Thursday, November 30, 2017

HAMILTON CHICAGO TICKETS: New Block of Chicago Hamilton Tickets Released December 5th

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar:
You can be in the room where it happens! Be a gifting superstar this holiday, with tickets to HAMILTON. 





Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows, we adore HAMILTON. Lin-Manuel Miranda revolutionized Broadway musicals with HAMILTON and this hit has become universally loved by all ages. Looking for a multigenerational treat? Don't throw away your shot at tickets to the hottest show in town. I've seen it twice by winning the $10 lottery over the past year, and my teens are still frequently playing the soundtrack. It just doesn't get old. 

It was my great pleasure to meet Lin-Manuel Miranda at a press conference earlier this month, as he stopped in Chicago promoting Puerto Rican hurricane relief efforts. He's not only a crazy talented composer, writer and actor, but an all around good guy who gives back to the community he came from. He's rallying others to fill the gap in federal relief efforts and I'm proud to say Chicago is stepping up in a big way too. Want an easy way to start helping? All proceeds from purchasing Lin-Manuel Miranda's Almost Like Praying go to Puerto Rican recovery efforts.



NEW BLOCK OF SEATS ON SALE
DECEMBER 5, 2017




Producer Jeffrey Seller and Broadway In Chicago announced today that a new 18 week block of tickets for HAMILTON at CIBC Theatre (18 W. Monroe) will go on-sale Tuesday, December 5. Tickets will be available for performances through September 2, 2018.



Tickets for the new block will go on sale on Tuesday, December 5 at 10:00 a.m. and will be available at CIBC Theatre Box Office, the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line (800-775-2000) and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.  The CIBC Theatre Box Office will be open for advance sales from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

There is a maximum purchase limit of 12 tickets per household for performances May 1 through September 2, 2018.  Tickets range from $75 - $195 for regular performances with select number of premium seats available for all performances. There will continue to be an online lottery for forty-four (44) $10 seats for all performances. Lottery seat locations vary per performance but will always include seats in the first row. 

Visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com/HamiltonLotteryFAQ or download the official Hamilton app for more lottery information.







There are many sites and people that are selling overpriced, and in some cases, fraudulent tickets. For the best seats, the best prices and to eliminate the risk of counterfeit tickets, all purchases should be made through authorized Broadway In Chicago outlets.

HAMILTON is the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary.  Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON is the story of America then, as told by America now.  

With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and music supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.






The HAMILTON creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award ® Winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS.

HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and casting by Telsey + Company, Bethany Knox, CSA.

The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater.

The HAMILTON Original Broadway Cast Recording is available everywhere nationwide.  The HAMILTON recording received a 2016 Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album. 



For information on HAMILTON, visit www.HamiltonOnBroadway.com, www.Facebook.com/HamiltonMusical, www.Instagram.com/HamiltonMusical and www.Twitter.com/HamiltonMusical, and the official app for HAMILTON is now available for download at HamiltonBroadway.com/app, which offers an app-based show lottery, stickers, camera filters, a merchandise store, music, news, tickets and exclusive content with Lin-Manuel and the Hamilton companies.



ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 17 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 well up to 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, Oriental Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.


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





Wednesday, November 29, 2017

TICKETS ON SALE 12/1: Cirque du Soleil's CORTEO to Play the BMO Harris Bank Metro Center in Rockford 4/5-8, 2018

ChiIL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

One of the best-loved Cirque du Soleil productions is back on tour:
CORTEO 
BEGINS A NEW LIFE IN ARENAS THROUGHOUT 
NORTH AMERICA

Production Photos by Lucas Saporiti

The cast of CORTEO includes 51 acrobats, musicians, singers and actors from all around the world.

Starting April 5, 2018 at the BMO Harris Bank Metro Center in Rockford
Tickets on pre-sale exclusively to Cirque Club members now. General on-sale begins December 1, 2017

After thrilling more than 8 million people worldwide, CORTEO will embark on a new journey next March as the same enchanting production but now in arenas, giving more people the opportunity to enjoy a Cirque du Soleil show in their own town. The show will visit Rockford at the BMO Harris Bank Metro Center for a limited run of six performances, from April 5 to 8, 2018.

This unique production directed by Daniele Finzi Pasca premiered in Montreal in April 2005 and has visited 64 cities in 19 countries.





CORTEO, which means cortege in Italian, is a joyous procession, a festive parade imagined by a clown. The show brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth.

The clown pictures his own funeral taking place in a carnival atmosphere, watched over by quietly caring angels. Juxtaposing the large with the small, the ridiculous with the tragic and the magic of perfection with the charm of imperfection, the show highlights the strength and fragility of the clown, as well as his wisdom and kindness, to illustrate the portion of humanity that is within each of us. The music, by turns lyrical and playful, carries CORTEO through a timeless celebration in which illusion teases reality.

Sponsor: Cirque du Soleil gratefully acknowledges the official sponsors of the CORTEO USA tour: Forsythe Technology.

Social media
Facebook: facebook.com/Corteo
Twitter: @Cirque #CORTEO
Instagram: @cirquedusoleil #CORTEO




Ticket information
Show Schedule:
Thursday, April 5, 2018 – 7:30 pm
Friday, April 6, 2018 – 7:30 pm
Saturday April 7, 2018 – 3:30 pm & 7:30 pm
Sunday, April 8, 2018 – 1:00 pm & 5:00 pm

Advance tickets for CORTEO are available now online to Cirque Club members through November 30. Cirque Club membership is free and benefits includes access to advance tickets, special offers and exclusive behind the scenes information. To join, go to www.cirqueclub.com.

Tickets will be available to the public as of starting December 1 at 10 am on cirquedusoleil.com/corteo
Tickets start at $35 (subject to change) and child tickets start at $25.







About Cirque du Soleil
Originally composed of 20 street performers in 1984, Cirque du Soleil completely reinvented circus arts and went on to become a world leader in artistic entertainment. Established in Montreal, the Canadian organization has brought wonder and delight to over 180 million spectators with 42 productions that have taken place in close to 450 cities in 60 countries. Cirque du Soleil currently has over 4,000 employees, including 1,300 artists, from nearly 50 countries. In 2017 alone, 19 shows are being presented simultaneously throughout the world.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, please go to www.cirquedusoleil.com



OPENING: THE BEATRIX POTTER HOLIDAY TEA PARTY at CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE, THE STATION DECEMBER 2-17

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List: 
Family Friendly Fun For The Littlest Theatre Lovers 

THE BEATRIX POTTER HOLIDAY TEA PARTY TOPS THE LIST
OF BEST NEW HOLIDAY EVENTS FOR PARENTS AND TODDLERS, DECEMBER 2-17 AT CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE, THE STATION


**Created for Children ages 2 to 6**


ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar:
Kids turn levers, pull cranks at The Beatrix Potter 
Holiday Tea Party


Looking for a charming, heart-warming new holiday tradition for the entire family?

Look no further than The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party, playing Saturdays and Sundays, December 2-17, 2017 at Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, 100 S. Racine Ave., in the heart of Chicago’s West Loop.



At this latest installment in CCT’s annual Potter holiday trunk show series, children of all ages not only get to see a great show, but they are cordially invited to enjoy tea or hot cocoa with Chicago Children’s Theatre’s best friends from Beatrix Potter’s beloved English Lake District.



That’s right, Peter Rabbit, Mr. Jeremy Fisher and Simpkin the cat all play major roles in this highly interactive, trunk and puppet show, complete with live music and mechanical pulls and levers that kids get to turn and crank to help tell every family’s favorite Beatrix Potter animal tales.

Children, especially ages 2 to 6, will be delighted by The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party as soon as they walk through the door of Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new home, The Station. The party begins with a “toddler-timed,” 45-minute performance of three enchanting Beatrix Potter stories. Immediately after, kids are invited on the set for 15 minutes to explore and play with the ingenious mechanical “suitcase sculptures” custom-built for this production, and to meet and pose for photos with the cast.

When families emerge from Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new Pritzker Family Theatre, they’ll find the lobby decorated like a Victorian holiday parlor. CCT artists in Victorian garb will welcome kids and guide them to craft stations where they can create their own beautiful snowflakes. Kids will be treated to hot cocoa and scrumptious cookies, with tea and coffee available for adults.



The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party runs December 2-17, Saturdays and Sundays at 11:30 a.m. or 3 p.m.

Tickets are $47, and include the show, crafts and tea party. Purchase tickets online at chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call the Chicago Children’s Theatre box office,
(872) 222-9555.

Note: CCT also offers discounted rates for playgroups, birthday parties and other groups. Email groupsales@chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555 for more information.

Even better, save money by including the Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party in a 2017-18 Chicago Children’s Theatre subscription. Multi-show subscription benefits include flexible ticketing exchange, a 10% discount and no processing fees on additional tickets, and discounts on CCT classes and camps.

For subscription information, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555.



More about The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party

“Exquisite” is how the Chicago Reader described Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 2015 world premiere of A Snowy Day with Beatrix Potter & Friends, the first installment in the series, also directed by Will Bishop and designed by Grace Needleman. Last season saw the highly successful debut of a sequel, Another Snowy Day with Beatrix Potter & Friends, which was performed at several unique locations around the city.

This year, however, “Everything’s happening at The Station” is the clarion call now that Chicago Children’s Theatre has moved into The Station, its new, permanent home in Chicago’s West Loop, which is ideally suited to host families for a performance coupled with a holiday tea party.

Will Bishop, director and writer of CCT’s Beatrix Potter series, is a full-time staff member at Chicago Children’s Theatre where he serves as Production Manager for all shows. With CCT, he has designed Red Kite shows for children on the autism spectrum, a collaboration with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and is designing scenery and costumes for the upcoming My Wonderful Birthday Suit! He has also produced with and been produced at Redmoon, First Floor Theater, The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, The Chicago Park District, BrainFrame, Corner Gallery, The University of Chicago, Second Floor Rear, The Toledo Museum of Art, and Hermes Boutiques in Nagoya, Japan and Hangzhou, China. He moonlights as the co-creator and designer of the Wonder Wagon, a mobile puppet theatre, which tours free shows to Chicago Parks every summer.

Grace Needleman (designer) is an artist, designer, educator, and museum worker preoccupied with questions about art in society. Her mask and puppet designs have appeared in productions at Chicago Children’s Theatre, the Actor’s Gymnasium, Rough House and Redmoon. She is an Artistic Associate at Rough House, and co-curator of Nasty, Brutish & Short at Links Hall. She is currently the Programmer of Education: Family and Youth Programs at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, and has worked as a teaching artist at Chicago Children’s Theatre, After School Matters, Urban Gateways, the Smart Museum, Arts + Public Life and Redmoon. Needleman graduated with a MA in Contemporary Art Theory from Goldsmiths University of London, and a BA in fine art from Yale University.


From left: Lara Carling, Kay Kron and Ray Rehberg

The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party is devised and performed by Lara Carling, Kay Kron and Ray Rehberg. Becca Jeffords is lighting designer. David K. Samba is sound designer.

Beatrix Potter (1866-1943) was a British writer, illustrator and conservationist best remembered for her best-selling children’s books that combined her love for animals and the English countryside. During her childhood in England’s Lake District, she looked after many animals including rabbits, frogs and even bats. She drew these animals throughout her youth, gradually improving the standard of her drawings. In her 20s she sought to try and get her children’s book and drawings published. Her initial attempts proved unsuccessful, but she persevered and eventually her first book The Tale of Peter Rabbit, was published in 1902, when she was 36. Today, Peter Rabbit is one of the most beloved children’s books of all time. In sum, Potter wrote 24 books. Some of her best know titles include The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan and The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher. For more information, visit the Beatrix Potter Society, beatrixpottersociety.org.uk.



About Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station

Chicago Children’s Theatre has transformed the former 12th District Police Station, located in the heart of Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood at 100 S. Racine Avenue, at the intersection of Racine and Monroe Street, into its first permanent home. The new Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, opened its doors in January 2017, and now serves as a beautiful, mixed-use performing arts, education and community engagement facility that welcomes all Chicago families.

Savvy, culturally inclined families know they can save lots of money with a variety of Chicago Children’s Theatre 2017-18 multi-show Subscription Packages, now on sale at chicagochildrenstheatre.org or by calling (872) 222-9555.

Choose between pre-built packages or a Choose Your Own package for maximum flexibility. Younger Audience Fixed Packages, recommended for ages 2 to 6, include Chicago Children’s Theatre’s current smash hit, A Year with Frog and Toad, running now through October 29, plus The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party and My Wonderful Birthday Suit! Older Audience Fixed Packages, recommended for ages 6 and up, include A Year with Frog and Toad, along with new productions in 2018 of An Epic Tale of Scale and Last Stop on Market Street.

Fixed Packages are $100. Benefits of subscription packages include flexible ticketing exchange, a 10% discount and no processing fees on additional tickets. 

In addition to a full slate of shows in the new Pritzker Family Studio, Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, is also home to four classrooms hosting a year-round roster of performing arts classes and camps for children ages 0 to 14.





Registration is now open for the upcoming Winter session, January 22-March 17, 2018. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/winterclasses to sign your children up for Improv with The Second City!, Old Town School of Folk Music’s Wiggleworms classes, aerial arts with Actor’s Gymnasium, Hip Hop 4 Totz, Bubble Jams, Taking the Stage and more. 

Additionally, CCT now has its own dedicated space at The Station for Red Kite programming for children on the autism spectrum and other special needs. These children have opportunities to participate in Red Kite Adventures and CCT’s annual Camp Red Kite, the only summer arts camp of its kind in Chicago. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/redkite to learn more.


About Chicago Children’s Theatre

Since its launch in 2005, Chicago Children’s Theatre has cemented its reputation as the city’s largest professional theater company devoted exclusively to children and young families.

The company evolved out of Chicago’s need for high-quality, professional year-round children’s programming to match the quality and significance of theatrical powerhouses such as Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre and Lookingglass Theatre.

Likewise, CCT has always believed children should be treated as the sophisticated audiences that they are, showcasing high profile and award-winning talent, inventive production values and compelling stories that challenge, educate and entertain.

Audiences have embraced Chicago Children’s Theatre since its inaugural production, A Year with Frog and Toad, at the Goodman Theatre in 2006. Since then, CCT’s productions have featured everything from black-light scenery to live music to interactive four-dimensional sets to life-size puppets, with performances showcasing the heart of Motown to Vaudeville to contemporary, current and modern styles.

CCT has also built a national reputation due to its focus on new work, producing 16 world premieres in the last 11 years including The Selfish Giant, The Hundred Dresses, Jackie and Me, Dot and Ziggy, The Houdini Box, The Elephant and The Whale (in association with Redmoon), Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money, Leo Lionni’s Frederick, Wonderland, Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, A Snowy Day with Beatrix Potter, Jabari Dreams of Freedom, Another Snowy Day with Beatrix Potter, Manual Cinema’s The Magic City and The Year I Didn’t Go To School: A Homemade Circus. These enjoyed successful inaugural runs in Chicago, many followed by productions at theaters across the U.S.

CCT has always honored a strong commitment to low-income families and children with special needs. In partnership with Chicago Public Schools, the company offers free tickets to more than 5,000 Chicago-area low-income students each season.

Chicago Children’s Theatre is led by Co-Founders, Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell and Board Chair Todd Leland, Community Programs Artistic Director Frank Maugeri, and Board President Eric Neveux. The company is supported by a dedicated staff and dynamic Board of Directors comprised of leaders from the fields of entertainment, philanthropy and business. Chicago Children's Theatre is sponsored in part by ComEd, Goldman Sachs Gives and JP Morgan Chase.

OPENING: Perfect Parody Potted Potter Returns To Chicago For The Holidays December 13th- January 7th

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List: 
Family Friendly Theatre Fun


RETURNS TO CHICAGO FOR A HOLIDAY ENGAGEMENT! 
BROADWAY PLAYHOUSE AT WATER TOWER PLACE
DECEMBER 13, 2017 – JANUARY 7, 2018

Potted Potter is a hoot and a half and a long time favorite of ours here at ChiIL Mama & ChiIL Live Shows, since the first time we caught it in Chi, IL back in 2012. There's minimal set design and no special effects, but this show is a laugh riot from start to frenetic finish. Good old fashioned character driven fun, wacky costumes, and impeccable comedic timing make this two man tour de force a must see for Potter fans of all ages. Highly recommended.

Broadway In Chicago, Starvox Entertainment and Potted Productions are delighted to announce the return of the hit off-Broadway show, Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Potter Experience – A Parody by Dan and Jeff, for a four-week engagement at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut) Dec. 13, 2017 through Jan. 7, 2018. 



A Critic's Pick by the Daily Herald, New York Times, New York Magazine, Time Out London, Washington Post and Boston Globe, the show won the prestigious 2012 Olivier Award nomination for Best Entertainment & Family Show, playing to sold-out houses worldwide.

Created by former BBC Television hosts Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, the play takes on the ultimate challenge of condensing, or “potting”, all seven Harry Potter books into 70 madcap minutes, aided only by multiple costume changes, brilliant songs, ridiculous props and a generous helping of Hogwarts magic. The show also invites audiences to engage with a real life game of Quidditch, but according to Clarkson and Turner’s unique set of rules.        

Whether you camped outside a bookstore for three days awaiting the release of the Deathly Hallows or you don’t know the difference between a horcrux and a Hufflepuff, the comedy, magic and mayhem of Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience – A Parody by Dan and Jeff makes for an entertaining and hilarious visit to the theatre.  The fast-paced show, which has made audiences aged six to Dumbledore (who is very old indeed) roar with laughter all over the world, is perfect for the entire family.

The London critics raved too.  Said the Daily Telegraph, “A fabulously funny parody…will tickle the funny bone of every age group.’  The N.Y. Times exclaims the show is “Breathless and…HILARIOUS! And the Associated Press proclaims the show a “HIT!”

The New York Post writes the show is  “…a zany hoot!” while Time Magazine for Kids simply declares that Potted Potter is "...an AWESOME show!" So what are you waiting for!?  Now is the time for all good Potter fans to discover this hilarity firsthand!



TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience – A Parody by Dan and Jeff at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place range from $39.95-$69.95 with a select number of premium seats available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710.  Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000 and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com



ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 17 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 well up to 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, Oriental Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. 

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

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

SAVINGS CODE & NEW MONARCH: Queen Isabella Rules at NEW Medieval Times Storyline Unveiled Dec. 7th

Medieval Times to Unveil New Show, December 7
Queen Takes The ‘Reigns’ for First Time in 34 Years






Here at ChiIL Mama, we adore Medieval Times and have gone many times over the years and shot fabulous photo filled features. We're excited to see the new plot with the Queen in control. Dinner/show tickets are a fun gift idea for the holidays and a memorable outing for visiting family and friends. If you've got a thing for hot, long haired knights, sword fighting, horses, Game of Thrones style storytelling, or unique dinner theatre then what are you waiting for? Go already!

In the first new storyline unveil since 2012, Medieval Times is making a major break from its 34-year tradition of casting a king in the show's lead role.

The Queen is now in charge and sole ruler of the land.
Long may she reign!

For the first time since 2012, Medieval Times will unveil an all-new storyline on Dec. 7. And this time, a woman is holding the reins. In a major break from Medieval Times’ 34-year tradition of casting a king in the show’s lead role, the company has revealed that a queen is now in charge and sole ruler of the land. She is cast as a firm but kind ruler respected throughout the kingdom who inherited the throne at the passing of her father, the previous king.

The company’s leadership developed the idea to cast a matriarch, based in part on guest feedback that they would like to see women having more significant roles. The Schaumburg, Ill.-based castle will be the second of nine Medieval Times locations nationwide to roll out the new show.

“Where previously our female characters played in more supportive roles, we are now showing a woman fully in charge, a woman whose authority is sometimes challenged, but she quickly rises to the occasion as a strong leader, squelching opposition,” says Leigh Cordner, Medieval Times show director.


Jousting, fighting, horsemanship, swordplay and a fresh, hot, four-course feast remain central elements of the dinner attraction. With the cast and script change come a series of other significant changes to the show:
  • More than 700 new costumes for all nine castles’ performers including horses, all of which are custom-designed and hand-made at a dedicated costume shop near Dallas Design District.
  • 200 new suits of armor, shields, and helmets, all of which are custom-designed and hand-made at a dedicated armory in Florida.
  • More than 350 team members and 225 horses train and rehearse new lines and fight scenes for three months while still presenting the current show. 
  • It takes two months to teach a queen to ride an Andalusian stallion. 
  • New music was composed by Dr. Daniel May, composer and jazz pianist who scored “Everest” and other films and who worked with Sting, The Moody Blues and others. He directed and recorded Medieval Times’ new show composition in Kiev with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. He directed the choir in Ukraine with lyrics written by poet and choir member Solomia Gorokhivska, and a solo cellist and violin player from Pittsburgh.
  • The audience experiences a live action film score that is precisely synchronized with every element of the show, from lights to fights; jousts to jabs; the Queen’s entry to curtain closings; and more.
  • The sound and light team spends 120 hours programming 300 new music cues and 500 new lighting cues.

The Chicago-area premiere of the new show is slated for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7, at Medieval Times, 2001 N. Roselle Rd., Schaumburg, Ill. For tickets, visit www.medievaltimes.com/chicago.

November Savings
Adults $42 & Kids $32 (Save up to $19 per person)
Use Code: FEAST17 | Valid for shows through 1/31/2018. Tickets must be purchased by 12/17/2017.


About Medieval Times
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament was founded in 1977 in Spain. It launched in North America in 1983 and has since opened nine castles across the United States and in Toronto, Canada, entertaining more than 65 million guests over the past 34 years. Medieval Times’ Schaumburg, Ill., castle, which opened in 1991, is the only entertainment venue of its type in the Midwest.

Monday, November 27, 2017

Health Insurance Selection Help For Illinois Residents Via GoHealth and DOI

DOI Announces Improved Shopping Experience for 2018 Open Enrollment
DOI protects and educates Illinois consumers as uncertainty in the Marketplace persists


The Illinois Department of Insurance (DOI) is improving the shopping experience for people who are looking to purchase a healthcare plan for 2018. Thanks to a new partnership with GoHealth, consumers will be able to take a comprehensive look at individual plans before they buy.
“It’s imperative that Illinoisans shop for coverage both on and off the Marketplace this year,” said DOI Director Jennifer Hammer.  “That’s because the Open Enrollment Period has been shortened to just six weeks instead of 12 in previous years, and because Cost Sharing Reduction (CSR) payments have ended.”

GoHealth will provide detailed on-line plan information and phone support from licensed health insurance agents. Starting November 1st, licensed agents will be available to walk consumers through plan comparisons and purchasing processes. Agents can be reached by phone at 866-311-1119 Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., except on Thanksgiving Day.

DOI is also launching a new consumer outreach initiative, partnering with community leaders throughout the state to help Illinoisans make the best health care decisions. 

Here’s how it works:
• Community leaders & event coordinators can contact DOI.GCI.OUTREACH@illinois.gov
with details of their upcoming event.
• If available, a Get Covered Illinois representative will attend the event and provide information about 2018 open enrollment.
• Throughout open enrollment, there will be in-person assistance from licensed navigators available at numerous places, including the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago.
“Our goal is to visit every county of the state so consumers get the help they need,” Director Hammer said.  “This outreach program doesn’t work without help from community leaders. Please let us know how we can better serve our citizens.” Below are some 2018 open enrollment highlights:
• This year’s enrollment period runs from November 1, 2017, to December 15, 2017.
• Cost should not be the only factor when selecting a plan. For example, look at a plan’s provider network.
• The Get Covered Connector lets consumers search by ZIP code to find free local help and is available in Spanish and English. 
• Consumers can also use the Connector to schedule in-person assistance appointments with navigators and certified application counselors.



Consumers can shop for a plan online at getcovered.illinois.gov, by phone at 866-311-1119, with an in-person navigator through the Connector, directly from an insurance company, or through their local insurance agent.

RETURNING: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical at Cadillac Palace Theatre 12/5/17-1/28/18

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar:

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Broadway In Chicago at the 
Cadillac Palace Theatre


**Recommended for ages 11+**

ChiIL Mama will be ChiILin' at Chi, IL's iconic Cadillac Palace Theatre December 6th for the press opening of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Check back soon for our full review. We caught this stirring musical that lives up to it's name and namesake on it's last pass through Chicago and can't wait to catch it again. Of course the songs are fabulous and Carole King's tale has all the best elements of classic Broadway musical struggle and success stories.

Long before she was Carole King, chart-topping music legend, she was Carol Klein, Brooklyn girl with passion and chutzpah. She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll. But it wasn’t until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice. Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation. 










RETURNS TO CHICAGO 
 CADILLAC PALACE THEATRE

DEC. 5, 2017 – JAN. 28, 2018

BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL, about the early life and career of the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter, will play Broadway In Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph) for a limited eight-week engagement that runs Dec. 5, 2017 through Jan. 28, 2018.

“Carole King might be a native New Yorker, but her story of struggle and triumph is as universal as they come – and her music is loved the world over,” producer Paul Blake said. “We know that audiences throughout the country will embrace this show just as Broadway and London audiences have.”

With a book by Tony® and Academy® Award-nominee Douglas McGrath, direction by Marc Bruni and choreography by Josh Prince, BEAUTIFUL features a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil.  The show opened on Broadway at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre (125 West 43 Street) in January 2014, where it has since broken all box office records and recently became the highest grossing production in the Theatre’s history.

The Original Broadway Cast Recording of BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL (Ghostlight Records) won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and is available on CD, digitally, and on vinyl.  BEAUTIFUL launched its first US National Tour in September 2015, and is also currently playing internationally, with productions in Japan, Australia and touring the UK.  An Award-winning production recently concluded its run in London’s West End after opening on February 25, 2015.

BEAUTIFUL tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. BEAUTIFUL features a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including “I Feel The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend” and the title song.



The creative team of BEAUTIFUL also includes Derek McLane (Set Design), Alejo Vietti (Costume Design), Peter Kaczorowski (Lighting Design), Brian Ronan (Sound Design), Charles G. LaPointe (Wig and Hair Design), Steve Sidwell (Orchestrations and Music Arrangements), Jason Howland (Music Supervision) and John Miller (Music Coordination).

BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL is produced on Broadway by Paul Blake, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Jeffrey A. Sine, Richard A. Smith, Mike Bosner, Harriet N. Leve/Elaine Krauss, Terry Schnuck, Orin Wolf, Patty Baker/Good Productions, Roger Faxon, Larry Magid, Kit Seidel, Lawrence S. Toppall, Fakston Productions/Mary Solomon, William Court Cohen, John Gore, BarLor Productions, Matthew C. Blank, Tim Hogue, Joel Hyatt, Marianne Mills, Michael J. Moritz, Jr., StylesFour Productions, Brunish/Trinchero, and Jeremiah J. Harris.

For more information, visit www.beautifulonbroadway.com

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesdays at 7:30PM
Wednesdays at 2:00PM & 7:30PM
Thursdays at 7:30PM
Fridays at 7:30PM
Saturdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM
Sundays at 2:00PM
*No matinee performance on Wednesday, Dec. 6
*Additional evening performance on Sunday, Dec.10

TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets for BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at the Cadillac Palace Theatre range from $30 - $115. A select number of premium seats are also available for many performances. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710.  Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000 and online



ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 17 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 well up to 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 PrivateBank Theatre, Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place and presenting Broadway shows at The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. 

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

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