Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party! at Rosemont Theatre Oct. 12 - 14, 2018

Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party! 

an All-New, Interactive Stage Production Inspired by the Iconic, Emmy® Award-Winning Television Program, Coming to Rosemont Theatre This Fall; Tickets On Sale Now

Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party!, family entertainment’s sunniest and funniest street celebration, will visit the Chicago area, Oct. 12 - 14, 2018, for eight performances at the Rosemont Theatre. The inaugural production under Feld Entertainment’s new partnership with the non-profit educational organization, Sesame Workshop, features favorite Sesame Street pals Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Big Bird and more in a brand-new sensory adventure live on stage.

From the moment the curtain rises, parents and children alike will be on their feet dancing along to a pop-infused soundtrack with new Sesame Street friends and live emcees Casey and Caleb. Planning a party isn’t easy when everybody has a different idea of fun, but with some help from the audience, it becomes the ultimate reflection of what friendship plus teamwork can accomplish. 



Party guests will sing along to new and familiar songs, like “I Love Trash” and “C is for Cookie,” with Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster; dance to the beat with Elmo; explore a wintry wonderland when Abby Cadabby’s magic goes awry; take flight with Big Bird to learn about some of his fabulous feathered friends; and discover new cultures in an interactive Spanish lesson with Rosita. 

A unique, up-close-and-personal pre-show experience will be offered at an additional charge prior to select performances, allowing families the opportunity to tour the on-stage neighborhood of their favorite, furry friends before they arrive for the main show. The fun doesn’t end there. A variety of interactive activities give children the chance to create, discover and learn as they help decorate for the upcoming party.



Tickets for Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party start at $15. All seats are reserved, and tickets are available at the Rosemont Theatre box office, by calling 800-745-3000, or online at www.ticketmaster.com  For group rates and information, reach out to GroupTix at 773-327-3778. Stay current on the latest developments through social media:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/SesameStreetLive 
Twitter: @SesameStLive # SesameStreetLive
YouTube: www.youtube.com/SesameSteetLive
Instagram: @SesameStreetLive



About Feld Entertainment
Feld Entertainment® is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring 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 (coming Fall 2018) and Jurassic World Live (coming Fall 2019). 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.

About Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit media and educational organization behind Sesame Street, the pioneering television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969. Today, Sesame Workshop is an innovative force for change, with a mission to help kids everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder. We’re active in more than 150 countries, serving vulnerable children through a wide range of media, formal education, and philanthropically-funded social impact programs, each grounded in rigorous research and tailored to the needs and cultures of the communities we serve. For more information, please visit sesameworkshop.org. 

OPENING: WOMEN OF SOUL (WITH A TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN) VIA BLACK ENSEMBLE THEATER October 20, 2018 – January 27, 2019

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

BLACK ENSEMBLE THEATER TO OPEN

WOMEN OF SOUL 

(WITH A TRIBUTE TO THE QUEEN)

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY DARYL D. BROOKS

October 20, 2018 – January 27, 2019

Black Ensemble Theater has long been a favorite of ours at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama. They're a true Chicago treasure with original productions and world class talent on stage. I'll be out for the Press Opening of Women of Soul, (With a Tribute to the Queen) on October 28th, so check back soon for my full review.

Black Ensemble Theater continues its 2018 Season (Movers and Shakers) with Women of Soul, (With a Tribute to the Queen) written and directed by Black Ensemble Theater Associate Director Daryl D. Brooks. Women of Soul will be performed at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, beginning October 20, 2018 with an unlimited run.  The press opening is Sunday, October 28 at 3:00pm. 

Women of Soul guides pays tribute to some of the most powerful women in soul music, including Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Tina Marie, Natalie Cole, Janis Joplin—and a special tribute to Aretha Franklin, just to name a few. This show takes a look at the struggles and the triumphs these women went through to reach the pinnacle of their success. The production of Women of Soul is written and directed by Daryl D. Brooks, whose hits with Black Ensemble include Men of Soul in 2015.

The cast includes Cynthia Carter, Robin DaSilva, Jerica Exum, Hannah Efsits, Dwight Neal, Colleen Perry, Rhonda Preston, Jessica Seals, Aerial Williams, and Jayla Williams-Craig.

The creative team includes Denise Karczewski (set and lighting design), Aaron Quick (projection design), David Samba (sound), Reuben Echoles (costume design), and Nic Bellanger (technical direction).

As with all Black Ensemble Theater productions, Women of Soul features live musicians led by musical director/arranger Robert Reddrick (drums). Musicians include Adam Sherod (keyboards), Dolpha Fowler Jr. (keyboard 2), Mark Miller (bass), and Gary Baker (guitar).

Tickets are available at the Black Ensemble Box Office located at 4450 N. Clark St in Chicago, or online at www.blackensemble.org, or by phone at (773) 769-4451. Tickets are $45 for previews (October 20, 21, 26 and 27), $55 (Saturday matinees) and $65 (Fridays, Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees). A 10% discount is available for students, seniors, and groups.

The Black Ensemble Theater is also selling the Five Play Card which allows the holder to see 5 plays or bring five friends to one play or any combination of 5. The Five Play Card is a great deal at $225 which represents a significant savings of $20.00 per full price ticket.   For more details or to purchase a Five Play Card contact the box office at 773-769-4451. 

Dates: October 20, 2018 – January 27, 2019
Previews: October 20, 21, 26 and 27
Closing: January 27, 2019

Schedule:  
Thursdays:  7:30pm
Fridays:  8:00pm
Saturdays: 3:00pm and 8:00pm
Sundays: 3:00pm

Location:                        
Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street, Chicago
Valet parking is available.

Ticket prices: $45 Previews
$55 on Thursdays and Saturday matinees;
$65 on Fridays, Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees
A 10% discount is available for students, seniors, and groups.
Box Office:  Buy online at www.blackensemble.org or call (773) 769-4451

The Black Ensemble Theater
Founded in 1976, by the phenomenal producer, playwright and actress Jackie Taylor, Black Ensemble Theater is the only African American theater located in the culturally, racially and ethnically diverse north side Uptown community. Through its Five Play Season of Excellence, The Black Ensemble Theater dazzles audiences locally, nationally and internationally with outstanding original musicals that are entertaining, educational and uplifting. The Black Ensemble Theater has produced more than 100 productions and employed over 5,000 artists.

The mission of the Black Ensemble Theater Company is to eradicate racism and its devastating effects upon society through the theater arts.  For more information on the Black Ensemble Theater Company, visit www.BlackEnsembleTheater.org or call 773-769-4451.

OPENING: GYPSY STARRING E. FAYE BUTLER VIA PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE AT THE RUTH PAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, OCTOBER 12 – NOVEMBER 25

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

“CLEAR THE DECKS! CLEAR THE TRACKS!”

PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE ANNOUNCES THE FULL CAST OF 

GYPSY STARRING E. FAYE BUTLER, 

AT THE RUTH PAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS, 

OCTOBER 12 – NOVEMBER 25

Featuring Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and Book by Arthur Laurents, the Musical Classic is Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Director Michael Weber, with Music Direction by David Fiorello and 

Choreography / Associate Direction by Chris Carter 

We're beyond excited here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows to see Chicago’s incomparable E. Faye Butler as Rose in Gypsy! This is sure to be a fall "must see". We can't wait for Porchlight Music Theatre’s Mainstage kick off at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, where they remain as an an Artist In-Residence company. Porchlight Music Theatre has long been a favorite of ours for world class productions and showcasing Chicago's immense talent. They truly live up to their mission statement of reimagining classic productions, developing new works and showcasing musical theatre’s noted Chicago veterans and rising stars.  

Porchlight Music Theatre’s Mainstage 2018 – 2019 season launches with Gypsy, A Musical Fable, October 12 – November 25, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.  Porchlight Music Theatre’s Gypsy stars E. Faye Butler as “Rose,” is directed by Michael Weber, music directed by David Fiorello and choreographed/associate directed by Chris Carter. 

Previews are Friday, Oct. 12 at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m. and Monday, Oct. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Opening Night is Tuesday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. The regular run performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 4 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Oct. 14, Nov. 18 and Nov. 25; Sunday at 6 p.m.: Oct. 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4, Nov. 11 and Nov. 18 with an added matinee performance Thursday, Nov. 8 at 1:30 p.m. and an added 4 p.m. performance Friday, Nov. 23 at 4 p.m.

Single tickets are $20 – $66 and are on sale now as are subscriptions to the entire Mainstage season including Gypsy, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder and A Chorus Line at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org or by calling the Porchlight Music Theatre box office, 773.777.9884. 

Chicago’s E. Faye Butler adopts the mantle of Broadway’s legendary “stage mother” in this thrilling and heart-wrenching story of a woman who raises her daughters to assume the heights in the world of show business, whether they want to or not. Gypsy has been called by many (including The New York Times critic Ben Brantley) the greatest of all American musicals and is loosely based on the 1957 memoir of famous striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, entitled Gypsy: Memoirs of America’s Most Celebrated Stripper. The musical features songs that have become standards of the musical theatre canon, including “Some People,” “Let Me Entertain You,” “Together, Wherever We Go” and the show stopping, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses.”

The cast of Porchlight Music Theatre’s Gypsy includes: 
E. Faye Butler as “Rose;” Daryn Whitney Harrell (seen in the Broadway company of The Book of Mormon) as “Louise;” Aalon Smith (who recently participated in the development of the new Stephen Schwartz musical Boy on the Roof and who was seen in Porchlight’s Memphis and New Faces Sing Broadway 1975) as “Dainty June;” José Antonio García (who has appeared in multiple productions at both The Goodman and Chicago Shakespeare Theatre as well as in numerous film and television productions) as “Herbie;” one of Chicago’s favorite cabaret and nightclub entertainers, Honey West, as “Electra/Miss Cratchitt;” Dawn Bless (Jeff Award-nominated star of A New Attitude: In Tribute to Patti Labelle at Black Ensemble Theatre) as “Mazeppa;” Melissa Young (last seen in the Chicago premiere of Seth Rudutsky’s Disaster) as “Tessie Tura;” Marco Tzunux (seen at Porchlight in New Faces Sing Broadway 1975 as well as productions at Drury Lane, Theo Ubique and The Mercury Theatre) as “Tulsa” and an ensemble including Saniyah As-Salaam, “Newsboy;” Larry Baldacci, “Uncle Jocko / Mr. Weber / Mr. Goldstone / Pastey;” Tatiana Bustamante, “Marjorie May;” Joshua Bishop, “Angie / Bougeron-Cochon;” Elya Faye Bottiger, “Dolores;” William “Pierce” Cleaveland, “Clarence;” Jared David Michael Grant, “Georgie / Mr. Kringelein / Phil;” Michelle Huey, “Dolores;” Jillian-Giselle, “Baby Louise;” Hannah Love Jones, “Balloon Girl;” J. Michael Jones, “Pop / Cigar;” Marvin J. Malone II, “Yonkers;” Desmond Murphy, “Arnold;” Renellè Nicole, “Gail;” Jeff Pierpoint, “Agnes;” Ariel Triunfo, “Edna Mae” and Isabella Warren, “Baby June.” 

The Gypsy production team includes 
Michael Weber, director; David Fiorello, music director; Chris Carter, choreographer and associate director; Robin da Silva, assistant director; Jeffrey D. Kmiec, scenic designer; Robert Hornbostel, sound designer; Bill Morey, costume designer; Denise Karczewski, lighting designer; Andrew Ashley Hatcher, props designer; Kevin Barthel, wig designer; Sean McStravick, stage manager and Aaron Shapiro and Cody Westgaard, production managers.

ABOUT MICHAEL WEBER, director
Michael Weber is the artistic director of Porchlight Music Theatre where, under his leadership, the company has received the Best Production Equity Jeff Award for five consecutive years. He previously served as artistic director for the inaugural season of Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place (now The Broadway Playhouse) and at Theatre at the Center (1998 – 2004). He recently appeared on stage in Porchlight Music Theatre’s Porchlight Revisits Do Re Mi and directed Merrily We Roll Along. His productions of  End of the Rainbow, Sweeney Todd, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Pal Joey, Assassins and Side Show at Porchlight Music Theatre, Grand Hotel at Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place and She Loves Me at Theatre at the Center were each nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Production. Directing credits include Living the History-125 Years of The Auditorium Theatre starring Patti LuPone and John Mahoney, Fifth of July and Talley’s Folly at the Oak Park Festival Theatre, The Petrified Forest at Theatre at the Center, Beauty and the Beast at Marriott Theatre, Over the River and Through the Woods at The Mercury Theater and Cirque du Symphony at Sears Center Arena. The recipient of two Joseph Jefferson Awards, he has written and directed the past twelve Joseph Jefferson Awards ceremonies. Weber’s regional acting credits include Annie Get Your Gun and Gypsy (both starring Patti LuPone) at Ravinia, Disney’s My Son Pinocchio at First Stage Milwaukee, Around the World in 80 Days at Cleveland Playhouse, The Winter’s Tale and Henry V at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, It Had To Be You (starring Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka) at Little Theatre on the Square and The Gifts of the Magi at Indiana Repertory. Weber is proud to serve as a pledge host on WTTW, Channel 11. 

ABOUT DAVID FIORELLO, music director
David Fiorello returns to Porchlight, where he has music directed many productions and special events including the Porchlight Revisits productions Do Re Mi and Woman of the Year, Chicago Sings: Sinatra & The Rat Pack and the 2017 – 2018 and 2016 – 2018 New Faces Sing Broadway seasons. He recently appeared in Porchlight’s Merrily We Roll Along as “Joe Josephson.” Fiorello has been in Chicago since 2010, when he moved from the East Coast to music direct and vocal coach at Northwestern University’s Music Theatre Certificate Program. He served as music director for the Off-Broadway hit Danny & Sylvia: The Danny Kaye Musical, and has toured nationally and internationally with several productions, including John Doyle’s re-imagining of Sweeney Todd, as music director. Fiorello has worked in Chicago with Chicago Shakespeare, The Marriott Theatre and many others. A director, music director, performer, writer, arranger and show doctor, he has helped guide new works to development and world premieres in Chicago, at New York Musical Festival and several premieres in the United Kingdom. He has written and collaborated on several original pieces, including the musical The Language or the Kiss, a musical featuring the music of The Indigo Girls, that he conceived, wrote the book and starred in for many Off-Broadway industry readings. 

ABOUT CHRIS CARTER, associate director and choreographer
Christopher Carter is a graduate of Grand Valley State University with a liberal arts degree in dance. Carter has traveled extensively performing, directing and choreographing. Some of his Porchlight Music Theatre credits include Memphis, Dreamgirls, In The Heights and the Porchlight Revisits productions They’re Playing Our Song and Chess. Other credits include Five Guys Named Moe (Court Theater); Hair (Mercury Theater); The Legend Of Georgia McBride (Northlight Theater); and Sweeney Todd, Godspell, Secret Garden and Pirates Of Penzance (Grand Valley State University); Show Boat and Oklahoma (Lyric Opera Chicago); Show Boat (San Francisco and Houston Grand Opera); Hairspray (Drury Lane Oakbrook), Joseph… (Paramount Theater); Duke Ellington’s Queenie Pie (Chicago Opera Theater); Oliver, Carousel and Brigadoon (Light Opera Works); The Wiz,  42nd Street and Guys and Dolls (Theatre at the Center); Smokey Joe’s Café (Circle Theatre); The Wild Party (Actor’s Theater). Carter has been the choreographer for the Grand Rapids Civic’s SRT for the past five years. He was a Debbie Allen Dance Academy Scholarship student and has additional credits including national tours, commercial, industrial and concert work.

ABOUT E.FAYE BUTLER, “Rose”
E. Faye Butler’s career spans more than 35 years in the entertainment industry. Butler is an actress – singer. Most importantly, she is an entertainer with an extraordinary gift to capture an audience and put them in the palm of her hands. Butler performs in concert halls, club venues, corporate events, cabarets and theatres across the country and internationally. She continues to create and develop new and captivating shows. Many audiences recognize Butler from her theatre career. Goodman Theatre, Arena Stage, Victory Gardens, Northlight Theatre, Court Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Yale Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Steppenwolf Theatre, Seattle Repertory Theatre, Signature Theatre, Centerstage, Chicago Shakespeare, Congo Square, Marriott’s Lincolnshire Theatre, Asolo Repertory Theatre, Fulton Theatre, Maine State, Sacramento Music Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre and PaperMill Playhouse are among the theatres where Butler has performed. As well as in Off Broadway national and regional tours of Mamma Mia, Ain’t Misbehavin, Dinah Was, Nunsense and Nunsense II. She is the recipient of six Joseph Jefferson Awards, as well as two Helen Hayes Awards, R.A.M.I. Award, John Barrymore Award, Ovation Award, Sarah Siddons Leading Lady Award, After Dark Award, Excellence in the Arts, four Black Theatre Alliance Awards, Black Alliance Award, Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship, Kathryn V. Lampkey Award, and has been inducted into the Women in the Arts Museum in Washington D.C.

ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE AS RUTH PAGE ARTIST IN-RESIDENCE
Porchlight Music Theatre is proud to be a member of the vibrant Ruth Page Center for the Arts community and an Artist In-Residence. Central to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts’ programming is the Artists In-Residence program, which is designed to serve organizations looking for a home base while they grow or expand their artistic and organizational capabilities. The Center is committed to nurturing and assisting dance and other performing artists, allowing for exchange and collaborative relationships to develop within the artistic community. The Ruth Page Center for the Arts is a destination for quality performing arts, accessible to a wide community regardless of race, gender, age, education or disability. An incubator of artistic energy and excellence, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts carries forward the vision of its founder, legendary dance icon Ruth Page, to be a platform for developing great artists and connecting them with audiences and community.



ABOUT PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE
As Chicago’s home for music theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre enters its 24th season and its second as an Artist In-Residence at the historic Ruth Page Center for the Arts in Chicago’s Gold Coast. Porchlight Music Theatre is nationally recognized for reimagining classic productions, developing new works and showcasing musical theatre’s noted Chicago veterans and rising stars. Porchlight elevates the genre by providing intimate and powerful theatrical experiences of music theatre through the lens of the “Chicago Style.” Porchlight’s rich history includes the staging of more than 60 productions with 15 Chicago premieres and five world premieres. Through Porchlight’s “Off the Porch” new works program, the musicals of the next generation are developed and given a first audience. The School at Porchlight is Chicago’s center for music theatre training in the areas of performance, writing and appreciation including a youth summer “Make Your Own Musical” camp and a Saturday morning youth program. The company’s many accolades include 28 Black Theatre Alliance nominations and seven awards, as well as a total of 151 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations resulting in 42 Jeff Awards including five consecutive Best Production awards for The Scottsboro Boys (2017), Dreamgirls (2016), Sondheim on Sondheim (2015), Ain’t Misbehavin’ (2014) and A Class Act (2013).

Ms. Butler’s performance is sponsored by Michael and Mona Heath.

Porchlight Music Theatre is supported by generous contributions from the Actors’ Equity Foundation, Bayless Family Foundation, Abe and Ida Cooper Foundation, Chapman | Spingola, Attorneys at Law, the Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, Elegant Events Lighting, James P. and Brenda S. Grusecki Family Foundation, the MacArthur Fund for Arts & Culture at the Prince Foundation, the Morgan Stanley Foundation, Q Chicago, The Saints and the Topfer Family Foundation. 

The season program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency, and by a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events. 

Halloween Edition! THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Ghosts, Ghouls and Talking Potatoes Via Barrel of Monkeys 10/7-11/4/18

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Halloween Edition!

Barrel of Monkeys Presents

THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Ghosts, Ghouls and Talking Potatoes

Directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd

October 7 – November 4, 2018 at the Neo-Futurist Theater

An Original Sketch Show that is Written by Kids, 

Performed by Grownups, and Enjoyed by Humans

Barrel of Monkeys company member Isabella Gerasole performs “Untitled (Lunch Lady Slob)”

Just in time for Halloween, Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to present the newest revue of its much lauded sketch show: THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Ghosts, Ghouls and Talking Potatoes, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd. The Halloween edition plays Sundays at 3 pm from October 7 – November 4, 2018 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. The press opening is Sunday, October 14 at 3 pm.

 TWGGhostsGhouls-1 (left to right) Barrel of Monkeys company members Lev Caruso and Jennifer Allman perform “The Pig Apocolipse” in THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Ghosts, Ghouls and Talking Potatoes, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd. All Photos by Beth Bullock Photography.

(left to right) Barrel of Monkeys company members Mary Tilden and Jennifer Allman perform “Old Man Potaters”

Gather ye ‘round for a line-up of scary (and silly) stories featuring talking potatoes getting lost in the woods, Malcolm X fighting zombies, creepy slideshows that haunt old houses, and other spooky scenarios imagined by Chicago elementary school students.

  Barrel of Monkeys company members Lev Caruso, Jennifer Allman, Rawson Vint and Jasmine Jordan perform “Candy Man”

(left to right) Barrel of Monkeys company member Jennifer Allman (front) with (back, l to r) Jasmine Jordan, Mary Tilden, Rachel Wilson, Tom Malinowski, Lev Caruso and Isabella Gerasole perform “Nacho and Work”

The cast includes Jennifer Allman, Noah Appelbaum, Lev Caruso, Jean Carlos Claudio, Isabella Gerasole, Jasmine Jordan, Tom Malinowski, Kelan Smith, Mary Tilden, Rawson Vint and Rachel Wilson.

Now in its eighteenth year, THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA features adaptations of stories written during Barrel of Monkeys’ creative writing residencies in Chicago elementary schools. BOM teaching artists guide 3rd through 5th graders through a six-week curriculum that uses theater to bring out the storyteller in every child. Afterward, BOM’s ensemble of professional actors, comedians and musicians bring the young authors’ stories to life as raucous sketches, songs and movement pieces, performing first for students in their schools and then for the public. 

The stories in THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA resonate with adults while celebrating the imaginations of young people. Rotating themes highlight the diversity of stories BOM students concoct, from hilarious dialogues between unlikely characters to poignant pleas for social change. Every week brings a new line-up of stories, and BOM invites audiences to vote on their favorites at each performance.

Barrel of Monkeys company members Rachel Wilson and Mary Tilden perform “Unicorn aka a Horse”

Location: Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago
Dates: Preview: Sunday, October 7 at 3 pm
Press performance: Sunday, October 14 at 3 pm
Regular run: Sunday, October 14 – Sunday, November 4, 2018
Curtain Times: Sundays at 3 pm 
Tickets: Previews: $10 for adults, $5 children 12 and under, $8 groups of 10 or more. Regular run: $20 for adults; $5 for children 12 and under. Discounts: $12 for students with ID, seniors, veterans and groups of 10 or more people. Teen Arts Pass (TAP) members: $5 with ID. Tickets are currently available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140.

About the Director
Brandon Cloyd joined Barrel of Monkeys in 2007 and has been deeply involved in many facets of the company ever since. Prior to joining BOM, Brandon graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a minor in Business Institutions. Within BOM, Brandon has served as an actor, teaching artist, lead teacher, a member of Teacher Corps, as well as directing shows for schools and public performances of That's Weird, Grandma. Before becoming the company’s Artistic Director in September 2017, Brandon served as BOM After-School Program Coordinator at Loyola Park from 2014-2016 and Program Director from 2016-2017. Outside of Barrel of Monkeys, he worked as the Associate Director of Camp Echo, where he has spent 13 summers managing campers and staff at a co-ed sleep away camp in Upstate New York. Brandon has worked with other theatre companies including Urban Theatre Company, American Theater Company, Filament Theatre, InGen Productions, ACLE's Teatrino in Italy and Purple Crayon Players at Northwestern University.

Barrel of Monkeys company members Kelan Smith and Tom Malinowski perform “The Unknown Granddaughter” 

 Barrel of Monkeys company members Kelan Smith, Rawson Vint and Lev Caruso perform “Ninja Lovers”

About Barrel of Monkeys
Since Barrel of Monkeys’ inception in 1997, its teaching artists have served more than 60 Chicago Public Schools. Over 15,000 elementary school students have participated in the Barrel of Monkeys programs, which aim to build students' writing skills, improve self-esteem, and instill confidence in their ideas and abilities.

Barrel of Monkeys is sponsored in part by Wintrust Financial, Allscripts, Inc., Ernst and Young and Punchkick Interactive. It receives generous support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency; the National Endowment for the Arts; a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; the Chicago Community Trust; Crown Family Philanthropies; Alphawood Foundation of Chicago; the Maurice R. and Meta G. Gross Foundation; Polk Bros Foundation; the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; the Robert and Isabelle Bass Foundation, Inc.; The Saints; The Topfer Family Foundation, and many other generous individuals and foundations. 

(left to right) Barrel of Monkeys company members Mary Tilden, Isabella Gerasole and Jennifer Allman perform “Untitled (My Family that Lives in Las Vegas)” 

OPENING: “THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION” Via THEATER UNSPEAKABLE at THE GREENHOUSE THEATER CENTER OCTOBER 17 – NOVEMBER 11, 2018

Chi, IL LIVE SHOWS ON OUR RADAR:

THEATER UNSPEAKABLE

PRESENTS

“THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION”

OCTOBER 17 – NOVEMBER 11, 2018

AT THE GREENHOUSE THEATER CENTER

The crazy physical comedy that results from Theater Unspeakable's unique platform performances has long been a favorite of ours here at ChiIL Mama. You have to see it to believe it, and with their acclaimed version of THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, you just might learn a bit of contorted history too. Check it out!

Theater Unspeakable, a devised, physical theater company based in Chicago that has received tremendous critical acclaim across the U.S., presents THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, a whirlwind re-telling of the American fight for independence at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N Lincoln Avenue, for a limited engagement October 17 through November 11, with a press opening at 2 p.m. on October 20. Prior to its Chicago run, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION will play in Washington D.C at the Kennedy Center, and following Chicago in Washington at the Edmonds Center for the Arts and California at the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo.

Combining tongue-in-cheek humor with a dash of derring-do, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION brings to life George and Martha Washington, King George III, Sam Adams, Paul Revere, John and Abigail Adams, Thomas Paine, and Thomas Jefferson, amongst others, to bring the audience the original story of the greatest democratic experiment in world history. 

In this 50-minute play, seven actors, all performing two feet off the ground, share 21 square feet of space to recreate the entire American fight for independence from Lexington to Yorktown. Using only the actors’ bodies, voices, and (pantomimed) cannons, the show evokes an epic time-period in American history.

The physical theater practiced by the company draws upon the heavy influence of Theater Unspeakable Founder and Director Marc Frost’s, time at the London International School of Performing Arts (LISPA). This two-year theater program based on the teachings of Jacques Lecoq exposed him to many different styles of theater. Since returning and founding the company, Marc has set a goal for himself and his collaborators to continue experimenting with these styles until they have broken ground on new forms of their own.

"Theater Unspeakable loves to create big stories in small spaces. The story of the American Revolution appealed to us because of its epic scale. We were excited by the challenge of bringing it to life in less than an hour all upon a tiny stage,” said Marc Frost, founder and director of Theater Unspeakable. “I am originally from Chicago, and we founded Theater Unspeakable and THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION here in the city, so it is an honor to be able to bring the production back to our hometown.”

The production was originally devised by the following members of Theater Unspeakable: Brittany Anderson, Parker Arnold, Zachary Baker-Salmon, Marc Frost, Patrice Foster, Jeffery Freelon, Kyle Geissler, Jason Hammond, Trey Hobbs, Kathleen Hoil, Quenna Lené, Katie Mancuso, Aaron Rustebakke, Lyn Scott, Vanessa Valliere, Ryan Westwood and Thomas Wynne.

The production team includes Sara Beaman (Stage Manager), Jennifer Gonsalves (Additional Costume Design), Rachel K. Levy (Lighting Designer), and Jacob Watson (Additional Set Designer) and stars Devin Sanclemente (King George), Sonja Lynn Mata (Sam Adams), Alex Small (John Adams), Caroline M. Watson (Governor Dinwiddie), Lexi DeSollar (Martha Washington), Jeffery Owen Freelon, Jr. (George Washington), Carolyn Moore (Abigail Adams), Jamia Taylor, and Renata Camara Loader.

From October 17 – November 11, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION will run Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Saturdays at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., and Sundays at 11 a.m. The running time is 50 minutes with no intermission. There will be a Q&A with the artists immediately following each performance. Ticket prices are $30 or $20 for students, industry, seniors, and military and can be purchased at https://www.greenhousetheater.org/theamericanrevolution-tickets.

About Theater Unspeakable
Founded by Marc Frost in 2010, the Chicago-based Theater Unspeakable draws upon the heavy influence of Jacques Lecoq and Marc’s two years spent at the London International School of Performing Arts (LISPA). The American Revolution is Theater Unspeakable’s third production, following Superman 2050 and Murder on the Midwest Express. Their work has been presented at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, The Chicago Humanities Festival, and at Lincoln Center Education in New York. They continue to tour nationally.

REVIEW: Sweet Charity at Marriott Theatre Through October 28th, 2018

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Sweet Charity 

Directed and Choreographed by Alex Sanchez

Review: 

Marriott Theatre has done it again, with a major crowd pleaser full of killer choreography, catchy iconic tunes, and talent to spare. The theatre in the round staging and sparse set design by Scott Davis work particularly well to show off Alex Sanchez's excellent choreography. Video design by Anthony Churchill and costume design by Mieka van der Ploeg, give this retro romp a fabulously fun 60's feel. I was out to review on October 3rd and the audience was enamored.

My favorite choreography by far, was the slinky, dance of the in crowd, when Charity hooked up with Vittorio Vidal (Adam Jacobs) for an evening.

So many songs from Sweet Charity are still in rotation, like “Big Spender,” “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This,” and “I’m a Brass Band.” Big Spender was particularly delightful, with a jaded, world weary twist.

Kenny Ingram is a hoot as Daddy Brubeck, the underpass preacher with the  colorful hippy congregation.

Initially, the storyline seemed to be following the trite, "Pretty Woman", cinderella plot, but there's an unexpected and delightfully empowering turn. Anne Horak is a particular standout as the unfortunately named heroine, Charity Hope Valentine. She has a compelling combination of naïveté and irrepressible optimism mixed with sexy showgirl finesse. Alex Goodrich also shines as neurotic nut job, Oscar Lindquist. For a lighthearted night out for musical fans, Sweet Charity is a toe tapping good time. Recommended.

Terry James, Executive Producer

Andy Hite, Lead Artistic Director

Aaron Thielen, Artistic Director

PRESENTS THE TONY AWARD-WINNING BROADWAY SMASH HIT

**run time approximately 2 hours, 30 minutes with one 15 minute intermission**

Hey Big Spender!

Spend a little time with SWEET CHARITY. The dance-filled, groovy musical comedy inspired by Federico Fellini’s Nights of Cabiria, SWEET CHARITY explores the turbulent love life of Charity Hope Valentine, a hopelessly romantic but comically unfortunate dance hall hostess in New York City. With a tuneful, cool, mid-1960s score by Cy Coleman (Little Me, City of Angels, Barnum), sparkling lyrics by Dorothy Fields (Annie Get Your Gun, Seesaw, Redhead), and a hilarious book by Neil Simon, SWEET CHARITY captures all the energy, humor, and heartbreak of Life in the Big City for an unfortunate but irrepressible optimist. Features the songs “Big Spender,” “If My Friends Could See Me Now,” “There’s Gotta Be Something Better Than This,” and “I’m a Brass Band.”

From the high-spirited bustling and gritty streets of 1960s New York City comes the Tony Award-winning Broadway phenomenon, SWEET CHARITY, continuing Marriott Theatre's sensational 2018 season, running September 5 through October 28 with a press opening on Wednesday, September 12 at 7:30 p.m. at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. 



  The performance schedule for SWEET CHARITY is Wednesdays at 1:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Sundays at 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., with select Thursday 1:00 p.m. shows. Ticket prices range from $50 to $60, including tax and handling fees. Call for student, senior, and military discounts. On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, there are a limited number of dinner and theatre packages available, which can only be purchased through the Marriott Theatre Box Office. 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. 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.

"In approaching SWEET CHARITY, I focused a great deal on Charity's courage and optimism," says Alex Sanchez. "My goal is to highlight the epiphanies Charity discovers throughout her life journey, and how her positive outlook and willingness to become a better person can overcome all obstacles she is faced with." A comedy in every sense of the word, SWEET CHARITY follows the trials and tribulations of Charity Hope Valentine, a love-starved, hopelessly romantic dance hall hostess with a heart of gold. Unlucky in love and life, Charity is determined to change her life for the better after being unceremoniously dumped by her latest boyfriend. 

Singing, dancing, laughing and crying her way through one misadventure after the next, the comically unfortunate Charity joins a host of other vibrant characters including cynical girlfriends, an Italian film heartthrob, and the phony evangelist Daddy Brubeck, as she embarks on a wild ride and quest for love. Will her luck change when she meets a hilariously claustrophobic tax accountant, Oscar Lindquist? The electrifying musical comedy brings back all the breathtaking choreography and original classic hits including "Big Spender," "If My Friends Could See Me Now," "Too Many Tomorrows," "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This," "I'm a Brass Band," and "Baby, Dream Your Dream."



SWEET CHARITY stars Anne Horak as "Charity Hope Valentine" (Broadway: Chicago, White Christmas), Alex Goodrich as "Oscar Lindquist" (The Marriott Theatre: World Premiere of HERO, She Loves Me, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, ELF, and On the Town); Adam Jacobs as "Vittorio Vidal" (Broadway: Aladdin, The Lion King, Les Misérables), NaTonia Monét as "Helene," Dani Spieler as "Nickie," Kenny Ingram as "Daddy Brubeck," Terry Hamilton as "Herman," and Alexandra Palkovic as "Ursula," with Joe Bigelow, Elyse Collier, Lexis Danca, Alex Dorf, Alejandro Fonseca, Eben K. Logan, Hanah Rose Nardone, Liam Quealy, Adam Rogers, Laura Savage, Alex Smith, Kyra Sorce, and Jessica Wolfrum.

The production will feature set design by Scott Davis, costume design by Mieka van der Ploeg, lighting design by Jesse Klug, video design by Anthony Churchill, sound design by Bob Gilmartin, properties design by Sally Zach, and musical supervision and orchestra conducted by Patti Garwood.

ONE-DAY MARATHON OF ALL 24 PEACEBOOK WORKS, OCTOBER 7 AT THE CHOP SHOP

Chi, IL Live Shows On Our Radar:

CHICAGO’S SOCIAL ISSUE-DRIVEN THEATER ANNOUNCES ONE-DAY MARATHON OF ALL 24 PEACEBOOK WORKS,

OCTOBER 7 AT THE CHOP SHOP

Sunday, October 7, Collaboraction will reunite all 200+ Chicago artists involved in the creation of this year’s PEACEBOOK Festival for a one-day-only, marathon celebration showing of all 24 world premiere works about peace at The Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Avenue in Bucktown. 

The eight works from Hamilton Park plus the 16 that already premiered this month at PEACEBOOK Austin and PEACEBOOK Hermosa will be “re-mixed” into three one-hour programs starting at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The PEACEBOOK fall finale includes a free community meal between performances, peace panels and special guests. Tickets to each program are $30/$15 for artists, students, educators and veterans, or $50/$25 for an all access pass to all three shows.

Pay What You Can admission is also available for standing room only.

Visit collaboraction.org/peacebook2018, email boxoffice@collaboraction.org or call Collaboraction, (312) 226-9633, for the program line-ups and more information.

Collaboraction's 2017 PEACEBOOK Festival company members
PEACEBOOK is presented by Collaboraction, Chicago’s social issue-driven contemporary theater. For the latest updates, visit collaboraction.org or follow the company on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Peacebook 2018 Trailer

Watch excerpts from the 24 "chapters" that make up Collaboraction's 2018 PEACEBOOK.

About PEACEBOOK

“The 24 ‘chapters’ in this year’s third annual PEACEBOOK, chosen from more than 200 submissions, unite over 200 artists, from household names to neighborhood peace activists, all intent on creating real connections with Chicagoans in communities around the city,” said Anthony Moseley, PEACEBOOK Festival Director and Artistic Director of Collaboraction. “We encourage Chicagoans to be active, come to Englewood, discover new neighborhoods and hear new stories. In doing so, we will see our similarities and connections to one another. Only then we can start working together to dismantle oppression and cultivate peace and equity.”

Other Chicago artists and activists who created works of seven minutes or less for this year’s PEACEBOOK include Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, Amy “The Hope Dealer” Williams, Bril Barrett of M.A.D.D. Rhythm, and Sir Taylor of Example Setters Youth Poetry. Collaborators also include Wu Tang Clan and Chicago artist Amanda Williams, who gave Collaboraction permission to showcase her recent Color(ed) Theory project as part of this year’s set design and marketing graphics.

Collaboraction’s third annual PEACEBOOK Festival kicked off September 7 and 8 at La Follette Park in Chicago’s Austin community. Hermosa’s Kelvyn Park was the second stop on the PEACEBOOK tour. All three PEACEBOOK host sites – La Follette Park, Kelvyn Park and Hamilton Park - are familiar terrain for Collaboraction after more than five years of embedding its artists in each community to create and present devised, hyperlocal works about peace via the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks event series.


About Collaboraction


Collaboraction (collaboraction.org), Chicago’s social contemporary theater, collaborates with a diverse community of Chicagoans, artists and community activists to create original theatrical experiences that push artistic boundaries and explore critical social issues. Since the company’s founding in 1996, Collaboraction has worked with more than 3,000 artists to bring more than 60 productions and events to more than 150,000 audience members.

Collaboraction Artistic Director Anthony Moseley (left) and Managing Director Dr. Marcus Robinson (right.)

Collaboraction is led by Artistic Director Anthony Moseley, Managing Director Dr. Marcus Robinson, a company of 20 talented Chicago theater artists, and a dedicated staff and board of directors. The company’s vision is to utilize theater to cultivate dialogue and action around our most critical social issues throughout Chicago.

For the past five years, Collaboraction has partnered with the Chicago Park District through their Night Out in the Parks program, returning each year to cultivate relationships and theater in Englewood, Austin and Hermosa through the Crime Scene, PEACEBOOK and Encounter tours. Production highlights also include its series of Crime Scene productions responding to Chicago’s crime epidemic; Sarah Moeller’s Forgotten Future: The Education Project; 15 years of the SKETCHBOOK Festival; the Chicago premiere of 1001 by Jason Grote; the world premiere of Jon by George Saunders and directed by Seth Bockley; and The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow: an instant message with excitable music by Rolin Jones.

Collaboraction also maintains an active Collaboraction For-Hire division, which creates custom special event design for private, corporate and civic clients, including the Art Institute, the City of Chicago and many more.

Collaboraction is supported by The Chicago Community Trust, The Joyce Foundation, The Field Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, DCASE and the Wicker Park & Bucktown SSA #33 Chamber of Commerce. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.

For more, visit collaboraction.org, follow the company on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or Tumblr, or call the Collaboraction box office, (312) 226-9633.

About the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks program

Collaboraction’s PEACEBOOK Festival is presented as part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, supported by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Arts programming in neighborhoods across the city advances the goals of the Chicago Park District and the Chicago Cultural Plan. Now in its sixth year, the 2018 Night Out in the Parks series will host over 1,000 cultural events and programs at more than 250 neighborhood parks throughout the city, making community parks a safe haven and hubs of activity. Projects will vary from traditional performances and concerts, to movies, peace rallies, community workshops, nature based programs, dance pieces, festivals and more. The Chicago Park District has partnered with more than 100 arts and community organizations to expand and produce this successful initiative.

Experience ZOMBIE ZIP LINES AT EDGE ADVENTURES in Crown Point Indiana

ZOMBIE ZIP LINES AT EDGE ADVENTURES 

IN OCTOBER

Zombie Zip Lines will provide new thrills throughout the month of October at Edge Adventures Aerial Park – Deep River NWI when the park will be transformed into a Halloween experience unlike any other in the Chicago/Northwest Indiana region. Zombies take up residence on Fridays beginning October 5 from 6 to 9 p.m. with the last Zip Line Adventure beginning at 8 p.m.

Talented actors from area high schools will be starring as the zombies. The first Zombie Zip Line Friday (October 5) will feature actors from Hobart High School's Theatre Department. Lake Central High School Drama Club will haunt the grounds on October 12. And the final two Fridays - October 19 and 26 - will star Highland High School's Theatre Department.



Against a backdrop of fall leaves bathed in Halloween lights and spooky sounds, beginning adventurers and weekend warriors can zip line their way through more than 50 treetop obstacles while zombies roam the scary forest below and ghosts hang out in adjacent trees. All of the aerial park’s challenges provide thrills and screams for guests at every skill level. It’s a new way to celebrate Halloween all month long. Adults and kids can harness up and climb into the trees to embark on adventures that include traversing across rope bridges, balancing on log beams or climbing on cargo nets.





There will be a far less scary experience at the kids’ course which includes low to the ground elements, zip lines and little pumpkin adventures for children ages 4-7. Tickets are $10 for a one-hour experience.

Edge Adventures provides all safety equipment – helmet, harnesses, belays and gloves. Guests participate in a safety briefing and practice course, and are assisted by Edge ACCT-trained staff throughout each of the course routes. They have the thrill of climbing, zipping and working through the courses with the security of knowing that they are 100 percent on the safety line from start to finish.

Certain age, height and weight limits apply for the larger courses. Adventurers must be at least 8-years old, with a minimum weight of 40 lbs and a maximum of 275 lbs. Hands must reach 66” high with feet flat on the ground. The two-hour adventure is $42 for adults and $32 for children 8-12. The three-hour adventure is $49 adults, $39 children 8-12. Groups of 20+ may reserve a Group Adventure any day subject to availability. Call or email for details.

Edge Adventures Aerial Park NWI is located at 9001 E. Lincoln Highway, Crown Point, IN 46307. The park is open on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (last 2 hour adventure goes out at 8 p.m.). Zip line adventures (minus the zombies) are also available on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last 2 hour adventure goes out at 4 p.m.) throughout the month of October.

For general and advanced ticket information for Edge Adventures, call 800-590-8347, email us at info@edgeadventureparks.com, like us on Facebook 
https://www.facebook.com/deepriveraerialpark/ 
follow us on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/edgeadventuresdeepriver/ 
or go to our website: http://www.edgeadventureparks.com/deep-river