NEW RELEASE: Prehistoric Sized Fun With LEGO Jurassic World, Now Available in North America #LEGOJurassicGame #Tech #VideoGames

WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT, TT GAMES,

THE LEGO GROUP AND UNIVERSAL PARTNERSHIPS & LICENSING

WELCOME VISITORS TO LEGO® JURASSIC WORLD™ 

All Four Jurassic Films in One Action-Packed Video Game, Roaring Into Stores 6/12

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, The LEGO Group and Universal Partnerships & Licensing today announced that LEGO® Jurassic World™ is now available in North America for the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment systems, PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system, Xbox One all-in-one games and entertainment system, the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Wii U™ system from Nintendo, Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system and Windows PC.

For the first time, the Jurassic Park franchise comes to LEGO video games, spanning more than two decades of epic films from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, including Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Jurassic Park III, as well as the highly anticipated Jurassic World, opening today. Reimagined with TT Games’ signature LEGO humor, the thrilling adventure recreates unforgettable scenes and action sequences from the films, allowing fans to experience for themselves the franchise’s most memorable moments and the opportunity to fully explore the expansive grounds of Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna.

“LEGO Jurassic World immerses fans directly into the action of the iconic film franchise,” said Tom Stone, Managing Director, TT Games. “From playing as a dinosaur for the first time in a LEGO game, to creating customized dinosaurs, LEGO Jurassic World takes players on a memorable, T. rex-sized journey through Isla Nublar and beyond.”

In LEGO Jurassic World, players can take on the roles of exciting Jurassic film characters, such as Owen Grady (Chris Pratt), Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) and Dr. Wu (BD Wong), throughout 20 story levels on a mission to collect precious amber containing dinosaur DNA.  Players can use the DNA to build their dino collection, mix their pieces to create an original species with the Dino Customizer by mixing and matching color, body parts and abilities or fill the giant footsteps of the LEGO dinosaurs and actually play the game as the beasts themselves!

Additionally, gamers can explore the expansive open world grounds of Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna and play with family and friends using LEGO video games’ classic drop-in, drop-out co-op gameplay. 

Also launching today is the Jurassic World DLC Pack, giving players access to six new characters, two new vehicles, the JURASSIC Response Unit and the JURASSIC WORLD Shuttle and more. The Jurassic World DLC Pack is available for purchase at local and digital retailers for $1.99. 

Experience even more within LEGO Jurassic World with the Jurassic Park Trilogy Pack #1, which grants access to three characters and one vehicle including, Dino Handler, Eric Kirby and Paul Kirby and the Animal Control Vehicle, which is available for purchase for $0.99. Players can also purchase the Jurassic Park Trilogy Pack #2 for $0.99, which provides access to three characters and one vehicle including, Jurassic Park Helicopter Pilot, Lex and Tim Murphy and Iain Malcolm’s San Diego Cruiser.

LEGO Jurassic World is rated “E10+” for everyone 10 and older by the ESRB and is now available for PS4 and Xbox One for the suggested retail price of $59.99 and for PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii U for the suggested retail price of $49.99. The game is also available now for PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS for the suggested retail price of $29.99.

For more information, please visit:
https://www.facebook.com/LEGOJurassic
http://twitter.com/LEGOJurassic
http://instagram.com/LEGOJurassic

About Jurassic World

The story of Steven Spielberg’s original comes full circle as the park that was only a promise comes to life.  Welcome to Jurassic World, a fully operational luxury resort off the coast of Costa Rica where 20,000 guests explore the wonder of Earth’s most magnificent living prehistoric marvels—of every shape and size—and interact up close with them every day.

When the massive and mysterious Indominus rex stages an escape and disappears into the jungle, order turns to mayhem and guests turn into prey. Dinosaurs escape into the open, skies and water to engage in an all-out war for survival, and no corner within the world’s greatest theme park is safe anymore.

Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vincent D’Onofrio, Ty Simpkins, Nick Robinson, Omar Sy, BD Wong and Irrfan Khan star in the 3D epic action-adventure that is directed by Colin Trevorrow and based on characters created by Michael Crichton. The screenplay is by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver and Derek Connolly & Trevorrow, and the story is by Rick Jaffa & Amanda Silver.  Frank Marshall and Patrick Crowley join the team as producers. www.jurassicworld.com

About TT Games

TT Games (www.ttgames.com) is the combined publishing and development group behind the hit LEGO videogame franchises such as LEGO® Star Wars™, LEGO® Indiana Jones™, LEGO® Batman™, and LEGO® Harry Potter™.  Incorporating renowned UK developer Traveller’s Tales, TT Games has a distinctive focus on console, handheld, mobile and PC games of the highest quality, aimed at young gamers and their families.

About the LEGO Group

The LEGO Group is a privately held, family-owned company with headquarters in Billund, Denmark, and main offices in Enfield, USA, London, England, Shanghai, China, and Singapore. Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, and based on the iconic LEGO® brick, it is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials for children.

Guided by the company spirit: "Only the best is good enough”, the company is committed to the development of children and aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through creative play and learning. LEGO products are sold worldwide and can be virtually explored at www.LEGO.com.

LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure, the brick and knob configuration are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2015 the LEGO Group.

About Universal Partnerships & Licensing

Universal Partnerships & Licensing (UP&L) oversees NBCUniversal’s consumer product and digital licensing for Universal Pictures, NBC Television, Focus Features and Sprout Channel.  This dedicated division is also responsible for film, home entertainment and television promotions.  UP&L is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, Inc., is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all platforms, including console, handheld, mobile and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.

LEGO JURASSIC WORLD © 2015 TT Games Ltd. Produced by TT Games under license from the LEGO Group. LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Brick and the Knob configurations and the Minifigure are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2015 The LEGO Group. Jurassic World is a trademark and copyright of Universal Studios and Amblin Entertainment, Inc. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLC. All Rights Reserved. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.  All rights reserved.

WB GAMES LOGO, WB SHIELD: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s15)

“PlayStation” and “PS3” are registered trademarks. “PS4” and “PS Vita” are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Nintendo trademarks and copyrights are properties of Nintendo.

Potbelly Celebrates International Picnic Day June 18 And National Vanilla Milkshake Day June 20th #ad #FoodFun

Here in Chicago, it's finally the season for a plethora of free outdoor entertainment like concerts, movies in the parks, theatre in the parks, and beach fun at the lakefront. You can BYO picnic to all of these hot spots and more. Potbelly Sandwich Shop is one of our family's frequent picks for easy, stress free carry out meals that everyone likes.

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama is pleased to partner up with Potbelly once again. We have been compensated with product or payment in exchange for spreading the word. As always, all opinions are our own.

June is full of excellent excuses to celebrate. Did you know International Picnic Day is June 18th?! Head outside to bask in the sun and enjoy delicious grub from Potbelly Sandwich Shop’s stress-free catering and carry-out services. 

Picnickers can pack their baskets with a variety of Potbelly’s customizable catering options, including toasty, warm sandwiches, craveable salads and freshly baked cookies. We provide plates, utensils, napkins and condiments – just sit back, relax and enjoy a mouthwatering Potbelly picnic. 

ChiIL out in Chi, IL and beyond with National Vanilla Milkshake Day, coming up fast on June 20th. Cool off with Potbelly’s hand-dipped vanilla milkshake that come dressed with the shop’s signature mini-cookie on the straw – an afternoon treat that’s both delicious and adorable!  Along with the classic vanilla milkshake, Potbelly offers chocolate, coffee, Oreo and the option to create your own flavor combination with the shop’s real, wholesome ingredients and flavors.

Disclosure: Once again, ChiIL Mama is pleased to partner up with Potbelly. We have been compensated with product or payment in exchange for spreading the word. As always, all opinions are our own.

WIN: How To Raise An Adult by Julie Lythcott-Haims ($27 value) #RaisingAdults #giveaway #Book #Review #Ad

What We're Reading:

It's great to not reinvent the wheel if someone has been there, done that, and written a useful book. Here at ChiIL Mama, we jumped at the chance to read an advance copy of Julie Lythcott-Haims' new release, How To Raise An Adult. It's a tough and timely topic and as a mom of a tween daughter and a teen son, it's a subject on my mind a lot.

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama is elated to partner up with Henry Holt and Company Publishing and Clever Girls for this feature. We have been compensated with complimentary review samples and a book for our giveaway. As always, all opinions are our own.

CLICK HERE to win your own hardback copy of How To Raise An Adult ($27 value) from ChiIL Mama. Enter through midnight 6/20/15. Open nationwide.

Lythcott-Haims writes with humor and insight. She's an experienced lawyer/Stanford Dean/mom, who has been called a triple threat "ologist", psychologist, sociologist and anthropologist based on the themes of her writing. Her invaluable experience as long time Freshman Dean at Stanford makes Lythcott-Haims uniquely qualified to expound on our collective cultural foibles and failings at parenting this generation of American kids. 

I had so many favorite parts of the book, you'll just have to read it, because I can't possibly hit them all. The quote "It's our job as parents to put ourselves out of a job." really spoke to me and sums up my parenting philosophy. My kids have both attended a public Chicago Montessori school from preschool (ages 3 & 4) through 6th grade, so they have been trusted with a lot of independence and child led learning for the past decade, and it shows. Still, we live in a dense, urban area where violence and danger are a true threat. So parenting older kids is a real balancing act between fostering freedom and autonomy and keeping kids out of life threatening situations.

I'm raising two adults who are confident in speaking up, can cook, and take charge of their own homework and schedules. I've often told my kids that my job is not to teach them what to think but how to think and that my job as mom is not to wait on them hand and foot or make their lives fun and easy all the time, but to teach them self sufficiency.

How to Raise an Adult is a welcome reality check and wake up call to helicopter parents whose best intentions may backfire. Humans learn more from our mistakes than our successes. I had a friend in my early 20's whose parents had literally written ALL of her papers through high school and did much of her homework too. College came as a rude shock, and she was left floundering, resentful and utterly unprepared.

When it comes to great tips from How To Raise An Adult, we adore the concept of raising capable kids by "putting independence in their way." My son, now entering high school in the fall, has taken the city bus to and from school for 7th & 8th grade. Both kids have a lot of choice in their activities, and we never do their homework for them but make it clear we're available if they need help figuring out how to do something.

We highly recommend reading How To Raise An Adult. Sometimes less is truly more, and we found this book to be a voice of sanity in a sea of other parenting manuals that demand more and more from overextended parents.

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama is elated to partner up with Henry Holt and Company Publishing and Clever Girls for this feature. We have been compensated with a complimentary review sample and a book for our giveaway. As always, all opinions are our own.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Potbelly Celebrates National Turkey Lovers' Month Throughout June #FoodFun

Did you know June is National Turkey Lovers' Month? Thanksgiving may be half a year away, but spring and summer are perfect seasons to gobble up some lean protein turkey! Potbelly Sandwich Shop has toasty turkey sandwiches and fresh turkey salads to ring in the celebration.

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama is pleased to partner up with Potbelly once again. We have been compensated with product or payment in exchange for spreading the word. As always, all opinions are our own.

With a variety of sandwich and salad choices, Potbelly Sandwich Shop is the perfect destination for turkey lovers. The traditional Turkey Breast and Swiss Cheese Sandwich, packed to the brim with sliced oven roasted turkey breast, fresh Swiss cheese and your preferred choice of toppings as well as the new California Turkey FLAT with freshly sliced avocado are fan favorites. 

For folks looking for a healthier option, try the signature A Wreck Salad filled with turkey, roast beef, ham, salami and Swiss cheese. Patrons are sure to enjoy their favorite turkey-filled sandwich or salad while listening to great music in a friendly, down-to-earth atmosphere.

Here at ChiIL Mama we like it hot, hot, hot. Potbelly brand Hot Peppers are awesome on a turkey sandwich, or take a jar to go. Spring and summer can be crazy busy times for families, but fast food doesn't have to mean sacrificing  taste and quality. Belly up to Potbelly for old fashioned quality and value, combined with new lower carb options like the tasty California Turkey FLAT. Eat in or grab 'em to go.

Disclosure: Once again, ChiIL Mama is pleased to partner up with Potbelly. We have been compensated with product or payment in exchange for spreading the word. As always, all opinions are our own.

Thodos Dance Spotting -- Flash Mobs All Weekend Throughout Chicago

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar

THODOS DANCE's 15TH NEW DANCES SERIES, JULY 18 & 19 AT THE ATHENAEUM, CONTINUES TRADITION OF FOSTERING NEW WORKS, GUIDING POST-PERFORMANCE CAREERS IN DANCE

*Ticket discounts $10 for children 12 and under, $20 industry dance students/teachers, $28 students) 

Keep an eye out all weekend. You might be in for a free flash mob dance treat by some of Chicago's top dancers! Twelve talented, beautiful Thodos dancers will be traversing Chicago as a group, keeping to a tight schedule of 15 short, "flash mob" outdoor dance pieces performed in iconic Chicago settings, all designed to surprise, delight, and ultimately draw attention to the Chicago-based company and the city's oldest and most respected in-house choreography series.

Thodos Dance Chicago is one of the city's most acclaimed contemporary dance troupes and they're out to wow you and win you over. They will be surprising Chicagoans all weekend, all over the city, at 15 unannounced, unexpected live Pop Up performances scheduled at Chicago hottest destinations. We won't spoil the surprise locations and times but they'll be out from 10:30ish to 3ish around exotic animals, beaches, an iconic fountain and the newest public climbing wall and more.

This weekend's 15 Pop Up performances are designed to build advance buzz for Thodos Dance Chicago's 15^th Annual New Dances performances, July 18 and 19 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago.  For tickets and information, visit thodosdancechicago.org.

For 14 years, Thodos Dance Chicago has cultivated new dance creation by collectively helping launch the choreographic careers of more than 70 Chicago-based artists through its renowned New Dances series, Chicago's earliest and most comprehensive in-house choreography series.

2015 marks the 15^th consecutive year Thodos's New Dances engages its current ensemble members with the special opportunity to step backstage and call their own shots as choreographers and directors.

In addition to eight exciting and diverse brand new works created from within, each year company founder Melissa Thodos hand-picks a guest choreographer from the dance community at large to create a new work for the project. For 2015, the invited guest choreographer for the 15^th anniversary of New Dances is Brian McGinnis, who had a professional performance career with Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Elisa Monte Dance, Parsons Dance Company and Buglisi Dance Theatre. 

Thodos Dance members (top, from left) John Cartwright, Tenley Dorrill, Abby Ellison, Kyle Hadenfeldt, (row 2) Taylor Mitchell, Briana Robinson, Alissa Tollefson and Jessica Miller Tomlinson will create and debut new works at the company's New Dances 2015 series. 

(row 3) Guest choreographer is Brian McGinnis. New Dances has been a critical component of company founder Melissa Thodos' dance/choreograph/educate mission for Thodos Dance Chicago since 2001.

Be part of an amazing evening of new dance discovery when eight of Chicago's top emerging dance artists plus guest choreographer Brian McGinnis are given the opportunity to create and present their own new works at Thodos Dance Chicago's 15^th Anniversary New Dances series, Saturday, July 18 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m., at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, Chicago.

Tickets are $35; $28 for students and seniors; $20 industry (dancers and teachers); $10 for children 12 and under and for groups of 10 or more. For tickets, visit athenaeum.org or call the Athenaeum box office, (773) 935-6875.

Thodos Dance Chicago's New Dances series is one-of-a-kind, unique and admired nationally due to the length of time and depth of support afforded the company's artists, who are each invited to join Thodos Dance Chicago after auditioning and demonstrating their passion and skills not only as dancers, but also as choreographers and educators.

 Current Thodos ensemble members presenting new works at New Dances 2015 include John Cartwright, Tenley Dorrill, Abby Ellison, Kyle Hadenfeldt, Taylor Mitchell, Briana Robinson, Alissa Tollefson and Jessica Miller Tomlinson.

 "Members of Thodos Dance Chicago are far more than performers- they are creative artists selected to join the company based on their passion and talent for choreography. We are unique in our strong commitment to support dance creation as no other dance organization offers as comprehensive of an in-house choreography initiative to its artists as ours," explains company founder Melissa Thodos.

 Thodos adds, "Through New Dances, each of our ensemble members is put in a directive position to make all production decisions about his or her work. Our choreographers have already drafted and submitted written creative proposals, developed their own budgets, cast their works with dancers from within as well as outside the company, collaborated with costume and lighting designers, contributed to the marketing plan for their work, and scheduled their own rehearsal time. In total, they are each given more than 30 hours of studio time, unprecedented in our field, to bring their choreographic vision to life with their own hand-picked ensemble of dancers."

In addition to providing a three-month development period, Thodos' artists have the rare opportunity of being mentored during the process by a panel of highly accomplished Chicago dance professionals.

 This year's panel is Jeff Hancock, a founding member of River North Dance Chicago, and former Hubbard Street Dance Chicago dancer, Dance Kaleidoscope, and Same Planet Different World Dance Theater, where he was a Co-Artistic Director; Kristina Isabelle, New Dances guest choreographer from 2014, artistic director of Kristina Isabelle Dance Company and director of HighJinks Productions; Emily Stein: a dancer, teacher and choreographer in Chicago for over 20 years, currently presenting choreography under the title Secret Experiments in Ballet, and on the faculty at Dance Center of Columbia College, the Joffrey Ballet's Lemonis Bridge Program and Northwest Ballet Academy; and, Zachary Whittenburg, Manager of Communication at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and former dancer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, BJM Danse Montréal and Pacific Northwest Ballet.

 The panel will convene for two full days for private showings of all nine works in their developmental stages, and they will share their feedback and expertise to help guide the choreographers to debut their finished work for the public in July.

Thodos ensemble member Jessica Miller Tomlinson debuted Entwined Winds at New Dances 2013. 

Guest choreographer Ahmad Simmons set his new work Panem Nostrum Quoditianum on the company, also in 2013. 

2015 marks the 15^th consecutive year of Thodos Dance Chicago's New Dances, a one-of-a-kind, nationally celebrated series that gives the company's talented dancers the rare opportunity to call their own shots as choreographers and directors. 

Since 2001, New Dances has yielded 132 home-grown Chicago world premieres, and helped 73 Chicago-based choreographers and more than 300 dance artists develop and showcase their skills and build their reputations.

New Dances: 15 Years of creating new choreography in Chicago

New Dances was first produced by the Chicago Repertory Dance Ensemble in the late 1980s, where Melissa Thodos, before founding her own company, was an ensemble member and created her first early dance pieces. The impact of the early New Dances projects was so profound that she was passionate about recreating the project for her own company of dancers. When Chicago Repertory Dance closed, Thodos inherited the project, which she launched at Thodos Dance Chicago in 2001.

Today, by being nurtured and promoted from within the organization, Thodos ensemble members continue to gain much-needed hands on experience as choreographers backed with strong production skills, an experience specifically designed to serve them well both during and, perhaps most importantly, following their careers as performers. 

Since Thodos resurrected the project in 2001, New Dances has yielded 132 world premieres, while helping 73 Chicago-based choreographers and more than 300 dance artists develop and showcase their skills and build their reputations.

Many works from past New Dances have subsequently entered the repertory of Thodos Dance and have been showcased at festivals ranging from Jacob's Pillow to Dance Chicago. Others have been embraced and received subsequent productions by noted directors Gerald Arpino of the Joffrey Ballet and Jim Vincent of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Thanks to New Dances, TDC dancer/choreographers have gone on to set works on the Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street, River North, Dutch National Ballet Project, Dance Kaleidoscope, Atlanta Ballet, Dance Works Chicago, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Idaho Dance Theatre, Grand Rapids Ballet, Giordano Dance Chicago, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble and the second companies of Alvin Ailey and American Ballet Theater. 

Choreographer Spotlight: John Cartwright from Thodos Dance Chicago on Vimeo.

Behind the scenes of John Cartwright's New Dances 2014 world premiere  Flawed, which subsequently joined Thodos Dance Chicago's repertoire

About Thodos Dance Chicago

In 1992, Melissa Thodos, a young Evanston-born, Chicago-based dancer and choreographer, was frustrated with the lack of opportunities for local dancers to work in what in her mind was the obvious environment for any well-rounded dance professional: A place to perform. A place to create. And a place to educate. 

Fast-forward 23 years, and Thodos is the only female choreographer and director to have helmed her own mid-sized, contemporary dance company in Chicago for more than two decades with this unique mission.

Today, Thodos Dance Chicago (TDC) is an ensemble of twelve versatile dance artists with a captivating style that uses a variety of dance forms. The company's unique mission of inspiring expression through dance education, dance creation and dance performance has established TDC as an innovative presence in American contemporary dance.

Thodos Dance Chicago features the American voice in contemporary dance and has created two critically acclaimed story ballets. In addition to performing works by Melissa Thodos and resident artists, TDC performs a diverse array of works created by other reputable choreographers: Bob Fosse, Ann Reinking, Lar Lubovitch, Shapiro & Smith, Jon Lehrer, Michael Anderson, Zachary Whittenburg, Lucas Crandall, Brian Enos, Amy Ernst, Ron De Jesús, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, Ahmad Simmons and KT Nelson.

Thodos Dance Chicago continues to expand its artistic and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Founder and Artistic Director Melissa Thodos, Executive Director Gail Ford, Booking Director Rick Johnston, Artistic Associate Laura Gates, Resident Lighting Designer Nathan Tomlinson, Marketing and Operations Manager Annie Zahour, Education and Outreach Associate Kate Weatherly, Board President Sharon Lear, a dedicated board of directors and the support of thousands of contemporary dance enthusiasts both in Chicago and nationwide.

The company is supported by the Illinois Arts Council-a state agency, Target, The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Arts Work Fund, The Morrison-Shearer Foundation, The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, The Service Club of Chicago and many individual and corporate sponsors. 

For more information, visit thodosdancechicago.org.

WIN 4 Tickets ($60 Value) to The Pied Piper at Strawdog Theatre #Giveaway #FamilyFriendly

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar

STRAWDOG THEATRE COMPANY’S HUGEN HALL ANNOUNCES THE WORLD PREMIERE ADAPTATION OF THE ROBERT BROWNING STORY 

THE PIED PIPER 

ADAPTED BY FORKS & HOPE 

AND DIRECTED BY ENSEMBLE MEMBER JOSH SOBEL, MAY 31 – JUNE 30 

(Recommended for Ages 10+)

ChiIL Mama will be there with the tween & teen for the press opening tonight. Check back like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often for our full review.  Want to win a free family 4 pack of tickets? Winner's choice of show dates before June 23rd (pending availability). Enter through midnight this Thursday, June 4th, 2015.

ENTER HERE

Strawdog Theatre Company, Artistic Director Hank Boland and Hugen Hall Artistic Director Anderson Lawfer are proud to announce the fourth production in their 2014 – 2015 Hugen Hall season, The Pied Piper, adapted by Forks & Hope, May 31 – June 30, directed by ensemble member Josh Sobel at Hugen Hall in Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway Street. Opening night performance is Monday, June 1 at 8 p.m. 

The performance schedule is Saturdays at 4 p.m., Sundays at 12 p.m., and Monday and Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are currently on sale. Based on availability, a limited number of rush tickets are available one hour prior to curtain and must be purchased in person at the box office. Performances are recommended for children aged 10 years and older. Subscriptions, group, senior and student discounts are also available. Tickets may be ordered online at strawdog.org or by calling OvationTix toll-free: 866.811.4111.

The creators of Strawdog’s hit shows The Hunting of the Snark and Best Beloved: The Just So Stories, Forks & Hope, reunite with Director Josh Sobel and return to Hugen Hall bringing their innovative, physical, DIY aesthetic to the haunting story of Browning's Pied Piper of Hamelin.

The cast also includes Andrew Bailes, Kaitlyn Majoy, Julia Meese, Casey Pilkenton, Issac Samuelson, Christian Stokes, and Nikki Veit. The production team includes Strawdog Company members Heath Hays, sound designer; with guest artists Cassandra Bass, costume design; Claire Chrzan, lighting designer; Nic Dimond, set designer; Jamie Karas, props design; Austin Oie, music director; Michelle Maier, stage manager; Spencer Diedrick, assistant director and Rebecca Grossman, production manager.

FULLY ACCESSIBLE PERFORMANCE

Strawdog Theatre Company continues their partnership with the Access Project at Victory Gardens to present The Pied Piper at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, in the Prince Charitable Trust Rehearsal Room, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. The Pied Piper performance, Thursday, June 18 at 8 p.m., with a touch tour at 6:45 p.m., is fully wheelchair accessible. Audio description and open captioning will also be provided. 

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at www.strawdog.org.

ABOUT JOSH SOBEL, director

Josh Sobel joined Strawdog as literary manager in the summer of 2012, and was invited to join the Ensemble in 2014. He has just started his fifth production at Strawdog with the upcoming Forks & Hope Ensemble adaptation of The Pied Piper, coming to Hugen Hall this June. His production of The Hunting of the Snark, which debuted in Hugen Hall in 2013, also traveled to Edinburgh, Scotland as part of the 2014 Fringe Festival, following a remount as part of Chicago's "Night Out in the Parks" program. Outside of Strawdog, Sobel is the artistic director of Haven Theatre Company and has worked with Steep Theatre, Chicago Dramatists, Red Orchid, LiveWire, Sketchbook, WildClaw Theatre, The Ruckus, Tympanic, the side project, Polarity, Fine Print Theatre Company, Citadel, The Greenhouse, Abbie-Fest and New Leaf Theatre. He is also currently teaching Text Analysis at the Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department. He served as associate director of the National Theater Institute summer program at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, and is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. 

ABOUT STRAWDOG THEATRE COMPANY

Since its founding in 1988, Strawdog Theatre Company has offered Chicagoland the premiere storefront theatre experience and garnered numerous Non-Equity Jeff Awards with its commitment to ensemble acting and an immersive design approach. The celebrated Company develops new work, re-imagines the classics, melds music with theatre, asks provocative questions and delivers their audience the unexpected.

ABOUT HUGEN HALL

Under Hugen Hall’s Artistic Director Anderson Lawfer, Hugen Hall has grown from a cabaret space and Chicago’s “Best Theater Bar” (Chicago Reader) to a fully functional performance and gallery space. Over the past two seasons of presenting productions, Lawfer has overseen, and often directed, various premieres and new productions varying from superheroes in conflict to zombie world domination to family fare with many of Chicago’s leading talents. In addition, Hugen Hall has also displayed artwork from David Csicsko and other Chicago artists that reflect the action onstage.

The neighborhood has limited paid parking and is easily accessible by public transportation (via the Red Line Sheridan stop, plus 36-Broadway, 80-Irving Park, and 151-Sheridan buses).

Strawdog Theatre Company is supported in part by The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Alphawood Foundation, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, the Illinois Arts Council (a state agency) and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

Netflix: Family Shows That Show All Sorts of Families #StreamTeam #Netflix

What family archetype are you? Are you multi culti, a blended family comedy, a drama, or family of super heroes? Are you an unconventional family headed by a same sex couple or grandparents? Here at ChiIL Mama, we embrace all family types because variety rocks and love comes in many forms, shapes and sizes. 

This month our Netflix Stream Team Theme is: Family Is What You Make It

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama is a proud member of the Netflix Stream Team. We've been compensated for sharing monthly posts with our readers.  As always, all opinions are our own. ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama next month, for more Netflix fun in Chi, IL and beyond!

Here's my family gettin' our geek on at C2E2 Comic Con in Chicago, where we were jazzed to see Netflix' original series, Daredevil has been renewed. 

We adore families that play together! Check out some of these cosplay fams, rockin' the pop culture at C2E2. Some families you choose, and some you are born into. If your family digs movies and TV shows like we do, check out Netflix. They're a big source for family fun on your schedule!

Maybe your family style changes from day to day. Even though we look like a "traditional" old school nuclear family with 2 married parents, an older boy and a younger girl, we're still a uniquely quirky modern family. My family appears geeky when we have press credentials to cover big comic cons like C2E2, Wizard World and Anime Fest. We seem sporty when we're cheering the kids on in gymnastics and ultimate frisbee where my daughter and son both placed 2nd in state respectively. We may look artsy at theatre openings and gallery shows, and urban while exploring our sweet home, Chicago. We're the traveling type when on the road, and we're a rock family when it comes to covering music festivals and shows. 



And of course our family wouldn't be complete without including all the 4 legged "children"--3 guinea pigs and 2 large dogs, not to mention the 3 tanks of fish.





Living in a large, urban metropolis, my kids have a number of classmates and friends with 2 moms. And even growing up in the suburbs of Ohio, I knew a family with a gay father who divorced his wife to be with another man. Which reminds me of Grace and Frankie, a new Netflix original comedy along those lines. Have you caught it yet? Check it out.

Brand NEW-- Grace and Frankie just premiered earlier this month.

• Grace and Frankie, Netflix's new funny and fearless original comedy featuring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston, is a perfect example of how today’s families can shift, rearrange and blend in unexpected ways. When Grace and Frankie’s husbands leave them after 20 years of marriage—to be with each other—the women find themselves facing a change that they never expected, but they shift their perspective to get through it together with the support of their new blended family and, of course, a sense of humor.  show's premiere on May 8.

• What is it about your modern family that you wouldn’t trade for anything in the world? Explore the things that make other families unique by watching one of the titles in our list below -- whether it’s the Gilmore Girls’ dynamic mother-daughter duo or puppet brother in Crash & Bernstein. Then, ask your kids what it is that makes your family special. After all, family is what you make it.

Here are some sweet recommendations for shows with unique family dynamics via our friends at Netflix. 

• 1. Lily's Driftwood Bay
• 2. The Tigger Movie
• 3. Guess How Much I Love You: S1E5 Big Like You
• 4. Angelina Ballerina: Superstar Sisters

• 1. Crash & Bernstein
• 2. Life with Boys
• 3. Spy Kids
• 4. Russell Madness (Available 5/10)

• 1. Raising Hope
• 2. The Fosters
• 3. Gilmore Girls
• 4. Life Unexpected

•  1. All Hail King Julien (new episodes 4/3)
• 2. Littlest Pet Shop: Season 3 (4/21)
• 3. Lalaloopsy: Festival of Sugary Sweets (5/2)
• 4. Puss in Boots (new episodes 5/8)
• 5. H20 Mermaid Adventures (5/22)
• 6. Richie Rich: Season 2 (5/22)
• 7. Mako Mermaids: Season 3 (5/29)

Disclosure: ChiIL Mama is a proud member of the Netflix Stream Team. We've been compensated for sharing monthly posts with our readers.  As always, all opinions are our own. ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama next month, for more Netflix fun in Chi, IL and beyond!

Check out more of our favorite original C2E2 photos below:

Family is what you make it, indeed!

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