GIVEAWAY: WIN a Family 4 Pack ($60 Value) of Tickets to Lifeline Theatre’s Arnie The Doughnut, a Family Musical Through 11/26/17

Lifeline Theatre KidSeries Presents 

Arnie The Doughnut,

Hit Musical Adaptation of the Book by Laurie Keller Opens October 22

**This production is recommended for children ages five and up (children under two not permitted), and runs approximately one hour with no intermission.**

Plus Performances with Open Captioning on October 28, 

Performance with Touch Tour and Audio Description on November 4, Autism/Sensory-Friendly Performance on November 5,

and Stories Come Alive! Hour Workshops Every Saturday and Sunday During the Run

Lifeline Theatre's Arnie the Doughnut, their initial KidSeries production of the season, is having its opening this Sunday, and ChiIL Mama's pleased as pastries to be partnering up with them to offer our readers a tasty ticket giveaway. We've been lifelong fans of Lifeline. My teens grew up with their excellent KidSeries productions from early childhood on. And we highly recommend their creative, original, book based productions. 

Need more incentive? One of our lucky readers will win 4 FREE tickets ($60 value) redeemable for any date in the production, subject to availability. Enter through midnight October 25th. Winner will be e-mailed and posted publicly on our social media platforms on Thursday, October 26th.

**ENTER HERE**

Lifeline Theatre’s KidSeries presents Arnie The Doughnut, a family musical based on the popular children’s book by Laurie Keller, with script by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Frances Limoncelli (three-time Non-Equity Jeff Award winner), music and lyrics by George Howe (two-time Non-Equity Jeff Award winner), and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Elise Kauzlaric (two-time Non-Equity Jeff nominee). 

Arnie, a lovable chocolate-frosted, rainbow-sprinkled doughnut, is the happiest pastry in the bakery when he’s chosen to be taken home by a new owner. But when mild-mannered Mr. Bing tries to eat the unsuspecting Arnie, both are in for the surprise of their lives. Man and doughnut are drawn into a sugar-fueled existential crisis as they work to redefine their relationship while trying to outwit the meddlesome President of the Cozy Confines Condo Community. Join Arnie on a zany quest to prove that he’s more than just delicious – and that friends come in all shapes and sizes – in this hit musical adaptation of the 2003 book that kicked off the beloved series by Laurie Keller. 

Arnie The Doughnut runs Saturday, Oct. 21 – Sunday, Nov. 26 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. 

Regular performance times are Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., with an added autism/sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. (Previews are Saturday, Oct. 21 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; and Sunday, Oct. 22 at 11 a.m.) Tickets are $15 and may be purchased at the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477, or by visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com.  

Accessible Performances: The Saturday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. performances will feature open captioning for patrons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. The Saturday, Nov. 4, 11 a.m. performance will feature a pre-show touch tour of the set at 10 a.m. and live audio description for patrons who are blind or have low vision. And there will be an added autism/sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m. for patrons with social and/or cognitive disabilities. For more information about Lifeline’s accessibility services, please contact Accessibility Coordinator Erica Foster at 773.761.4477 x703 or at access@lifelinetheatre.com.



PLUS: Join Lifeline Theatre every Saturday and Sunday at 12 p.m. during the run of Arnie The Doughnut (following the 11 a.m. show, or before the 1 p.m. show) for our Stories Come Alive! Hour. Children will enjoy an interactive storytelling session and on-your-feet theatre games. The cost is only $5 per child. Reservations are recommended, though not required. Contact Lifeline Theatre at 773-761-4477 for more information. 

The complete cast and production team for Arnie The Doughnut includes:

CAST: Guest artists Juanita Anderson (Mrs. Plute/French Cruller), Maddie Dorsey (Powdered Doughnut/Sheila), David Gordon-Johnson (Mr. Bing), Khloe Janel (Jelly Doughnut/Ronnie), and Jared Rein (Arnie). With understudies Madison Rasmussen, Adriana Tronco, and Max Weinberg.

PRODUCTION TEAM: Lifeline Theatre ensemble members Elise Kauzlaric (Director) and  Frances Limoncelli (Adaptor); with guest artists Eric Backus (Sound Designer), George Howe (Composer/ Lyricist), Lavina Jadhwani (Casting Director), Becca Jeffords (Lighting Designer), Sarah Lewis (Scenic Designer), Jennifer McClendon (Production Manager), Jenny Pinson (Props Designer), Kate Reed (Stage Manager), Joe Schermoly (Technical Director), Rachel Sypniewski (Costume Designer), and David Zizic (Music Director).

Lifeline Theatre also offers “Name Your Price” tickets a half-hour before the show (subject to availability), group rates and other discounts available upon request. A party room is available for full-service birthday and special event parties. Lifeline Theatre is accessible by CTA (Red Line Morse stop/busses) and free parking is available at Sullivan High School (6631 N Bosworth Ave, lot located on Greenview Ave. just south of North Shore Ave.) with free shuttle service before and after the show. Street parking is also available. Lifeline is accessible to wheelchair users and visitors who need to avoid stairs.

Now in its 35th season, Lifeline Theatre is driven by a passion for story. Our ensemble process supports writers in the development of literary adaptations and new work, and our theatrical and educational programs foster a lifelong engagement with literature and the arts. A cultural anchor of Rogers Park, we are committed to deepening our connection to an ever-growing family of artists and audiences, both near and far. Lifeline Theatre – Big Stories, Up Close.



Lifeline Theatre’s programs are partially supported by Alphawood Foundation; A.R.T League Inc.; Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; Chicago CityArts, a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; The Common Cup; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; FGMK LLC; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; The Grover Hermann Foundation; Illinois Arts Council Agency; Illinois Humanities Council; Lagunitas Brewing Co. Community Grant Program; MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; The PAV Grant Fund; The Polk Bros. Foundation; Poubelle Fund, a Donor Advised Fund of Renaissance Charitable Foundation; Rogers Park Social; The Saints; S&C Electric Company Fund; The Shubert Foundation; and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

WIN 4 Tickets to SEUSSICAL the Musical (2 winners!) at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre #giveaway #ChiILPicksList

THE SEUSSICAL MUSICAL'S WUBULOUS FUN. I'VE SEEN IT TWICE WITH MY 

DAUGHTER AND SON. 

NOW CST Courtyard's the site of the show, showing colorful creatures and places you'll go! For Seuss has amused and influenced us all, and this musical rocks for the large and the small. ChiIL Mama is silly with SEUSSICAL musings and 2 times a FREE family 4-pack for choosing!! 

Disclosure:  Thanks to our friends at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre for providing the tickets for our giveaway and providing review tickets to my family. Thanks for enriching our lives with such stellar productions.  As always, all opinions are our own.

ENTER HERE for your chance to WIN 4 tickets (up to $112 value) to any Seussical performance through the end of July. Two winners chosen! 
Enter through midnight 7/15. Good for any show through July 31st that is not sold out. **Please Note: This 75-minute production of Seussical is best enjoyed by ages 5 and up.

We truly have seen different productions of this musical two times over the years, but we're super stoked to check out Chicago Shakespeare Theatre's take on this colorful classic and we'll be there this weekend to review on the 12th. All of us grew up with Dr. Seuss and have read his fabulously funny and insightful books to our own children. He's still a top favorite of mine! And Chicago Shakespeare Theatre is a top favorite of ours, too, for consistently creative, professional offerings.

Back in the day, I read somewhere that Dr. Seuss's high school art teacher told him his drawing skills sucked and he should just give it up. Fortunately he didn't listen, but when he started shopping around his stories his first book was rejected by 27 publishers. He was ready to burn the manuscript when someone took a chance on it. Once he finally caught a break, he went on to sell over 600 MILLION books, publish 44 kids' books, and become a beloved author who changed the language of the world! I find that hugely inspiring when I feel like giving up on something.

SEUSSICAL Photo Credit: Michael Brosilow

Alex Goodrich as The Cat in the Hat and Emily Chang as Jojo 

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama and catch a cool show on Navy Pier this summer!

#ChiILPicksList Fab Fam Friendly LIVE Theatre

Chicago Shakespeare Theater Presents Seussical A whimsical adventure through the world of  Dr. Seuss July 5–August 17, 2014 Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) brings the humor and magic of Dr. Seuss to life onstage this summer for young audiences and their families in the Broadway musical comedy Seussical. Playful, energetic and full of whimsy, Seussical engages the imagination with clever lyrics and melodies, unforgettable characters and the colorful world of Dr. Seuss.  Seussical is written by the Tony Award®-winning team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, whose works include Ragtime, Once on This Island and the current Broadway production of Rocky,The Musical. Eric Idle of Monty Python and Spamalot fame co-conceived the musical.  This 75-minute production of Seussical is best enjoyed by ages 5 and up and will be performed July 5–August 17 in CST's Courtyard Theater. Tickets are $18–$28 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. Based on the stories created by children's author Theodor Seuss Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss) and narrated by his best-known character, The Cat in the Hat, Seussical seamlessly intertwines the characters, stories and themes from fourteen cherished Dr. Seuss classics, including Horton Hears a Who!, The One Feather Tail of Miss Gertrude McFuzz, and Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!.  This year marks the 110th birthday of the beloved author, whose work has won Academy Awards®, a Peabody Award and a Pulitzer Prize, and has been translated into more than 20 languages to be enjoyed by children worldwide! Directed by Scott Weinstein with musical direction by Michael Mahler, Seussical will be performed July 5 through August 17 in CST's Courtyard Theater. Every performance features special opportunities for audiences to interact with the actors for one-on-one conversations and photo opportunities.  On Wednesdays and Thursdays, CST partners with the Chicago Children's Museum (CCM) to offer hands-on craft activities in CST's Lobby.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater continues its annual partnership with the Chicago Children's Museum, presenting the following series of programs featuring Seussical:

• CCM staff and volunteers offer free hands-on art activities in the Theater's lobbies for one hour beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesdays (prior to the 11:00 a.m. performance) and for 90 minutes beginning at 12:15 p.m. on Thursdays (between the 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. performances).
• Seussical cast members visit CCM's Great Hall on Kraft Free Family Night for a short program followed by an opportunity for visiting children and families to interact with cast members on Thursday, July 24 at 6:00 p.m.

CST strives to make its facility and performances accessible to all patrons. Access programs for Seussical include:

• ASL Duo-interpreted Performance: Saturday, July 26 at 11:00 a.m.
• Audio-described Performance and optional Touch Tour: Saturday, August 16 at 11:00 a.m. (optional touch tour at 9:15 a.m.)

Alex Goodrich performs the role of The Cat in the Hat, the mischievous and playful narrator. In addition to previously being seen at CST in The Taming of the Shrew, the Jeff Award-winning actor has honed his comedic and musical skills around Chicago at a number of theater companies including the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire and Royal George Theater. As the thoughtful and observant Horton the Elephant, George Andrew Wolff returns to CST after appearing in previous summer family musicals includingThe Emperor's New Clothes and Willy Wonka. Lillian Castillo makes her CST debut as loveable one-feathered Gertrude McFuzz. Additional casting includes: Emily Chang, Lisa Estridge, Cory Goodrich, Aaron Holland, Ericka Mac, Liam Quealy, Joseph Sammour, Allison Sill and Krystal Worrell.

Director Scott Weinstein notably contributed to the early development of the musical comedy Murder for Two, and joined the creative team for its World Premiere at Chicago Shakespeare in 2011. Murder for Two has since gone on to a wildly successful Off-Broadway run, garnering Drama Desk and Drama League Award nominations among others. Weinstein is the associate director for the Chicago, Las Vegas and National Tour productions of the long-running hit Million Dollar Quartet. In addition to working with CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines on David Ives' The School for Lies, Weinstein directed Fairy Tales, a theatrical concert CST presented in collaboration with The Chicago Chamber Musicians. Jeff Award-winning Music Director Michael Mahler comes to Seussical following a turn as the musical director for CST's production of the Sondheim and Weidman musical Road Show, directed by Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin. Mahler was recently tapped by producer Cameron Mackintosh to pen additional updated lyrics for the highly anticipated West End revival of Miss Saigon. Mahler's additional CST credits include the music direction for last summer's Shrek The Musical and the original book and score for the family musical How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back?, which was written with Alan Schmuckler and premiered at CST in 2007.

Joining the artistic team is Tommy Rapley as the production's Choreographer. Scott Davis is Scenic Designer, returning to Chicago Shakespeare after designing Road Show, Shrek The Musical and Othello: The Remix. Costume Designer Theresa Ham returns to CST after creating the imaginative costumes for Shrek The Musical and Beauty and the Beast. Jeff Award-winner Jesse Klug, whose previous work at CST includes Cyrano de Bergerac and Othello: The Remix, serves as Lighting Designer. CST Sound Master James Savage is Seussical's Sound Designer; among his nearly forty productions at CST, recent designs include Othello: The Remix and Murder for Two. CST's resident Jeff Award-winning Wig and Make-up Designer Melissa Veal, who has designed over seventy-five productions at Chicago Shakespeare, completes the creative team.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's CST Family Series presents a wide range of affordable programming especially for families. Offerings year-round include Short Shakespeare! abridgments of Shakespeare plays, classical music concerts with Chicago Chamber Musicians and Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks, which produces free Shakespeare performances in neighborhood parks throughout the city. These programs reach more than 45,000 patrons each season—making Chicago Shakespeare one of the largest providers of family programming in Chicago.

Disclosure:  Once again, thanks to our friends at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre for providing the tickets for our giveaway and providing review tickets to my family. Thanks for enriching our lives with such stellar productions.  As always, all opinions are our own.

Visit www.chicagoshakes.com/seussical for a complete performance listing and additional production information.

Disclosure:  Thanks to our friends at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre for providing the tickets for our giveaway and enriching our lives with such stellar productions.