OPENING: Burning Bluebeard is Back at Theater Wit For 2014 #ChiILPicksList

Act Out:  Chicago Theatre openings, closings, reviews, giveaways, ticket sale dates and more. 

Chi, IL Live Shows on stage and on our radar.

Ode to Burning Bluebeard: How do we love thee... let me count the ways. How can a show about the most deadly single building fire in HISTORY be a family friendly holiday show?! How can we return year after year, like a moth to the flame, strangely drawn to this crispy cast of castaways, to look into their soot smudged faces and hear their stories? 

**Click here & scroll down to check out 5+ of our past Burning Bluebeard features.** 

There are many of our all time favs returning for the 2014 holiday season. Burning Bluebeard tops our list of must see remounts. It's too good to just see once, or even once a season. Highly recommended! ChiIL Live Shows/ChiILMama's ChiIL Picks List for best holiday theatre.

Burning Bluebeard won't break the bank and is an amazing dark comedy, with thought provoking dialogue and amusing physical play. We thoroughly enjoyed it the past two years, I took both kids the first year, at The Futurarium, because Anthony Courser (Bluebeard) had been their circus instructor for a while and they love to see their instructors in creative projects. But there's one intense scene (blackout/audio only recap of the fire) sensitive kids may have a tough time with. 

We'd give it a PG13/mature tweens and up rating, because of the macabre subject matter (600 people-primarily women & children trampled, burned & dying in a theatre fire!), though handled tastefully. Of course, every kid is different, and since mine are fairly theatre savvy and unflappable, they were 9 & 11 when we first saw it. If in doubt, do your research. 

Burning Bluebeard is based on a true slice of history that should be seen and remembered, especially if you frequently see shows at The Oriental Theatre. 110+ years after this tragedy, Burning Bluebeard depicts this horrific event many are completely unaware even happened, in a poignant and creative way. It's a moving tribute.  

 

With Chi-town favs Jay Torrence, as writer, and Halena Kays directing, this is an absolute must see. Much of the original cast is back again as well, and a true joy to watch in action. They all do a stellar job with the grim subject matter, evoking not only empathy and emotion but laughs as well. They had to drop the fire escape rap (one of our fav parts of the first show-though specific to the TMLMTBGB space they began in). Please please put it on YouTube for me or let us run it here on the blogs for posterity! Otherwise, we imagine the remount this year will be quite similar and every bit as effective for the 2nd time around at Theater Wit.

BURNING BLUEBEARD 2014 will also add Pam Chermansky to the cast, another of our friends and favorites here at ChiIL Mama/ ChiIL Live Shows. My kids studied circus arts with both Pam and Anthony for several years. We also adore Molly Plunk, Jay Torrence, Leah Urzendowski Courser and Ryan Walters and have enjoyed their work in many places around town including 500 Clown, The Hypocrites, Actors Gym, Barrel of Monkeys and more.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

"Burning Bluebeard"

Written by Jay Torrence

and Directed by Halena Kays 

Returns for Three Weeks Only

Tickets on sale NOW!

December 13, 2014 through January 04, 2015

Burning Bluebeard

Theater Wit/Theater Three

The Ruffians

Visiting Company

The critically acclaimed holiday hit BURNING BLUEBEARD returns for its third Chicago production. Don't miss your chance to see this limited engagement three week run of this audience favorite show that has the entire city reliving a piece of Chicago history. 

Inspired by the true story of Chicago's 1903 Iroquois Theatre Fire, BURNING BLUEBEARD is the story of six singed clown performers who emerge from the burnt remains of history attempting to perform their spectacular 1903 Christmas Pantomime once and for all. But this time they hope to finally reach the true happy ending of their second act and avoid the fateful fire that killed 600 of its audience members. Don't miss your chance to see the whimsical delight, the poignant drama and stunning visual beauty that is BURNING BLUEBEARD.

"The entire show is gripping in its originality, intensity and boundary-crossing audacity."

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED - Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune.

"Outstanding."
4 STARS - Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago

"Whip smart and feverishly emotional."
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun Times

"Hilarious, Horrific and Holy."
-Chicago Reader

Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes with no intermission

There is no late seating available for this production.

The Ruffians are an artistic collective of theater makers (clowns, daredevils, acrobats, dancers, writers, performers, designers, directors). The Ruffians have all honed their craft working over a decade in Chicago’s various and thriving experimental, clown and storefront theater communities. A Ruffians objective is to make beautiful things with rough edges. A Ruffians motto: Breathe. Dare. Live.

CLOSING: Forgotten Future: The Education Project at Collaboraction through October 26th

Act Out:  Chicago Theatre openings, closings, reviews, giveaways, ticket sale dates and more. 

Continuing Collaboraction's "incite change" mission,  Forgotten Future:  The Education Project  is an explosive devised piece of theatre inspired by  the dysfunction of the American education system The Flat Iron Arts Building 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave, Room 300 Wicker Park, Chicago Here at ChiIL Live Shows/ChiIL Mama we like to be entertained by live theatre as much as the next person. But what we really love is theater companies like Collaboraction who are willing to challenge, educate, enlighten and make their audiences squirm.  Their mission to "incite change" is exciting and so very necessary. Come on out and see Forgotten Future: The Education Project featuring actual, real CPS students. This is a must see for parents, and although it may not sound like a great date night show, there are few things hotter than a sense of social justice!  Forgotten Future focuses on the children going through Chicago's schools and features three youth actors making their Collaboraction debuts:

Leah Aberman
 a 7th-grader at Lane Tech Academic Center

Tyrese Hall
 a 6th-grader at Alain Locke Charter School

Kids are the focus in Forgotten Future: The Education Project, a world premiere devised piece inspired by the dysfunction of America's education system,debuting at Collaboraction September 18-October 26, 2014      Collaboraction's world premiere of Forgotten Future: The Education Project stars (from left)  Tyrese Hall, Leah Aberman and Esmeralda Ayvar-Perez.  (photo credit: Anna Sodziak). Continuing with the company's new "incite change" mission, Collaboraction's fall production is the world premiere of Forgotten Future: The Education Project, an explosive devised piece of theatre inspired by the dysfunction of the American education system, through October 26, 2014. Conceived and written by Sarah Moeller, co-written by Adam Seidel and Michele Stine, and co-directed by Sarah Moeller and John Wilson, Forgotten Future: The Education Project takes three students' unique perspectives of the Chicago school system and how it both serves and is failing them and their potential future. It has been constructed from extensive research and tackles the key issues of inequities, cultural barriers and testing. The result is a unique, immersive theatre piece designed to entertain and inform the audience, as well as motivate dialogue. Forgotten Future not only focuses on the children going through Chicago's schools, but three child actors - Leah Aberman, a 7th-grader at Lane Tech Academic Center, Esmeralda (Emse) Ayvar-Perez, a sophomore at Lane Tech High School, and Tyrese Hall, a 6th-grader at Alain Locke Charter School - are making their Collaboraction debuts playing students in this world premiere production. Forgotten Future also stars Scott Merchant (Mr. Wright), Susie Griffith (Mrs. Fischer), Angelica Roque (Ms. Mendoza), Nathaniel Swift (Mr. Perry/Administrator/Alderman), Ebony Joy (Mrs. Tate/CEO) and Jasmin Cardenas (Mrs. Rodriguez/Common Core Presenter). Forgotten Future: The Education Project runs September 18 - October 26 at Collaboraction, in residence at the Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave, Room 300 in Wicker Park. The performance runs approximately 90 minutes, followed each night by a Town Hall Meeting. Tickets are $15-$30. Purchase tickets online at collaboraction.org or call (312) 226-9633. Forgotten Future dates, times and ticket information Regular performances continue through October 26: Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. Note:  Forgotten Future will be available for live streaming for each show for $5 at gigity.tv.   Chicago kids center stage in Forgotten Future, literally and figuratively

Leah Aberman, a 7th-grader at Lane Tech Academic Center, plays Forgotten Future's Lauren Perry. "I am a CPS student and I had to go through the enrollment process because my school stopped at 6th grade," commented Aberman. "I just want people to recognize the stress and pressure I had to go through and see how hard people these days have to work just for education."


  

Esmeralda (Emse) Ayvar-Perez, a sophomore at Lane Tech High School with several TV, commercial and stage credits at Chicago Dramatists and School of Rock, portrays Carolina Rodriguez. "I'm a CPS student and I go to one of the best high schools in the city," said Ayvar-Perez. "I know I'm going to graduate and go to college but I see so many kids in my Humboldt Park neighborhood give up and think they 'can't.'  We need to show them they can."

Tyrese Hall, a 6th-grader at Alain Locke Charter School on Chicago's West side, plays Issac Tate.  Asked why Forgotten Future is important to him, Hall replied "I think the show will help make a change for people to try and make the education system better and not close down more schools cause in the end that will cause more chaos."  

"In telling a story about schools one must include the students," said Forgotten Future creator Sarah Moeller. "The school system doesn't exist without the children. It is there to serve them. However more and more we are leaving children behind in lieu of outside interests. When I decided to tackle this subject I knew it was crucial to include students in the storytelling as this story is for them and for our future."

In addition to being a Chicago theater artist, Moeller knows her Forgotten Future subject matter. She has been a Chicago middle school social studies and music teacher for the past 9 years, and has a master's degree in education.

More about the Forgotten Future creative team
 

Sarah Moeller (co-writer, co-director) is a Collaboraction company member, a Chicago-based director, deviser, producer and dramaturg, and the creative team leader for Forgotten Future: The Education Project. Moeller started at Collaboraction in spring of 2006 and went on to stage manage Sketchbooks 6, 7 and 8. At Collaboraction she project manages the Experience Design department and has production managed and produced mainstage shows since 2007. Outside of Collaboraction she is a company member at Eclipse Theatre Company where she has been the resident dramaturg since 2007 under their mission statement of "One Playwright One Season." Directing credits include Pearl Cleage's A Song for Coretta, Naomi Wallace's Fever Chart, and Dan LeFranc's 60 Miles to Silver Lake among several Sketchbook shows.  

Adam Joseph Seidel (co-writer) is a company member with Collaboraction, where he co-devised Crime Scene: A Chicago Anthology, Crime Scene: Let Hope Rise and Crime Scene: Let Hope Rise 2014. His one-act, Harold After, premiered at the 2013 Chicago Fringe Festival where it won the Audience Favorite Award. His full-length plays include Catching the Butcher and The Devilman, and his 10-minute plays have been produced around the country.

Michele Stine (co-writer) is a Chicago-based playwright, director, actor, and teaching artist. She has worked with Illinois Shakespeare Festival, First Floor Theatre, Emerald City Theatre, American Theatre Company, Indie Boots, trip, and Manhattan Repertory.  

John Wilson (co-director) is a teacher, actor, scenic designer and storyteller. As a teacher, he has worked with Lifeline Theater teaching theater to 2nd and 3rd graders in Rogers Park, taught for Steppenwolf for Young Adults, and taught children on the autism spectrum with Chicago Children's Theatre's Red Kite Project. Acting credits include This is Not a Cure for Cancer (Collaboraction), El Grito del Bronx (Collaboraction/Goodman), and Our Bad Magnet (Mary Arrchie; Jeff nomination for Best Ensemble). He performs with 2nd Story, and has designed over fifty shows in Chicago as a freelance scenic designer.

Designers are Ashley Woods (set), Heather Sparling (lights), Jeffrey Levin (sound), Paul Deziel (video), Elsa Hiltner (costumes), Angie Campos (props), Ashley Bowman (stage manager), Gaby Lobotka (literary dramaturg) and Danielle Stack (production manager).

Collaboraction's world premiere of Forgotten Future: The Education Project is supported in part by The MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council, Chop Shop/1st Ward Events, Reed Rigging, Inc., Wicker Park Bucktown SSA#33, Chicago Athletic Club and AV Chicago.

About Collaboraction

Collaboraction (collaboraction.org) celebrates its 18^th year as a Chicago-based arts organization and has recently moved its theater and operation headquarters to the historic Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., in the heart of Wicker Park. By incorporating innovative artists and interdisciplinary collaboration, Collaboraction creates groundbreaking theatrical and art-based experiences.

The overwhelming response to its 2013 world premiere Crime Scene: A Chicago Anthology was the first step in Artistic Director Anthony Moseley's new vision for Collaboraction to be used as an artistic tool to explore critical social issues in an effort to create dialogue and incite change. Crime Scene subsequently toured park district facilities in underserved Chicago neighborhoods in summer 2013 and 2014 as part of the city's Night Out in the Parks program.

Following Crime Scene, Collaboraction employed the same provocative, docudrama style to attack cancer, its treatment and the way we live with This is Not a Cure for Cancer in February 2014. With both productions, and now with Forgotten Future, Collaboraction collaborates with artists, community leaders, health professionals and citizens from throughout the city to create original theatrical experiences that push artistic boundaries and explore critical social issues with a diverse community of Chicagoans.


Collaboraction has worked with more than 2,500 artists to bring more than 60 productions and events to more than 50,000 audience members. Presenting such smash hits as 2010's Chicago premiere of 1001by Jason Grote, 2008's world premiere of Jon by George Saunders and directed by Seth Bockley, and 2007's critically acclaimed production of The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow: an instant message with excitable musicby Rolin Jones, as well as the annual SKETCHBOOK Festival, Collaboraction has worked with more than 2,500 artists to bring more than 60 productions and events to more than 50,000 audience members. 

OPENING: Adventure Stage Chicago Presents The American Revolution by Theater Unspeakable 11/8.

ACT OUT KIDS: Family Friendly Chicago Theatre openings, closings, reviews, giveaways, ticket sale dates and more. 

“THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION”

LIKE YOU’VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE

Think history is dry and boring--think again. Suspend your disbelief as 7 actors suspended on a platform bring history to life in 50 minutes and 21 square feet! Now that's a feat. Come check it out. We'll be there to review November 8th. Get your tickets before this show is history!

Theater Unspeakable’s Highly Original Take on the Country’s Founding Fathers Will Be Staged at the Vittum Theater, November 4-29

From The Patriot to John Adams, from the iconic portrait of Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emmanuel Gottlieb Leutze to the musical 1776, the birth of our nation has been portrayed countless times in countless ways in the arts. But never quite like this.

Adventure Stage Chicago, a program of Northwestern University Settlement Association, proudly presents Theater Unspeakable’s production of The American Revolution, a critical history lesson in 50 minutes, from November 4-29 at the Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St. in Chicago.

Seven actors—suspended on a platform two feet off the ground—share 21 square feet of space to recreate the entire heroic fight for American independence from Lexington to Yorktown. Using only the actors’ bodies, voices and (pantomimed) cannons, the show evokes an epic time period in American history. Combining tongue-in-cheek humor with a dash of derring-do, The American Revolution displays Theater Unspeakable’s company’s rowdy brand of bare-boned and imaginative physical theater in the company’s first ever extended run in Chicago.

“The country's founding had an imperfect beginning, built upon the sacrifice, slaughter, and subjugation of many individuals and peoples,” said Marc Frost, director of “The American Revolution” and founder of Theatre Unspeakable. “I want them to leave feeling proud of their country's founding, because it truly was the dawning of a new era for personal freedom; yet, even in its most beatified heroes, we see the flaws, the human shortcomings, which to me make the achievements all the more inspiring. We also hope they laugh, too.”

“At Adventure Stage we tell heroic stories about young people. Theater Unspeakable’s The American Revolution is a continuation of this work, but with an intriguing twist,” said Tom Arvetis, Producing Artistic Director of Adventure Stage Chicago. “Here we have not a young person, but a young country.  A country by all measures still in the very early stages of its life but unmistakably called toward its own independent future. With The American Revolution, Theater Unspeakable looks back on the birth of our country with their delightfully dexterous approach to storytelling and invites us to imagine what freedom looks like almost 240 years later.” 

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION DATES, TIMES AND TICKET INFO

Public Performances will take place November 8, 15, 29 at 4 p.m., and November 14, 21, 28 at 7:30 p.m.; Student Matinees will take place November 4-6, 13, 18, 19, 20, 25 at 10:30 a.m.

Tickets for all shows are $17 for adults, $12 youth aged 14 and under and groups of ten or more; $7 previews.  Student groups begin at $7. *A special $10 ticket is available to neighbors in the 60622 and 60642 zip codes. The American Revolution is performed at Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., in the heart of Chicago’s West Town neighborhood. Street parking is available, and the theater is close to the Noble St. stop on the #56 Milwaukee bus line and the Division stop on the CTA Blue Line. The theater is wheelchair accessible.

For more information, call (773) 342-4141 or visit www.adventurestage.org

Adventure Stage Chicago is funded by Banco Popular , Grover Hermann Foundation, Kinder Morgan Foundation, Lloyd A Fry Foundation, I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, The MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince, Paul M Angell Family Foundation, Polk Bros Foundation, RBC Foundation – USA, Searle Funds at the Chicago Community Trust

ABOUT THEATER UNSPEAKABLE

Marc Frost started Theater Unspeakable as a platform for creating new works of devised, physical theater. Based in Chicago, the company is dedicated to telling stories using the entire mind, body, heart and soul. Working indoors and outdoors, the company creates live theatrical performances combining elements of movement, dance, mime, circus and clown. Since 2010, the company has created three original pieces including “Superman 2050,” “Murder on the Midwest Express” and “The American Revolution”. Theater Unspeakable has toured these pieces at various venues including: Lincoln Center, McLean Community Center, Chicago Humanities Festival, The Second City and the Chicago Cultural Center.

ABOUT ADVENTURE STAGE CHICAGO

Adventure Stage Chicago creates and tells heroic stories about young people. We do this to engage our community and inspire all of us to be heroes in our own lives. This is our 11^th season.

Adventure Stage has received numerous honors since its inception in 2004, including:

• American Alliance for Theatre and Education’s 2013 Orlin Corey Award for Artistic Excellence to ASC Founder/Producing Artistic Director Tom Arvetis
• Illinois Theatre Association’s 2012 Award of Excellence in Theatre for Young Audiences
• Zeta Phi Eta Winifred Ward Award for Outstanding New Children's Theatre Company from the American Alliance for Theatre and Education
  

Adventure Stage Chicago is a program of Northwestern University Settlement House, the oldest continually operating settlement house in Chicago. Throughout its 122-year history, the Settlement has remained committed to providing resources that empower neighbors to overcome the obstacles of poverty. Adventure Stage extends this mission by presenting Chicago's young audiences, educators and families with affordable artistic experiences rooted in performance.

SAVE THE DATE: Pericles at Chicago Shakespeare Theater Nov 30th

Act Out:  Chicago Theatre openings, closings, reviews, giveaways, ticket sale dates and more. Chi, IL Live Shows on stage and on our radar.

Pericles

by William Shakespeare

directed by David H. Bell

November 30, 2014 – January 18, 2015

in Chicago Shakespeare's Courtyard Theater

Here at ChiIL Live Shows we make it a point to catch everything we can at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. They do a phenomenal job with Shakespeare and with other playwrights new and old. Highly recommended. 

Ben Carlson again treads the boards of Chicago Shakespeare's stage following turns as Macbeth, Hamlet (Jeff Award, Best Actor) and the outrageously funny Frank in The School for Lies. Chicago Tribune hails "few can match him…one of North America’s best classical performers." In Shakespeare's most fantastical tale, Pericles embarks on a tempest-tossed quest in search of adventure, wealth and family. As he travels to parts unknown, our hero is confronted by villains, pirates, goddesses and kings. In the end, he discovers an essential truth—the renewal of love and life itself.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Previews
Sunday, November 30 at 2:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, December 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 7 at 2:00 p.m.

Weekday Performances

Tuesdays
December 16, 23 at 1:00 p.m.
December 2, 23, 30; January 6, 13 at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesdays
December 10, 17; January 7 at 1:00 p.m.
December 3, 10, 17, 31; January 7,14 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursdays
January 8 at 1:00 p.m.
December 4, 11, 18; January 8, 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Weekend Performances

Fridays
December 5, 12, 19, 26; January 2, 9, 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturdays
December 13, 20, 27; January 3, 10, 17 at 3:00 p.m.
December 6 at 7:30 p.m.
December 13, 20, 27; January 3, 10, 17 at 8:00 p.m.

Sundays
November 30; December 7, 14, 21, 28; January 4, 11, 18 at  2:00 p.m.
December 28; January 4, 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets: $48–$78

www.chicagoshakes.com

Box Office: 312.595.5600
Group Sales: 312.595.5678 (groups of 10 or more) 

ACT OUT OPENING: ALOFT CIRCUS ARTS PRESENTS CONTEMPORARY CIRCUS SHOW DINNER OF OUR DISCONTENT

On giant lampshades, clotheslines, chains and picture frames, Aloft's contemporary circus show, "The Dinner of Our Discontent" veers from heartbreaking to hilarious at the drop of a plate. 

Directed and conceptualized by Shayna Swanson, "Dinner" follows five estranged sisters as they return to the home they grew up in after their parents' sudden deaths. Through world­ class acrobatics and circus acts, childhood emotions and resentments take center stage as they encounter the same issues that plagued them while growing up: the twins still dress (and walk, and eat) alike, the second sister vies for the affection of the oldest, and they all walk heartlessly over the meek youngest sister. And then there's the grief stricken butler who has lived in the house longer than any of the girls, thanklessly raised them and waited on them every day, now faced with having to leave the only family he ever knew while trying to keep the peace. Their deceased parents watch the madness, perched precariously in two picture frames on the back wall, eyes following the action, tormented by their sudden separation and longing for their family to be whole again.

Premiered in 2009, this is a restaging of the original, with an entirely new cast of stunning circus artists. The original acts, high in the air and skittering across the floor, have been reworked to highlight the experience and incredible talents of these performers.

If you were one of the few lucky enough to see the show in its first incarnation, you'll be amazed at the growth of this contemporary circus company over the last 5 years. Aloft's Artistic Director, Shayna Swanson, once part of the cast, steps off the stage to direct the action from the outside, working to heighten the chaos and emotion that the artists bring forth.

Featuring dramatic moments, comic surprises and superb physicality, Dinner of Our Discontent reveals over 75 minutes the central truth about family: it will catch you when you fall, but make you jump through hoops for approval.

About Aloft Circus Arts:

Aloft is a Chicago­based physical performance company dedicated to telling original stories through world­class circus arts. Aloft combines visual art, urban space, physical movement, modern dance, and aerial performance to build a cohesive emotional tale. In productions meant for theaters, the street, or the open sky, Aloft Circus Arts is changing the limits of what’s physically possible in storytelling.

Founded ten years ago by Artistic Director Shayna Swanson, Aloft is at the forefront of the contemporary circus movement in the USA.. Hosts of the first­ever Contemporary Circus Festival in North America just last January, Aloft Circus Arts is putting Chicago in the world’s spotlight with ground­breaking shows and the best circus performers working today. Swanson, once part of the cast, steps offstage to direct the action, heightening the chaos and emotion. This is the first time that Aloft has presented a full­length, narrative show in a Chicago based theater.

Animal ­free and accessible for all audiences, Aloft Circus Arts is at the forefront of what modern circus is growing into, pushing the limits and leaving old ideas of “circus” in the dust.

For more information and photos, check us out on Facebook at AloftCircusArts or on our website www.aloftcircusarts.com

ACT OUT EXTENDED: Rick Bayless in Cascabel: DINNER – DARING – DESIRE Now Through 8/31 #OriginalVideo #PhotoRecap

LOOKINGGLASS THEATRE, FRONTERA GRILL,

AND SILVERGUY ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT THE RETURN OF

RICK BAYLESS IN CASCABEL

DINNER – DARING – DESIRE

WITH NEW MENU ELEMENTS IN A NEW VENUE

In the Goodman Theatre’s Owen Bruner Theatre

July 30 – August 31, 2014

**DUE TO DEMAND, CASCABEL IS EXTENDED THOUGH AUGUST 31, 2014

NEW BLOCK OF TICKETS ON SALE JULY 30!**


ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows were elated to be included in a private press breakfast at Frontera Grill with Co-Creators Rick Bayless (Frontera Grill) and Heidi Stillman (Hephaestus, Hard Times) & flamenco dancer extraordinaire, Chiara Mangiameli when the Cascabel remount was first announced way back in October. We've been raving about what's sure to be the event of the season ever since.  We can't wait to see it! Check back early and often for our original content, video interviews, reviews, photos and more.

ChiIL Live Shows' 

Rick Bayless Expounds on 
The Cascabel Remount

October: Rick Bayless, celebrity chef/owner Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, XOCO Chicago and Heidi Stillman, Lookingglass Ensemble Member  and  Artistic Director of New Work announce the return of an extraordinary culinary and theatrical event at a special food-infused press conference held at Frontera Grill. Guests were treated to a sneak peak at the event while enjoying enchanting acts and delicious hors d’oeuvres from Frontera Grill.  

Check out our full set of stills from the press conference here: 
Favorites are embedded below.

Lookingglass Theatre, Frontera Grill and Silverguy Entertainment announce an extension to the wildly popular return of Rick Bayless in Cascabel: Dinner – Daring – Desire, the unforgettable theatrical adventure featuring a sumptuous feast, world-class circus acts, and a tantalizing love story starring celebrity chef Rick Bayless that had Chicago audiences spellbound when it premiered in spring 2012. The extremely limited engagement is co-created by Rick Bayless, Lookingglass Ensemble Member Heidi Stillman (Hephaestus, The Brothers Karamazov, Hard Times), and Artistic Associate and founder of Silverguy Entertainment Tony Hernandez (Hephaestus, Lookingglass Alice). 



Cascabel runs at the Goodman Theatre’s Owen Bruner Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, now playing July 30 –August 31, 2014. 

Cascabel will feature the return of Rick Bayless in the role of Cook; Lookingglass Artistic Associate Tony Hernandez on the high wire as the Houseboy; Chiara Mangiameli as Señora of the Boardinghouse Cascabel; Lookingglass Ensemble Member Thomas J. Cox as Suitor and Artistic Associate Lindsey Noel Whiting as Daughter. Carlo Basile returns as Musician, with new cast members Heloise Bourgeois (Solitary Traveler), Genevieve Drolet (Bathing Chica), William Underwood (Solitary Traveler), Daniel Passer (Gardener), Lauren Katz (Gardener’s Wife), and J. Salome Martinez (Maitre d').

Cascabel's Coming:

This one-of-a-kind experience played to sold out houses in 2012 and had the Chicago Tribune exclaiming, “there’s nothing even remotely like it in Chicago!”  Now the unforgettable theatrical adventure is back for a limited engagement with a new menu, new circus elements, and at a new venue. Cascabel is sensory dining unlike anything you’ve ever experienced: it’s a sumptuous gourmet Mexican feast, world-class circus acts, exhilarating flamenco, hilarious comedy and a tantalizing love story starring celebrity chef Rick Bayless.

Cascabel audiences will join the guests of the boardinghouse Cascabel at their courtyard table where they will enjoy the same meal the Chef is preparing for the boarding house residents. From his meager kitchen, the mysterious new cook conjures an enchanting cuisine, which seems to give those who eat it fantastic and magical abilities. But he is singularly focused on the proprietress of the house, a melancholy woman with no interest in his food, who barely ever leaves her room. Will she ever try a bite? And what will happen if she does?

Lookingglass season subscriptions and tickets to Rick Bayless in Cascabel are available online, www.lookingglasstheatre.org; by phone, (312) 337-0665; or at the Lookingglass Theatre box office, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. For more information and box office hours, visit www.lookingglasstheatre.org.

Performances are Tuesdays through Sundays.  The lobby opens at 7:00pm Tuesdays through Saturdays, and at 5:00pm on Sundays. Tickets start at $215. Each ticket includes hors d’oeuvres, a three-course dinner, and wine and beer selected by Chef Bayless.  Prices may increase, based on demand. Information on wine pairings, food allergies and dietary restrictions is available at lookingglasstheatre.org/cascabel.

Lookingglass Artistic Director Andy White comments, "Cascabel really redefined what an evening at the theater could be.  This is an elemental fusion of gourmet dining, thrilling circus spectacle, and a hilarious and joyous evening of theater.  The 2012 production caught fire and sold out immediately, and we have little doubt that this production at the Goodman will be even more enthralling, breathtaking, and delicious."

Rick Bayless adds, “We had such a great time during the first production of Cascabel, a show that brings together a passion for dining, theatrical storytelling and circus.  These complementary elements will continue to give audiences an experience like never before.  I look forward to further collaboration with Lookingglass and Silverguy Entertainment as we share this thrilling experience—maybe even with a few new surprises.”

The Presenting Sponsors of Cascabel are Hillshire Brands, KPMG and PNC Bank.  In-Kind Sponsors of Cascabel include Badoit, Evian, Herraduna, Negra Modelo and Turlato Wines.

Season subscriptions and tickets to Rick Bayless in Cascabel are available online, www.lookingglasstheatre.org; by phone, (312) 337-0665; or at the Lookingglass Theatre box office, located inside Chicago's historic Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave. at Pearson. For more information and box office hours, visit www.lookingglasstheatre.org.

Co-created by:  Rick Bayless, Tony Hernandez and Heidi Stillman

Co-directed by:  Tony Hernandez and Heidi Stillman

Dates:                               Previews:                     July 30 – August 1, 2014

                                   

                                    Run:                            August 2 – 31, 2014

Times:                          Tuesdays:                    7:00 p.m.

                                    Wednesdays:                7:00 p.m.

                                    Thursdays:                   7:00 p.m.

                                    Fridays:                        7:00 p.m.

                                    Saturdays:                    7:00 p.m.

                                    Sundays:                      5:00 p.m.

Location:          Goodman Theatre’s Owen Bruner Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn

Prices:             Tickets are $215-$375

Box Office:       Buy online at www.lookingglasstheatre.org

or by phone at (312) 337-0665

The Lookingglass box office is located at Water Tower Water Works,

821 N. Michigan Ave.

Information on wine pairings, food allergies and dietary restrictions is available at lookingglasstheatre.org/cascabel.

About the Artists:

Rick Bayless (Co-Creator/Cook) Most people know him from his highly rated on-going public television series "Mexico - One Plate at a Time" and from his seven cookbooks. His side-by-side award-winning restaurants in Chicago were founded in 1987: the casual Frontera Grill and the 4-star Topolobampo.  In 2007, Frontera Grill won for Outstanding Restaurant by the James Beard Organization.  His award-winning Frontera line of salsas, grilling sauces and organic chips can be found coast to coast. Rick Bayless has won James Beard awards for Midwest Chef of the Year, National Chef of the Year and Humanitarian of the Year. "Mexico-One Plate at a Time" is currently in its ninth season on PBS and Rick’s book Mexican Everyday was nominated for a James Beard Award. XOCO, Rick's latest restaurant, is LEED certified and is known for house-ground chocolate. He was also recently crowned Bravo’s Top Chef Master. Rick’s seventh book, Fiesta at Rick’s spent the summer of 2011 on the New York Times Best Seller list. He has a total of eight cookbooks.

Tony Hernandez (Co-Creator/Artistic Associate/Houseboy) currently lives in New York where he serves as the Circus Artistic Director and Coach for the multi Tony award hit Pippin the Musical on Broadway in NYC. Tony recently finished performing over 1200 shows at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for their production Absinthe, where he wrote and created the final highwire act. Tony appeared in Anna Shapiro's Up at Steppenwolf, and is an Artistic Associate at Lookingglass where he has acted in numerous shows including Lookingglass Alice, Argonautica, Hard Times and others including Hephaestus, which he created, co-produced/wrote/directed and played the title role. Tony originated the role of Benito in Cascabel, which he also produced and co wrote/directed in 2012.

Heidi Stillman (Co-Creator/Artistic Director of New Work/Ensemble Member) most recently adapted and directed The North China Lover. She has both written and directed for Lookingglass: Cascabel, in collaboration with Tony Hernandez and Rick Bayless; Hephaestus, in collaboration with Tony Hernandez; The Brothers Karamazov (2009 Raven award); Hard Times (5 Jeff awards including director, new work, and production; also produced at the Arden in Philadelphia); The Master and Margarita (Jeff nominated). Additional writing credits with Lookingglass: The Last Act of Lilka Kadison with Nicola Behrman, David Kersnar, Abbie Phillips and Andy White; The Old Curiosity Shop with Laura Eason and Raymond Fox (Jeff award for adaptation), and The Baron in the Trees with Larry DiStasi (Jeff nominated). Directing work with Lookingglass includes Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, Trust, The Wooden Breeks, and Hillbilly Antigone. Heidi’s adaptation of The Book Thief premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre. Additionally, Heidi has staged Laura Eason’s Around the World in 80 Days at Kansas City Repertory, and Mary Zimmerman’s The Arabian Nights at Berkeley Repertory.

Carlo Basile (Musician) has a Master's Degree in Classical Guitar Performance from NEIU and he has also studied Spanish flamenco guitar in Andalusia (Spain). He has visited more than 30 countries to gather musical materials, perform, teach and collaborate. Carlo has taught guitar workshops in Hanoi, Vietnam; Chang Mai, Thailand; and Cebu, Philippines. He has collaborated with musicians in Cuba, India, Senegal, Morocco and Bali, Indonesia. Carlo founded the Spanish guitar-influenced ensemble Las Guitarras de España (The Guitars of Spain), and his latest projects include a Spanish guitar Otis Redding tribute called "King of Soul" along with a world fusion ensemble based around his "Spanish Guitar Duo" (with guitarist, Diego Alonso). Carlo has co-produced and co-written music for 5 CDs and he most recently recorded some traditional Spanish melodies and rhythms on a new CD with some of these works being featured in Cascabel. Info at: www.carlobasileguitar.com

Heloise Bourgeois (Solitary Traveler) was introduced to acrobatics at the age of five. After getting a University diploma, her dreams of travelling led her into the world of circus. Three years at the National circus school of Montreal, Canada, made her a Hand to Hand flyer with Will Underwood. She performed around the world with The 7 Fingers from 2005 to 2012 in the shows Traces and Psy.  During this time, she was introduced to Chinese Pole, Hoop Diving, and aerials. Now she works as a pair with Will on the pole and in hand-to-hand.  The pair received 4 gold medals for their Chinese pole duo in the last 3 years in various festivals (Festival de Demain, Paris; Solycirco, Germany; Vaudreuil, Canada). Over the years of travel and performances, Heloise’s experiences and encounters led her to create a touching universe on the frontier of dance, theater and contemporary circus.

Thomas J. Cox (Suitor/Ensemble Member) is a founding ensemble member of Lookingglass, with whom he has done more than thirty productions including The Odyssey, The Jungle, West, The Master and Margarita, Algren in For Keeps and a Single Day, Winston in 1984, Old Curiosity Shop, The Great Fire, and Big Lake, Big City. He has been seen at Victory Gardens, Court, Steppenwolf, Goodman, Milwaukee Rep, and Northlight (including Outgoing Tide with John Mahoney and Rondi Reed, which also traveled to the Galway Arts Festival). He serves as the Master Teacher for Lookingglass’ Education and Community Programs, and he has been adjunct faculty at Northwestern and UIC. Film/TV: Since You've Been Gone (Miramax) and "Brotherhood" (Showtime).

Genevieve Drolet (Bathing Chica) has been working in the circus for twenty years. She specializes in handbalancing and aerial techniques. Between tours, travel and shows, she also found the time to write a few novels that were very well received by critics and the public. She now works as a freelancer, performing all over the world with major circus companies such as Cirque du Soleil, Éloize, The 7 Fingers of the Hand, and many others.

Lauren Katz (Gardener's Wife) returns to work with Lookingglass Theatre after having last been seen on its stage in Wants and Needs and Great Men of Science Nos. 21 & 22.  Chicago/NY credits include Up (Steppenwolf Theatre), When The Messenger is Hot (Steppenwolf Theatre/59E59th Street Theatre), Filmdome (Victory Gardens), SKL (Steppenwolf), ED (Remains Theatre).  TV credits include "Arrested Development," "Parks & Recreation," "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Film credits include “Highball,” “Kicking and Screaming,” “Mr. Jealousy,” “Rudy,” “Women in Trouble” and the upcoming “Confessions of a Teenage Mormon.” Lauren studied and taught at The Piven Theatre Workshop and received her BFA from DePaul University.

Chiara Mangiameli (Señora) A native Italian, Chiara Mangiameli is the artistic director of Studio Mangiameli and Boutique Flamenca in Chicago's Logan Square. She has lived and studied in Seville, Spain, studying flamenco under the guidance of some of the great dancers and singers of the Andalusian art form. Ms. Mangiameli is the co-founder of the music trio Idilio, with which she released her debut album in 2009, and has collaborated with some of Chicago's most critically acclaimed groups including Las Guitarras De España, Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater, Chicago Sinfonietta and Fulcrum Point. A graduate of The Theater School at De Paul University, Ms. Mangiameli appeared in Mary Zimmerman's The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci and A Time of the Cuckoo at New York's Lincoln Center.

J. Salome Martinez (Maitre d') has appeared previously at the Lookingglass Theatre in Big Lake Big City. Other theater credits include How Long Will I Cry? (Steppenwolf Theatre); After (Profiles Theatre); As You Like It, Man of La Mancha, The Seagull (Constans Theatre); and A Christmas Carol (Hippodrome State Theatre). Some of his television and film credits include “Law & Order,” “Castle,” “Generation Kill” (HBO, Emmy Award), “New York, I Love You” and the Oscar Award-nominated film “The Messenger.” He received his BA in theatre from Barat College and his MFA in acting from the University of Florida.

Daniel Passer (Gardener) For the past 10 years, he has been a lead clown and comedy conceptor with Cirque du Soleil and Franco Dragone (Zarkana – Radio City Music Hall & World Tour, Banana Shpeel – Beacon Theatre,  Le Reve – Wynn Las Vegas).  He has made several Film/Television appearances – most recently, "Boychoir" directed by Francois Girard.  He has taught Clowning and Commedia at Harvard, CalArts, The Moscow Art Theatre and The Oregon Shakespeare Festival.  Daniel is a graduate of the A.R.T. Institute at Harvard and was the U.S. Representative to the International Commedia dell’Arte Festival in Italy.

William Underwood (Solitary Traveler) was born and raised in San Francisco, California.  He trained with Chinese acrobatics from an early age under master trainer Mr. Lu Yi at the San Francisco Circus Center.  He continued his training at the National Circus School in Montreal, and graduated in 2005 specializing in Hand to Hand with his partner Heloise Bourgeois.  He participated in the creation and performance of Traces, and Psy by the company “The 7 Fingers” over the period of 7 years.  In 2012, he created a duo Chines Pole act with Heloise, and began freelancing in cabarets, events, and festivals around the world.  They have received recognition internationally for their work on the Pole, including the gold medal in “Cirque de Demain” in Paris, the silver medal in Nikulin Festival in Moscow, and the silver medal in “Deidogei” festival in Japan.  William continues to perform, collaborate on new projects, and create new material in an effort to push his limits as a performer, and share his work.

Lindsey Noel Whiting (Daughter) Previous Lookingglass credits include The Great Fire, Icarus and Lookingglass Alice. Regionally, Lindsey has performed at Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Alliance Theatre and Syracuse Stage. Chicago credits include: The Snow Queen (Victory Gardens); Once Upon A Time (or The Secret Language of Birds), The Golden Truffle, The Cabinet, and Sink, Sank, Sunk (Redmoon); as well as several circus at Actors Gymnasium. Lindsey is also a member of Barrel of Monkeys and performs with Mucca Pazza, a circus punk marching band.

About Lookingglass Theatre Company

Lookingglass Theatre Company is the recipient of the 2011 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater. The company is home to a multi-disciplined collective of artists who create original, story-centered theatre through a physical and improvisational rehearsal process centered on ensemble. Now in its 26th Season, the company has staged more than sixty world premieres and garnered numerous awards. Lookingglass productions have toured to more than a dozen cities including New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Berkeley, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Kansas City, Louisville, Atlanta and Washington D.C. Lookingglass is located in Chicago’s landmark Water Tower Water Works on the Magnificent Mile.

About Frontera Grill

Frontera Grill was named “Outstanding Restaurant” by the 2007 James Beard Foundation Awards. Frontera Grill uses beautiful ingredients to bring to you the bold flavors and immediate freshness that jump off the tongue just as it does in Mexico. Visit www.rickbayless.com to learn more.

About Silverguy Entertainment

Founded in 1998 by Tony Hernandez and Lijana Wallenda Hernandez, Silverguy is a live action theatrical circus company that consists of members of the world-famous Wallenda family and former members of Ringling Bros., Cirque du Soleil and Blue Man Group. Tony created Lookingglass’ smash hit circus odyssey Hephaestus, in which he and Lijana (along with daredevil Nik Wallenda) participated in the death-defying, seven-person highwire pyramid.