ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List
A hopeful evening of original songs, giant puppets, live music, delightful devices, and spectacle images.
*Great for ages 10 and up*
ChiIL Mama's Adventures at Sea Change
By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara
It was my great pleasure to catch the press opening/final dress of Cabinet of Curiosity's Sea Change. It's our first in person performance after sixteen months of Chicago area theaters going dark, and what a welcome sea change it is. This production is pure magic with a soaring score, magnificent giant puppets, and kooky comic relief from an agoraphobic sailor and a recuperating sea gull. There's action, gorgeous new songs, and a timely message of change and forward motion from a time of quarantine to socializing. We love that Sea Change is predominantly written and performed by women and heralds a time when our society has the chance for a new beginning and a major shift from glorifying toxic masculinity to embracing the feminine divine. There's nothing like theatre to help us process collective trauma and forge a better way forward.
We're so excited at the massive talent collaborating on this show, the theme, and the opportunity to finally gather in person for a production again. Most of the writers, directors, cast and crew are acclaimed regulars on the Chicago scene, and we're elated to catch long time favorites in new roles like actors as playwrights and song writers. Sea Change indeed. Don't miss this!
ChiIL Tips: Street parking is at a premium so leave lots of lead time to circle around. There are porta potties on site, but you might want to take care of that in advance if possible too. Masks are not required for those who are vaccinated, and we felt like the outdoor local and pod seating was fairly covid safe. That said, if you're cautious, at risk or prone to anxiety we'd suggest bringing a mask and sanitizer. It's not 100% possible to social distance in an audience.
Visually stunning, fabulously fun, in person puppetry and theatre returns with action, humor, and a timely message on bravely leaving your safe space. All Photos by Dugan Kenaz-Mara & Bonnie Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com & ChiILLiveShows.com. Check it out HERE.
We're also fascinated by the process of theatre. It's astonishing to see the world building and the melding of so many creative components that merge to make stories come to life on stage. I was thrilled to be invited to Cabinet of Curiosity's new warehouse rehearsal space to shoot sneak peek photos with my son, Dugan.
Things move fast in the land of Chicago theatre productions and what a difference one week makes! Last Thursday we got a sneak peek, behind the scenes, and at that point, Frank, the director, was asking "how long and high will the whale be so we know where to place the boxes". The mermaid needed neck reinforcement, the jellyfish were still just a concept.
During our visit, choreography was just evolving, and the cast was beginning to work with the first finished puppets. Hannah Jablonski and Brandon Boler (who's set to direct Cabinet of Curiosity's next production) were feverishly building, painting, & moving sets. And Lindsey Noel Whiting was out with a bad cough, but called in to rehearsal to answer questions and give stellar insight regardless.
Sea Change Rehearsal/Set Building: We love to see the process that goes into building a show. All Photos by Dugan Kenaz-Mara & Bonnie Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com & ChiILLiveShows.com.
The night we caught the press opening, multitalented singer/actor/writer Bethany Thomas sat behind us in the audience. She's been a long time favorite of ours on stage and just released her first solo album that we've been thoroughly enjoying. Check it out https://bethanythomas.bandcamp.com.
Follow
Cabinet of Curiosity to see what's next, and check out the bios below for the talented team behind Sea Change, to see where you might find them on a regular basis once live shows come back again.
Bonnie Kenaz-Mara is a Chicago based writer, theater critic, photographer, videographer, actress, artist and Mama. She owns two websites where she publishes frequently: ChiILLiveShows.com (adult) & ChiILMama.com (family friendly).
Cabinet of Curiosity is proud to present Sea Change, an outdoor celebration exploring the power of the sea and the feminine divine. It is a series of wild, strange, lovely puppet shows written by emerging female playwrights and lyricists Liz Chidester, Kasey Foster, Bethany Thomas, and Lindsey Noel Whiting, with original musical compositions by Manae Hammond and Charlie Otto, additional text by Seth Bockley, and the searcher performed by Time Brickey. Giant puppets, mechanical devices, and original, live music weave together to create an evening of pageantry, puppetry, wonder and hope.
“Whale Song” by Lindsey Noel Whiting: A brief musical not about a man obsessed with killing a whale.
“A Mermaid’s Tail (If There’s a God)” by Bethany Thomas, with music and lyrics by Liz Chidester: The story of a mermaid, at "the end of her tail," grappling with existence in a world imagined by men.
“More” by Kasey Foster: A shark caught in a feeding frenzy gets some sound advice from The Moon.
“The Lookout” by Seth Bockley: It’s lonely up in the crow’s nest, but you can see the future and the past. And if you’re lucky a bird might keep you company.
Production Details:
Sea Change
July 15 – July 25
Wednesdays at 8:15pm
Thursdays at 8:15pm
Fridays at 8:15pm
Saturdays at 2pm and 8:15pm
Sundays at 2pm and 8:15pm
Writers: Lindsey Noel Whiting, Kasey Foster, Bethany Thomas, Liz Chidester, and Seth Bockley
Director: Frank Maugeri
Designer: Shawn Ketchum Johnson
Puppet and Object Designers: Ellie Terrell, Jillian Gryzlak, Jesse Mooney Bullock, and Milam Smith
Cast: Kasey Foster, Sadie Rose Glaspey, Manae Hammond, Allison Grischow, Olivia Rose Comai, Sofia Balabanova Gebreab and Time Brickey
Stage Managers: Jamie Kreppein and Josh Ralph.
Location:
THE BRNDHAUS PL-ZEN™
1727 W 21st St
Chicago, IL 60608
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.cocechicago.com. Appropriate for ages 10 and up.
If the show is rained out, we will do our best to move audience members to a different evening that accommodates individuals’ schedules. All purchases non-refundable.
About THE BRNDHAUS PL-ZEN™
The BRNDHAUS PL-ZENTM (Pronounced: The Brand•House Pil•sen) is global brand innovation and content factory dedicated to the development, consumer co-creation, incubation, and activation of brands, situated on a 25,000 sq. ft. property across seven lots in the heart of PL-ZEN – CHI, IL. The BRNDHAUS aligns creative leaders, thinkers, and doers within a mercurial working and gathering environment that is modern, premium, and forward-looking.
About Cabinet of Curiosity
Founded in 2017, Cabinet of Curiosity is a nonprofit theater that creates original celebrations and productions. Cabinet uses sophisticated puppetry and handmade devices to develop interactive experiences and events.
We believe that the act of celebration is a social imperative. We use celebration to tackle isolation, facilitate dialogue, inspire hope and humor, create beauty where others may fail to see it, and ignite sincere collaborations. We focus on creating new gatherings, ceremonies, and rituals that promote connection amongst people from different backgrounds and lived experiences.
About the Artists
Sophia Balabanova-Gebreab is currently a student at the University of Chicago who just finished her first year. She is originally from Minneapolis and spends most of her time outside of school making and distributing zines.
Seth Bockley (“BOAK-lee”) is a writer of plays, screenplays and fiction, and a theater artist specializing in literary adaptation and new work development. Current projects include a Utopian history pageant for New Harmony, Indiana, an opera with London-based Donghoon Shin, short film “The Cartographer" in post-production, and a collection of short stories featuring a Midwestern-mystical flair. He teaches at the University of Chicago. sethbockley.com
Time Brickey is a multidisciplinary performing artist from Chicago IL. He’s a tap dancer, actor, musician, singer, puppeteer, he does accents and voices, he stilt-walks… and he’ll do it on the spot. He's grateful to have shared many stages and rehearsal rooms with his own heroes, and some of Chicago's greatest performers. On a given day you can catch him devising and improvising collaborative theatrical works, mentoring kids, producing music, and composing tap choreography. He also operates a studio workshop where he makes and sells portable tap boards. Learn more about him at http://heyti.me
Liz Chidester is a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter, actor, and teaching artist originally from Virginia. The Chicago Tribune called Liz "one of the most truthful actors in this city." Liz is a Company Member of FIREBRAND THEATRE and an Artistic Affiliate with AMERICAN BLUES THEATRE. She has contributed as an actor, composer, and collaborator with Chicago Children's Theatre, Raven Theatre, Writers Theatre, Cabinet of Curiosity, Theatre at the Center, Mercury Theatre, Sideshow Theatre Company, and Route 66. Before March 2020, Liz was at sea developing folk music and puppetry with NYC's PIG PEN THEATRE COMPANY in Phantom Folktales. With her band LIZ AND THE LOVELIES, she released the album People Pumping Pedals (2014), EPs Progress into Simplicity (2017) and Otter Hill (2015), and singles "My Way/Your Way" (2018) and "Sleep In." (2019). During the pandemic, the Lovelies lovingly disbanded, and Liz formed a new solo project LIZ LUTHIER with her feminist record collective MURMURATION RECORDS. Her newer single "The Great American Chestnut Tree" (2020) was featured on NPR's All Songs Considered. Liz will release singles throughout 2021, including "Gift That Moved You" (2021), with her EP otherside of the darkest timeline releasing in fall 2021. Liz teaches group 'ukulele classes and private voice, piano, guitar, and uke classes at the OLD TOWN SCHOOL OF FOLK MUSIC. She is represented by Shirley Hamilton.
Olivia Comai is a Chicago-based, interdisciplinary artist whose practice revolves around puppetry, video, and performance. She finds pleasure in play and imagination, and extra importance in humor and making art accessible to all.
Kasey Foster is a performer, producer, choreographer, singer, and puppeteer. She believes that puppets are some of the world's finest actors. More info at www.kaseyfoster.com
Sadie Rose Glaspey is so excited and honored to be involved in another Cabinet of Curiosity spectacle and ritual! Originally from Milwaukee, WI, she came to Chicago 12 years ago to attend Chicago College of the Performing Arts where she received her BFA in Musical Theatre (2012) and has been lucky enough to find many welcoming artistic homes in both theatre and music (including some where she's asked to do both at the same time!) throughout the windy city. She has played violin and sang for over 25 years, enjoys writing lyrics, is slowly building GingerSnap Performing Arts: her very own Chicago based Children's Theatre Company, and enjoys spending her free time with her cats and husband in their garden.
Allison Grischow (She/They) is an actor, voice actor, and musician who loves to spread joy everywhere she goes. She holds degrees in Theatre and Music from Valparaiso University as well as Second City’s Music Improv Conservatory. They have also studied with the Moscow Art Theatre School and Actors Gymnasium. They love to swing from lyras and trapezes in their spare time as well as sing songs with their pet bird, Buckbeak. Allison is also the founder of the small business "The Joyful Actor" which is dedicated to helping performers overcome overwhelm to find joy in their work.
Jillian Gryzlak is a maker, designer, and educator living in Chicago. She works across the city making costumes, ceramics, textiles, installations. Her work as a prop artisan and teaching artist has allowed her to collaborate with students throughout Chicago Public Schools and in multiple theaters. Jillian holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a MA from the School for New Learning at DePaul University in Material Culture.
Manae Hammond is a multi-instrumentalist musician & engineer, and is making her professional stage debut here. A Chicago native & choir kid turned rave mom, she was a sound operator for Theo Ubique's "Hedwig & The Angry Inch" in 2019. After flirting with acting in her youth, she pivoted to music to escape the crowd but got roped back regardless.
Shawn Ketchum Johnson is a United States-based theater maker whose expertise in site-specific and devised performance keep him linked to innovative socially-engaged ensembles throughout North America. Recent projects include the world premiere of TIME TO TELL, an original hybrid performance piece presented by ACT Theatre in Seattle; and THE RIOT BALLET, a interactive game/theater hybrid devised by a multinational collaborative team, with rolling premieres in Montreal and Seattle. An alumnus of Northwestern University, Johnson is Assistant Professor of Scenic Design at Texas Tech University.
Rome Jones is currently a college freshman at Depaul University majoring in theater technology. They enjoy puppet making, cooking, and various other types of handiwork in their free time. They are very thrilled to be a part of Sea of Change!
Jamie Kreppein is a film and theatre maker and community builder based in Chicago. She is one of the managers of Hotel Arts Collective as well as the company manager of Facility Theatre, and has been privileged to work with other companies like Chicago Children’s Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre, Hell in a Handbag Productions, Steep Theatre Co, and Interrobang Theatre Project. Jamie has most recently spent her time making several short films slated to be released in 2021/2022, including By a Thread (co-writer/associate producer), Weather Outside is Frightful (director/writer), and Re- (director/producer).
Frank Maugeri is a designer of community, events, and education. In his three decades as a ritual and spectacle maker, he has been commissioned by President Barack Obama to create a premier Halloween event on the White House’s North Lawn, transformed the Museum of Contemporary Art’s facade twice, directed the groundbreaking of The Art Institutes Modern Wing, and conceived and directed Redmoon Theaters Boneshaker for nine years. He conceived and directed Redmoon Theaters longest running and most critically acclaimed production, The Cabinet, which ran for over 1 year in Chicago and toured Brazil. He has executed countless outdoor guerrilla and interactive urban experiences. He has created several long-lasting cultural events and mentored over 1000 emerging artists from various disciplines- dance, writing, animation, film, sculpture, painting, and more. He is committed to using art as a tool for celebration and social improvement. He has directed indoor productions for Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The Actors Gymnasium, and many others. He makes his teaching home at the University of Chicago. He began Cabinet of Curiosity in 2017 as a company committed to collaboration, collectivism, equity, diversity and the development of modern rituals and meaningful happenings.
Jesse Mooney-Bullock is delighted to be filling the Cabinet of Curiosity with more hand-made movable sculptures, his puppets were last featured in Tabletop Tragedies. Other Chicago-area projects include The Little Mermaid(Paramount Theatre), The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz, Mister Punch (House Theatre), The Selfish Giant (CCT), The Feast, Salao (CST & Redmoon Theater) garnering Jeff Awards and nominations. He lives and works in Cincinnati, find out more at MoonBullStudio.com
Charlie Otto is a Chicago musician, founder of a handful of bands including This Must be the Band and DJ noDJ. He writes electronic rock songs all day long. More info at charlieotto.com.
Josh Ralph is a percussion performer, stage manager, and soon to be graduate from The University of Texas at San Antonio. Josh has stage managed multiple shows throughout his time at UTSA including Goyescas, Captain Lovelock and The Worst Ones Ever. Josh has also spent the past 5 years performing Seasonal shows at Sea World San Antonio, and hopes to one day be able to perform/stage manage on Broadway.
Ellie Terrell is a Chicago-based designer, fabricator, object and installation builder, painter, and teaching artist. Her favorite works to create are immersive spaces and surreal sculptural visual art. She is passionate about using art to connect humans in play. Ellie holds a BA in Literary and Cultural Studies from the College of William and Mary.
Bethany Thomas is a singer/actor/writer known for her work with Writers Theater, Court Theater, Chicago Shakespeare, Milwaukee Rep, Porchlight Music Theater, and Marriott Lincolnshire; she's also frequently entangled with The Fly Honeys, The Paper Machete, The Neo Futurists, Steppenwolf, Second City, WBEZ and the Hideout. A 3Arts Awardee in music, BT tours and records with Jon Langford, and also just released two albums of original songs- Material Flats with Tawny Newsome, and her critically-acclaimed solo debut, BT/She/Her. ig: @bethanyt80
Ivy Waegel is a Bay Area native who just can't wait to get their grubby little hands on the next big project. They study set design, sculpture, and other interactive arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and spend the rest of their time exploring Chicago's alleys and neighborhoods.
Lindsey Noel Whiting has been working as a theatre artist in Chicago in various capacities for the last 18 years. She is an Artistic Associate with Lookingglass Theatre and The Actors Gymnasium.
