Talk Like Shakespeare Day TODAY-Great Contests And More #Theatre Review

Happy 448th Birthday to the bard! 

Today (Monday, April 23rd) is annual talk like Shakespeare day.

Talk Like Shakespeare Day, an occasion for citizens from Chicago and across the globe to celebrate Shakespeare's 448th birthday by bringing the spoken words of Shakespeare into their daily lives. The holiday, which originated in Chicago in 2009, became a worldwide sensation garnering extensive national and international media coverage and more than one million hits to TalkLikeShakespeare.org.

Celebrate by seeing Being Shakespeare:

  

ChiIL Live Shows had a chance to catch opening night of Simon Callow's show, and we recommend it.   Callow's strong stage presence among minimalist sets enhances the infamous words of the bard, interspersed with his life history.   Although much of the historical data he includes on Shakespeare's life is speculation, it's fascinating nonetheless to put the plays within a time frame of his life and outside influences.   

Tales of child deaths that plagued his birth family, and later the death of his own son, Hamnet, at age 11, lend a human air and compelling back story.   As the parent of an 11 year old son, that particularly struck a chord with me.   Since we've been doing a long form exploration on how theatre people, musicians and other creatives balance their work and parenting, and how the two worlds collide and influence each other, this was an interesting angle.   Simon Callow is a talented tale teller and a joy to spend an evening with.   The British film and stage actor is know for his roles in Shakespeare in Love, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Postcards from the Edge, A Room With a View and Amadeus.

*Tonight only, celebrated British actor Simon Callow's one-man show, Being Shakespeare will play a special Monday performance at the Broadway Playhouse, preceded by a birthday party for the Bard in the theater's lobby beginning at 5:30 p.m. 

ChiIL Mama's favorite words invented by Shakespeare: 

arouse amazement 
barefaced bandit besmirch bloodstained blanket bump buzzer
cold blooded critic
dauntless dawn deafening discontent dishearten drugged dwindle
equivocal elbow exposure excitement  
epileptic eyeball
flawed frugal fixture
gnarled grovel gloomy gossip
hurried hobnob
impede impartial invulnerable
jaded
laughable lonely luggage label lackluster
madcap marketable metamorphize mimic monumental moonbeam mountaineer
noiseless
obscene obsequious ode Olympian outbreak
panders premeditated puking
remorseless radiance rant
savagery scuffle swagger
tranquil torture 
unreal undress
varied
worthless
zany

Sure, some kids today (and adults, too, for that matter) think of Shakespearean language as stuffy, high brow and inaccessible, but nothing can be further from the truth.   It's not all thees and thous and M'Lord.  He wrote for the masses and in addition to his timeless archetypal characters, loads of word he made up are in common use today, like PUKING.   There's nothing snooty about puking.    

According to Shakespeare-Online.com, The English language owes a great debt to Shakespeare. He invented over 1700 of our common words by changing nouns into verbs, changing verbs into adjectives, connecting words never before used together, adding prefixes and suffixes, and devising words wholly original.

Below is a list of a few of the words Shakespeare coined, hyperlinked to the play and scene from which it comes. When the word appears in multiple plays, the link will take you to the play in which it first appears.  


Incorporate these down to earth words for Talk Like Shakespeare Day, then click the links to see the source:

academe	accused	addiction	advertising	amazement
arouse	assassination	backing	bandit	bedroom
beached	besmirch	birthplace	blanket	bloodstained
barefaced	blushing	bet	bump	buzzer
caked	cater	champion	circumstantial	cold-blooded
compromise	courtship	countless	critic	dauntless
dawn	deafening	discontent	dishearten	drugged
dwindle	epileptic	equivocal	elbow	excitement
exposure	eyeball	fashionable	fixture	flawed
frugal	generous	gloomy	gossip	green-eyed
gust	hint	hobnob	hurried	impede
impartial	invulnerable	jaded	label	lackluster
laughable	lonely	lower	luggage	lustrous
madcap	majestic	marketable	metamorphize	mimic
monumental	moonbeam	mountaineer	negotiate	noiseless
obscene	obsequiously	ode	olympian	outbreak
panders	pedant	premeditated	puking	radiance
rant	remorseless	savagery	scuffle	secure
skim milk	submerge	summit	swagger	torture
tranquil	undress	unreal	varied	vaulting
worthless	zany	gnarled	grovel

 This graph can be found at http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/wordsinvented.html

Other Chi-Town Talk Like Shakespeare Contests and specials: 

Shakespeare is being celebrated around the world this week, from Chicago to London to Armenia, in recognition of the man who engineered more than 154 sonnets, 37 plays, 1,700 original words and innumerable phrases. On April 23 Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London will launch its Globe to Globe Festival, part of London's Cultural Olympiad, beginning a two month international event presenting all 37 plays from Shakespeare's canon in 37 different languages (including Chicago Shakespeare's Othello: The Remix, The Q Brothers' hip-hop adaptation of Othello, opening in London May 5).  

Talk Like Shakespeare Day has even sparked a movement, originating in Armenia, lobbying for the inclusion of "Shakespearean" alongside "Pirate" and "Upside Down" as an official language option on Facebook. 

Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 2008 recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, will be talking like Shakespeare throughout the upcoming birthday week. On the morning of April 23, Chicago Shakespeare's production of The Taming of the Shrew will be performed for Chicago Public School students at Sawyer Elementary School on the City's south side. 

At Chicago Shakespeare's home on Navy Pier, Artistic Director Barbara Gaines and Tony-award winning actor Ian McDiarmid begin preview performances of Timon of Athens, while the cast of Othello: The Remix prepares for the world premiere of its new work in London the following week.    ChiIL Live Shows will be there to review opening night of Timon of Athens as well.

Photo courtesy of Chicago Shakespeare Theater. "William Shakespeare" (portrayed by David Wilhelm) celebrates his 448th Birthday on Monday, April 23, 2012 in Chicago, as part of "Talk Like Shakespeare Day" by taking in some of Chicago's best-known landmarks including the Ferris Wheel on Navy Pier.

Among the many visitors to Navy Pier, the Midwest's most visited tourist destination, on April 23 will be William Shakespeare himself. Those who talk like Shakespeare to "the Bard" will receive free rides on Navy Pier's iconic Ferris Wheel from 10 a.m. to noon. Shakespeare will dine at Harry Caray's Tavern on Navy Pier, where a special Shakespeare-inspired menu will be available from noon to 2:00 p.m. Diners who talk like Shakespeare at Harry Caray's Tavern will be entered into a raffle to win a $100 Harry Caray's Gift Certificate, four Pier Park Passes, free Navy Pier parking and four Tickets to Chicago Shakespeare Theater's summer musical Disney's Beauty and the Beast. 

TalkLikeShakespeare.org is the virtual home base for revelers. The site features activities for celebrating Talk Like Shakespeare Day at school, at the office and at home as well as videos of famous Chicagoans talking like Shakespeare. It also contains information about a video contest for internet comedians inspired by the Bard's words (deadline for submissions is Thursday, April 19 at noon) and tips on how to talk like Shakespeare such as:

• Instead of you, say thou. Instead of y'all, say thee.
• Rhymed couplets are all the rage.
• Men are Sirrah, ladies are Mistress, and your friends are all called Cousin.
• Instead of cursing, try calling your tormenters jackanapes or canker-blossoms or poisonous bunch-back'd toads.
• When in doubt, add the letters "eth" to the end of verbs (he runneth, he trippeth, he falleth).
• To add weight to your opinions, try starting them with methinks, mayhaps, in sooth or wherefore.
• When wooing a lady: try comparing her to a summer's day. If that fails, say "Get thee to a nunnery!"

For more information visit TalkLikeShakespeare.org. 

"William Shakespeare" (portrayed by David Wilhelm) celebrates his 448th Birthday on Monday, April 23, 2012 in Chicago, as part of "Talk Like Shakespeare Day" by taking in some of Chicago's best-known landmarks including Cloud Gate in Millennium Park and the bull statue at the Chicago Cultural Center.

$20,000 Mom Cave #Contest

 Mom Cave by Divas N' Design

MOST OUTRAGEOUS MOM’s (M.O.M) UNITE!
Chicago’s Divas N’ Design Bring Mom’s Out of Their Closets This Mother’s Day
For a Chance to Win a Personalized M.O.M Cave Valued at $20,000!
 
Everyone has heard of the term “man cave,” a place where men retreat at home to relax, watch sports and get away from it all. But…what about MOMS??????? No longer should the non-stop, hard working women of the house have to hideout in the bathroom, sneak away to the garage or run out to the grocery store for some “Me” time!

Thanks to Chicago’s Divas N’ Design, moms can now have a space to call their own! The mom-owned and operated interior design firm is launching the Most Outrageous Mom-Cave (M.O.M) contest, asking frazzled moms to submit their story of where they go to hide-away, their make-shift methods of escape, or why they deserve a space to call their own.  Launching on Valentine’s Day, one lucky winner will be awarded a personalized private space in her home valued at $20,000. A place to read, create, recharge and relax- now that’s what every mom needs!
“We are calling all moms to unite and create a place in their home to call their own,” says Karyn Musick, president of Chicago-based Divas N’ Design. “We are constantly called on to design the man-cave, the poker room, entertainment center, sports dug-out, the office, but never have we been summoned to create a getaway for the mom of the house.”

The Divas N’ Design are on a mission to teach women how to create a personal M.O.M-Cave hangout in their own home.   “Moms need more than just a desk in the kitchen or a drawer in the bathroom.  They need a "cave" to call their own, a place to re-group and reflect, read a book, or whatever their heart desires.  Just think of a space that can transport you from a crazy kid moment into calm state of mind in your own home, in a matter of seconds.”

M.O.M-Cave contestants are asked to submit their stories, photos and/or videos to www.Mom-Cave.com.  The most outrageous stories will be highlighted weekly, on the Divas N’ Design Facebook Page and blog. The top ten with the most “likes” via Facebook by May 6th will be presented to a panel of expert moms and one lucky winner will come out triumphant, to be announced on Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012.

“All moms need a place to relax and to call their own,” says Musick. “But more importantly, they need a space to be themselves- a place to do the things they love, harness their creative energy, meditate, scrapbook- whatever they desire! And the Divas and I will combine the winner’s style and desires with our creative design skills to create a space perfect for a queen.” Once chosen, Divas N’ Design will conceptualize and create the M.O.M-Cave for the winning mom based on personal consultation.

Making this M.O.M-Cave creation possible are several local vendors including: Stitchworks Fabrics, H&D Electric for lighting needs, Closet Organization, Chicago Furniture Source, Liz Chazen Artistry by the Chazen group for painting needs (including a personalized mural), LandHaus Builders & Developers for carpentry work, Silk Thumb for greenery and floral arrangements, and more!

ABOUT DIVAS N’ DESIGN
Divas N’ Design has been creating spaces for clients throughout Chicago and its suburbs for over 20 years.  The full service interior design firm focuses on all aspects of the design process to insure a cohesive element that is inspired by sophistication and style. Their design team takes a “hands on” role when working on projects to assure that all runs smoothly and within a timely schedule. Whether designing a home in the suburbs of Chicago or a condominium surrounded by the breathtaking skyline downtown, they are passionate that the outcome should be nothing short of outstanding! For more information please visit www.DivasNDesign.com.

Throughout the entire contest, Divas N' Design will be blogging great ideas and tips to help promote special spaces for woman  and to kickstart this design trend!   For more contest info and to enter for your chance to win, or vote on stories already submitted, click here.

Contest: Awesome World of Traegonia Writing Contest Ends 12/19/11

We've been reading and thoroughly enjoying the World of Traegonia middle grade fantasy series!    I was going to wait to do a full review and feature until we finish the second book, which we've been reading as a family at bed time.   However, they have an awesome 2011 contest that ends in TWO days, so I'm going to jump ahead just a tad and give you the heads up.   Our full feature will follow soon.   We're on chapter 27 of 48 in the 2nd book.

The World of Traegonia Site begins this way:

Do you believe in Fairies, Sprites, Elves or Gnomes? 

Just because we cannot see them doesn’t mean they don’t exist...Welcome to The World of Traegonia where mystical things really do happen.   Close your eyes, hold out your hand and allow the spirit of the Sunbow Prophecy to draw you into a place you have never been before. Meet a community of unknown beings who are the protectors of the Earth. See how they bring hope to a seemingly hopeless situation, a home to those who are at risk of losing theirs and a voice to creatures who cannot speak for themselves. 

Watch as three young friends work together to bring about change. No matter how big or how small one is, belief and passion can change the world. Choose to see the beauty in that which is different. Put aside the fear of what you do not understand and you just may find something truly special in the gifts that others hold. What they have to share could just be the thing to change our lives, or maybe even our world.

Do you Believe?

Here are a few of our fav Traegons here at 

ChiIL Mama:

 

 

There are TWO contests--one for kids and one for adults.  

Contest

Start Seeing Traegons!Writing Contest

If you were to see a Traegon in your favorite outdoor place, what would that look like to you? Would it be spring, summer, fall or winter? Would it be in your back yard, at your favorite nature spot or somewhere even stranger?
Tell us in 800 words or less and you could be a winner.
Simply send or email
    1.    Your written sighting (800 words or less)
    2.    A picture of you in your favorite outdoor spot.
    3.    A completed Contest Entry Form, downloadable from our         www.WorldofTraegonia.com/contest
    4.   Remember to have fun, be creative and start seeing Traegons!

Send or Email to:   traegonia@yahoo.com
Please put Contest 2011 in the
subject line of your email.

Mail to:
Traegonia Contest 2011
640 Logue Circle Seneca, IL 61360

Contest Runs from July 1, 2011 through December 19, 2011. Winners will be announced on our Facebook and website on December 21, 2011. Winners will receive an 8 X 10 hard copy of their photo; after we have had our team of Crypto Biologists analyze your photo for any sign of Traegons, and we will report back to you our findings. You can show your family and friends and maybe they too will Believe.
Winners will also receive their choice of one of three Traegonia products.

There will be two separate contests; kids and adults, because I know some of you adults just won’t be able to resist. See Contest Rules for complete details. 

Get your entry in soon and don’t delay.   START SEEING TRAEGONS!

HALCYON WAY TAKES PART IN HUGE ROCK BAND NETWORK CONTEST

NEW ALBUM "IndoctriNation" AVAILABLE NOW ON NIGHTMARE RECORDS

HALCYON WAY, Atlanta's premier metal band is bringing their powerful mixture of heavy, punishing riffs and infectious melodies to North America with their new release "IndoctriNation".  "IndoctriNation" is the sequel to 2010's "Building The Towers" and continues the sound and theme of that album. It features 5 brand new original tracks; a cover of "Stand Up" by Steel Dragon, a radio edit of "The Age Of Betrayal", and an industrial remix of "The System".

Aurally combining the heaviness of bands like Testament, the technical prowess of Dream Theater, the power metallic attitude of Evergrey and soaring vocal melodies, HALCYON WAY will leave you awestricken by their punishing riffs and unforgettable hooks.

Order your copy now at www.halcyonway.com/webshop

HALCYON WAY are hugely involved with the Rock Band Network and Rock Band video game series.   The band is now part of the largest contest ever run by Rock Band Network.

"HALCYON WAY are proud to be part of this great contest and ready to see how the fans do as they try to outshred us!  BRING IT," said Bodan.

Did you guys say you wanted a contest? Boy have we got one for you!

First the bad news :

 To win this contest you'll have to prove your mettle in a TAG "Endless set list" featuring THIRTY of our songs in one play list!

Thirty songs you say? THIRTY?!? Yep 30. BUT the spoils that go to the victor will be well worth going through the set list.

First up :

 You'll get a signed copy of Rishloo's "Feathergun" album, a signed Rishloo poster, a limited edition very RARE signed Halcyon Way poster, a copy of Halcyon Way's "Building the Towers" and "Indoctrination" CDs, CYNIC "Traced in Air". THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN "Option Paralysis", AND SEPTICFLESH "Communion" CDs!

WHAT? Still not enough?

Good god people....ok then how about a set of drum sticks for your rock band drum set, some drum tape, a gaggle of T-shirts from Fender, Martin, Vic Firth, and other brands, AND a cooler with an ipod dock!

Surely that's enough....No?!?! You want more?!?

Ok last thing. I mean it.

The winner of this contest will also receive one FENDER PRO GUITAR AND A MIDI ADAPTER FOR THE XBOX 360.

Yeah you read that right. That Pro guitar that everyone wants and no one can find because it's no longer in production? All you have to do is win this contest and it's yours.

Along with all that other stuff.

Oh and since you twisted our arm we'll throw in 3200 ms points to get your new pro guitar Rock Band collection started.

We told you we'd be announcing the contest to end all contests and we meant it.

Oh what's that? How do you win?

Well that's the easy part. You don't have to be first place, or tenth place, all you have to do is log in a score on the leader boards for this battle on ANY instrument or combination of instruments during the next seven days.
 

A winner will be picked at random from all the leader board scores.

So for you guys that don't think you're good enough to win a contest because there are better players out there, then this is THE contest for you.

WHAT?!?! STILL NOT GOOD ENOUGH!?!?!

OK how about some very rare Harmonix swag then? A bunch of RB stickers (instrument icons and John Dee artwork), pins, wristbands, a RBN tote bag AND a signed copy of RB3 for the 360.

Go. Play. Win.
http://www.rockband.com/battles/the-tag-endless-setlist/view[/url]

Click the link above to join the contest. You'll be taken to a page that lets you purchase any tracks you might not have to join the contest.

"INDOCTRINATION" TRACK LIST:  

1. On Black Wings
2. Our Finest Hour
3. IndoctriNation
4. Revolution Is Now
5. The Wages Of War
6. Stand Up (Sammy Hagar Cover)
7. The Age Of Betrayal (radio Edit)
8. The System (karbonBlack RMX-Remixed-Bodan)
 

DISCOGRAPHY:
2011 - INDOCTRINATION - Nightmare Records
2010 - BUILDING THE TOWERS - Nightmare Records
2008 - A MANIFESTO FOR DOMINATION - Nightmare Records

MEMBERS:
Steve Braun - vocals
Jon Bodan - guitars
Zane - guitars
Kris Maltenieks - bass
Ernie Topran - drums

HALCYON WAY:
http://www.halcyonway.com (Official Website)
http://www.twitter.com/halcyonway (Twitter)
http://www.facebook.com/halcyonway (Facebook)

Contests: How Far to Austin, Paul Frank and Dinosaur Jr.

Calling all funk lovin', smart phone totin' videographers.

You know all those warnings not to tape shows?   Well kindly disregard them this Saturday at HOB.    That shaky phone masterpiece you took while boogyin' down, after an evening of beers, could win you some fame n acclaim in your very own music video role.

How Far to Austin is running a contest for the big show HOW FAR to AUSTIN @ HOUSE OF BLUES!! 17+ SHOW!!   Whip out your cell phone, record an entire song during our set and send it to us, person with the best looking/sounding video will get a featured role in the upcoming music video for our tune "Don't Get Me Wrong". Don't have your tickets yet for Saturday night? Get 'em HERE while they're cheap. 

Do Paul Frank goodies make you wanna roll over and beg?    Your dog could win a $180 prize package if your hip pup's mug gets the most FB "likes" before July 3rd.   Click HERE for details on how to enter the Raise the WOOF photo contest.

MVD Gives Fans the Opportunity To Film and Interview DINOSAUR JR. Performing "BUG" In Its Entirety at the 9:30 Club IN THE HANDS OF THE FANS video series continues... Deadline June 19th!

On Saturday, June 25, Dinosaur Jr. are putting themselves IN THE HANDS OF THE FANS.

Just like Iggy and the Stooges did with "Raw Power" last September, Dinosaur Jr. and MVD are offering fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to film and interview their performance of the classic album "Bug" at the 9:30 Club in Washington D.C. on June 25. Six lucky fans will be chosen by way of a video submission contest to join director Dave Markey (1991: The Year Punk Broke, Desperate Teenage Lovedolls) on location.

The contest is based on fans submitting short high definition video segments through www.InTheHandsOfTheFans.com asking Dinosaur Jr. interview questions, or demonstrating why they should win the contest. Winners of the contest will film and interview Dinosaur Jr. at the 9:30 Club. This fan shot footage, along with the contestant video submissions, will be crafted into a high definition longform program, which will be part concert film and part reality TV show about the journey of the fans.

"MVD is honored to work with an act of such high integrity and esteem, " says Ed Seaman, C.O.O. of MVD Entertainment Group. "We made dreams come true for six fans when we did RAW POWER, and are thrilled to do this with Dinosaur Jr. doing BUG."

Following the announcement that Dinosaur Jr. was to perform the classic album BUG in its entirety in London in July, the band announced a short tour in the US in June. The US dates kick off in Northampton, MA with a concert benefiting Whole Children, including Henry Rollins, Thurston Moore, and The Warblers and continues throughout the East Coast featuring Dinosaur Jr. performing Bug in its entirety, Henry Rollins interviewing Dinosaur Jr. live and special guests OFF!, with Fucked Up also performing in New York City.   

"I hate bugs," said J Mascis. "If you do too, come see us perform the whole album at the 9:30 Club, even if you LuvBugs. You can videotape our performance cause we're putting it In the Hands of the Fans."

IN THE HANDS OF THE FANS will be sustainable as a series; MVD is already deep in discussions with a number of other artists and expects to have five more programs shot within the next six months with new announcements expected any day.

The final program for Dinosaur Jr. IN THE HANDS OF THE FANS is expected to release on DVD, BluRay, digital download and broadcast late 2011. All contestants will receive a special offer to purchase the film early along with some exclusive value added content.