Act Out: Theatre Top List For Families & Holiday

Tis the season...for great theatre.    Tickets make a great clutter buster gift idea.   And shows keep visiting relatives entertained and conversation entertaining.   We'll have full reviews up soon, but we're running out the door for yet another show.   So, for the moment, here's our short list of the best productions currently playing.

Family Friendly/Holiday:

  

CircEsteem Winter Circus--2 days only-this Saturday and Sunday-Check out our prior coverage and show details here.

A Christmas Story The Musical at Chicago Theatre--We caught opening night and the show was fantastic and exceeded our expectations.   The kids had such fun with the production I want to return with MY parents, too!   Check out our past coverage, including sneak peek rehearsal footage of some of the best song/dance numbers in the production! 

Click here for our original interview with the director, Tony Award winner, John Rando & The Major Award Song.

Click here for ChiIL Mama's interview with child lead, Ralphie, and his little brother, played by Clarke Hallum and Matthew Lewis & The Ralphie to The Rescue Song

Click here for ChiIL Mama's interview with Chicago actor Gene Weygandt who plays Jean Shepherd/Narrator and local kids in the cast

Burning Bluebeard at TMLMTBGB (Neo-Futurarium)--Highly recommended!   We caught this sold out show Thursday night and were completely blown away.   We'll have a full review up tomorrow.   Advanced tickets strongly encouraged.    Here's a bit of our prior coverage.   This dark comedy was a multilayered gift where the best intentions go horribly awry and a proudly, loudly proclaimed fireproof theatre erupts in flames.   The 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire still stands as the worst single building fire disaster in history.   

My kids (8 & 10) were enthralled, especially since their circus clowning teacher played Bluebeard, and his real life wife played his wife.   The kids were familiar with her work in 500 Clown-Trapped.   As always, if your kids are sensitive or you prefer not to expose them to intense subject matter, then parents are cautioned to see it first or at least read up on the production in advance, before you make the call on bringing the littles.   Kids are welcome, but the theme is intense, and more appropriate for tweens and up.   The disaster is tastefully handled, with lots of humor, physical comedy and poetic revery.   And we loved the juxtaposition of the past with nods to current disasters like the haunting version of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" that opens the show and the quirky lip sinc to Amy Winehouse's Rehab song.

The Nutcracker-House Theatre Highly recommended alternative-dark-non ballet version.   Check out our show review and past coverage here.

The Nutcracker-Joffrey Ballet  Highly recommended, elaborate, traditional ballet version, with an updated flair.  #1 Nutcracker in the Nation.   Check out our interview with Chicago area kids in the cast and our dress rehearsal footage.

A Christmas Story The Musical: Interview With The Director & Major Award Song

We're wrapping up our big count down to The Chicago Theatre opening of A Christmas Story the Musical with our interview with Tony Award winning Director, John Rando.   We had a blast talking with him, since worked on Urinetown, with our friends, playwright, Greg Kotis (and his wife, author & illustrator, Ayun Halliday--Chi Town theatre folk from TMLMTBGB, back in the day.)    John was happy to expound on A Christmas Story the Musical for us.   He is also the father of a 10 year old son, so he got in on our long running "How Creatives Parent and How Parents Create" line of questioning as well.

Lastly, we bring you one of our all time favorite song/dance numbers from the rehearsals--Major Award (or the leg lamp dance).   We are beyond stoked to see it live, tomorrow night at The Chicago Theatre!   One of ChiIL Mama's lucky readers will be there to see it as well.    She was so excited to win 4 tickets and wrote to us that A Christmas Story is her all time favorite movie and she can't wait to see the show.   We may still be counting down to Christmas, but for those who are eagerly counting down to opening night in Chi-Town, the wait is almost over.   This time tomorrow night, A Christmas Story will very nearly be here!

In the mean time, check out ChiIL Mama's sneak peek rehearsal footage of the lamp dance--the fabulously funny, Major Award song from 2 weeks into the rehearsal process.   We can't wait to see how the piece has evolved.   Enjoy!




Here's the show details:
  
Tony Award-winning John Rando (Urinetown, The Wedding Singer).  Warren Carlyle (Follies, Finian’s Rainbow), previously announced as the director and choreographer for A Christmas Story, The Musical!, had to bow out as director due to a scheduling conflict (Hugh Jackman on Broadway) but remains on the creative team as choreographer.   Celebrated dance arranger Glen Kelly (The Book of Mormon, Scottsboro Boys) adds to the creative team. A Christmas Story, The Musical! features a bright holiday score by composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Joseph Robinette based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and the 1983 holiday film favorite.

After garnering rave reviews in last season’s production at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre, Clarke Hallum and John Bolton (Spamalot, Contact, Titanic) return to A Christmas Story, The Musical! as Ralphie and The Old Man.   Matthew Lewis also returns as little brother Randy. New to the production are Gene Weygandt (Wicked, Big) as Jean Shepherd/ Narrator and Rachel Bay Jones (Women on The Verge…, Hair) as The Mother.
 
A Christmas Story, The Musical! culminates a six-city national tour at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State Street, December 14-30, 2011. The national tour included engagements in Hershey, PA (Hershey Theatre, Nov. 8 – 13); Detroit, MI (Fisher Theatre, Nov. 15 – 27); Raleigh, NC (Memorial Auditorium, Nov. 29 – Dec. 4); and Tampa, FL (Straz Center, Dec. 6-11).

John Rando’s Broadway credits include The Wedding Singer, Urinetown (Tony Award for Best Director), The Dinner Party and A Thousand Clowns. His other credits include The Toxic Avenger at New World Stages and Polish Joke at Manhattan Theatre Club. For Encores! Rando has directed On the Town, Damn Yankees, Face the Music, Strike Up the Band, Do Re Mi, The Pajama Game and Of Thee I Sing.
 
“We are thrilled to have the remarkable John Rando on board as director of A Christmas Story, The Musical! and we are thrilled that Warren Carlyle will continue to be a part of our team as choreographer,” says producer Gerald Goehring. “With John and Warren at the helm, we have auditioned hundreds of actors across the country and online and are thrilled to have assembled the start of what promises to be an extraordinary ensemble. Both Clarke Hallum and John Bolton stopped the show with their incredible performances in the Seattle production and we’re thrilled to have them back on board for our 2011 tour.”
 
The story from a cherished movie classic that’s enchanted millions is now a musical spectacular. In 1940’s Indiana, a bespectacled boy named Ralphie has a big imagination and one wish for Christmas—a Red Ryder BB Gun. A kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a cranky department store Santa, and a triple-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the obstacles that stand between Ralphie and his Christmas dream. Produced by the film’s original Ralphie, Peter Billingsley, A Christmas Story, The Musical! is a holiday entertainment that captures a simpler time in America with delicious
wit and a heart of gold.
 
A Christmas Story, The Musical! features scenic design by Walt Spangler (Desire Under the Elms); costume design by Elizabeth Hope Clancy (Passing Strange, The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?); lighting design by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (Jersey Boys, Memphis); orchestrations by 2011 Tony nominee Larry Blank (Catch Me If You Can); musical supervision by Ian Eisendrath (5th Avenue Theatre’s Sunday In The Park With George, West Side Story); dance arrangements by Glen Kelly (The Book of Mormon, Scottsboro Boys), and casting by Stephanie Klapper (Dividing the Estate, The Tempermentals) Peter Billingsley joins commercial producers Gerald Goehring (Frankenstein: The Musical), Roy Miller (West Side Story revival, The Drowsy Chaperone), Michael Mitri (Frankenstein: The Musical), Pat Addiss (Promises, Promises; Spring Awakening), Louise Beard, Michael Filerman, Mariano Tolentino, Tim Laczynski, Bartner/ Jenkins Entertainment, Angela Milonas and Bradford W. Smith. The Chicago engagement of A Christmas Story, The Musical! is presented by  Madstone Productions and Patriot Productions.
 
Performance schedule and tickets
The performance schedule for A Christmas Story, The Musical! at The Chicago Theatre, Dec. 14 – 30, is as follows: Wednesday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 15, at 3 and 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 16, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 18, at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m. ; Wednesday, Dec. 21 at 3 and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 22, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday Dec. 23, at 11 a.m. and 7:30 pm.; Saturday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve), at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 26, at 3 and 7:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 27, at 3 and 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 28, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 29, at 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, Dec. 30, at 3 and 7:30 p.m.
 
Tickets range from $35-$79, with Premium tickets also available. Tickets are now on sale for A Christmas Story, The Musical! at The Chicago Theatre box office, 175 N. State Street, by visiting http://www.thechicagotheatre.com/  or calling 1-800-745-3000. Group discounts are available by calling Group Theater Tix at 312-423-6612.

A Christmas Story The Musical: Chicago Locals in the Cast Including Gene Weygandt and 3 Eleven Year Olds!

ChiIL Mama was elated to get to chat with Chicago locals in A Christmas Story The Musical.   We had a great interview with three 11 year olds and renowned Chi-Town actor and dad, Gene Weygandt.    He was a familiar face as we'd just seen him in Working and Wicked.    He was also a prime candidate for our ongoing series of interview questions on "How Creatives Parent and How Parents Create", since he has a 13 year old son at home. (*Apologies for the background noise.   All 3 of my regular sound guys and back ups were on other shoots, so I had to run with the camera mic, and the press can be a chatty crowd!)

When we interviewed these Chicago natives, they were just 2 weeks into the rehearsal process, here in town, and about to embark on a whirlwind adventure of a tour.    Now, they've been living their parts since just before Halloween, a full two months before Christmas, and they're coming back home again to bring us into the holiday home stretch.   A Christmas Story The Musical opens tomorrow at The Chicago Theatre, for a two week run, through Dec. 30th.   Enjoy!

A Christmas Story The Musical: Ralphie to the Rescue Song & Interview With Ralphie & His Brother

Ralphie to the Rescue is one of our favorite songs in the whole show.  Our kids are already enthusiastically singing it, and we can't wait to see it on the big stage at The Chicago Theatre.  ChiIL Mama caught a rehearsal of A Christmas Story the musical in Chicago, exactly 2 months before Christmas and two weeks into the rehearsal process.  The rest of the country was counting down to Halloween, but the cast was in their own dual holiday version of A Nightmare Before Christmas, with A Christmas Story by day and Halloween decor by night. 
  
Since then, they've been on a 6 city tour and have come full circle, back to Chicago again.   A Christmas Story the musical is set to open at The Chicago Theatre tomorrow night!  It was such fun to catch a sneak peek, early in the production and interview Ralphie and his brother, a number of Chicago kids, Gene who plays Jean/the narrator, who is also a Chicago native, and the Tony Award winning director.

We'll be airing all of those interviews and another big song and dance number (hint:  it involves leg lamps!) today, as we count down to opening night 12/14/11!    We'll have a full review after tomorrow, but based on our sneak peek and reviews from the run so far, we're super stoked to see the show, and highly recommend getting your tickets before they sell out.

Check out our interview with two talented kids from Seattle who play brothers in the show.   This is the first touring show for both of them, and word is they're not only holding their own, but thoroughly entertaining and impressing audiences!

Interview With Ralphie-Clarke Hallum & his little brother-Matthew Lewis 

 

 

A Christmas Story The Musical: Producer & Director's Intros & Rehearsal of Counting Down to Christmas Song

ChiIL Mama was thrilled to be invited to observe and video tape the rehearsal of A Christmas Story The Musical.   They're set to open at The Chicago Theatre this Wednesday, the 14th, and we are indeed counting down the days to Christmas.    We're also eagerly counting down the days till A Christmas Story opens.   We'll be there opening night and have a full review for you.   For now, we're counting down the days till the show opens with our family 4 pack ticket give away for 1 of our lucky readers, and loads of exclusive video footage.


 
We have original interviews with the Tony Award winning director, adult and kid actors from the Chicago area, and the child leads from Seattle.   We also have fabulous early rehearsal footage from some of the big song and dance numbers.  Back when the rest of the country was in Halloween mode, this dedicated cast was already living their own version of A Nightmare Before Christmas, with holiday cheer all day and spooky, October decor by night.    

We were fortunate to get a sneak peek just 2 week into the rehearsal process, and exactly 2 months before Christmas, and can't wait to see how the show has grown and evolved when they open here in two days.   When we spoke to the actors, they were just about to embark on a 6 city tour.   Now they've come full circle and are back to where it all began in October, to finish out their run and bring us to the big day itself!   The show runs here December 14th-30th.


Tomorrow we'll announce our ticket winner on Free Ticket Tuesday.   And we'll have a day full of fun footage.   So check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.

Enjoy!

Last Day To Enter--4 Free Tickets To A Christmas Story The Musical, CircEsteem Winter Circus, & Shayna Sings

 

Cast kids-A Christmas Story The Musical-hangin' out 2 weeks into rehearsal.   Photo credit ChiILMama.com-all photos.

 Cast kids-A Christmas Story The Musical-Checkin' out the script. 

Cast kids-A Christmas Story The Musical-Opening at Chicago Theatre this Wednesday.  

Remember, entries end tonight at midnight, for your chance to win one of THREE great family 4 pack of tickets ChiIL Mama's giving away tomorrow on Free Ticket Tuesday.   Click here for all the show details.

We have 4 Free Tickets To A Christmas Story The Musical, CircEsteem Winter Circus, & Shayna Sings at Beat Kitchen.     
**Enter here for your chance to win!**

 

Sponsored by

3 Holidaze Give Aways In One Place-Enter Here To Win!

HOLIDAZE GIFT GUIDE & GIVE AWAYS 
Holidays can be hectic, so ChiIL Mama wants to make it easy for you to ChiIL Out and relax.   Here are our THREE give aways running right now, in one easy place to enter.   We have a GINORMOUS HOLIDAZE GIFT GUIDE & GIVE AWAYS that will be growing frequently between now and December 15th, and will include DVDs for adult/older kid music lovers, loads of kindie (kids' indie CDs), 6 adult CDs, DS games, An $80 PopCaps Games Download Bonanza, Books, Toys and Games!   Entries are accepted nationwide.   

*Remember, to check in with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often!   We'll be adding more great give aways to the list frequently. You can share by social media for additional daily entries on any items on the list.   So make your wish list and check it twice.




We also have 2 Rafflecopter Giveaways for Chicago area 4 packs of tickets to some sweet shows!!   2 winners are picked weekly.  Check it out below.   Mandatory entry-let me know which tickets you are interested in.   Both is a valid choice.   Then tell me what music you like to rock out to as a family, and you're in.   Follows by RSS, Twitter, posts to FB, following ChiIL Mama's YouTube are optional but result in xtra chances.   You can share on Social Media for xtra entries daily.   Good luck!

This week we have 4 tickets AND brunch for 4 at Schubas for Gustafer Yellowgold and 4 tickets to Mary Macaroni at Beat Kitchen!  Winners will be announced on Free Ticket Tuesday 12/6.  

These next two winners will be announced the following week on 12/13.   Click the link here for that Rafflecopter form, and your chance at a family 4 pack to A Christmas Story The Musical at Chicago Theatre and Shayna Sings at Beat Kitchen.   Good luck!

4 Free Tickets To A Christmas Story The Musical, Gustafer Yellowgold & Brunch, Mary Macaroni & Shayna Sings

 

Tickets are an excellent clutter busting gift idea for the holidays.   We'll get you started with weekly free 4 packs to a bunch of family friendly shows.   Enter below for your chance to win.   We'll be running rehearsal footage from A Christmas Carol The Musical and interviews with the director and Chicago kids and adults in the cast.   So come ChiIL Out with ChiIL Mama this holiday season and be sure to check back like we vote in Chi, IL...early and often.

Click the link for THIS week's Free Ticket Tuesday Give Aways
4 Tickets to Gustafer Yellowgold at Schubas AND Brunch for 4!
4 Tickets to Mary Macaroni at Beat Kitchen Concerts for Kids 

Then enter below for next week's Family 4 Packs of Tickets to 
A Christmas Story The Musical
Shayna Sings at Beat Kitchen