WIN 4 Tickets to Disney on Ice Opening Night At Allstate Arena 1/23/20

Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures Takes Families on a Fun-Fueled Excursion to Iconic Disney Destinations

Enter below for your chance to WIN 4 tickets from ChiIL Mama and Disney on Ice

Winner will receive a family 4 pack of tickets to Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures at Allstate Arena Opening Night, Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 7pm

Enter through midnight Monday 1/20/20

Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures is bringing its magical getaway to the Chicago area this winter, with performances Jan. 23 to 26 at the Allstate Arena, then moving to Chicago’s United Center Jan. 29 to Feb. 2 Center, before returning to Allstate Arena Feb. 6 to 9.

Disney on Ice presents Road Trip Adventures takes families on an immersive, magical road trip to some of Disney’s most beloved, iconic destinations. Audience members can join Mickey Mouse and his pals for the jam-packed escape that promises to be filled with excitement, surprise and adventure!  



Hit the road with Mickey Mouse and his pals for a high-octane ride in Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures. Exciting twists and turns await as Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and guests of all ages embark on an interactive and memory-rich adventure to iconic Disney destinations. See the world from the rooftops of London with Mary Poppins and Jack and his band of dancing lamplighters. Travel to the sun-soaked Motunui and help Moana restore the heart of Te Fiti. Set off on a safari and snap unforgettable photos of wild cheetahs and monkeys when guests traverse through the Pride Lands with Simba, Timon and Pumbaa. Discover a whole new world and be swept up in Aladdin’s princely parade filled with spectacular stunts, magical moments with Genie, and a brand-new song from Jasmine that will render the audience “Speechless.”  Mosey on over to a larger-than-life comedic carnival and team up with Woody and Bo Peep as they search for their new friend Forky.  Fans will hit a high note with Mickey and pals during the Disney edition of Road Trip Karaoke as they introduce Rapunzel, Belle, Ariel, Mulan and Tiana. Families should be prepared for a getaway jam-packed with unexpected hijinks and surprise, up-close character interaction as Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures makes a pitstop right in their 

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures start at $15. All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at the Allstate Arena and United Center box offices, through Ticketmaster, and by phone at (800) 745-3000. Parking is FREE with ticket purchase in all official Allstate Arena and United Center parking lots. Service charges, facility and handling fees may apply.

Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures will whisk families away on an immersive getaway chock-full of magical participatory moments. Featuring new and classic tales, this multi-generational experience is scheduled to visit the Chicago area in early 2020, with performances Jan. 23 to 26 at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., then move to Chicago’s United Center, Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, before returning to the Allstate Arena for a final week, Feb. 6 to 9.

Stay current on the latest developments through social media:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/DisneyOnIce
Twitter: @DisneyOnIce #DisneyOnIce
YouTube: www.youtube.com/DisneyOnIce
Instagram: @DisneyOnIce

About Feld Entertainment
Feld Entertainment® is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live family entertainment experiences that bring people together and uplift the human spirit. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy Supercross, Disney On Ice, Disney Live!, Marvel Universe LIVE!, Sesame Street Live!, DreamWorks Trolls The Experience and Jurassic World Live Tour. Across the brand portfolio, Feld Entertainment has entertained millions of families in more than 75 countries and on six continents. Visit feldentertainment.com for more information.

Enter HERE for your chance to WIN 4 tickets from ChiIL Mama and Disney on Ice

Winner will receive a family 4 pack of tickets to Disney On Ice presents Road Trip Adventures at Allstate Arena Opening Night, Thursday, January 23, 2020 at 7pm

Enter through midnight Monday 1/20/20

ENTER HERE

Acclaimed Ukrainian Ballet Company to Perform Romeo & Juliet and Swan Lake this January in Chicago

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

THE NATIONAL BALLET THEATRE OF ODESSA BRINGS BALLET MASTERPIECES 

“SWAN LAKE” AND “ROMEO & JULIET” TO TOWN

Acclaimed Ukrainian Ballet Company To Perform “Romeo & Juliet” at Harris Theater for Music and Dance, January 19, 2020 and “Swan Lake” at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, January 21, 2020

The National Ballet Theatre of Odessa, is proud to announce two performances coming to Chicagoland in January 2020.  Featuring 55 of Ukraine’s top performers, “Romeo & Juliet” will be performed at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St. in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020 at 3 p.m., and “Swan Lake” will be performed at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020 at 7:30 p.m.. “Romeo & Juliet” tickets are $55 - $85 , and are available by calling the box office at 312-334-7777 or through www.harristheaterchicago.org. “Swan Lake” tickets are $38 - $68 and are available by calling 847-673-6300 or by visiting www.northshorecenter.org.

“Romeo & Juliet” is a ballet performed in two acts, set to the music of composer Sergei Prokofiev, choreographed by Michael Lavrovsky, directed by Elena Baranovskaya and produced by Garri Sevoian. The fullscale production is based on the WIlliam Shakespeare’s tragedy of the two doomed young lovers. The principal dancers are Olena Dobrianska as “Juliet” and Sergii Dotsenko as “Romeo.”

“Swan Lake” is a ballet performed in four acts, with one intermission, also set to the music of composer Prokofiev. The script is based on the scenario by Vladimir Begichev and Vasiliy Geltser, directed by Elena Baranovskaya, and choreographed by Marius Petipa, Alexander Gorsky, Lev Ivanov, Konstantin Sergeyev and Yuri Grigorovich. The story follows a young prince as he tries to free the beautiful swan maiden from an evil spell.

ABOUT NATIONAL BALLET THEATRE OF ODESSA, UKRAINE

The year 1923 was a milestone in the history of the Odessa City Theater when its Ballet Company staged an in-house production of “Swan Lake”for the very first time.The press called it "the first attempt to create a real ballet performance in the history of the City Theater.” The ballet was staged by the ballet master Robert Balanotti. “Swan Lake” was followed by “The Little Humpbacked Horse,” “Coppelia”and “Le Corsaire.” In 1926, Kasyan Goleizovsky came to Odessa. His groundbreaking approach to choreography had an immense effect on the future of the Odessa ballet troupe. His ballets “Joseph the Beautiful” and “In the Sunlight”, but foremost the breathtaking “Polovetsian Dances” from the A. Borodin opera Prince Igor, which attained international fame, immediately won the hearts and minds of the Odessa audience. By the end of the 20s and into the 30s, the repertoire of the Theater grew rapidly and had new ballet productions to show for it: “La Carmagnole” by the Odessa composer Femilidi, as well as classical ballets “Don Quixote” and “Giselle.”

ABOUT NADEZHDA BABICH, Director of the Nation Ballet Theatre of Odessa

Nadezhda Babich graduated from the Kyiv State Institute of Culture in 1980, having obtained a qualification of a librarian-bibliographer. Nadezhda Babich has served as director to the National Ballet Theatre of Odessa since 2010, after serving as deputy headand then head of the Department of Culture and Tourism at the Odessa Regional Administration. Babich has served as artistic director in many successful opera and ballet productions, including Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,” “The Mystery of the Vienna Woods" to the music of J. Strauss and G.Mahler and on a grand scale, she  placed in two International Arts Festivals in Odessa: Opera 2012 and Opera 2013

AUDITIONS: CHICAGO CHILDREN’S CHOIR NEIGHBORHOOD CHOIR, JAN. 13 & 14, 2020

CHICAGO CHILDREN’S CHOIR

NEIGHBORHOOD CHOIR AUDITIONS, 

JAN. 13 & 14

Children 3rd grade + invited to New Singer Day open rehearsal and quick audition, no prior experience needed!  

Chicago Children’s Choir, the nation’s preeminent youth choral organization, leads 11 after-school neighborhood choirs – from Albany Park to Hyde Park. Students in grade 3 and up are invited to audition at the upcoming Neighborhood Choir New Singer Day, taking place at various locations throughout Chicago Monday, January 13 and Tuesday, January 14.  Check-in begins at 4:15pm, with the Choir’s open rehearsal starting at 4:30pm and auditions taking place immediately following from 5-5:30pm. 

 

Auditions for the following neighborhood choirs will take place on Monday, January 13:

                Austin: Austin Branch of the Chicago Public Library, 5615 W. Race Ave.

                Bucktown: Moadon Kol Chadash, 2464 N. Clybourn Ave.

                Englewood: Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 415 W. Englewood Ave.

                Humboldt Park: Casa Central, 1335 N. California Ave.

                Pilsen/Little Village: Arturo Velasquez Institute, 2800 S. Western Ave.

                Rogers Park: Indian Boundary Park, 2500 W. Lunt Ave.

Auditions for the following neighborhood choirs will take place on Tuesday, January 14:

                Albany Park: North Park Covenant Church, 5250 N. Christiana Ave.

                Beverly: Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th Street

                Hyde Park: First Unitarian Church, 5650 S. Woodlawn Ave.

                Lincoln Park: Holtschneider Performance Center, 2330 N. Halsted Street

No prior experience is necessary to join the Neighborhood Choir Program, and singers do not need to prepare anything for the audition. Chicago Children’s Choir is looking for students who can match pitch and have an enthusiasm for singing.  Plus, students should be willing and able to commit to twice-weekly rehearsals for the season.  Advance registration for auditions is recommended but not required; to reserve a spot or for more information, please visit: https://ccchoir.org/join/.

The Chicago Children’s Choir currently serves over 5,000 students across Chicago in all 52 zip codes through its vast network of in-school and after-school choir programs. CCC’s after-school Neighborhood Choirs are found in Albany Park, Austin, Beverly, Bucktown, Englewood, Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park, Lincoln Park, Pilsen/Little Village, and Rogers Park. These groups perform at several events in their community throughout the school year. They’ll also have a chance to travel with their Choir.

Chicago Children’s Choir, led by president and artistic director Josephine Lee, is a non-profit organization that inspires and unites youth from diverse backgrounds to become global citizens through music. Founded in Hyde Park in direct response to the Civil Rights Movement in 1956, CCC has grown from one choir into a vast network of in-school and after-school programs driven by one mission: to inspire and change lives through music. CCC has impacted the lives of more than 50,000 diverse youth throughout its 63-year history. Since its founding, CCC has focused on building programs that reflect the racial and economic diversity of Chicago. Eighty percent of youth served are from low-moderate income homes, with over 4,000 students annually participating completely free of charge. All singers in CCC programs receive some level of subsidy. High school seniors enrolled in CCC have a 100% graduation and college acceptance rate, becoming global ambassadors who carry on CCC’s core values in a wide array of professional fields.  Learn more at ccchoir.org.

Lifeline Theatre KidSeries Presents Bunny’s Book Club January 11-February 16, 2020

ChiIL Mama’s Chi, IL Picks List

Lifeline Theatre KidSeries Presents 

Bunny’s Book Club,

Based on the book by Annie Silvestro; 

illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss

Opens January 12, 2020

Plus Performances with Touch Tour and Audio Description on January 18,

Open Captioning on January 19, Autism/Sensory-Friendly Performance on February 1, 

and Stories Come Alive! Hour Workshops every Saturday and Sunday during the run 

(L to R) Jose Cervantes as Porcupine, Joe Liolos as Bear, 

Whitney Dottery as Bunny, and Tyra Bullock as Mole

Photo by Suzanne Plunkett.

*This production is recommended for children ages five and up and runs approximately one hour with no intermission.* 

Lifeline Theatre’s KidSeries presents Bunny’s Book Club, based on the children’s book by Annie Silvestro; illustrated by Tatjana Mai-Wyss, with adaptation by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Aly Renee Amidei, and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Anthony Kayer. Ever since she overheard the librarian reading outside of the library, Bunny has been enamored with books. But upon reflection, she isn’t sure if animals are allowed in the library. With the help of her furry friends, Bunny decides to share her love for reading and start a book club, but how can they get their hands on those books? Celebrate the joy of reading in this world premiere adaptation of Annie Silvestro’s celebrated picture book. 



Bunny’s Book Club runs Saturday, Jan. 11 – Sunday, Feb. 16 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. Press Opening is Sunday, Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. Regular performance times are Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., with an added autism/sensory-friendly performance on Sunday, Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. (Previews are Saturday, Jan. 11 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 12 at 11 a.m.) Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children (2-18), and may be purchased at the Lifeline Theatre Box Office, 773.761.4477, or by visiting www.lifelinetheatre.com.  

Accessible Performances: The Saturday, Jan. 18, 11 a.m. performance will feature a pre-show touch tour of the set at 10 a.m. and live audio description for patrons who are blind or have low vision. The Sunday, Jan. 19, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. performances will feature open captioning for patrons who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. And there will be an added autism/sensory-friendly performance on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 3 p.m. for patrons with social and/or cognitive disabilities. For more information about Lifeline’s accessibility services, please contact Accessibility Coordinator Erica Foster at 773.761.4477 x703 or at access@lifelinetheatre.com.

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

The complete cast and production team for Bunny’s Book Club includes:

CAST:        
Guest artists Tyra Bullock (Mole/Librarian), Jose M. Cervantes (Porcupine/Child), Whitney Dottery (Bunny), Dakota Hughes (Raccoon), & Matt Patrick (Bear/Parent);
with understudies: Sarah Bacinich, Joe Liolos, Josephine Longo, & LaRose Washington.

PRODUCTION TEAM:    
Lifeline Theatre ensemble members Aly Renee Amidei (Adaptor/Costume Designer), & Anthony Kayer (Director); with guest artists Sarah Espinoza (Sound Designer), Caitlin McLeod (Scenic Designer), Jessica Neill (Lighting Designer), Jenny Pinson (Props Designer), & Kate Reed (Stage Manager).

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



Now in its 37th season, Lifeline Theatre is driven by a passion for story. Our ensemble process supports writers in the development of literary adaptations and new work, and our theatrical and educational programs foster a lifelong engagement with literature and the arts. A cultural anchor of Rogers Park, we are committed to deepening our connection to an ever-growing family of artists and audiences, both near and far. Lifeline Theatre – Big Stories, Up Close. 

Lifeline Theatre’s programs are partially supported by Alphawood Foundation; A.R.T League Inc.; Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; Chicago CityArts, a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; The Common Cup; Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation; FGMK LLC; Flex Print, Inc.; Lloyd A. Fry Foundation; Illinois Arts Council Agency;  MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at Prince; The Polk Bros. Foundation; Rogers Park Social; S&C Electric Company Fund; The Shubert Foundation; and the annual support of businesses and individuals.

AUDITIONS: A&A BALLET HOLDS OPEN AUDITIONS FOR “PINOCCHIO” IN CHICAGO JANUARY 12, 2020

A&A BALLET (A&A), under the artistic direction of Anna Reznik and Alexei Kremnev, holds open auditions for the production of Alexei Kremnev's “Pinocchio,” Sunday, January 12, 2020 from 12-2 p.m. A&A welcomes dancers from ages six to twenty-four to audition for various roles, which will take place at Chicago’s Studebaker Theatre (410 S. Michigan Ave) May 16, 2020 for two performances.

Auditions will be held at A&A BALLET’s newly opened studios, Center for Dance (731 S. Plymouth Court), on January 12. Inspired by the original Italian tale of 1883, this much-loved fairy tale follows the mischievous and charming wooden puppet, Pinocchio, the most translated book in the world, as he pursues his dream of being a real boy. We accompany him as he learns the life-lessons that make one real.

Audition attire: Girls: black camisole leotard, pink footed tights, pink canvas ballet and pointe shoes (age/level appropriate); Boys: black-footed tights, white tight fitted t-shirt, black ballet shoes. The audition will include dance movement and combinations to be performed in character. No preparation of audition material is necessary. Dancers will be notified via email within the week after the audition if they have been cast. A production fee will be required for dancers performing “Sleeping Beauty” and varies depending on role. Rehearsals begin on February 15 (for most of the parts) and will take place primarily on Saturdays at the A&A BALLET Center for Dance. A pre-registration form may be downloaded at aacenterfordance.org.

A&A BALLET, growing at a fast pace since its inception, has recently garnered rave reviews for their production “The Art Deco Nutcracker” that. Lauren Warnecke at the Chicago Tribune called it “a glitzy production (featuring) top notch student dancers and professional guest artists from American Ballet Theatre and BalletMet.” PerformInk raved that “it’s a fresh and fantastic work that holds its own with ballets in every season.”

A&A BALLET, based in their new home at 721 S. Plymouth Court, is devoted to training in strong, versatile dance technique, as well as the development of personality, independence and artistry. Led by internationally acclaimed artists and former Founding Artistic Directors of the Joffrey Academy and Joffrey Studio Company, Anna Reznik and Alexei Kremnev, A&A offers a wide variety of classes, professional performance opportunities, private instruction, choreography and training for dancers ranging from age 3 to adult. In a very short period of time A&A BALLET has gained national and international recognition receiving rave reviews for its programs and productions.  To date, its students have secured 65 full scholarships and nine apprentice and studio company positions with powerhouses including American Ballet Theater, Houston Ballet, Princess Grace Academy of Monaco, Bolshoi Ballet, Colorado Ballet, BalletMet and Sarasota Ballet. 

For more information visit aacenterfordance.org or call 312.545.2142.

WIN A Pair of Oliver! Tickets ($120 Value/2 Winners) Now Playing at Marriott Theatre Through December 29th, 2019

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

Oliver at Marriott Theatre

Celebrate the holidays with one of the most beloved family musicals of all time, featuring favorites “Food, Glorious Food,” “As Long as He Needs Me,” and more!

ENTER BELOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO 

WIN A Pair of Marriott Oliver! Tickets 

(Up to $120 Value/2 Winners) 

Now Playing at Marriott Theatre Through December 29th, 2019. Winners' choice of dates/times (pending availability). Enter early and often through midnight, Wednesday, December 11th. 

Terry James, Executive Producer

Aaron Thielen, Lead Artistic Director

Andy Hite, Artistic Director 

Presents

The largest cast ever on the Marriott Theatre stage!

The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr. in Lincolnshire, is proud to bring the Victorian streets of London live to Lincolnshire with Lionel Bart’s OLIVER!, previewing Wednesday, October 30th, opening Wednesday, November 6th at 7:30 p.m., and closing Sunday, December 29th. The Tony Award-winning musical based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, Oliver Twist, is directed by eight-time Jeff Award winner for Outstanding Direction, Nick Bowling, with musical direction by Jeff Award winner Ryan T. Nelson and choreography by Jeff Award winner Brenda Didier.

Kai Edgar and Gilbert Domally

“Dickens’ original story is a critical examination of the living conditions in Victorian England and the enormous gap between the haves and have nots. He gives us light and dark in equal measure to heighten his incredible story of an orphan who finds his home,” said director Nick Bowling.

“My goal from the beginning was to approach the play from a ten-year old’s perspective; so, people look bigger and the world seems larger. And while the dark can easily turn into a nightmare, the moments of hope and light are like a magical dream.”

Kayden Koshelev and William Brown

Kayden Koshelev 

Kayden Koshelev and Patrick Scott McDermott

Set in the 1800’s, OLIVER! follows the story of a malnourished orphan in a workhouse who becomes the neglected apprentice of an undertaker. Oliver escapes to London and finds acceptance amongst a group of petty thieves and pickpockets led by the elderly Fagin. When Oliver is captured for a theft that he did not commit, the benevolent victim, Mr. Brownlow, takes him into his care. Fearing for the safety of his hideout, Fagin employs the sinister Bill Sikes and the sympathetic Nancy to kidnap him back, threatening Oliver’s chances of discovering the true love of a family. Nominated for the Best Musical Tony Award, OLIVER! features touching performances of audience favorites including “Food, Glorious Food,” “As Long as He Needs Me,” “Consider Yourself,” and the title song, “Oliver!”

 William Brown

The largest cast ever on the Marriott Theatre stage, OLIVER! stars Kai Edgar (Professional debut!) and Kayden Koshelev (Marriott Theatre Debut; Big Noise Theater: Seussical; Metropolis: A Christmas Carol; That’s Entertainment: Beauty and the Beast; St. James Theatre: Shrek) in the title role of “Oliver”; William Brown as “Fagin” (Marriott Theatre: Cabaret, History Loves Company, Into the Woods, and Arthur); Lucy Godinez as “Nancy” (Marriott Theatre: Footloose; Writers: Into the Woods; Porchlight Music Theater: In the Heights; Paramount Theater: Legally Blonde); Patrick Scott McDermott as “The Artful Dodger” (Marriott Theatre: Seussical, Holiday Inn, Ragtime); with Caron Buinis (“Mrs. Sowerberry”), Jason Grimm (“Mrs. Sowerberry”), Matthew R. Jones (“Mr. Bumble”), Bethany Thomas (“Mrs. Corney”), Dan Waller (“Bill Sikes”), Aubrey Adams, Emily Agy, Tony Carter, Gilbert Domally (“Noah”), Kelly Felthous (“Charlotte”), Terry Hamilton (“Mr. Brownlow”), Michael Haws, Mark David Kaplan (“Dr. Grimwig”), Liam Quealy, Cassie Slater, Elizabeth Telford, Jeremiah Alsop, Lexis Danca, Max DeTogne, and Ziare Paul-Emile (“Bet”).

Dan Waller

The Orphans and Thieves are played by Luke Chichester, Pierce Cleaveland, Connor Henry Daley, Milo J. Flores, Gabriel Gabor, Zachary Scott Fewkes, Cole Keriazakos, Ryder Kirby, Nolan Maddox (also “Dodger” at select performances), Brennan Monaghan, Hogan Porter, Jonathan Z. Protus, Landon Simecek, Trey Thompson, Emmett O. Victorson.

The production will feature set design by Jeffrey D. Kmiec, costume design by Sally Dolembo, lighting design by Jesse Klug, sound design by Robert E. Gilmartin, wig design by Miguel A. Armstrong, and properties design by Sally Zack; with dialect coach Kathy Logelin, fight and intimacy choreographer Gaby Labotka, stage manager David A. Loranca, and musical superviser by Patti Garwood.

 Kai Edgar, Jason Grimm and Caron Buinis 

The performance is scheduled to run Wednesdays at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., with select Thursday 1:00 p.m. shows. Holiday weeks may have adjusted schedules. Ticket prices range from $50 to $60, excluding tax and handling fees. 

Call for student, senior, and military discounts. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings there are a limited number of dinner-theatre packages available for purchase through the Marriott Theatre Box Office. To make a restaurant reservation, please call 847.634.0100. Reservations strongly recommended. Free parking is available at all performances. To reserve tickets, please call The Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or go to www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.MarriottTheatre.com for more information and the full, holiday schedule.

 Matthew R Jones and Kai Edgar

ENTER HERE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO 

WIN A Pair of Marriott Oliver! Tickets 

(Up to $120 Value/2 Winners) 

Now Playing at Marriott Theatre Through December 29th, 2019. Winners' choice of dates/times (pending availability). Enter early and often through midnight, Wednesday, December 11th. 

ENTER HERE

OPENING: Strawdog Theatre Company Presents HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS December 7 – 29, 2019

The Holiday Hit Returns!

Strawdog Theatre Company Presents

HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS

Based on the book by Eric Kimmel

Adapted by Michael Dailey

Music and Lyrics by Jacob Combs

Directed by Lauren Katz

Music Direction by Yair Farkas

December 7 – 29, 2019

After charming audiences last winter, Strawdog Theatre Company’s holiday hit HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS returns December 7 – 29, 2019 at 1802 W. Berenice Ave. in Chicago’s Northcenter neighborhood. Based on the award-winning book by Eric Kimmel, the family classic features book and adaptation by ensemble member Michael Dailey*, music and lyrics by Jacob Combs, direction by Lauren Katz and music direction by Yair Farkas. Tickets are currently available at www.strawdog.org. 

(left to right) Cohen Kraus, Josh Pennington, Brianna Joy Ford, Leo Zhu, Sarah Bacinich and Jack Morsovillo in Strawdog Theatre Company’s production of HERSHEL AND THE HANUKKAH GOBLINS. All Photos by Jesus J. Montero.

(left to right) Cohen Kraus, Brianna Joy Ford, Josh Pennington and Sarah Bacinich 

The cast includes Sarah Bacinich, Brianna Joy Ford, Cohen Kraus, Jack Morsovillo, Josh Pennington and Leo Zhu. Understudies: Jessamyn Fitzpatrick, Caroline Kidwell and Narciso Lobo.

Will Hershel of Ostropool outsmart the goblins who haunt the old synagogue so that villagers can celebrate Hanukkah? In this stage adaptation of the Caldecott Honor-winning book, the story comes to life with music and a little bit of magic for families of all ages to enjoy.

 (pictured) Jack Morsovillo  

 (left to right) Jack Morsovillo and Cohen Kraus

(pictured) Jack Morsovillo

Comments Strawdog Artistic Director Leda Hoffmann, "I’m thrilled to bring back Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins to Strawdog this season. Hershel captures the imagination, joy and theatricality central to Strawdog’s work in a story great for audiences young and old. It is a privilege to bring this well-loved tale to Chicago audiences during the holiday season.”

The production team includes Evan Frank (scenic and props design), Elle Erickson (costume design), Benjamin Carne (lighting design), Hannah Foerschler (sound design), Amy Sheahan (assistant director), Kendra Williams (stage manager) and Anika Jones (assistant stage manager).

*Denotes Strawdog ensemble member

(front right) Sarah Bacinich with (back, l to r) Josh Pennington, Brianna Joy Ford and Cohen Kraus 

 (left to right) Sarah Bacinich and Jack Morsovillo

Cast (in alphabetical order): Sarah Bacinich (Sara), Brianna Joy Ford (Tina), Cohen Kraus (Sammy), Jack Morsovillo (Hershel), Josh Pennington (Max) and Leo Zhu (Al).

Understudies: Jessamyn Fitzpatrick, Caroline Kidwell and Narciso Lobo.

Location: Strawdog Theatre Company, 1802 W. Berenice Ave., Chicago
Dates: Previews: Saturday, December 7 at 1 pm & 4 pm and Sunday, December 8 at 10 am
Press performance: Sunday, December 8 at 1 pm
Regular run: Saturday, December 14 – Sunday, December 29
Curtain Times: Saturdays at 1 pm & 4 pm, plus Sunday, December 29 at 10 am & 1 pm.
Tickets: Previews $20 adults, $15 children/seniors. Regular run $25 adults, $20 children/seniors. Family of four discount - 10% off a purchase of four tickets. Group discounts available. Tickets are currently available at www.strawdog.org. Half price rush and student tickets available at every performance and other discounts available. Call (773) 644-1380 for details.

(left to right) Josh Pennington, Brianna Joy Ford, Cohen Kraus, Leo Zhu, Sarah Bacinich 

and Jack Morsovillo  

 (left to right) Brianna Joy Ford and Josh Pennington 

About the Artists

Eric Kimmel (Author) is the author of over 130 books for children, including Anansi and the Moss-Covered Rock and the classic Hanukkah tale, Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins. He is a five-time winner of the National Jewish Book Award and the Sydney Taylor Award for Lifetime Achievement. Dr. Kimmel and his wife Doris live in Portland, Oregon. 

Michael Dailey (Book/Adaptation) has appeared as an actor in 24 mainstage productions with the company since joining Strawdog in 1997. Writing credits include three radio plays presented as part of Radio Theatre 7, co-writer on the late night series The Adventures of Picklebot and Lawfer and script editor for Strawdog’s productions of 1001 Afternoons in Chicago, Julius Caesar and Measure for Measure.

Jacob Combs (Music and Lyrics) is a writer, director and composer based in Los Angeles. In addition to last year’s premiere production of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins, his previous musical theater projects include Palin! The Musical (music and lyrics), Unraveling (book, music and lyrics), Falling Apart, Coming Together (music and lyrics) and Legends & Lore (book). He is currently writing the book, music and lyrics for the musical Selling Out, which was workshopped at Chicago’s Strawdog Theatre in June 2018. Jacob’s first short film as writer/director, Without, premiered earlier this year, and is currently on the festival circuit, having played at over 15 U.S. and international festivals so far. His short screenplay Messrs. is being produced through the AfterWORK program at Pixar Animation Studios, where Jacob works in the creative development department.

Lauren Katz (Director) is a freelance director, dramaturg and teaching artist. Recent directing projects include: This is a Chair (Haven Theatre), Women of 4G (Babes with Blades Theatre Company), Toni and Marcus: From Village Life to Urban Stress (Illinois Holocaust Museum) and Subjective is Beauty (Prop Thtr). As an assistant director and dramaturg in Chicago, Lauren has worked with various companies including: About Face Theatre, Firebrand Theatre Company, Theater Wit, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Victory Gardens Theater, Redtwist Theatre, Writers Theatre, and Windy City Playhouse. Lauren served as the 2016/2017 Artistic Apprentice at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and as a fellow in the 2018/2019 Directors Inclusion Initiative at Victory Gardens Theatre. As a teaching artist, Lauren works with Lookingglass Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, and Mudlark Theater.

Yair Farkas (Music Director) is a composer and singer from the suburbs of Chicago. He is a graduate of Binghamton University's music program where he studied classical voice, musicology and composition. He has written for professional music ensembles including Contemporaneous and the Grammy-award winning artists of Modern Medieval.

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.

Strawdog Theatre Company is supported in part by The MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Alphawood Foundation, The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

(left to right) Jack Morsovillo and Leo Zhu 

Perfect Pairing: Blue Man Group and FastPass to Andy Warhol – From A to B and Back Again Available Through January 23, 2020

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

BLUE MAN GROUP 

DEBUTS NEW TICKET PACKAGE WITH 

THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO 

FOR ANDY WARHOL —  FROM A TO B AND BACK AGAIN

New Limited-Time-Only Package 

Available Through January 23, 2020.

Here at ChiIL Mama, we adore theatre and art, and we're jazzed when our favorites team up together. If you're looking for a great holiday gift idea or a way to make some memories with visiting family and friends, check this out. You don't even need to do both shows on the same day. Make life a bit more colorful during this dark season and go already! 

Blue Man Group is thrilled to debut a new ticket package in partnership with Andy Warhol – From A to B and Back Again, on view now through January 26, 2020 at the Art Institute of Chicago. The special ticket package is $79 and includes a main floor seat to Blue Man Group at Chicago’s Briar Street Theatre and a FastPass admission ticket to the Art Institute including a pass to the Warhol exhibition.

Andy Warhol – From A to B and Back Again is a penetrating and panoramic look at an artist whose "15 minutes" endure. This major retrospective--the first to be organized by a US institution (Whitney Museum of American Art) in 30 years--builds on the wealth of new research, scholarship, and perspectives that has emerged since Andy Warhol's early death at age 58 in 1987. More than 400 works on view offer a new view of the beloved and iconic American Pop artist, not only illuminating the breadth, depth, and interconnectedness of Warhol's production across the entirety of his career but also highlighting the ways that he anticipated the issues, effects, and pace of today’s digital age.

Blue Man Group ticket buyers are invited to use code WARHOL when purchasing full price Blue Man Group Chicago tickets to receive an equal number of FastPass admission and Andy Warhol – From A to B and Back Again exhibition passes at the Art Institute of Chicago. Art Institute tickets must be picked up at the Briar Street Theatre box office and do not need to be used on the same day as the Blue Man Group performance.

About Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group is an award-winning show and entertainment phenomenon seen by more than 35 million people worldwide since 1991. A dynamic combination of art, music, comedy and technology, the show’s euphoric celebration of human connection has universal appeal for a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds. The show is continually refreshed with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments and state-of-the-art technology. Blue Man Group has permanent theatrical productions in New York, Las Vegas, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Berlin and a World Tour. Blue Man Group is owned and operated by Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.

This creative collective has become part of the pop culture zeitgeist. Blue Man Group has served as the face of branding campaigns for Intel and TIM/Brasil and appeared countless times on hit shows like “The Tonight Show,” “Arrested Development,” “Ellen,” “Schlag den Raab” (Germany), “WOWOW” (Japan), and “Caldeirão do Huck” (Brasil).

Beyond the stage show, they are Grammy-nominated recording artists, known for their contributions to various film and TV scores and multiple Blue Man Group albums, including their most recent, THREE. Their “Megastar World Tour” rock concert parody played arenas across the globe. The group’s recently published first-ever book, Blue Man World, is a visually stunning anthropological exploration of the curious bald and blue character.