March Live Show Recap-Brunch & Boogie at Lincoln Hall

We had fun with the tunes, tats and puppet crafts at Chicago Families in the Loop's first Brunch and Boogie on 3/20.   The next one's slated for mid May.   There was a fair amount of boogie goin' on.  Unless they expand the brunch, for future shows, though, you might want to eat in advance.   "Brunch" was only mac and cheese and toddler snack samples.   Even coffee was $4 a pop.  Otherwise, the music was fun and there was a raffle with some pretty high value prizes from local merchants.    All families also went home with a sweet, reusable swag bag, with snacks and coupons.

New Sinbad Family 4 Pack Winner Announced

cast members during the post show Q & A  3/19

Congrats to our new winner, Marla R., from Oak Park.    She will be seeing Adventure Stage's fantastic new show, Sinbad:  The Untold Tale.    They're  making it a multigenerational play day with her mother, husband, and son, Justice.  


We had a winner unable to attend the show this Saturday, so we picked again through random.org, twice in fact, and finally have a new winner who can make it to the show.   Enjoy! 

Dixie's Tupperware Party-Two Unlikely American Icons Team Up

What do drag queens and Tupperware have in common?

Both are great for entertaining, colorfully conceal their goods, and have a staring roll in Dixie's Tupperware Party.    


This raunchy, real Tupperware Party has come to The Royal George Theatre Cabaret for a limited 8 week run, and we highly recommend you check it out.   I haven't laughed this hard and long in a show for years.   My sides hurt.    Dixie's wild wit and quick improv shine in this fast talking, plastic crap hawking, one woman show.


Dixie is a consummate hostess, offering mints and schmoozing with her guests in the intimate theatre space that serves as her expanded, double wide living room.   She has an entire wardrobe of mini skirt, table cloth couture.   Break out your best trailer park chic, and dress up for this one, for the full effect.


Everyone has name tags, ostensibly for the raffle prizes, but this gives Dixie a wicked little advantage of being able to pick on people by name.   This highly interactive, audience participation piece pulls everyone in, whether they like it or not.   Before you know it, she'll have you singing "I've got that Tupper feeling down in my heart" just like Vacation Bible School.


I was most amused and impressed by Dixie's mastery of naive, Southern, trailer trash vocabulary.    She is convincingly geographically challenged and stumbles over the big word in her pitch with a charming lack of finesse.   She rocks the funny scripted bits, with great comedic timing and charisma, but really shines with the off the cuff stuff.   


Beware if it's your birthday.   Our resident birthday girl was tagged "the lesbian", early on, for looking at Dixie's legs, in a gender bender worthy of Shakespeare.   Then the poor girl was playfully teased and referred to throughout the show.


If your number gets picked in the lottery, you're in for a ride.    After you have your mortifyingly fun 15 minutes of fame on the stage, you'll go home with a little Tupperware treat.   Just don't be surprised if you're asked to demonstrate your tea bagging technique on a tiny toddler toy replica or race another team to get your balls in order.


As for the raunchy part, if you're easily offended or a pc police type, you might want to seek your Tupperware fix at a more vanilla, suburban party.    Dixie explains Tupperware in a wine chugging, sex loving, no holds barred way that will have you laughing too hard to fill out an order form.   She extols the virtues of Tupperware for drinking and driving, explains screwing, and explores creative, new uses hookers might find for the squeeze and squirt device with the decorator tips.


The real part is a bit more complex.   Yes, this is a "real" Tupperware party, complete with order forms and real product.    But the real elements go beyond so called "plastic crap".    Dixie also shares a poignant monologue about spousal abuse and gripes about the challenges of being a single mother to 3 young children, Wynona, Dwayne, and Absorbine, Jr.   In the style of 70's consciousness raising groups, Dixie uses her 1950's reputation Tupperware parties for a startlingly feminist rallying cry.    


Dixie enlightens everyone on Brownie Wise, single Mama and genius behind the concept of the Tupperware party.    She's all but forgotten, since she didn't "slap her name all over everything like the inventor, Tupper."    Yet, Dixie is reviving the Brownie Wise story, and using it as a rallying cry.   Don't let other people tell you what you can't do, is the heartfelt message beyond the bowls.    Dixie proves that if a single Mama with 3 little dependents, a drinking problem, and a prison record can enjoy economic independence, and rise to the upper echelons of the Tupperware sales empire, then anyone can go for their dreams.

Dixie's tupperware party stars Dixie Longate and is written by Kris Andersson and directed by Patrick Richwood.   

In 2008, Dixie received a prestigious Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance.    ChiIL Mama will be interviewing Dixie in early April, so comment if you have any questions for this scrappy, hilarious, entrepreneur.   The show runs through May 15th, as part of a 20-city national tour, so get your tickets today.

Dixie's Tupperware Party

Off Broadway’s Hilarious

“Dixie’s Tupperware Party”

At The Royal George Theatre March 18^th - May 15^th, 2011

ChiIL Mama will be checkin' out the show tonight, and we'll have a full review for you.

“Dixie’s Tupperware Party,” the hilarious show starring Dixie Longate which turned Off-Broadway into a Tupperware-mania celebration and garnered the prestigious 2008 Drama Desk Award Nomination rolls into the Royal George Theatre Cabaret (1641 North Halsted, Chicago) for a limited eight-week engagement beginning March 18^th through May 15^th, 2011.  Written by Kris Andersson, the production is playing in Chicago as part of a 20-city national tour.

“Dixie’s Tupperware Party” stars Dixie Longate, as the fast-talking Tupperware Lady, who has packed up her catalogues and left her children in an Alabama trailer park to journey across America.  Critics and audiences have howled with laughter as Dixie throws a good ol’ fashioned Tupperware Party filled with outrageously funny tales, heartfelt accounts, FREE giveaways, audience participation and the most fabulous assortment of Tupperware ever sold on a theater stage!

Loaded with the most up-to-date products available for purchase, Longate will share how she became the number one Tupperware seller in the world, as she educates her guests on the many alternative uses she has discovered for her plastic products. 

Produced by Down South LLC, Margaret Cotter and directed by Patrick Richwood, “Dixie’s Tupperware Party” will feature costumes designed by Longate, lighting designed by Richard Winkler, set designed by Steven Kemp and sound by Christopher Bond.

NBC Today Show declares this show is “Not your grandmother’s Tupperware Party!” The New York Times raves, “The show is part zany and part double-entendre! …Audience members find themselves clapping and singing… and you can actually buy Tupperware!” 

Playbill exclaims, “She’s a one-woman tour-de-force.” 

The Associated Press says, “Dixie is all smiles and sweet sugar, snapping her gum the whole time with an insouciant charm.”

The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday through Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.

For more information about “Dixie’s Tupperware Party” log onto www.dixiestupperwareparty.com

TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets for “Dixie’s Tupperware Party” go on sale Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011 at the Royal George Box Office (312) 988-9000, Ticketmaster.com or you can call Ticketmaster at (800)982-2787. Tickets are also available at all Ticketmaster retail locations (including select Carson Pirie Scott, Coconuts and fye stores). 

Ticket prices are $44 for the weekday performances and $49 for the weekend performances.  For groups of 10 or more, please contact Group Theatre Tickets at www.grouptheatertix.com  or call (312) 423.6612.

For more information about the Royal George Theatre and box office hours visit www.theroyalgeorgetheatre.com.

Win A Disc Wednesday Dreamtree Double Disc Winner Announced

Our lucky winner today is Lori M. who just won Dreamtree Shakers old and new kids CDs Dream and You Will See and Going On A Picnic.   Big congrats!    These guys are some of our favorites.   For everyone else who is "not Lori", we still have 2 more double sets of Dreamtree Shakers discs in the coming months-one set at the end of April, right before they play Beat Kitchen.    You can also check out their website HERE for ordering info and upcoming shows.


If you missed out on our earlier interview with Jeremy, Dreamtree's frontman, click DREAMTREE SHAKERS VIDEO INTERVIEW to check it out.   We'll have some fun, live clips from their Schubas show on the first day of spring 3/20 up soon.

WANT to win?   WANT a disc?   WANT to know who's got brand new, March releases?   WANT a dog?    WANT music for aardvarks?   WANT some rockin' new tunes you're gonna love?   

This week, our 2 Win A Disc Bands are both new releases I WANT A DOG by Jamie Broza and ALL I WANT by David Weinstone presents Music for AArdvarks and Other Mammals.    The second track on this one is I Want A Puppy!   (Hmmm.   I sense a theme.)  We'll have full reviews up soon, but for now, ENTER HERE this week through midnight 3/29 for your chance to win.


What I want is to celebrate spring, romp around outside with my 3 dogs, and share some great new tunes with YOU.

Free Ticket Tuesday Winners-Sinbad at Adventure Stage and Mary Macaroni

Congrats to our two winning families this week.


Kristine S. has won our family 4 pack of theatre tickets to see Sinbad at Adventure Stage this Saturday at 2PM.   This is a fantastic show.   We highly recommend it.


Or 2nd ticket winner is D'Arcy M., who won a family 4 pack to Beat Kitchen Concerts for Kids to see Mary Macaroni this Sunday at noon.   


Your name (+3) will be on the guest list at the door).   Please e-mail me at zbluesun@gmail.com to confirm you will be able to attend or to release the tickets so we can choose another winner.


Thanks for reading ChiIL Mama and enjoy,

chiIL Mama

because life doesn't end with birth.........

Dreamworks Madagascar Live! Rollicking Fun #madagascarlive

We had a great time checking out Broadway Across America's production of Dreamworks Madagascar Live! out at Rosemont Theatre.    Word is, our family 4 pack winner and her kids had a rockin' good time, too.    

I took my kids plus a family friend, another 2nd grade girl, whose favorite characters from the movie were the penguins, hands down.    Then we ran into more friends there.   The kids enjoyed playing the "Same and Different Game", an original invention our ours where the kids vie to spot similarities and differences between stagings of shows and the books or movies that preceded them.

There was much pre show speculation, among the under 11 set, about how the live show would handle the ship sequence and the animals going overboard.    We were all surprised and impressed with just how well that translated.    Through effective use of scrims, lighting and video, they pulled off a convincing island marooning.

My favorite numbers were Alex's meat dream and The Food Chain song.   Funny stuff!


I'd forgotten that the movie begins with Marty's 10th birthday party, cake and attendant midlife crisis.    This was particularly timely for us, as we just celebrated Du-Jay's 10th birthday a mere 3 days before the show.    Fortunately, the move to double digits and tween status, was not as distressing for the boy as it was for the zebra.    But the timing was a fun coincidence.



Of course the penguins were a hoot.    They were funny in animated form in the movies and they're funny live, too.

Gloria, the hip checkin' hippo, proves that sometimes big is beautiful, and you don't have to be a skinny super model to attract the amor of Mr. tall, dark and spotted. 



Everyone in the audience got a pair of lemur glasses and was encouraged to jump up and move it move it in a mass, lemur faced dance along.   Adults and kids of all ages were laughing and gettin' jiggy with it.    This was absolutely a fun introduction to live theatre for many of the youngest audience members and a chance for families to shake some multigenerational booty together.


The perfect end to the communal nature of being a live theatre audience happened on the walk to the car.   My 3 charges were all hepped up and still dancing all over the sidewalk as everyone surged out of Rosemont Theatre.    As my kids and their friend, Ruby, raucously sang "I like to move it move it.   I like to move it move it.   I like to move it move it.   I like to...."    A toddler in front of us belted out "MOVE IT!" right on cute in his cute, little boy voice, and everyone around us laughed.


You can still check out the website at http://www.madlive.com/ for video, games and future tour dates and cities.

The Merchant of Venice With Oscar Winner F. Murray Abraham #BroadwayinChicago

It's not too late to see The Merchant of Venice.   ChiIL Mama checked out opening night on the 15th and it was an absolute treat to see Oscar winner, F. Murray Abraham, in action as Shylock.   There were some compelling choices in costuming and set design which fused the old and new, to give this staging a contemporary look without sacrificing the flow and beauty of Shakespearean language.   Timeless themes of racism, greed, revenge, love, parental control and loss of control, lust and fidelity were all skillfully brought forth.

I spent intermission talking with an English teacher/mom who brought her two children (7 & 11) for their first taste of live Shakespeare.    The kids were hangin' in there, but The Merchant of Venice is conceptually a lot to handle (even for many of the so called "adults" in the audience).   It's not as accessible or kid friendly as A Midsummer Nights Dream or Macbeth, with bright costumes, sword fights, witches and mythical creatures.

I had debated bringing one or both of my kids, and narrowly decided not to.   Hers were so close in age to mine that I wanted to get their take on things.   Her 7 year old daughter was a bit bored and confused and basically said she was having trouble following the plot, which I think would have happened with my 2nd grade daughter, too.   Yuppies in suits and grown ups talking and talking are challenging to 7 year olds, even when they're speaking modern English.

Their 11 year old son was enjoying the hip hop, gangster archetype of Launcelot Gobbo, played by Jacob Ming-Trent.   He also liked the gold, silver and lead "caskets", set up as a test for Portia's suitors, which were reinvented as 3 silver Mac Book Pro Computers.   As each potential husband chose one, a large screen sprang to life on the wall with graphics and an ominous booming voice.   

We had a great chat about introducing Shakespeare to kids through some fantastic children's books by Bruce Coville, including his version of A Midsummer Night's Dream.   He also includes Shakespearean themes and references without the language barrier, in his Magic Shop series.   

I also highly recommended Chicago Shakespeare Theatre to them.   We just took both of our kids to see their Short Shakespeare production of Macbeth, and it was a hit with everyone.   They abridged it, for a shorter run time a fast pace, but did not compromise the original language or intent.    You can check out our review HERE.

This particular family spent 8 hours on Amtrak to spend spring break in Chicago, and were making the most of their theatre immersion vacation.   The day before, they'd been to Ethan Frome at Lookingglass Theatre.

My kids' first live Shakespeare was an outdoor production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, two years ago, which they adored.   Everyone sat outside on a grassy hill, and a friend of ours was in the cast.   We prepped by reading several kid friendly versions of the story before hand, so the kids knew the plot line and wouldn't be lost and frustrated.   That way they could ask questions during the books and not interrupt the play with loud protests of "I don't get it."   It was a pleasurable introduction where setting and the outrageous costumes made grasping the line by line dialogue less crucial.

Of course, every child matures with different timing and every parent has their own meter for what they are comfortable taking their kids to and what they think their children can handle.   Certainly there are great teachable moments in The Merchant of Venice about racism, classism, revenge, sexism, logic and wit.

Older children will also catch the hints of homosexuality, threats of infidelity and cross dressing.   They may get a kick out of learning that back in the playwright's day, all the actors were men, so the turnabouts  Shakespeare is renowned for were even more convoluted.   Shakespearean plays are full of men, playing women, pretending to dress as men.   I'd be less concerned, personally, with tweens or teens picking up on inappropriate innuendos and actions than with the difficult language factor.   

It's a fine line between taking kids to things that they may not love, but that are educational for them, and boring them out of interest in things.   I'm all for not condescending or dumbing things down for kids.   It's a mind expanding experience for a child to see Oscar winning performers, while sitting in red velvet seats, among gold gilt trappings, even if some of the show goes over their heads.   I have absolute admiration for parents who want to bring the full experience of live theatre in an ornate downtown theatre to their children.

I've seen a number of "modernized" productions of various works by Shakespeare and some certainly work better than others.    I think this one's a bit challenging for younger children, but enjoyed it myself.   All of the actors were a pleasure to watch.   The set design and costume choices made classic characters intriguing and relevant, recast as today's power elite.   Check it out through March 27th.

Dates : March 15, 2011 - March 27, 2011

From the acclaimed Theatre for a New Audience, the first U.S. theatre to be invited to the Royal Shakespeare Company, comes Shakespeare's tragicomedy following command runs Off-Broadway and in Stratford-Upon-Avon. Starring Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham in his riveting portrayal of Shylock, and directed by Darko Tresnjak (former Artistic Director, Old Globe), the play has been arousing controversies for centuries with raucous and gentle comedy, tender poetry, and its struggle with mercy and justice. In this riveting update, religion, race and sexuality collide with love, family and justice and the currency of society and humanity has never been so changeable.

Ticket prices are $25 to $80. 

GROUPS OF 15 OR MORE ON SALE NOW! 

CALL (312) 977-1710