Tuesday, March 15, 2022

EXTENDED: Chef Rick Bayless Stars in Windy City Playhouse's Foodie Farce "A Recipe For Disaster" Now Playing Through April 24, 2022

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar 

NOW Starring Celebrity Chef/Playwright 

Rick Bayless for select performances!


Rick Bayless set to star in A Recipe for Disaster!

That's right folks! The Michelin-starred celebrity chef of Topolobampo and Frontera fame is starring for a limited time in the very show he created starting March 23, 2022.

Rick Bayless and Windy City Playhouse present Rick Bayless in A RECIPE FOR DISASTER, the hilarious food-filled farce based on real stories from the beloved Bayless kitchen.

Chef Bayless will perform for only four weeks starting March 23 with private meet and greets on Saturdays and Sundays, so get your tickets now!

THE STORY

It's influencer night at The Contumacious Pig, one of the city's hottest restaurants, and with folks like @VeganChic in attendance, it's bound to be an exciting evening. There's only one problem: the head Chef just called in sick and the Sous Chef might have taken the wrong pill to calm his nerves. The health inspector showed up unannounced, there's possibly a spy from CP's biggest competition in tow, and oh yeah, the busboy is hiding a wild pig. In the meantime, the GM is trying to hold it all together while keeping customers from tweeting negative reviews. Can this team of misfits join together to offer up a great dining experience, or will they end up (literally) with egg on their face?

On the following dates, Celebrity Chef Rick Bayless will be joining the cast of A RECIPE FOR DISASTER as Jude!

March 23rd 7:30PM         April 6th 7:30PM         April 13th 7:30PM        April 20th 7:30PM

March 24th 7:30PM         April 7th 7:30PM         April 14th 7:30PM        April 21st 7:30PM

March 25th 8:00PM         April 8th 8:00PM        April 15th 8:00PM        April 22nd 8:00PM

March 26th 8:00PM         April 9th 8:00PM        April 16th 8:00PM        April 23rd 8:00PM

March 27th: 6:00PM        April 10th 6:00PM      April 17th 6:00PM        April 24th 6:00PM


THE STYLE

Conceived by Rick Bayless and Windy City Playhouse's artistic team, A RECIPE FOR DISASTER is a live experience that combines immersive theater, food, and farce. Guests are invited inside the restaurant to join us for "influencer night." The actors will not touch or talk to audience directly, allowing you to feel like a "fly on the wall" as the hilarity unfolds around you. Admission also includes six bite-sized tastings by Chef Rick Bayless, one cocktail sampling from Lanie Bayless, and two wine pairings.

THE VENUE

This experience will take place at Petterino's, located in the heart of the Chicago theater district at 150 N Dearborn. The entrance to Windy City Playhouse’s space is just around the corner on Randolph Street.


Image courtesy of Emily Madigan

James Beard Award-winning Chef Rick Bayless and Windy City Playhouse Artistic Director Amy Rubenstein announced the extension of their immersive production, “A Recipe For Disaster,” written by Bayless, Rubenstein and Windy City Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Carl Menninger and directed by Jeff Award Winner David H. Bell, through March 27, 2022. 

Lauded as “a truly delicious spectacle for the audience…that’s worth seeing a second time” by Eater Chicago, the fully immersive event gives audiences the opportunity to sample food designed by Bayless, with cocktails and wine pairings by Lanie Bayless as the hilarity unfolds. Based on Bayless’ real-life experiences, the story is set during influencer night at The Contumacious Pig, one of the city’s hottest restaurants, when everything that could possibly go wrong occurs. From a sick head chef and unexpected health inspector to a spy from a competing restaurant and the bus boy hiding a wild pig, the evening is nothing short of hilariously chaotic. 

The cast of a “A Recipe for Disaster” includes Emma Jo Boyden as Shelley, Kierra Bunch as Loreen, Carley Cornelius as Kiki, Ian Maryfield as Boris, Alex Morales as Iggy, Ben Page as Jude, Ryan Reilly as Clyde and Daniel Trinidad as Felix. The creative team for the show includes director David H. Bell who received a Jeff Award for his direction of Windy City Playhouse’s smash hit “Southern Gothic,” set designer William Boles, who received a Jeff Award for his design of Windy City Playhouse’s “The Boys in the Band” and costume designer Uriel Gomez who was nominated for a Jeff Award for his work on the same production. Rounding out the creative team is lighting designer Jared Gooding, sound designer Willow James and properties designer Caitlin McCarthy.  

Tickets to “A Recipe for Disaster,” which include six bite-size tastings and three cocktail and wine samplings are on sale now, with regular and VIP options available. Limited to 30 guests per performance, the VIP experience includes a pre-show charcuterie board and cocktail, premium seating and a gift bag including dessert, a party favor and a signed photo of Chef Rick Bayless and the cast. 

“A Recipe for Disaster” is now open on the Club Level at Petterino’s, located at 150 N Dearborn. For tickets and more information, please visit www.windycityplayhouse.com

  

About Rick Bayless  

Most people know Rick Bayless from winning the title of Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters.” His highly rated public television series, “Mexico: One Plate at a Time,” is broadcast coast to coast and his nine cookbooks have earned multiple high-profile accolades.

Located in Chicago, Rick's Frontera Grill and Topolobampo have each received the “Outstanding Restaurant of the Year” designation from the James Beard Foundation — an unprecedented feat for side-by-side restaurants. His wildly popular fast-casual Xoco debuted in 2009 and Tortas Frontera at Chicago’s O’Hare airport has changed the face of airport dining. In 2016, he opened Frontera Cocina in Disney Springs. In 2018, Rick expanded his Clark Street restaurants by opening Bar Sótano, a Oaxacan-inspired mezcal bar with modern Mexican bar food. Tortazo, Rick's new fast-casual concept, debuted in 2020 in Chicago's iconic Willis Tower, with plans to open an outpost in New York City in fall 2021.

In 2012 and again in 2014, Rick joined forces with Lookingglass Theatre Company to create “Cascabel,” the story of food’s capacity to change lives. The audience for “Cascabel” shared a meal with the cast of actors, musicians, singers and circus performers as the tale of unrequited love resolved into magical beauty.

Always a philanthropist, Rick and his staff established the Frontera Farmer Foundation in 2003 to support small Midwestern farms. To date, the Foundation has awarded nearly 200 grants totaling nearly $3 million. He also launched the Frontera Scholarship, a culinary school scholarship for Mexican-American students in Chicago. In 2019, Rick founded Impact Culinary Training, a restaurant job readiness program on the city’s west side. And in 2017 he established the Bayless Family Foundation to support the city’s vibrant theater scene with grants to Chicago theater companies totaling $1.5 million to date.

The Government of Mexico has bestowed on Rick the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle–the highest decoration bestowed on foreigners whose work has benefitted Mexico and its people. 


About Windy City Playhouse 

Windy City Playhouse is a professional theater and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, located on Chicago's northwest side. Premiering in March of 2015 with a mission to present contemporary, relevant, and approach art, the Playhouse has quickly become a mainstay of the Chicago theater scene. In 2018, its runaway hit, the immersive “Southern Gothic” solidified the Playhouse as the first choice in Chicago theater for one-of-a-kind audience experience. "Experience driven. Audience first." 

For more information, visit WindyCityPlayhouse.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.  

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Lookingglass Theatre Company's Lookingglass Alice Returns April 30th, 2022

 ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

  Latest Sensational Production of 

Lookingglass Alice 

Slated For Spring 2022


 

Here at ChiIL Mama, we've caught every Lookingglass Theatre Company production for decades and their signature show, Lookingglass Alice remains a top family favorite of ours.  My children grew up adoring Lookingglass Alice in her many iterations. I don't doubt that seeing world class, circus/theatre stage magic like this inspired both my son and daughter to take circus arts classes, perform in years of Actors Gymnasium teen shows, and develop a lifelong love affair with the theatre. My son's now a junior at Northwestern majoring in Theatre Arts, like so many of the Lookingglass movers and shakers did before him. Alice has been off the Lookingglass stage since 2014, and we just can't wait to see what astounding adventures lay in store this time around!

Lookingglass Theatre Company is thrilled to announce new dates for the return of the “breathtaking” (The New York Times) production of Lookingglass Alice. Performances for the circus-infused spectacle, beloved by critics and audiences alike, will now run April 30-July 31, 2022. Tickets for the quintessential, “extraordinary...endlessly inventive” (Variety) Lookingglass favorite are on sale now. 

Get tickets: lookingglasstheatre.org/event/lookingglass-alice-2022 

Lookingglass Alice, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories, is adapted and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin. “We eagerly await the return of the joyful and thrilling Lookingglass Alice,” says Artistic Director Heidi Stillman. “This show is brimming with imagination, feats of daring, wit, whimsy, and a whole lot of heart. Coming out of the past couple of years we have all had, the sheer joy of this experience will be a balm for the soul.” 

Last produced at Lookingglass Theatre in 2014, Catlin is eager for audiences to see the show, either again or for the first time. “In a lot of traditional theaters, they’ll talk about a 'frozen' script, that it’s locked,” Catlin says. “To me… we get to keep working on it, we play, it’s a play. The world is changing. The play changes because the world changes." 

Purchases can be made online at lookingglasstheatre.org. Group sales are available for groups of 10+ at lookingglasstheatre.org/groups. 

Lookingglass Alice 

Adapted and Directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin  

From the works of Lewis Carroll  

Produced in association with The Actors Gymnasium 

April 30- July 31, 2022 

Lookingglass Alice returns for a circus-infused trip down the rabbit hole and deep into your heart. The New York Times calls this adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s beloved stories “eye-catching entertainment,” the Chicago Tribune lauds it as “ingenious,” and The Chicago Sun-Times hails the production as “pure, unadulterated magic.” 

This signature Lookingglass production, adapted and directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin (The Little Prince, Moby Dick), has toured the country, enchanting audiences of all ages, painted each time with a fresh coat of magic. The awe-inspiring show comes back home to Lookingglass Theatre for a new generation to discover. 

 

About the Writer/Director

David Catlin (he/him) (Writer and Director of Lookingglass Alice, Ensemble Member) is a founding Ensemble Member, actor, writer, director, and former Artistic Director of Lookingglass. David adapted and directed Moby Dick, which debuted at Lookingglass in summer 2015, toured nationally, and played again at Lookingglass in summer 2017. Other Lookingglass writing credits include Icarus, Her Name Was Danger, and The Idiot (Jeff Award for Adaptation). Most recently, he directed Mr. Dickens’ Hat at Northlight Theatre and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s original, for Alliance Theatre in Atlanta.  

Additional Lookingglass directing credits include: The Little Prince, Black Diamond (co-director), Metamorphosis, and West. Lookingglass acting credits include Hard Times, The Arabian Nights, Our Town, Argonautika, La Luna Muda, The Odyssey, and The Jungle. David is an Artistic Associate with The Actors Gymnasium and serves on the acting faculty at Northwestern University. 


Lookingglass Alice Performance Schedule 

Previews  

April 30 – May 10 

Tuesday – Saturday 7:30pm 

Sunday 2pm 

 

Regular Run 

May 12 – July 31 

Tuesdays 7pm* 

Wednesdays 7pm 

Thursdays 1:30pm* & 7pm 

Fridays 7:30pm 

Saturdays 2pm & 7:30pm 

Sundays 2pm & 7:30pm 

*Tuesday Evening and Thursday Matinee performances alternate. Please see the performance calendar on the website for full calendar and details. 

Get tickets: lookingglasstheatre.org/event/lookingglass-alice-2022 

 

Thank You to Our Season Sponsors  

BMO Harris Bank 

Hearn  

HMS Media  

Shirley Ryan Ability Lab  

Waldorf Astoria Chicago  

 

Thank You to Our Lookingglass Alice Sponsors 

Production Sponsor: Northern Trust  

Production Support: Steve and Lorrayne Weiss 

 

Become A Scene Maker  

Every moment of the creative process is crucial to the final production. And every donation from you, our community, is key to building a thriving arts scene. From inside the storycastle, Lookingglass is looking forward. Forward to telling new stories. Forward to including new audiences. Forward to breaking all conventions of institutional Theatre. Starting now. Play a role in shaping a flourishing, arts-driven tomorrow. 

Be a Scene Maker and support Lookingglass at lookingglasstheatre.org/scene-maker  





About Health and Safety   

The health and safety of our audiences, artists, and staff is a top priority. Lookingglass is part of a coalition of more than 70 performing arts venues across Chicagoland implementing unified COVID-19 Vaccination and Mask Requirements for indoor performances. 


About Accessibility 

Lookingglass Theatre offers ground floor and balcony seats for all patrons who use a wheelchair or a scooter, or patrons who cannot walk stairs. Assistive listening devices are available at the patron's request. 

About Lookingglass Theatre Company     

Inventive. Collaborative. Transformative. Lookingglass Theatre Company, recipient of the 2011 Regional Theatre Tony Award, was founded in 1988 by eight Northwestern University students. Now in its 34th Season, Lookingglass is home to a multi-disciplined ensemble of artists who create story-centered theatrical work that is physical, aurally rich and visually metaphoric. The Company, located in Chicago’s landmark Water Tower Water Works, has staged 70 world premieres, received 161 Joseph Jefferson Award Nominations, and produced work all across the United States. In 2016, Lookingglass received the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions and in 2017, was the recipient of the League of Chicago Theatres’ Artistic Achievement Award.   

Lookingglass continues to expand its artistic, financial, and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Artistic Director Heidi Stillman, Executive Director Rachel L. Fink, a 29-member artistic ensemble, 22 artistic associates, an administrative staff, and a dedicated board of directors led by Chair Diane Whatton.   

For more information, visit  lookingglasstheatre.org/plays-events.     

Engage with us on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. #LookingglassTheatre  


About The Actors Gymnasium     

The Actors Gymnasium is one of the nation’s premier circus and performing arts training centers. Founded in 1995, Actors Gym is dedicated to expanding human and theatrical potential through the circus arts by pushing the limits of physical, emotional, and creative expression. It is committed to minimizing barriers to circus arts and operating from an anti-racist perspective to ensure diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all its programs. 

The Gym provides educational programs for students of all ages and levels, produces original and daring circus-theatre, and offers award-winning entertainment for corporate and other special events. 

Actors Gym is proud to partner with many performing arts organizations throughout Chicagoland and serves as the exclusive provider of circus performing arts training for Lookingglass Theatre.  

At The Actors Gymnasium, people learn to fly – physically, emotionally, and creatively. 




Lookingglass Theatre Company Brings Back In-Person Summer Camp June 27 – July 22, 2022

 ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List

Lookingglass Theatre Company Announces 

In-Person Summer Camp  

A Four-Week Immersive Experience for Young Artists Grades 3-8 

Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts in Hyde Park; 

June 27 – July 22, 2022 

 


Lookingglass Theatre Company invites students to create theatre magic this year with an exciting return to in-person Summer Camp! Lookingglass Theatre’s Summer Camp offers a four-week immersive experience in theatre, movement, music, and art, for young people in grades 3-8. Under the guidance of its long-standing director Emilio G. Robles, camp will continue its long running tradition of theatrical adaptation (a Lookingglass core artistic value) through a youth centered lens of multicultural storytelling. Young artists will receive training from professionals in the core values of Lookingglass Theatre: Collaboration, Transformation, and Invention.  

These values have guided the Lookingglass Ensemble to create some of the most memorable and spectacular theatre experiences and they will guide campers on their journey as they explore their own creativity while writing, rehearsing, and performing an original show featuring their own art, dance, and original music. At the end of Summer Camp, students and their newly created performance piece will be featured on the Lookingglass Main Stage at the historic Water Tower Water Works.  

Lookingglass Theatre’s Summer Camp will take place June 27 – July 22, 2022, Mondays – Fridays from 9:30AM – 3:15 PM at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts. Tuition for the 4-week camp is $885. Discounts are available for early and multiple registrations and partial and full scholarships are available for those who would like to apply.  

For more information and to sign up, visit lookingglasstheatre.org/curiosity/camps/summer-camp




Campers must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination to attend. Additionally, masks and other precautionary measures may be required for all camp activities, pending COVID-19 conditions and public health guidance. View Lookingglass Theatre’s current Health and Safety Guidelines. 


Sample Summer Camp Daily Schedule 

9:15AM – 9:30AM: Drop off at Logan Center for the Arts  

9:30AM – 10AM: Warm-up! 

10AM – 10:45AM: Theatre – exploration of themes & writing the script  

10:45AM – 10:55AM: Break  

10:55AM – 11:35AM: Movement or Music Class – developing songs or dances that tell the story 

11:35AM – 12:15PM: Art Class – create character masks or costume pieces 

12:15PM – 1PM: Lunch  

1PM – 2PM: Camper’s Choice (theatre games, sports, art, free time)  

2PM – 3PM: Rehearsal – putting all the pieces together on your feet! 

3PM – 3:15PM: Wrap-up  

3:15PM – 3:30PM: Pick up at Logan for the Arts Center Pick-Up 

 

Become A Scene Maker 

Every moment of the creative process is crucial to the final production. And every donation from you, our community, is key to building a thriving arts scene. From inside the storycastle, Lookingglass is looking forward. Forward to telling new stories. Forward to including new audiences. Forward to breaking all conventions of institutional Theatre. Starting now. Play a role in shaping a flourishing, arts-driven tomorrow. 

Be a Scene Maker and support Lookingglass at lookingglasstheatre.org/scene-maker  


About Health and Safety 

The health and safety of our audiences, artists, and staff is a top priority. Lookingglass is part of a coalition of more than 70 performing arts venues across Chicagoland implementing unified COVID-19 Vaccination and Mask Requirements for indoor performances. View Lookingglass Theatre’s current Health and Safety Guidelines.  


About Lookingglass Theatre Company 

Inventive. Collaborative. Transformative. Lookingglass Theatre Company, recipient of the 2011 Regional Theatre Tony Award, was founded in 1988 by eight Northwestern University students. Now in its 34th Season, Lookingglass is home to a multi-disciplined ensemble of artists who create story-centered theatrical work that is physical, aurally rich and visually metaphoric. The Company, located in Chicago’s landmark Water Tower Water Works, has staged 70 world premieres, received 161 Joseph Jefferson Award Nominations, and produced work all across the United States. In 2016, Lookingglass received the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions and in 2017, was the recipient of the League of Chicago Theatres’ Artistic Achievement Award.     

Lookingglass continues to expand its artistic, financial, and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Artistic Director Heidi Stillman, Executive Director Rachel L. Fink, a 29-member artistic ensemble, 22 artistic associates, an administrative staff, and a dedicated board of directors led by Chair Diane Whatton.   

For more information, visit lookingglasstheatre.org/plays-events.     

Engage with us on Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. #LookingglassTheatre  


About the Artists 

Emilio G. Robles (he/him) (Teaching Artist) attended Wabash College where he majored in Theatre and Secondary Education. He also holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Pittsburgh and has also trained with SITI Company, Shakespeare & Co. and the British American Drama Academy at Oxford. When in Chicago, Emilio is an actor, coach, director, and voiceover professional. Stage credits include: Teatro Vista, Congo Square Theatre, A Red Orchid Theatre and Steppenwolf for Young Adults. Emilio is also an Associate Artist with Adventure Stage Chicago and a member of SAG-AFTRA. 

Emilio has been with Lookingglass for nearly 20 years and has worked in numerous capacities in the Curiosity Department by teaching school residencies, leading Professional Development workshops and helping engage audiences by facilitating discussions and talkbacks. A veteran teaching artist, Emilio has also taught with Global Voices Initiative, CCAP at Columbia College, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and has done independent consulting work for CPS. He finished a ten-year tenure at SYA Steppenwolf Education, where he held the position of Manager of Curriculum and Instruction. Currently, Emilio is a Visiting Lecturer in Applied Theatre at IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis), where he has been hired to re-envision and re-invigorate their program to utilize the gifts of theatre in addressing issues of diversity, inclusion and social justice within Indianapolis’s urban landscape. 

Among other things, Emilio is very passionate about cultural literacy, multi-disciplinary arts integration, and devised work. For more information and updates on current projects, please visit emiliogrobles.biz. 

Lee Peters (he/him) (Director of Education). Originally from Brooklyn, New York, shortly after moving to Chicago Lee became Theater school Director at Village Players in Oak Park where he introduced higher-level skill-building workshops including juggling, tap dance, playwriting, and directing. He also founded the Junior Ensemble providing opportunities for young artists to create their own productions. 

Lee spent 13 years at Shedd Aquarium in several education roles. As a Presentation Specialist, he hosted the daily aquatic presentations. As a Training Specialist, he developed and delivered training for teens and volunteers, and in his last role at Shedd as Assistant Director of Live Programs, he created and maintained dynamic educational experiences for guests. After leaving the aquarium due to the pandemic he worked with the International Children’s Media Center supporting programs that help kids develop healthy screen habits. 

In addition to his work as an educator Lee’s directing and performing work has been seen at Bailiwick Theatre, Forevermore Dance and Theatre Arts, The Mayer Kaplan JCC, The Greenhouse Theatre, Akvavit Theatre, Chicago Danztheatre, and Prop Theatre. Some of his favorite directing projects include the Jeff Recommended Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story and a new musical he helped bring to life, Oracle of the Gutter Punks. Lee is also proud to have written and directed The Crown: A Hip-Hop Retelling of Hamlet for the Junior Ensemble at Village Players and The Institution, a modern take on Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf with a gay twist, which had a short run as part of Prop Theatres Rhino Fest. 

Lee is a company member with Playmakers Laboratory where he has been creating digital theatre since June 2020. He also recently began working with Ovation Academy in Oak Park as one of the Broadway Academy staff helping young artists build skills in acting for musical theatre. 

Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” to Show Entirely with Expanded Aspect Ratio Exclusively in IMAX®

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What We're Watching

The Sequel was Filmed for IMAX Using Panavision DXL2 IMAX Certified Cameras 

IMAX® has announced that Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” will debut entirely in expanded aspect ratio exclusively in IMAX. The highly anticipated sequel was filmed using IMAX-certified cameras and is set to be released by The Walt Disney Company on May 4. 

See the trailer in IMAX’s exclusive expanded aspect ratio here 

 Marvel Studios' Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness | Official IMAX® Trailer

Sam Raimi directs returning cast Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Michael Stühlbarg and Rachel McAdams, and adds Elizabeth Olsen and Xochitl Gomez. Shot with Panavision DXL2 IMAX certified cameras, the entire film is formatted exclusively for IMAX theatres where fans will experience “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” at 1.90:1 aspect ratio – showing up to 26% more of the onscreen image only in IMAX.

Aspect ratio is the technical term for the proportional relationship between an image’s width and height. Most films are presented in an aspect ratio called CinemaScope (2.40:1) which appears very wide but not as high. IMAX provides filmmakers with the ability to use an expanded aspect ratio – allowing them to use more of the original image. Watching a film with an expanded aspect ratio provides audiences with a full immersive view that fills the peripheral vision more than any other cinematic experience.

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” will play in IMAX theatres beginning May 4.

 

About ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’

In Marvel Studios’ “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” the MCU unlocks the Multiverse and pushes its boundaries further than ever before. Journey into the unknown with Doctor Strange, who, with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.

“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, with Michael Stühlbarg, and Rachel McAdams.

The film is directed by Sam Raimi, and Kevin Feige is the producer. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Eric Hauserman Carroll and Jamie Christopher serve as executive producers. The screenplay was written by Michael Waldron. “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” releases in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2022.


About IMAX Corporation

IMAX, an innovator in entertainment technology, combines proprietary software, architecture and equipment to create experiences that take you beyond the edge of your seat to a world you've never imagined. Top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theaters to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and, as such, IMAX's network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe. 

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto, and Los Angeles, with additional offices in London, Dublin, Tokyo, and Shanghai. As of September 30, 2021, there were 1,664 IMAX theater systems (1,580 commercial multiplexes, 12 commercial destinations, 72 institutional) operating in 85 countries and territories. Shares of IMAX China Holding, Inc., a subsidiary of IMAX Corporation, trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code "1970." 

IMAX®, IMAX® Dome, IMAX® 3D, IMAX® 3D Dome, Experience It In IMAX®, The IMAX Experience®, An IMAX Experience®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, IMAX DMR®, DMR®, IMAX nXos® and Films to the Fullest®, are trademarks and trade names of the Company or its subsidiaries that are registered or otherwise protected under laws of various jurisdictions. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/imax), Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

SYNOPSIS:

Marvel Studios' "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness"—a thrilling ride through the Multiverse with Doctor Strange, his trusted friend Wong and Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch. "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" opens in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2022.

IMAX Official Channels:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/IMAX

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imax/?hl=en

Twitter: www.twitter.com/IMAX

YouTube: www.youtube.com/IMAXmovies


DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS Official Channels:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoctorStrangeOfficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctorstrangeofficial/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrStrange

#DoctorStrange


IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO Now Playing in Chicago Through May 28, 2022

ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List

IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO

The Creative Team Behind Immersive Van Gogh Directs Its Lens to the Life and Work of Frida Kahlo

Here at ChiIL Mama, we loved Lighthouse Immersive's Immersive Van Gogh so much we came out to see it 3 times! I even did yoga in the space & provided yoga photos for Fan Dads. You can still catch it in Chicago through May 30. Check out ChiIL Mama's original photo filled review here. Now we're equally jazzed to see IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO. We're still solidifying a date, so check back early and often for loads of other great Chi, IL arts and entertainment, and I'll have my full review up with original photos and videos shortly. 

Lighthouse Immersive, North America’s leading producer of ground-breaking experiential art exhibits, and Maestro Immersive Art announce their newest immersive art installation, IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO. On the heels of their critically acclaimed blockbuster Immersive Van Gogh (now on-view in 15 cities), Lighthouse Immersive and Maestro Immersive Art have set their sights on the art and life of Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), the beloved 20th century Mexican artist best known for compelling self-portraits and radiant pieces inspired by her life in her native country of Mexico. The exhibition features some of the artist’s best-known works “brought to life” by the world-renowned master of digital art, Italy’s Massimiliano Siccardi, again accompanied by composer Luca Longobardi’s resonant score. Vittorio Guidotti is the Art Director. A brilliant, bold and uncompromising painter, Kahlo’s work is globally recognized for its raw emotional vitality, vibrant color work and unflinching intimacy.

IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO arrives to Lighthouse ArtSpace at Germania Club (108 W. Germania Pl) Feb. 24 through May 28, 2022. Tickets are on sale at immersive-frida.com. Ticket prices start at $39.99 with timed and flexible options available.

In addition, IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO arrives Spring 2022 in the following cities:

Dallas, Feb. 3 through April 17, 2022

Lighthouse Dallas, 507 S. Harwood Street, Dallas, TX 75201 Co-produced with Impact Museums

Boston, Feb. 10 through May 8, 2022

Lighthouse ArtSpace at the Castle, 130 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA 02116 Co-produced with Maestro Immersive Art

Houston, Feb. 17 through April 17, 2022 1314 Brittmoore Road, Houston, TX 77043 Co-produced with Impact Museums

Denver, March 3 through May 30, 2022 Lighthouse Denver, 3900 Elati Street, Denver, CO 80216

Toronto: March 31 through May 29, 2022 1 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M5E 1W7

Los Angeles, March 31 through June 11, 2022

Lighthouse Los Angeles, 6400 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028 Co-produced with Impact Museums

“The success of Immersive Van Gogh has demonstrated that audiences are excited to experience art in a new way. Our Italian creative team are experts at digitally exploring masterworks in such a way that viewers are not merely passive observers. They obtain an even richer understanding of the artist by seeing the work as its creator might have,” said Lighthouse Immersive Producer Corey Ross. “That said, Siccardi presents Kahlo’s works in a format very distinct from that which he utilized in examining Van Gogh’s. He does not try to unify the many styles Kahlo used in her lifetime, but instead, presents them to us as a series of kinetic tableaus that may initially contradict – but eventually illuminate – each other.”

“Frida Kahlo’s work is uniquely suited to be explored in an immersive environment and her life story is equally fascinating,” added Lighthouse Immersive Producer Svetlana Dvoretsky. “Kahlo lived her life as one giant journey of exploration, and her art mirrored that journey. Our goal is to give our viewers more than an examination of her work; we also hope they will leave with a richer understanding of the smart, complex woman who created these timeless masterpieces.”

“In this piece, we will chase Frida’s world, always in motion,” adds Siccardi. “We will discover her tenderness and hostilities by taking in her observations and fantasies. Our hope is that viewers will let themselves be penetrated by Frida’s stories, and in so doing, live vicariously through her.”

Kahlo’s work bridges surrealist and magic realism traditions – blending authentic depictions of her life with fantastical elements reflecting her inner thoughts and struggles. Folk art, mysticism, surrealism, magic realism and a notably revealing series of self-portraits are all included in the projections. Among the works featured in the piece are The Two Fridas (1939), The Wounded Deer (1946), and Diego and I (1946), intermingled with an assortment of photographs, drawings and iconography. Alongside her paintings, Siccardi’s piece also includes photos of Kahlo at various ages and images of figures from Kahlo’s life that influenced her worldview. The projections are shown on Lighthouse Immersive’s massive architectural canvas, using state-of-the-art projectors for a crisp image and high-quality sound systems that heighten the mood-setting score.

For more information about IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO, visit immersive-frida.com.

About Frida Kahlo

Kahlo was born in 1907 in Mexico City. After surviving polio at the age of six, Kahlo was involved in a horrific accident at the age of 18, when the bus she was riding on was struck by a streetcar, leaving her with a broken spinal column, along with a myriad of other injuries. Bedridden, Kahlo was encouraged by her parents to take up painting to pass the time. A custom-made easel allowed her to paint while lying down. During these long days, Kahlo often spent hour after hour staring at her own image that was reflected in a mirror fixed over her bed. It is here that she began presenting herself as the subject matter of her work, channelling her personal struggles into her art. Kahlo’s travels throughout Mexico and the United States further developed her artistic style. Individualistic and rebellious, her spirit was torn between the Communist Party and the Mexican Nationalist movement. Despite her lifelong passion for her husband, Diego Rivera, she is said to have had numerous affairs with other men and women. Throughout her life, Kahlo developed a rich iconography touching on the realms of life and death and mixing violence and vulnerability in ways that often shocked viewers by pushing gender norms. Kahlo stands today as an iconic figure and a symbol of female empowerment, individual courage and Mexican pride.

Kahlo’s popularity has grown exponentially in recent decades and has been prominently featured in museums worldwide. Public interest was bolstered by several recently released biographies and Julie Taymor’s Academy Award-nominated film starring Salma Hayek. The announcement of IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO comes after a recent record-breaking sale of Frida Kahlo’s 1949 painting “Diego and I,” which sold at Sotheby’s on Tuesday, Nov. 16 for $34.9 million dollars, making it the most prized piece of Latin American artwork ever sold at auction. The sale of “Diego and I” surpassed a benchmark set by Kahlo’s husband Diego Rivera in 2018, when one of his paintings sold at auction for $9.76 million.

About Lighthouse Immersive

Lighthouse Immersive brings together two of Toronto’s preeminent production companies – Starvox Entertainment, Canada’s fastest growing live entertainment company responsible for bringing hit shows like The Art of Banksy to Toronto, and Show One Productions, a full-service production company presenting concerts with high-profile classical musicians, opera stars and orchestras – to bring the world premiere of IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH to Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and 16 other North American cities. Working directly with the Italian masters of immersive digital art and other leading global creators, Lighthouse Immersive has custom-designed all exhibits to distinctly envelop the various architectural settings they inhabit.

In Toronto, Lighthouse Immersive Artspace occupies the vacant five stories of the 1 Yonge Street building that previously housed the Toronto Star’s printing presses. The main gallery encompasses 600,000 cu. ft. and the facility features two additional gallery spaces alongside offices, two gift shops and a café.

In the last year, the Canadian company has announced or opened new galleries in 21 U.S. cities including Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City and Orlando. To date, Lighthouse Immersive has sold well over 4 million tickets to IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH across North America, with Art Net recently commenting on the wave of immersive galleries, calling it “one of the largest coordinated art phenomena of all time.”

About Maestro Immersive Art

Maria Shclover and Irina Shabshis are the co-founders of Maestro Immersive Art. Shclover founded Maestro Artist Management in 2004, Shabshis in 2005, and together they have presented more than 1,000 theatrical and classical music performances across the United States, including projects with Michel Legrand, Mikhail Baryshnikov, John Malkovich and more.



Tuesday, March 8, 2022

GIVEAWAY: WIN A Family 4 Pack of Tickets to Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation at Mercury Theatre Chicago March 15-June 12, 2022

Enter to WIN a Family Four Pack of Tickets Below

THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF DISNEY’S WINNIE THE POOH: THE NEW MUSICAL STAGE ADAPTATION 

AT THE MERCURY THEATRE

Winnie the Pooh Cast (Chris Palmieri, Jake Bazel, Emmanuel Elpenord, Kirsty Moon)_Photo Credit/ Evan Zimmerman (MurphyMade)


 “Enchanting!” Time Out

“Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation is magical, sweet as honey, and full of humor. It's a wholesome, delightful, enchanting piece of theatre.” BroadwayWorld


ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List:
Family Friendly Shows On Our Radar

Here at ChiIL Mama we were raised on A. A. Milne's timeless tales of Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their best friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl (and Tigger too!). It was a joy to introduce the books and the classic Disney featurettes to our own children, and now we're jazzed to see the stage adaptation! We're thrilled to partner up with the production to offer a chance for two of our readers to win free family four pack of tickets to Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation. Sing Ho for the life of a bear and plan your own adventure with life-sized puppets, in the Hundred Acre Wood. 

Enter at the bottom of this post for your chance to win! 


Winnie the Pooh, Kristina Dazon (Kanga), Kirsty Moon (Roo)
Photo Credit/ Evan Zimmerman (MurphyMade)

After its acclaimed, record-breaking run in New York City, Jonathan Rockefeller’s Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation will arrive in Chicago on March 15, 2022 for a limited 13-week run through June 12, 2022 at the Mercury Theatre Chicago (3745 N. Southport Ave.) For tickets and more information about Winnie the Pooh, visit www.WinnieThePoohShow.com.

Inspired by the beloved books by A. A. Milne and the classic Disney featurettes, the production was welcomed in New York with rave reviews where it was called “A perfect reintroduction to live theater. It’s a captivating adventure with spectacular puppetry,” (Mommy Poppins); “Charming and whimsical stage show that Pooh surpasses every expectation I had for it,” (The Laughing Place); “Winnie the Pooh is delightfully first-rate,” (Theatre Pizzazz); “Irresistible. ‘Winnie the Pooh’ is sweeter than honey,” (DC Metro Arts); “An hour of bountiful joy,” (New York Theatre Guide); “Mesmerizing life-size puppets and original Sherman Brothers tunes, the beautiful new Winnie the Pooh musical is must-see,” (Theatrely); and “The wonderful thing about musicals is that musicals are wonderful things. The New ‘Winnie the Pooh’ Musical Is Sweeter than Honey,” (Toy Insider.)

“The music, the life-size puppets, and the charming performances are the perfect way to introduce (or re-introduce) audiences to live theatre, and this is a must-see show for Winnie the Pooh fans of all ages. I am thrilled to be entrusted to bring this celebrated character to the stage for new audiences as they join our adventure into the Hundred Acre Wood. And what a grand adventure we had in New York City and now we look forward to celebrating Pooh and friends in Chicago,” said Jonathan Rockefeller, creator of Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation.

In a new story from the Hundred Acre Wood, this fresh stage adaptation is told with impressive life-size puppetry, telling exciting new stories featuring characters that have played iconic roles in the lives of children for generations. Accompanying the magical, modern narrative is an original score from Nate Edmondson, which features some of the songs written for the animated feature from The Sherman Brothers’, including Winnie the Pooh, The Blustery Day, The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers and Whoop-De-Dooper Bounce and A.A. Milne’s The More It Snows (featuring music by Carly Simon) and Sing Ho, a new arrangement. 

Winnie the Pooh broke theatre box office records during its New York premiere for largest advance and is developed and presented by renowned family entertainment creator Jonathan Rockefeller (whose spectacular puppetry is omnipresent in the acclaimed productions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Paddington Gets in a Jam and the recently released streaming film Paddington Saves Christmas). 



A leader in family entertainment, Rockefeller Productions values the safety of its patrons and its staff and will enforce current CDC and industry safety standards, all patrons will be required to wear a mask inside the theatre, and every person 12 + will be required to show proof of vaccine before entering the theatre. Children 5-11 will be admitted with one vaccine that was administered at least 14 days prior to performance. For children under 5, proof of a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance start time or a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance start time will be accepted. Health and safety protocols are subject to change in accordance with CDC and local public health mandates. 



The Mercury Theatre Chicago is located at 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago
Tickets are now available by visiting www.WinnieThePoohShow.com
Performances are Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Saturdays at 10 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., with ticket prices starting at $38.

The cast features members of the acclaimed Off-Broadway theatrical show, including Jake Bazel as Pooh; Chris Palmieri as Tigger; Emmanuel Elpenord as Eeyore, Rabbit and Owl; and Chicagoans Emilie Rose Danno, Carolyn Plurad, and Tina-Kim Nguyen rotate in the roles of Piglet, Roo and Kanga.  

“As we embark on a national tour for Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, with Chicago
as our next stop for the Hundred Acre Wood, we are proud to have a group of
local actors joining our cast to play the distinct roles of Kanga, Piglet and
Roo. Emilie, Tina and Carolyn are dynamic performers who perfectly embody the
beloved characters, based on the classic book and animated film. They will
superbly complement the returning cast members as we bring this production to
the Mercury Theatre Chicago,” said Jonathan Rockefeller, creator of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation. 
  
The creative team for the show includes creative director Jonathan Rockefeller, co-scenic designers Jack Golden and Josh Warner, costume designer Lindsay McWilliams, lighting designer Jamie Roderick and original music and orchestrations were composed by Nate Edmonson. Puppets were created by Rockefeller Productions under lead puppet builders Matthew Lish and Ben Durocher. The production also features songs from the Disney featurette by the Oscar® and Grammy® Award-winning American songwriting duo of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. 

About the artists in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation:  

Jonathan Rockefeller (creator and director) is an acclaimed American/Australian
producer, director and writer. Creator of family entertainment, Rockefeller’s
original works include Disney's Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Paddington Gets In a Jam, Elmer the
Patchwork Elephant Show, Mr Men & Little Miss On Stage, That Golden Girls
Show!: A Puppet Parody.  

Jake Bazel (Pooh) is a puppeteer, voice actor, writer and coach with over a decade of experience working in children’s media. Additional credits include Sesame Street (HBO/PBS), Sesame Workshop’s Helpsters (Apple TV+), Rockefeller Productions’ The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Paddington Gets in a Jam and more. He often serves on faculty at The Highlight Foundation and as an animation voice acting coach, alongside Sunday Music at Great Big Voices.  

Chris Palmieri (Tigger) is a puppeteer and voice actor known for his work in the Emmy-nominated preschool series Snug’s House (NBC/Universal Kids). Additional credits include King Cryolophosaurus in Jim Henson’s Dinosaur Train Live. Palmieri also served as a puppet builder for Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live.  

Emmanuel Elpenord (Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl) is a puppeteer known for his work in the original cast of the off-Broadway production of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation. Additional credits include puppeteering for national and international runs of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show with Rockefeller Productions, Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater and the Bryant Park Shakespeare production of Othello.  

Emilie Rose Danno (Piglet/Roo, Kanga) is a Chicago-based actor, who most recently played Audrey in Little Shop Of Horrors at Metropolis Theatre, where she earned a
Broadway World Chicago nomination for Best Performer in a Musical. Danno has
worked in a number of other theatrical productions across the Chicagoland area
at The Miracle Center, West Side Improv and Blank Theatre Cabaret. 

Tina-Kim Nguyen (Piglet/Roo, Kanga) is a Chicago-area actor with credits like The Legacy of Sherwood Forest at Inkwell Arts and Learning, Water by the Spoonful at Northeastern Illinois University, and Richard III at Eclectic Full Contact Theatre.
 
Carolyn Plurad (Piglet/Roo, Kanga) is an award-winning actor with acting credits in City Lit’s production of Fuente Ovejuna, and The Butcher’s Son by Vi Nhan Tran. Her performance as Xinh in The Butcher’s Son was nominated in the Best Supporting Performer category of the Chicago Musical Theater Festival in 2018, and the play was the festival’s Most Promising Musical winner in the same year. Other credits include performances with the Lifeline, Oil Lamp Theater, The Second City, Steel Beam Theater, Odds Bodkin, and Chicago Kid’s Company.  


Winnie the Pooh, Chris Palmieri (Tigger), Emmanuel Elpenord (Rabbit)

Photo Credit: Evan Zimmerman (MurphyMade)




ABOUT THE SHOW
Winnie the Pooh has been enjoyed by millions of readers and viewers ever since English author A.A. Milne first chronicled the adventures of Christopher Robin’s friends in the Hundred Acre Wood in 1926. The books, featuring illustrations by English illustrator E.H. Shephard, have sold over 50 million copies worldwide. The theatrical rights to the Pooh stories were acquired by Disney in 1961, with an original intent to produce a feature film, but after production began, Walt Disney decided to make short featurettes instead. The three featurettes were subsequently incorporated into the feature The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. This was the last film in the Disney canon in which Walt Disney had personal involvement. The first featurette, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree was released during his lifetime, while Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day was still in development. Disney’s Winnie the Pooh has since become one of the best-loved and most successful franchises in history. 
 
The Sherman Brothers are the multi-talented Oscar® and Grammy® Award-winning American songwriting duo of Richard M.  Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The Sherman Brothers wrote more motion-picture musical scores than any other songwriting team in film history.  Among these are the Disney classics Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and The Aristocats. The Sherman Brothers worked directly with Walt Disney on the first two Winnie the Pooh featurettes: Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (which garnered a Grammy Award nomination) and Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. The brothers won a Grammy Award for the third featurette: Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too. All three featurettes were incorporated into the 1977 musical film The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. The duo also wrote songs for Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore and The Tigger Movie, with their music also featured in the movie Christopher Robin.
 
Jonathan Rockefeller and Rockefeller Productions embraced the challenge of re-imaging Disney’s Winnie the Pooh for a new audience by bringing it to life on stage in puppet form. The company has garnered global accolades, from critics and audiences alike, for their production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, with 14 productions playing on four continents. An extended run of the show in New York City culminated in Drama Desk and Off-Broadway Alliance nominations, as did Paddington Gets in a Jam, which tours China and the US in 2022. Other projects include the award-winning short film, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, written by preeminent author/illustrator Eric Carle and the recently released Christmas special Paddington Saves Christmas. 
 
Produced in association with Disney Theatrical Productions


Winnie the Pooh, Jake Bazel (Pooh)
Photo Credit/ Evan Zimmerman (MurphyMade)


a Family Four Pack of Tickets from ChiIL Mama
To Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation at Chicago's Mercury Theatre 
Two winners will receive 4 tickets each to your choice of show dates (pending availability). Contest open through midnight March 22nd, 2022. Enter early and often. Winners will be emailed and announced here, on our site, as well as via our social media outlets. Good luck! 



Winnie the Pooh, Chris Palmieri (Tigger)
Photo Credit/ Evan Zimmerman (MurphyMade)

Monday, March 7, 2022

HARPER LEE’S TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO'S JAMES M. NEDERLANDER THEATRE MAY 17-29, 2022

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar  

TICKETS GO ON SALE MARCH 8 FOR

HARPER LEE’S

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

A NEW PLAY BY AARON SORKIN

BASED ON HARPER LEE’S CLASSIC NOVEL


FIRST NATIONAL TOUR OF CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED, RECORD-BREAKING PRODUCTION

STARS EMMY AWARD® WINNER RICHARD THOMAS

PLAYING AT

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO'S

JAMES M. NEDERLANDER THEATRE

MAY 17-29, 2022


Here at ChiIL Mama, we love Harper Lee’s iconic novel, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, and we're jazzed to catch the first national tour of the history-making production. Got your tickets yet? 

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce tickets for the history-making production of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will go on sale Tuesday, March 8, 2022. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will play Broadway In Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre for a limited engagement May 17-29, 2022. Academy Award® winner Aaron Sorkin’s new play, directed by Tony Award® winner Bartlett Sher and based on Harper Lee’s classic novel will come to Chicago as part of a multi-year national tour across North America.

The complete cast was announced today for the First National Tour of the history-making production. Starring in the critically acclaimed production are Emmy Award®-winning actor Richard Thomas as Atticus Finch, Melanie Moore as Scout Finch, Jacqueline Williams as Calpurnia, Justin Mark as Jem Finch, Yaegel T. Welch as Tom Robinson, Steven Lee Johnson as Dill Harris and Mary Badham (Oscar®-nominated for the role of “Scout” in the feature film) as Mrs. Dubose. They are joined by Joey Collins as Bob Ewell, Richard Poe as Judge Taylor, Luke Smith as Horace Gilmer, Arianna Gayle Stucki as Mayella Ewell, David Christopher Wells as Sheriff Heck Tate, Anthony Natale as Link Deas, Liv Rooth as Miss Stephanie, Travis Johns as Mr. Cunningham, and ensemble members: Morgan Bernhard, Denise Cormier, Christopher R. Ellis, Stephen Elrod, Glenn Fleary, Maeve Moynihan, Daniel Neale, Dorcas Sowunmi, and Greg Wood.

Yaegel T. Welch, Steven Lee Johnson, Luke Smith, Liv Rooth, and Glenn Fleary join the tour from the Broadway production.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD holds the record as the highest-grossing American play in Broadway history. It began performances on November 1, 2018, at the Shubert Theatre and played to sold-out houses until Broadway shutdown in March 2020. On February 26, 2020, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD became the first-ever Broadway play to perform at New York’s Madison Square Garden, in front of approximately 18,000 New York City public school students, also marking the largest attendance at a single performance of a play ever in world theater. The production resumed performances on October 5, 2021 and concluded its run at the Shubert Theatre on January 16, 2022. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is set to resume performances at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre with Greg Kinnear as Atticus Finch on June 1, 2022. A production will debut in London’s West End at the Gielgud Theatre on March 10, 2022, starring Rafe Spall. 

Set in Alabama in 1934, Harper Lee’s enduring story of racial injustice and childhood innocence centers on one of the most venerated characters in American literature, small-town lawyer, Atticus Finch. The cast of characters includes Atticus’s daughter, Scout; her brother, Jem; their housekeeper and caretaker, Calpurnia; their visiting friend, Dill; and a mysterious neighbor, the reclusive Arthur “Boo” Radley. The other indelible residents of Maycomb, Alabama, are Bob Ewell, Tom Robinson, Prosecutor Horace Gilmer, Judge Taylor, and Mayella Ewell. 

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is designed by Miriam Buether, with costumes by Ann Roth, lighting by Jennifer Tipton, sound by Scott Lehrer, and an original score by Adam Guettel. Casting by Telsey and Co. The national tour is produced by Barry Diller.

For more information, please visit www.tokillamockingbirdbroadway.com

 

Follow TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD on:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/tokillamockingbirdbway/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mockingbirdbway/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/mockingbirdbway

 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 22 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 25 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 28 at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 29 at 2:00 p.m.

 

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 and range from $35.00 - $114.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more  information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.


ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 21 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway  Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

 



COVID-19  PROTOCOL

Our audiences are required to wear masks and show proof of vaccination. For details or further requirements visit broadwayinchicago.com/covid19.

 

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

 


Thursday, March 3, 2022

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List: Al Fresco Restaurants In Chicago

 ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List:

Fabulous Outdoor Dining in the Windy City

Here at ChiIL Mama we are so over winter and eagerly awaiting spring, when Chicago's world class outdoor dining scene will bloom again. Literally hundreds of al fresco options line the streets and rooftops of Chicago, ranging from quick and casual family friendly fare to snazzy date night splurges.  Here's a short list of some unique and memorable choices to celebrate the return of spring.

Offshore: The world’s largest rooftop deck as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records and one of Chicago’s most exciting hotspots located at Navy Pier boasts over 42,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space with unmatched views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. This year-round rooftop destination offers Chicagoans and travelers alike a full-service bar and world-class kitchen, along with cozy fire pits, an entertainment and gaming area, and multiple large gathering spaces for social and corporate events, weddings, and more.


Kennedy Rooftop: In search of the perfect Golden Hour views? Known for spectacular, unobstructed views of the Chicago skyline from the John Hancock to the Willis Tower, Kennedy Rooftop offers a vibrant ambiance, a delicious menu, and a unique variety of signature cocktails for all to enjoy atop the Hyatt Place Wicker Park. Space is first come first served.

Ocean Prime: Located on the iconic corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, Ocean Prime offers al fresco dining on the outdoor patio just steps away from the city’s top attractions. The modern American restaurant and lounge from award-winning Cameron Mitchell Restaurants offers an impressive menu of seafood and steak, signature cocktails, and a Wine Spectator honored wine list coupled with truly exceptional hospitality.

Chicago Firehouse Restaurant: Formerly Engine Company 104 of the Chicago Fire Department, the landmark restaurant at 1401 South Michigan Avenue features both a lush backyard patio providing a quaint escape in the city as well as an outdoor veranda affording picturesque views of the South Loop skyline. The timeless house favorites, steaks, chops, and seafood, are complemented by distinctive, contemporary seasonal dishes for all to enjoy.

Carnivale: Chicago’s one-of-a-kind restaurant serving Latin-fusion cuisine invites guests to take advantage of patio season on the scenic outdoor terrace with refreshing libations and sensational signature dishes. The West Loop hotspot also offers seven unique private and semi-private spaces, perfect for celebratory events. For reservations and event inquiries, please visit www.carnivalechicago.com.

Lírica: Sweeping lakefront views and Iberian-Inspired fare create the perfect symphony at Lírica, located at 900 E. Grand Ave on Navy Pier. Featuring a 150-seat patio on Lake Michigan, the waterfront restaurant combines world-class views of Lake Michigan with rich and rustic flavors and a vibrant atmosphere.


Replay Lincoln Park: Chicago’s favorite arcade bar located at 2833 N. Sheffield pairs outdoor dining and imbibing with epic immersive experiences in addition to more than 65 free vintage arcade games available. Replay Lincoln Park features rotating pop-up events spanning 9,000 square feet of gaming areas including their outdoor patio. To learn more about upcoming pop-ups, please visit www.replaylincolnpark.com.

City Cruises Chicago: Set sail on City Cruises’ luxurious vessels including the Odyssey Lake Michigan, Spirit of Chicago, Chicago Elite, and the Odyssey Chicago River. Whatever the holiday or occasion, it’s better on a yacht. Guests can enjoy curated cocktails and cuisine during brunch and dinner cruises, all while taking in the unmatched views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline from the Chicago River.

Pacino’s: Sicily meets South Loop at this authentic Italian eatery located within Roosevelt Collection Shops at 1010 S. Delano Ct. Led by Executive Chef Michael Serratore, Pacino’s offers a wide range of classically-inspired antipasti, pizza, salads, seafood, fresh pasta, and more. Enjoy signature cocktails or a glass of vino at the full bar indoors or pull up a seat under the outdoor pergola for an amazing outdoor dining experience.

Water’s Edge: Serving up classic American fare nestled within 88 acres of forest preserve, Water’s Edge located within Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook invites guests to dine and unwind at the lakeside café or al fresco on the patio overlooking a private lake. Water’s Edge offers both savory and sweet breakfast dishes and fresh salads, wraps, and sandwiches for lunch. Patrons can also opt to book lakeside private parties on the serene patio which cater to up to 40 guests. For more information, please call 630.568.1234 or visit their website.

Oaken Bistro + Bar: Bringing together worldly flavors and responsible, local ingredients rooted in flavors both strong and bold, Oaken Bistro + Bar, 200 N. Field Dr., features both indoor and outdoor dining, with a sleek lounge, stunning bar, spacious dining rooms, and a patio complete with intimate fire pit seating. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch service on weekends, the restaurant incorporates natural elements in everything from design and decor to menu offerings including a standout cocktail program complete with floral and herbal infusions.


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