song lyrics, I hesitated.    I revisited the soundtrack and put the dilemma to an on line parenting group and school parents we know well.    The results were some interesting, thought provoking takes on the issue and we'll have an in depth article published soon.

Save the date:

Thursday, Jul 14, 2011

Cirque du Soleil's OVO

8:00 PM
United Center
1902 W. Madison
Chicago, IL

CircEsteem and Cirque du Soleil have partnered in raising money to benefit CircEsteem since 2005.  Through this partnership CircEsteem has raised over $75,000 through the sale of tickets to Cirque du Soleil shows here in Chicago.  This year, Cirque du Soleil has generously donated 450 tickets for OVO, their latest touring show.   Through the sale of these tickets, CircEsteem can raise over $50,000 with 100% of the ticket price going directly to support CircEsteem’s work with at risk youth in the Chicago area. A portion of the ticket price is also tax deductible.  Please consider purchasing a ticket and supporting the work of CircEsteem. Download the OVO order form.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater Presents World Premiere Family Musical The Adventures of Pinocchio A CST Family Commission by Drama Desk Award Nominees Neil Bartram and Brian Hill July 13 through August 28, 2011 Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) presents the world premiere family musical The Adventures of Pinocchio from July 13 to August 28, 2011. Based on Carlo Collodi's classic tale of a wooden puppet who yearns to be a real boy, this original CST Family commission will turn CST's Courtyard Theater stage into a larger-than-life, European-style marionette theater. Created by multiple Drama Desk Award-nominated team Neil Bartram(music/lyrics) and Brian Hill (book), The Adventures of Pinocchio is directed by Rachel Rockwell, who returns to CST after staging last summer's world premiere CST Family musical The Emperor's New Clothes.  Tickets for The Adventures of Pinocchio from July 13 to August 28, 2011, in CST's Courtyard Theater are $18-$25 with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more. All patrons receive a 40% parking discount at Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at  www.chicagoshakes.com. *Six Degrees of Separation Alert:   The Adventures of Pinocchio's  Puppetry Designer, Meredith Miller, was featured by ChiIL Mama HERE.   She can be seen every Thursday night in the magical basement parlour of The House Theatre, with more amazing puppets and quirky hats that she's designed. Adventure Stage has also announced their upcoming season and we're looking forward to Walk Two Moons.

Fall 2011 

Walk Two Moons 

Adapted for the stage by Tom Arvetis (ASC's Producing Artistic Director)

Based on the novel by Sharon Creech
Directed by Matthew Reeder

November 5 - December 8, 2011  "Don't judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins." Click here for more information.