The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz Returns to The House Theatre of Chicago 3/17-5/7

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar

The House Theatre of Chicago announces the final production in their 15^th season, 

The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz, 

adapted from L. Frank Baum’s book by The House Theatre Company Member Phillip Klapperich and directed by The House Theatre Company Member Tommy Rapley, playing at the Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., March 17 – May 7. 

Recommended for Ages 10+

ChiIL Mama and the teens will be ChiILin' with Chi, IL's House Theatre for the press opening of their remount of The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz. We're all beyond excited to check it out! I vividly remember watching this childhood classic on the living room floor, as a young kid, snuggled up in my new sleeping bag. Abduction by flying monkey was the stuff of my nightmares for years. Still, I adored the movie and eager awaited it's annual TV showing, back in the days before DVDs and on demand. As a parent, it was fun to rediscover it as I introduced it to my children. Now we'll get to enjoy yet another iteration, on stage, reimagined by one of our local favs!

First produced by The House Theatre of Chicago in their third season, The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz returns with modern twist on the classic American tale. A twister lands our teenage Dorothy and her house in Munchkinland. Right on top of a wicked witch. Her phone won't work, her dog is scared, and she's desperate to get home to what little family she has left.  But the town's residents are gleefully celebrating Dorothy's powers as the fabled Witch Slayer. When Glinda and the munchkins can't convince her to stick around and be their new hero, they send her off on the road of yellow brick wearing magical boots soaked in the red blood of the slain witch. A favor from the fabled all-powerful Wizard will be her only chance to get out of Oz.

Unsure about her path forward, Dorothy teams up with a one-day-old Scarecrow, a heartbroken Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion. Her boots, and their friendships, guard against lots of danger on their way to the Emerald City. But the Wizard will ask the Witch Slayer to live up to her violent and vengeful new name in exchange for a return ticket to her old life.

The forest creatures of Oz come to life with puppets large and small by Jesse Mooney-Bullock (The Hammer Trinity), and music from company member Kevin O'Donnell. With fighting monkeys flying in the air overhead, and enveloping projections on all sides of the theatre, Dorothy's travels will be filled with mystery, wonder, and surprise. If she can get home, Kansas may never be the same. 

Performance Schedule: 

Thursdays - Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 7 p.m. Preview tickets (March 17 – March 26, no performance March 25) are $15 and regular run tickets range from $30 – $45. 

The show is recommended for adults and kids aged 10 and up. Same-day tickets for students and industry professionals are $15 and available for all dates, seats permitting. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.thehousetheatre.com or call 773.769.3832. 

The cast includes: 

Kara Davidson* (Dorothy), Joey Steakley* (Toto), Christine Mayland Perkins* (Scarecrow), Jeremy Sonkin (Tin Woodsman), Michael E. Smith* (Cowardly Lion), AnJi White^ (The Witch of the West), Benjamin Sprunger (The Wizard of Oz/Levi-Strauss), Amanda de la Guardia (Glinda), Ben Hertel* (Ensemble), Elana Elyce* (Ensemble), Tina Munoz Pandya (Ensemble) and Carlos Olmedo (Ensemble) and understudies are Anthony Kayer, David Kaplinsky, Monica Szaflik and Tamara White.

The design team includes: Tommy Rapley*, director; Phillip Klapperich*, writer; Collette Pollard*, scenic designer; Mieka van der Ploeg, costume designer; Lee Keenan*, lighting designer; Grover Holloway, sound designer; Kevin O’Donnell*, composer; Matthew Muniz*, music director; Joseph Burke, projections designer; Jesse Mooney-Bullock, puppet designer; Ryan Borque, fight choreographer; Dennis Watkins*, magic designer; and Brian DesGranges*^, stage manager.

*House Company Member  ^Actor’s Equity Association Member

ABOUT PHILLIP KLAPPERICH, adaptor

Phillip co-founded The House, in 2000, with Nathan Allen and Shawn Pfautsch. He was the executive director of the company until 2009, and remains a company member. He has written several House shows, including The Terrible Tragedy of Peter Pan, The Rocketman, The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz, The Nutcracker and co-wrote Wilson Wants it All.

                                                                          

ABOUT TOMMY RAPLEY, director

Tommy is a proud company member with The House where he regularly directs and choreographs. A member of Actor's Equity Association, he has performed around Chicago on stages such as Drury Lane Oakbrook, The Marriott, The Court and The Goodman Theatre. His directing credits include The Nutcracker, All the Fame of Lofty Deeds, Hope Springs Infernal, DORIAN and Ellen Under Glass. Rapley also regularly teaches at Chicago Academy for the Arts and Northwestern University.

ABOUT THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO 

The House is Chicago's premier home for intimate, original works of epic story and stagecraft. Founded and led by Artistic Director Nathan Allen and driven by an interdisciplinary ensemble of Chicago’s next generation of great storytellers, The House aims to become a laboratory and platform for the evolution of the American theatre as an inclusive and popular artform.

The House was founded in 2001 by a group of friends to explore connections between Community and Storytelling through a unique theatrical experience. Since becoming eligible in 2004, The House has been nominated for 66 Joseph Jefferson Awards (23 wins), became the first recipient of Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theater Award in 2007, and was awarded a 2014 National Theatre Company Grant by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards. The 15^th anniversary year of original work is underway and The House continues it mission to unite Chicago in the spirit of Community through amazing feats of Storytelling.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.thehousetheatre.com or call 773.769.3832.

RETURNING: DEATH & HARRY HOUDINI at THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO 5/12-7/24

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF THE AWARD-WINNING, CROWD-AWING 

DEATH & HARRY HOUDINI, 

FILLED WITH “MAGIC OF THE VERY HIGHEST ORDER,” 

MAY 12 – JULY 24 

All images by Michael Brosilow

Pictured: Johnny Arena as The Ringmaster (center) with Ensemble (clockwise from top) Shawn Pfautsch, Marika Mashburn, Tommy Rapley, Trista Smith, Carolyn Defrin

“We give you magic! We give you mystery! We give you Death and Harry Houdini!” 

Here at ChiIL Mama, this is one of our top favorite shows of all time! DEATH & HARRY HOUDINI is oh SO highly recommended! Do book your tickets ASAP, as the run will undoubtedly sell out. 

BLAST FROM THE PAST: Several years back, before a revival of Death & Harry Houdini, we had the great pleasure of interviewing Dennis Watkins in his lovely home filled with show posters and retro magic tricks from his grandfather's stash. Check out our original video interview right here:

The production previously ran to great acclaim and sold out houses in Chicago and Miami from January through August 2012 and again in the summer of 2013, The House is thrilled to bring back this dynamic and magic-filled production. 

The House Theatre of Chicago Company Member and Professional Magician Dennis Watkins Reprises His Stunning Portrayal of the Late, Great Harry Houdini

“Magic of the very highest order!,” declared Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune.  

“Soar[ing] on Dennis Watkins’ brilliance as a genuine magician” and “ingeniously written and directed by Nathan Allen,” (Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times), Death & Harry Houdini leads viewers through the events of history’s most famous magician’s life told with “high energy and lack of artifice in a loose, buzzy blend of traditional storytelling, music and spectacle,” (Kris Vire, Time Out Chicago). 

The House Theatre of Chicago is proud to announce the return of the first play to ever grace its stage, the magic-filled thrill show and crowd favorite Death & Harry Houdini, written and directed by The House Theatre of Chicago Artistic Director Nathan Allen and starring Company Member and professional magician Dennis Watkins as Harry Houdini. Filled with stunning magic, poignant dialogue and original music, Death & Harry Houdini presents the story of history’s most famous magician and his life-long war against Death. 

The production runs from May 12 – July 24 at the Chopin Theatre’s Upstairs Theater, 1543 W. Division St. Previews are Thursday, May 12 – Sunday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. Regular performances are Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Additional performances on Wednesdays at 7:30pm in July. Preview tickets are $30 and regular run tickets range from $45 - 59. $15 same-day tickets for students and industry professionals are available for all dates, seats permitting. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.thehousetheatre.com or call 773.769.3832. 

“We’re the Houdini brothers. Forget about the others!”

Pictured: Dennis Watkins as Harry Houdini (left) and Shawn Pfautsch as Theo (Right) with Ensemble (LtoR, Top Row) Trista Smith, Carolyn Defrin, Tommy Rapley, (LtoR bottom row) Marika Mashburn and Abu Ansari. 

Beginning with the untimely passing of Harry’s father, the show travels through his first tent shows with his younger brother Theo, meeting his wife Bess and the beginning of his journey towards fame on the Vaudeville circuit. All the while, Harry feels Death close on his heels and he won’t rest until he’s conquered him once and for all. Harry will walk on broken glass, swallow razor blades and risk his life in the Water Torture Cell, but will he pull off an escape from Death? Marvel with fellow audience members as Houdini battles Death once more. 

Returning to the cast and joining Dennis Watkins as Harry Houdini are House Company Members Carolyn Defrin (Bess), Shawn Pfaustch (Theo), Tommy Rapley (Death), Marika Mashburn (Cecilia), and Johnny Arena (Ringmaster). Guest artists Rashad Hall and Julia Merchant join the ensemble.  

The Design Team includes House Company members: Nathan Allen (director/playwright), Collette Pollard (scenic designer), Lee Keenan (costume design), Ben Wilhelm (light designer), Kevin O’Donnell (sound designer/composer) and Brian DesGranges (stage management), with guest artist Harrison Adams (co-sound design). 

ABOUT NATHAN ALLEN, writer and director

Nathan Allen founded The House Theatre of Chicago with friends in the year 2001 and continues to lead the company as Artistic Director. Writing and directing credits include Death & Harry Houdini, The Sparrow, Rose and the Rime, and The Hammer Trinity (The Iron Stag King, The Crownless King, and The Excelsior King.) He also wrote and starred in The Valentine Trilogy (San Valentino and The Melancholy Kid, Curse of the Crying Heart, and Valentine Victorious) and directed The Magnificents by Dennis Watkins, with whom he created the weekly magic show, The Magic Parlour. Nathan's work has been seen on the stages of The House, The Steppenwolf Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, The Arsht Center of Miami, The Stoneham Theatre in Boston, Strawdog Theatre, The Neo-Futurarium, Collaboraction, and The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Nathan has received acknowledgements from the Joseph Jefferson Awards, The Orgie Awards, and The American College Theatre Festival.  He has been named an Associate Artist at The Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, and received the Emerging Leader Award from his alma mater, Southern Methodist University.

ABOUT DENNIS WATKINS, actor and magician

Dennis Watkins, a third-generation world-class magician, works as a corporate entertainer, mentalist, and event speaker, and is also a classically trained actor, playwright and director. A founding company member with The House Theater of Chicago, Watkins has played Harry Houdini in every production of Death & Harry Houdini, winning a Joseph Jefferson Award for Artistic Specialization in Magic Design for the 2012 production.  Dennis has worked as a writer, director and/or actor on over 20 productions with The House Theater of Chicago since 2001, including the long-running The Magic Parlour playing at the The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel. He has also worked with Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Writers Theatre, Next Theatre, Court Theatre, Vittum Theater, Roadworks Productions, Uma Productions, Live Bait Theatre and Strawdog Theatre Company, among others.

ABOUT THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO
The House is Chicago's premier home for intimate, original works of epic story and stagecraft. Founded and led by Artistic Director Nathan Allen and driven by an interdisciplinary ensemble of Chicago’s next generation of great storytellers, The House aims to become a laboratory and platform for the evolution of the American theatre as an inclusive and popular artform.

The House was founded in 2001 by a group of friends to explore connections between Community and Storytelling through a unique theatrical experience. Since becoming eligible in 2004, The House has been nominated for 60 Joseph Jefferson Awards (21 wins), became the first recipient of Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theater Award in 2007, and was awarded a 2014 National Theatre Company Grant by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards. Now in its 14th year of original work, The House continues its mission to unite Chicago in the spirit of Community through amazing feats of Storytelling.

The Water Torture Cell -One of Houdini’s most famous escapes, performed with audience on all sides

Pictured: Dennis Watkins as Houdini 

EXTENDED: The Last Defender at House Theatre Now On Sale Through June 12!

THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO EXTENDS 

THE LAST DEFENDER 

THROUGH JUNE 12

To say we're super stoked about this show here at ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows is a colossal understatement! I played when they first opened, with my son and a couple of his friends, all high school freshmen. 

We ran out of time and blew up the world, but had a blast! During the first wave of shows in February, we were also excited to partner up with The House and give away 2 pairs of these highly sought after tickets to our readers. The rest is history.

 The Last Defender Production Photo by Johnny Knight

The initial run and extension sold out super fast and my son, Dugan, loved the show so much we bought 6 tickets so he could come back with more friends and play again for his 15th birthday. This series of puzzles is crazy tough to crack (only 22 out of the first 100 teams did it!!) and on Dugan's birthday they were 1 task short of solving it the 2nd time around when they had to strike a "costly compromise" with under 10 seconds to total annihilation. The game was a huge hit for all involved, and one of the most memorable birthdays ever. Oh so highly recommended! 

Dugan & his birthday entourage got to play the ONE HUNDREDTH GAME, on Easter, & have a birthday party too!

Check out our full set of Dugan's Last Defender Birthday shots in the slideshow here and more favorites embedded below:

We're elated about the latest extension because EVERYONE should have a chance to play this live action room escape puzzle. It's great for guys, girls, and geeks ages 14+ and it's SO much fun we're hoping a room escape show becomes part of The House Theater's line up every season. 

We played on Easter afternoon so it was oddly fitting to be following black rabbits down the hole into an alternate near apocalyptic reality. They even left Easter eggs (of the candy filled variety, not the hidden code easter eggs of video game fame) around the playing space as an extra treat and the birthday boy got one in his locker. House Theatre ROCKS!

We even made Dugan a Last Defender 15th Birthday Cake & shared it with cast & crew.

The Last Defender is great for a group of friends, date night, or family fun for high school kids through adults. It's addictive and players are returning in droves to play again and again. Book your tickets NOW before the clock ticks down and all you see on site are the sad words SOLD OUT! Don't miss THIS!

  The Last Defender Production Photo by Johnny Knight

WHAT:              

The House Theater of Chicago is adding 86 new performance times, extending to June 12

WHERE:          

The Chopin Theater Downstairs, 1543 W. Division St.

WHEN:            

Extension Dates: April 24 - June 12

The regular performance schedule is now as follows: Wednesdays at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7 and 9 p.m., Saturdays at 2, 4, 7 and 9 p.m.

Through April 17: Sundays at 4:30 and 7 p.m.

Starting April 24: Sundays 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.

These added dates and extension go on sale to the public on Monday April 4

                     

MORE:             

A total of 86 performance times have been added for this live action game after selling out over 90% of the existing playtimes. 

The Last Defender Production Photo by Johnny Knight

ABOUT THE LAST DEFENDER 

Artistic Director Nathan Allen and Company Member and D.C. Comics artist Chris Burnham, have teamed up with some of Chicago’s best loved puzzle and game designers in this world premiere. Together, they created a wholly new experiment in immersive story and stagecraft call The Last Defender.  It’s part performance, part puzzle hunt, and part live action game.

Set during the Cold War, The Last Defender draws on the era's sense of paranoia, and fear of nuclear attack to give audiences a one-of-a-kind storytelling experience. Audience members become the

heroes of the story in The Defenders' underground headquarters. The United States and The Soviet Union are still mired in the Cold War. Artificial intelligence has been deployed alongside 8 bit

arcade-style computer technologies to control our nuclear weapons.

The game will present teams of players with a classic "trolley problem” resulting in three possible endings based on their choices and actions: Nuclear War, which is easy to achieve. Nuclear Peace, which is very difficult, and a costly compromise scenario for teams who fail to reach Nuclear Peace but wish to avoid Nuclear War. Players will navigate their own paranoia, as well as the stresses of Mutually Assured Destruction to do the job of The Defenders. Everyone will work as a team to gather information, solve puzzles, and make increasingly difficult decisions in real time. All to complete The Defenders' mission and save the world.

Photo Favorites: Dugan's Last Defender Birthday 

Dugan and I both bought these rockin' Last Defender tee shirts after we played in February! And everyone who plays get a free surprise packet to take home.

The geek in me loves that they're keeping game stats & standings:

PARENTS NIGHT OUT: United 232 Now Playing at House Theater

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

THE WORLD PREMIERE OF 

UNITED FLIGHT 232 

ADAPTED AND DIRECTED BY VANESSA STALLING AND BASED ON THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED BOOK BY EVANSTON’S LAURENCE GONZALES

The Production Runs Through May 1 at the Chopin Theatre

Tonight, ChiIL Mama will be ChiILin' in Chi, IL with one of our favorite storefronts, The House Theatre of Chicago. We were already reviewing elsewhere for the UNITED FLIGHT 232 press opening on 3/20, and the buzz about this show has been great. Can't wait to see for ourselves! Check back soon for our full review.

The House Theatre of Chicago is proud to announce the world premiere adaptation of Laurence Gonzales’ book Flight 232, adapted and directed by Vanessa Stalling. United Flight 232 tells the story of the harrowing July 19, 1989 flight bound for Chicago’s O’Hare airport. United Flight 232 runs through May 1, plays at Chopin Theatre’s Upstairs Theater, 1543 W. Division St.  

Regular performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m., from March 25 – May 1. Regular run tickets range from $30 to $35. $10 same-day tickets for students and industry professionals are available for all dates, seats permitting. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.thehousetheatre.com or call 773.769.3832.

“I love you, hurry home. I love you.” On July 19, 1989, a DC-10 headed for O’Hare with 296 aboard is paralyzed mid-air. For 44 minutes, the aircraft descended towards an emergency landing and crashed at Sioux City Gateway airport. To the astonishment of all who witnessed the event, 184 of 296 passengers and crew survived. Drawing on the interviews and research conducted by Evanston author Laurence Gonzales for his critically acclaimed book, Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival, this brand new play, United Flight 232, is a reflection on how to comprehend tragedy and celebrate human ingenuity in the face of overwhelming challenges.

The House Theatre of Chicago Company Members Brenda Barrie and Johnny Arena join the cast, along with guest artists Echaka Agba, Alice de Cunha, Elana Elyce, Rudy Galvan, James Doherty, Kroydell Galima, and Michael Martin.

 San Francisco Chronicle called Laurence Gonzales’ book, “A richly detailed story that is equal parts heartbreaking [and] inspiring…”

 The Washington Post said, “Flight 232 stands alone for its absolutely riveting depiction of the flight’s last minutes and the horrendous aftermath: for its vivid sympathetic portraits of many of those aboard the plane, the crew most particularly.”

The Chicago Tribune called it, “Astonishingly in-depth…”

To learn more about Laurence Gonzales’ book, please visit his website at laurencegonzales.com/232.html.

United Flight 232 was commissioned and developed by The House Theatre of Chicago and the Chicago Performance Lab through the Theatre and Performance Studies Program at the University of Chicago.

ABOUT LAURENCE GONZALES, author

Laurence Gonzales was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Houston and San Antonio, Texas.  His book about the crash of United Flight 232 at Sioux City, Iowa, July 19, 1989, Flight 232: A Story of Disaster and Survival, from W.W. Norton, was published on July 7, 2014. He is the author of numerous books, including the bestseller Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why and the sequel, Surviving Survival: The Art and Science of Resilience (both from W.W. Norton). Gonzales has won many awards, including two National Magazine Awards and the Distinguished Service Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. He has appeared as a speaker before groups ranging from the Santa Fe Institute to Legg Mason Capital Management, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also on the adjunct faculty at Northwestern University in the Medill School of Journalism. His most recent novel is Lucy (Alfred A. Knopf). His essays are collected in the book House of Pain (University of Arkansas Press). He is a fellow of the Santa Fe Institute.                                                

ABOUT VANNESA STALLING, adapter and director

Vanessa Stalling is a Chicago freelance director. Recently, Stalling directed The America Play at Oracle Productions and Mutt, by Christopher Chen, a co-production between Stage Left and Red Tape. Other recent work includes Circuscope, Actors Gymnasium, The Normal Heart, Boston University and Pullman W.A, Illinois State University. She is most known for her work as associate artistic director at Redmoon, where she enjoyed directing and choreographing several productions including a remount of The Cabinet, Last of My Species, Winter Pageant, Princess Club, and Twilight Orchard. She is adjunct faculty at Columbia College Chicago and University of Chicago. She is a recipient of the Outstanding University Teacher Award and an Impact Award for her service as an Instructor at Illinois State University.

ABOUT THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO
The House is Chicago's premier home for intimate, original works of epic story and stagecraft. Founded and led by Artistic Director Nathan Allen and driven by an interdisciplinary ensemble of Chicago’s next generation of great storytellers, The House aims to become a laboratory and platform for the evolution of the American theatre as an inclusive and popular artform.

The House was founded in 2001 by a group of friends to explore connections between Community and Storytelling through a unique theatrical experience. 

Since becoming eligible in 2004, The House has been nominated for 60 Joseph Jefferson Awards (21 wins), became the first recipient of Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theater Award in 2007, and was awarded a 2014 National Theatre Company Grant by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards. Now in its 14th year of original work, The House continues its mission to unite Chicago in the spirit of Community through amazing feats of Storytelling.

OPENING: The House Theatre Nutcracker Opens This Friday!

THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO PRESENTS THE RETURN OF ITS HOLIDAY CLASSIC AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY THEATRICAL ADAPTATION OF THE NUTCRACKER, NOVEMBER 5 – DECEMBER 31,

AT THE CHOPIN THEATRE

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List: 

Best Chicago Family Holiday Shows

ChiIL Live Shows on Our Radar

Here at ChiIL Mama/ ChiIL Live Shows, The House Theatre's version of The Nutcracker has been a family favorite of ours for years! It's a beloved family tradition with dancing, singing toys, creepy giant, multi headed rat puppets and NO BALLET whatsoever. We adore this utterly unique holiday take on The Nutcracker, overcoming grief, and conquering fears. Highly recommended. We'll be back on Friday the 13 for the press opening so check back soon for our full review. 

We'll also be giving away TWO Family Four Packs of Tickets to the House Nutcracker shortly, so check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often!

The House Theatre of Chicago once again brings holiday cheer with its sixth annual return of the all-original, family-friendly The Nutcracker playing at the The Chopin Theatre Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division, November 5 – December 31. The show created by Company Members Jake Minton, Phillip Klapperich, Kevin O’Donnell and Tommy Rapley. Company Member Rapley reprises his role as director and choreographer of the holiday production based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story. 

Previews take place November 5 – 12 following the regular schedule, excluding matinees. The press opening is Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. with 3 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays. Additional holiday weekend performances are Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 27 at 3 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.. NOTE:  The House hosts a family-friendly New Year’s Eve extravaganza following the closing 7 p.m. performance December 31 and will last until 1:00am. Tickets to the New Year’s Eve Extravaganza go on sale Thursday, Nov. 5.  Preview tickets are $15 with regular run tickets $25 - $45. Student and industry same-day discounted tickets are available for $10 for all dates, based on availability. Tickets may be purchased by calling 773.769.3832 or by visiting www.thehousetheatre.com.

The House’s fantastical expansion of this holiday classic centers on young Clara’s journey to celebrate Christmas in the face of grief after the death of her brother. With the help of a magical nutcracker, this brave little girl will fight the Rat King and save her family. The House’s modern holiday theatrical production weaves together riveting dialogue, astonishing puppetry, original song and spellbinding spectacle to tell a heartwarming, darkly moving story of magic and hope -- a fun outing fit for the whole family.

The House’s original play version of The Nutcracker has become a Chicago Holiday tradition for many families. It premiered at the Steppenwolf Theatre in 2007 under the Visiting Company Initiative and enjoyed highly acclaimed new productions at The House from 2010 through 2014, as well as simultaneous 2012 productions in Chicago and Miami.

About the New Year’s Eve Extravaganza:

Following the closing performance Thursday, Dec. 31, The House  hosts a family-friendly New Year’s Eve Extravaganza. The party features music from House Company members, led by Kevin O’Donnell, a dance floor, full table-top and party game room, photo booth and savory and sweet eats and drinks. Tickets will go on sale Thursday, Nov. 5.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

The Nutcracker is adapted by Jake Minton and Phillip Klapperich from “The Nutcracker and the Mouse,” a story by E.T.A. Hoffmann with original music by Kevin O’Donnell. 

The cast for The Nutcracker features the return of House Company Members Chris Matthews in the role of “Monkey” and Marika Mashburn as “Martha/Really Scary Rat” and welcomes Company Member Abu Ansari as “David/Quite Scary Rat.” Returning to the cast are guest artists Jaclyn Hennell as “Clara” and Andrew Lund as “Hugo the Robot.” Rounding out the cast and new to The Nutcracker this year are guest artists James Houton as “Drosselmeyer/Really Quite Scary Rat,” Rachel Shapiro as “Phoebe the Babydoll” and Desmond Gray as “Fritz the Nutcracker.” 

ABOUT THE HOUSE THEATRE OF CHICAGO
The House is Chicago's premier home for intimate, original works of epic story and stagecraft. Founded and led by Artistic Director Nathan Allen and driven by an interdisciplinary ensemble of Chicago’s next generation of great storytellers, The House aims to become a laboratory and platform for the evolution of the American theatre as an inclusive and popular artform.

The House was founded in 2001 by a group of friends to explore connections between Community and Storytelling through a unique theatrical experience. Since becoming eligible in 2004, The House has been nominated for 60 Joseph Jefferson Awards (19 wins) and became the first recipient of Broadway in Chicago’s Emerging Theater Award in 2007, and was awarded a 2013 National Theatre Company Grant by the American Theatre Wing, founder of the Tony Awards. Now in its 14th year of original work, The House continues its mission to unite Chicago in the spirit of Community through amazing feats of Storytelling.

The House Theatre of Chicago once again brings holiday cheer with its sixth annual return of the all-original, family-friendly The Nutcracker playing at the The Chopin Theatre Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division, November 5 – December 31. The show created by Company Members Jake Minton, Phillip Klapperich, Kevin O’Donnell and Tommy Rapley. Company Member Rapley reprises his role as director and choreographer of the holiday production based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s story. Previews take place November 5 – 12 following the regular schedule, excluding matinees. 

The press opening is Friday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. with 3 p.m. matinees Saturdays and Sundays. Additional holiday weekend performances are Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 27 at 3 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 28 at 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m., and Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 7 p.m.

NOTE:  The House hosts a family-friendly New Year’s Eve extravaganza following the closing performance December 31 and will last until 1:00am. Tickets to the New Year’s Eve Extravaganza go on sale Thursday, Nov. 5.  Preview tickets are $15 with regular run tickets $25 - $45. Student and industry same-day discounted tickets are available for $10 for all dates, based on availability. Tickets may be purchased by calling 773.769.3832 or by visiting www.thehousetheatre.com.

OPENING: The Hypocrites All Our Tragic Brings 12 Hours of Characters to a 140 Character World

Something incredible is happening on the Chicago theatre scene. Epic, marathon, long form shows like the 12 hour mythic behemoth, All Our Tragic, by The Hypocrites and House Theatre's 9 hour Hammer Trinity are taking the city by storm. In a generation weaned on 140 character tweets, sound bites and status updates, it's beyond exciting to see that "short attention span theatre" can be dropped at the doorstep for a full on, day long, theatre immersion. And audiences and critics alike are loving it!

All Our Tragic production photos via The Hypocrites

★★★★ (out of ★★★★)

"...a watershed moment for off-Loop theater. By whatever alchemy, it serves the greatest collection of stories ever written - adds to them, modernizes them, makes them feel fresh, forces you to see them both strange and familiar."

Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

★★★★★ (out of ★★★★★)

"surprisingly funny and totally singular experience."

Kris Vire, TimeOut Chicago

"mind-boggling flight of the imagination, with many sequences of immense passion, intense physicality and wit."

Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times

All Our Tragic opens June 20th, and ticket are selling fast. Don't miss it this time around! 

We want to share the day with you.

Buy your tickets now!

All Our Tragic production photos via The Hypocrites

 Day Long Epic Productions Prevail:

Although it recently closed, we will NEVER forget The House Theatre's epic saga, The Hammer Trinity, and we are already crossing our fingers and toes for a remount. It was THAT good. We were front and center for The Hammer Trinity with the tween & teen in tow, and it was one of the coolest things we've done in the city as a family... EVER. And we get around to a lot of cool events and see a LOT of theatre. Even though we'd reviewed parts 1 and 2 in past years, seeing all 3 shows in a row was mind altering, and we can't recommend experiencing theatre in this way highly enough!


The Hammer Trinity production photos via The House Theatre

Long form shows of this magnitude change a person. It's nothing short of cathartic to put away all the cell phones, and electronics and be in the moment, experiencing epic story telling for hours. It was an endurance, a multi character marathon, and even the audience members felt like we'd accomplished something special and impressive by the final curtain call. We KNOW the actors did.

Last year we were out of town on a travel feature when All Our Tragic first arrived on the Chicago scene, and by the time we were back and had an open night they were sold out. We're elated to have a second chance to catch the full on, 12 hour in a row immersion this time around. The All Our Tragic remount opens June 20th, and once again tickets are selling FAST. Don't miss this. Save your spot ASAP. Check out the full details below and we'll see you out there.

All Our Tragic production photos via The Hypocrites

All Our Tragic is an epic adaptation of the thirty-two surviving Greek tragedies first mounted in 2014 and returning in the Summer of 2015. This twelve-hour theatrical event features the entire canon of Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, creating a modern Festival of Dionysus. These Ancient Greek festivals were designed to encourage civic conversation about contemporary topics by incorporating art, politics and food.

Typically, audiences experience a play for two hours and then, within days, even high-quality productions dissipate from memory. In answer to this, we find ourselves turning toward making art that requests a prolonged commitment from the audience in exchange for an unforgettable experience.

All Our Tragic features nine hours of performed material and three hours for snack and meal time, which is included in the price of admission. These breaks are as important as the performances themselves; they provide a time to discuss the freshly-witnessed plays with others, to eat some food, and to get to know some strangers.

All Our Tragic production photos via The Hypocrites

All Our Tragic is adapted and directed by the inimitable Sean Graney, and the 2015 remount features most of the original cast members. Save the dates and book your tickets ASAP. Previews start June 20, and they're only slated to run through August 9, 2015 at The Hypocrites home base, The Den Theatre Mainstage, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently on sale at www.the-hypocrites.com. The press opening is Sunday, June 28 at 11 am.

Audiences will have only 16 opportunities to enjoy ALL OUR TRAGIC, presented in a single 12-hour experience with "marathon" performances on Saturdays and Sundays only. A daylong stream of meals and snacks is included in ticket prices, with multiple intermissions and meal breaks. A cash bar is also available.

The 17-member ensemble cast of ALL OUR TRAGIC 2015 includes: Erin Barlow, Ryan Bourque, Walter Briggs, Geoff Button, Kate Carson-Groner, Emily Casey, Tien Doman, Lindsey Gavel, Danny Goodman, Maximilian Lapine, Luce Metrius, Erin Myers, Dana Omar, Christine Stulik, Zeke Sulkes, John Taflan and Lauren Vogel.

From the most popular titles to the most rarely produced, experience the 32 surviving Greek tragedies by Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides in one breathtaking and unforgettable theatrical event. Blended with humor and set against a contemporary backdrop, ALL OUR TRAGIC builds on the success of The Hypocrites'' 2011 award-winning production of Sophocles: Seven Sicknesses. The 2014 world premiere of ALL OUR TRAGIC was showered with critical praise, hailed by Chicago critics as "... a water-shed moment for off-Loop theater," "a mind-boggling flight of the imagination," and "...an epic event in every sense."

ALL OUR TRAGIC is designed to create a contemporary Festival of Dionysus, the ancient gatherings for which these tragedies were originally crafted - to bring together a daily community to bond, eat food, drink wine and discuss complicated topics of society that we have been wrestling with since the creation of civilization.

Sean Graney states, "I cannot wait to experience All Our Tragic with audiences again, it remains the most personal and important work of my life. I have been working on the script since the premiere and am very pleased with the changes. Without altering the aspect we all loved, I have improved sections that left me wanting, clarified underdeveloped characters and fine-tuned the humor. I am also very eager to augment the audiences experience for the remount by providing finer vegetarian meals and comprehensive reference material. Over all, we are all working very hard to improve upon everything that can be improved, I hope it pays off. Please join us."

The production team for ALL OUR TRAGIC includes: Tom Burch (scenic design), Alison Siple (costume design), Jared Moore (lighting design), Kevin O''Donnell (sound design), Danielle Case (props design), Ryan Bourque(violence design), Mieka van der Ploeg (wig and makeup design), Jon Beal (blood and gore design), Miranda Anderson and Justine Palmisano (co-stage managers).

Click here for more info and to buy your tickets now!

All Our Tragic production photos via The Hypocrites