Chicago Magic Lounge Hosts The Halloween Show In Adult and Family Friendly Versions and More This October

Chicago Magic Lounge presents

an evening of eerie and mysterious magic with 

The Halloween Show,

hosted by Ed Furman

with magic by Sean Masterson and David Parr

The Halloween season of magic, mystery and the macabre includes

“Shock Illusionist” Dan Sperry: The Anti-Conjurer 

(October 11-13),

a special, child-friendly, Halloween-themed Family Show 

(October 28)

and David Parr’s Cabinet of Curiosities every Wednesday

Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows, we were out for both the groundbreaking and the grand opening of Chicago Magic Lounge. From the secret entrance behind a bank of spinning washing machines, to the glamorous art deco decor, and the talent on stage, we were enamored. Check out this unique venue for an adult night out, or for a Sunday family friendly matinee.  

Chicago Magic Lounge, Chicago’s new home for close-up magic, brings magic, mystery and the macabre to the stage this Halloween season with a variety of performances to satisfy all cravings. Hosted by Ed Furman, The Halloween Show will feature magic by Sean Masterson and David Parr. In addition to the table and stage magic that evening, Parr will bring the spirits of the season to the 654 Club with an old-fashioned, Victorian-era séance. Seating to this exclusive bonus experience is limited and can be secured by purchasing an upgraded ticket to The Halloween Show. A special, child-friendly, Halloween-themed Family Show with costumes and trick-or-treating will be held on Sunday afternoon, October 28 at 2pm.

Featured offerings throughout the month include shock illusionist Dan Sperry: The Anti Conjurer (pictured above) as the headliner for The Signature Show, October 11-13. Artist-in-Residence David Parr will continue to perform his magical and mysterious show Cabinet of Curiosities every Wednesday.

Tickets for all Chicago Magic Lounge performances are available at the box office, (312) 366-4500 or online at chicagomagiclounge.com. Chicago Magic Lounge is a 21+ venue. Ages 16+ allowed to ticketed shows with a legal guardian. Ages 5+ allowed for The Family Show only.

In addition to its programming, Chicago Magic Lounge is a proud organizational sponsor of Open Heart Magic, a non-profit organization of volunteer magicians who perform Bedside Magic™ for kids in hospitals, regardless of their medical condition or physical abilities. Halloween is the 80th anniversary of National Magic Day, which recognizes the day of Houdini’s death and is observed as a day of service in the magic community. Open Heart Magic takes this philosophy and practices it year-round.


Halloween highlights include:

The Halloween Show
Hosted by Ed Furman
Featuring Sean Masterson and David Parr in the Harry Blackstone Cabaret
Upgraded ticket to the 654 Club: David Parr hosts a Victorian-era séance
Wednesday, October 31 at 7:30pm
Tickets: $39.50 (Main Floor), $44.50 (Premium Main Floor), $49.50 (Front Row), $54.50 (Mezzanine Experience)
The Halloween Show will begin with an hour of close-up magic at 7:30pm, followed by stage performances with Sean Masterson and David Parr, hosted by comedy writer and performer Ed Furman. Guests who purchase Front Row, Mezzanine and Premium Main Floor tickets are invited to the 654 Club immediately after the mainstage for an exclusive performance with David Parr, where he will explore the paranormal and the mysteries of the unknown. Each Wednesday, David Parr brings his favorite artifacts and stories in David Parr’s Cabinet of Curiosities, but on Halloween he will be bringing the spirits of the season to the 654 Club. You might begin to doubt the evidence of your senses when objects move of their own accord and strange sounds are heard.

Host Ed Furman has been a performer and writer in Chicago for over 30 years and was one of the original creators of “Co-ed Prison Sluts” at the Annoyance Theater. Furman co-wrote and performed in three Second City Mainstage shows, and, along with TJ Shanoff, co-authored the hit musicals Rod Blagojevich: Superstar, Rush Limbaugh: The Musical and Lanyard Skynard. Sean Masterson has been entertaining Chicago audiences with his close-up and stage magic for 25 years, including the long-running hit show Timeless Magic at Theater Wit. David Parr was a winner on the TV show Penn & Teller: Fool Us, created and co-starred in the longest-running, weekly magic show in Chicago, The Magic Cabaret, and is an Artist in Residence at Chicago Magic Lounge with his Cabinet of Curiosities.

The Halloween Family Show
Sunday, October 28 at 2pm
Tickets: $15 (children 5-16), $25
The Halloween Show will feature fun and family-friendly magic that will delight children and adults alike. Guests are encouraged to wear costumes and bring trick-or-treat bags as candy will be handed out at the show! The Halloween Family Show is appropriate for children ages 5 and up.

The Signature Show headliner Dan Sperry: The Anti-Conjurer
October 11-13, 2018
Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm & 10pm
Tickets: $39.50 (Main Floor), $44.50 (Premium Main Floor), $49.50 (Front Row), $54.50 (Mezzanine Experience)
Shock Illusionist Dan Sperry: The Anti-Conjuror is hailed as the most popular and in-demand illusionist of this generation.  His live show is a high-energy roller coaster ride of shock illusion like you have never seen before. Combining the art of magic with the macabre, his totally unique and edgy illusions capture the imagination of crowds while his unhinged, shockingly eccentric humor and audience interaction makes his live show a truly unique experience. From starring in the best-selling magic show in Broadway history The Illusionists, appearing on America's Got Talent, Germany's hit series Das SuperTalent, FOX's World Magic Awards, and TLC's Cake Boss, to selling out countless performance venues around the world, Dan Sperry presents a magic show that is not for the faint hearted.

Ongoing Events and Performances are as follows:

Music & Magic
Mondays and Tuesdays at 7:30pm
Tickets: $10 (General Admission)
Unwind at the beginning of the week with magic, jazz, and a cocktail. Music & Magic is the only performance of its kind in the city. We feature live jazz on stage and close-up magic at your table performed by our resident house magicians. When the band takes a break, a magician takes the stage.

David Parr’s Cabinet of Curiosities
Wednesdays at 7:30pm (except October 31)
Tickets: $35 (Main Floor), $45 (Front Row)
Chicago Magic Lounge is proud to host David Parr, winner on the hit TV show Penn & Teller: Fool Us. David created and co-starred in the longest-running, weekly magic show in Chicago, The Magic Cabaret, which was chosen by the Travel Channel as one of the top nine magic shows in the country. For Cabinet of Curiosities David has gathered his favorite artifacts and stories to share with you in this show of mystery and magic. Each performance is accompanied by an hour of table-side magic.

The Signature Show
Thursdays at 7:30pm; Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm & 10pm
Tickets: $39.50 (Main Floor), $44.50 (Premium Main Floor), $49.50 (Front Row), $54.50 (Mezzanine Experience)
The Signature Show was conceived in 2015 as an homage to the historic, Chicago magic bar scene. Experience close-up magic right at your table during the cocktail hour, followed by an hour of stage magic featuring two masters of their craft performing feats of prestidigitation and sleight of hand. Guests who purchase Mezzanine, Front Row and Premium Main Floor tickets are invited to an exclusive performance of close-up magic directly after the show in our 43-seat close-up gallery, The 654 Club. *Please visit chicagomagiclounge.com for a complete schedule of performers and special Halloween shows.

The Family Show
Sundays at 2pm
Tickets: $25, $15 (children 5-16)
We take the bar scene out of Chicago Magic and open our Blackstone Cabaret for a 45-minute magic matinee suitable for younger ages. Our mission is to bring back the era of bar magic, bringing out the child in every adult; however, on Sundays, we feature a family-friendly magician that will fill both the adults and children full of wonder. The Family Show makes a great post-brunch activity with many restaurants nearby. The Family Show is suitable for ages 5 and up.

The Performance Bar
Mondays-Wednesdays, 5pm-11pm; Thursdays, 5pm-12am; and Fridays-Saturdays, 5pm-2am
Open from 5pm to close Mondays thru Saturdays, The Performance Bar features signature cocktails, luxurious seating and magicians behind the bar to challenge your imagination. The Performance Bar is open to the public and does not require a ticket to the show. Please note that The Performance Bar is 21+ only and is not open on Sundays.

For a complete schedule of performances and more information about Chicago Magic Lounge, as well as resident and guest performers, Chicago Magic College classes, the Chicago Magic Round Table, and more, please visit chicagomagiclounge.com.



About Chicago Magic Lounge
Chicago Magic Lounge reinvents the classic "magic bar" that once dotted Chicago's nightlife landscape, bringing cocktails and card tricks back together again. Shows include magic performance at the bar, on the stage and in true Chicago-style Magic form, at the tables of the guests, providing the classic "Close-Up" tradition Chicago-style Magic is known for. Chicago Magic Lounge is also the home of the Chicagoland magic community, showcasing over 30 local professionals, and serving as a networking hub for working magicians from all over the world. 

The newly constructed theater at 5050 N. Clark St., designed by Morris Architects Planners, has ushered in a new wave of entertainment, bringing back “Chicago-style Magic” under the leadership of Donald C Clark, Jr. and Joseph (Joey) Cranford. Converted from a 1940s-era, commercial laundry building, the Chicago Magic Lounge is a 7,200 square-foot, Art Deco, state-of-the-art theater and lounge complete with secret doors, elegant performance areas and a magic bar – all dedicated to the art of sleight of hand, prestidigitation and Chicago's contribution to the magical arts. From magicians to mind readers, Chicago Magic Lounge provides guests the unique, one-of-a-kind experience of seeing wonders up-close and personal in a venue unlike anything else offered throughout the country.

OPENING: Flyin’ West Via American Blues Theater at Stage 773 October 5 – November 3, 2018

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

American Blues Theater announces cast and creative team for

Flyin’ West

by Pearl Cleage

directed by Artistic Affiliate Chuck Smith

Cast includes Sydney Charles, Wardell Julius Clark, Tiffany Renee Johnson,

Joslyn Jones, Tiffany Oglesby, and Henri Watkins

October 5 – November 3, 2018

**Flyin’ West is recommended for ages 12 and older**

I'll be ChiILin' with Chi, IL's  American Blues Theater for the press opening of Flyin' West on October 11th. I'm looking forward to hearing more stories from this seldom visited slice of American history. Check back soon for my full review. 

American Blues Theater announces the cast for its 2018-2019 season opener, Flyin’ West, written by Pearl Cleage and directed by Artistic Affiliate Chuck Smith. Flyin’ West features Sydney Charles (Fannie Dove), Wardell Julius Clark (Frank Charles), Tiffany Renee Johnson (Minnie Dove Charles), Joslyn Jones (Miss Leah), Tiffany Oglesby (Sophie Washington) and Henri Watkins (Wil Parish).

The creative team includes Grant Sabin* (Scenic), Lily Grace Walls (Costumes), Jared Gooding* (Lighting), Ricks Sims* (Sound), Kevin Rolfs (Props), and Shandee Vaughan* (Production Manager).

*American Blues Theater Artistic Affiliates.

Flyin’ West runs October 5 – November 3, 2018 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at www.AmericanBluesTheater.com and box office, 773.654.3103.

Following the end of the Civil War, many former slaves took advantage of The Homestead Act and went West to build new lives for themselves and their families. Many of these homesteaders were black women who overcame tremendous odds to work their own land and make a place for themselves in an often harsh and forbidding environment. Set in 1898, Flyin’ West is the story of some of these African-American female pioneers who settled, together, in the all-black town of Nicodemus, Kansas.  

Featuring: Sydney Charles (Fannie Dove), Wardell Julius Clark (Frank Charles), Tiffany Renee Johnson (Minnie Dove Charles), Joslyn Jones (Miss Leah), Tiffany Oglesby (Sophie Washington) and Henri Watkins (Wil Parish) 

Creative Team:  Grant Sabin (Scenic), Lily Grace Walls (Costumes), Jared Gooding (Lighting), Ricks Sims (Sound) and Kevin Rolfs (Props). Shandee Vaughan is the Production Manager).

Dates:
October 5 – November 3, 2018
Previews: October 5 – October 10, 2018
Press Opening: Thursday, October 11, 2018 at 7:30 p.m.
Regular Run: October 12 – November 3, 2018

Schedule: 
Monday: 7:30pm, October 22 ONLY 
Wednesday: 2:30 pm, October 31 ONLY
Thursdays:  7:30pm
Fridays:  7:30pm
Saturdays: 3:00pm (except October 6 & 13) and
7:30pm (except November 3)
Sundays:  2:30pm

Accessible Performances:
Audio Described/Touch Tour performance, Sunday, October 14, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. (Touch Tour begins at 2 p.m.)
Open Captioned performance, Sunday, October 21 at 2:30 p.m. 
For more information: http://americanbluestheater.com/accessibility/

Town Halls: Free post-show discussions are offered every Sunday

Location: Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago

Box Office: Buy online at AmericanBluesTheater.com or by calling 773.654.3103.

Ticket prices: $19 - $39



About American Blues Theater
Winner of the American Theatre Wing’s prestigious 2016 National Theatre Company Award, American Blues Theater is a premier arts organization with an intimate environment that patrons, artists, and all Chicagoans call home.  American Blues Theater explores the American identity through the plays it produces and communities it serves.

The diverse and multi-generational artists have established the second-oldest professional Equity Ensemble theater in Chicago.  The 33-member Ensemble has 600+ combined years of collaboration on stage. As of 2018, the theater and artists received 195 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations that celebrate excellence in Chicago theater and over 35 Black Theatre Alliance Awards. The artists are honored with Pulitzer Prize nominations, Academy Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Emmy Awards and numerous other accolades.  

American Blues Theater programs and activities are made possible, in part by funding by The MacArthur Funds for Arts & Culture at Prince, the Shubert Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, SMART Growth Grant, Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Anixter Foundation, Actors’ Equity Foundation, and the Chip Pringle Fund. ComEd is the Season Lighting Sponsor.

FLASH GIVEAWAY: WIN 4 Tickets ($160 Value) To Opening Night of Disney On Ice presents Frozen

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List:

Feld Entertainment, Inc., Brings #1 Animated Movie of All Time to Life with 

Disney On Ice presents Frozen, 

Coming to the Allstate Arena, Sept. 27-30

FLASH GIVEAWAY

ENTER AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST 

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN 

4 Tickets ($160 Value) 

To Opening Night of 

Disney On Ice presents Frozen 

at 7pm Thursday September 27th 

Open through midnight 9/24/18. Winner will be e-mailed and announced here and on ChiIL Mama's social media channels. Tickets are good for opening night, Thursday Sept. 27th at 7pm at Allstate Arena.

Here at ChiIL Mama, we adore the number one animated feature film of all time, Disney’s Frozen, and the LIVE adaptation, Disney On Ice presents Frozen. 

Click to check out my original photo feature right HERE.

Feld Entertainment, Inc., the worldwide leader in producing live touring family entertainment, will bring the Academy Award® winning and number one animated feature film of all time, Disney’s Frozen, to Chicago-area fans in Disney On Ice presents Frozen. The limited four-day, eight-performance engagement will run Thursday, Sept. 27, through Sunday, Sept. 30, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill.  



The complete adventure of the Academy Award® winning tale will be told live in this production, capturing the dynamic of two royal sisters, Anna and Elsa. Anna, a girl with an extraordinary heart, embarks on an epic journey to find her sister, the magical Elsa, who is determined to remain secluded as she finally feels free to test the limits of her powers. Rugged mountain man Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven, the lovable and hilarious snowman Olaf and the mystical trolls help Anna along the way in this story about love conquering fear. Audiences will get to sing along with such musical favorites as “Let it Go,” “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “Fixer Upper.”

“In our many years of producing Disney On Ice shows, Feld Entertainment has been waiting for a film like this,” says producer Nicole Feld. “While it might seem obvious that Frozen is well suited for the ice, this Disney On Ice production will touch audiences emotionally through innovative show elements and world-class skating.”



Frozen directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee add, “Seeing audiences around the world embrace Frozen has been the experience of a lifetime. And to now have the chance to consult with the talented team at Feld Entertainment and watch their creation come to life on ice, is thrilling.”

In Disney On Ice presents Frozen, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse take the audience through the magical story based in Arendelle, with special appearances by beloved Disney princesses and favorite characters from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story and Finding Nemo and Disney’s The Lion King, who come together to prove that true love is the greatest power of all. Director Patty Vincent says, “Our goal is to showcase these heartwarming characters in a way that allows the audience to cheer and sing along throughout this emotional journey.”



To create a completely immersive experience for the audience, the set design will encompass the space from the ice surface up through the air, drawing everyone into the story and closer to the characters. Families will feel that they are trekking up to the North Mountains with Anna, Kristoff and Sven, and they will tangibly experience the storm inside Elsa. Elsa’s magic will be enhanced by state-of-the art special effects while her emotions will be conveyed through powerful skating. 

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

Stay current on the latest developments through social media:

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


About Feld Entertainment, Inc.
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.

FLASH GIVEAWAY

ENTER HERE

ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN 4 Tickets ($160 Value) To Opening Night of Disney On Ice presents Frozen 

at 7pm Thursday September 27th 

Open through midnight 9/24/18. Winner will be e-mailed and announced here and on ChiIL Mama's social media channels. Tickets are good for opening night, Thursday Sept. 27th at 7pm at Allstate Arena.

 Disclosure: Thanks to FELD for providing tickets for our giveaway. All opinions are my own.

REVIEW: Promenade Style Alice Leads to Exciting Evanston Explorations Through October 21st

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar:

Alice by Upended Productions

**Recommended for ages six and up**

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List:

Review:
A drag queen Red Queen in a flower shop, a disaster drill in a stairwell beneath a hidden mural, school angst tweedle dee and tweedle dum style, a torch-song midlife crisis, a poetic brewery basement adventure, ballet in a convenience store and more, await patron on this utterly unique journey. 

Photo by B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com

For Chapter 8, Quinn of SADHAUS is The Queen in a red wrap at Cultivate: An Urban Rainforest.
Alice by Upended Productions; Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill 

My 17 year old son and I caught opening weekend, September 23rd, and the show made such a big impression it spawned a college app short answer question where my son declared the character he'd most like to meet is The Cheshire Cat, because of his convoluted logic. We thoroughly enjoyed becoming Alice and following the white rabbit into a theatre filled, alternate Evanston. 

Photo by B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com

ShowParty’s Beth Richards (glasses and tulle under the table) tackles Chapter 7 at the train station tea party. Alice by Upended Productions; Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill 

We were particularly enamored with the surreal hatchback car film and the train platform tea party with real tea. This playful, participatory production manages to be at once vibrantly original and true to the spirit of the original books, full of deep wisdom couched in delicious absurdity and child's play. The collaborative  nature of this show, involving so many different theatre companies and Evanston businesses, is amazing.

 

Photos by B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com

Photo by B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com

Though officially listed for ages 6 and up, there were few elementary age children in our group, though the kids seemed to be enjoying themselves. Overall, I'd say it's geared for teens and up. Most of the costumes are minimal and monologues deep, so younger children might be confused and frustrated, but it's a delight for adults. 

Factory Theater ensemble member Corrbette Pasko as the Rabbit is disturbed by reading material at the Chicago-Main Newsstand. Alice by Upended Productions; Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill 

Also note, this production does require quite a bit of quick walking, lots of standing, and several sets of stairs, if you have ambulatory issues. 

Neo-Futurist alumna Dina Marie Walters (green dress and white apron) as the Rabbit keeps her audience hopping under the CTA tracks. Alice by Upended Productions; Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill 

Also, if you're coming up from Chicago, leave more than plenty of extra time, beyond what your maps app says, or you'll be running in as frazzled as the chronically late rabbit, and may miss your group's departure time! If it's sold out and you've been unable to get tickets, show up and you may get lucky and be able to join in on the spot if there are no-shows.

The goody bags at the close, with local coupons, were a nice surprise as well. I went back and enjoyed a tasty local microbrew with my "wooden nickle" dollar off coin while I contemplated the show. Upended Productions' Alice is a fabulously fun community collaboration. Highly recommended.

Photo by B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com

Photo by B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com

Photo by B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com

Photo by B. Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com

The Factory Theater’s Risha Hill covers Chapters 2 and 3 of the adventure 

in the canning/barrel room at Sketchbook Brewing Co.

Alice by Upended Productions; Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill 

Alice by Upended Productions; Photos by Jenn-Anne Gledhill

Neo-Futurist alumni David Kodeski reads from his Dream Diary for Chapter 4 in the Sketchbook Brewing basement.

Alice by Upended Productions

Featuring Factory, Mudlark, Fleetwood-Jourdain, ShowParty 

& Others

This unique, promenade style show shares book chapters among diverse Chicagoland theater companies, visual and film artists and musicians. This 90-minute event requires walking and standing. Rain or shine.

“ALICE displays impeccable logistical skill and a striking sense of space; in the best environmental theater tradition, it renews the audience's sense of wonder at their surroundings” – Newcity Stage (2014)

“ALICE is that rare environmental experience that takes its subject seriously yet embraces a self-deprecating sense of humor” – Chicago Reader (2004)

Upended Productions remounts ALICE, the ambulatory, multi-disciplinary theatrical experience, curated by Neo-Futurist alumna Noelle Krimm. The audience, traveling in groups of 15, follows a white rabbit to various locations throughout Evanston’s Main-Dempster Mile neighborhood.

Ducking into storerooms and back patios, through bookstores and breweries, the audience IS Alice and southeast Evanston becomes a wonderland. 



WHEN:
Runs Saturdays and Sundays through October 21
Tours begin at 1 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m., & 2 p.m. 

WHERE:
Meet at LaCapra State Farm office, 829 Chicago, Evanston, IL
Subsequent locations include Sketchbook Brewing Co, Booked, La Principal, Cultivate, Reprise Coffee Roasters, 10,000 Villages, and Squeezebox Books & Music.

CTA: Main Street Purple EL
Street and metered public parking lots around Main & Chicago Aves.
                        
TICKETS:      
$25 for single tickets; $17 for students and seniors with ID
Space is limited so advance purchase is highly recommended: www.UpEndedProductions.com  

ARTISTS:      
This promenade production features original work by The Factory, Mudlark Theater, Fleetwood-Jourdain Theater, ShowParty, singer/ songwriter Naomi Ashley, Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Logan Kibens, and current and former ensemble members of The Neo-Futurists, Theatre Oobleck, Barrel of Monkeys, and Wildclaw Theater, including David Kodeski, Corrbette Pasko, Laura McKenzie, Josh Zagoren, and Dina Walters. 

FUNDER:      

This project is partially supported by a grant from the Evanston Arts Council, an agency supported by the City of Evanston.

HISTORY:     
Neo-Futurist alumna Noelle Krimm founded Upended Productions in 2014. Productions are not confined to conventional theater spaces to provide performance frameworks for artists of all disciplines to come together and create unexpected, innovative, multi-disciplinary work. Shows are performed in and around local neighborhoods, surprising and delighting audiences, bringing visibility and vitality to community businesses.

OPENING: PIPPIN Via Mercury Theater at Venus Cabaret from October 11 to November 18, 2018

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Mercury Theater Chicago Announces Cast of PIPPIN


PIPPIN to run in the Mercury Theater’s Venus Cabaret from October 11 to November 18, 2018



**Note: This play contains mature content, including sex, drug use, and theatrical gun fire and gun violence. It is recommended for mature audiences ages 15 and older.
**

I'll be out with my teenage son for the press opening, October 13th, so check back soon for our full review. Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we've long been fans of Mercury Theater Chicago's excellent productions, and we're elated that they've added the intimate Venus Cabaret to their sphere of influence. We're expecting Pippin to be stellar!

Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Avenue, is pleased to announce that PIPPIN will run from October 11th through December 16th in Venus Cabaret Theater. In this ‘Magic to Do’ musical Prince Pippin is on a quest for his ‘Corner of the Sky’ and eventually meets a special ‘Kind of Woman’. 

Audiences will experience PIPPIN like never before in this intimate and immersive production featuring Donterrio Johnson as the Leading Player. PIPPIN will reunite the creative talents behind our hit production of HAIR THE AMERICAN TRIBAL LOVE ROCK MUSICAL featuring L. Walter Stearns (director), Eugene Dizon (musical direction), and Brenda Didier (choreography). 

Heir to the Frankish throne, the young prince Pippin is in search of the secret to true happiness and fulfillment. He seeks it in the glories of the battlefield, the temptations of the flesh and the intrigues of political power (after disposing of his father, King Charlemagne the Great). In the end, though, Pippin finds that happiness lies not in extraordinary endeavors, but rather in the unextraordinary moments that happen every day. PIPPIN’s message is universal and connects with audiences across the age spectrum.

With an infectiously unforgettable score from four-time Grammy winner, three-time Oscar winner and musical theatre giant Stephen Schwartz, PIPPIN continues to captivate and appeal to the young at heart throughout the world. Winner of four 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, PIPPIN first opened in 1972 and ran on Broadway for 1,944 performances with choreography by Bob Fosse and a book written by Roger O. Hirson. 

The cast includes Nicole Armold, Kayla Boye, Adam Fane, Don Forston, Donterrio Johnson, Iris Lieberman, Michael Rawls, Gabriel Robert, Sawyer Smith and Koray Tarhan. In addition to Stearns, Dizon and Didier, the creative team includes Rachel Boylan (costume design), Dustin L. Derry (lighting design), Carl Wahlstrom (sound design), Shanna Vanderwerker (associate choreographer) and Max Maxin IV (video design). Stage management is by Scott Flores-Deter.

Mercury Theater Chicago is an entertainment complex consisting of 2 stages – Mainstage Mercury, an intimate jewel-box of a theatre, seating 290 people in a continental style and the Venus Cabaret, an immersive theatrical experience to delight all senses in a cabaret setting. The Mercury Theater is located in the heart of a sophisticated neighborhood of restaurants and shopping close to Wrigley Field. A delightful theater destination, 

Mercury Theater Chicago takes care of its guests from the moment they arrive with valet service and dining at its adjoining restaurant, Grassroots. The hilarious Broadway musical AVENUE Q will be playing on the Mainstage alongside PIPPIN through November 4th, 2018.

PIPPIN runs from October 11th through December 16th. The press openings are Saturday, October 13th and Sunday, October 14th at 7:30pm.  The performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30pm, Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 2:30pm and 7:30pm and Sundays at 2:30pm. Wednesday evening performances at 7:30pm will be offered beginning on October 31st. 

Individual tickets range from $60-$65, which include appetizers and dessert, and are available online at www.MercuryTheaterChicago.com, over the phone at 773.325.1700, or in person at the Mercury Theater box office at 3745 N. Southport Avenue, Chicago. 

About the cast of PIPPIN:

NICOLE ARMOLD (Catherine) is delighted to return to Venus Cabaret Theater where she was last seen as Susan in the inaugural production of Company. Her Mercury Theater Chicago credits include: Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins) and Martha (The Christmas Schooner). Other recent Chicago credits include: Ride the Cyclone and Sense and Sensibility (Chicago Shakespeare Theater), Into the Woods (Metropolis), Northanger Abbey (Lifeline), Mill Girls (ATC/ETOPiA) and The Merry Widow (Light Opera Works). 

KAYLA BOYE (Ensemble, u/s Fastrada, Catherine) is thrilled to return to Mercury Theater Chicago where she was last seen in Mary Poppins. Selected credits include South Pacific (Drury Lane Theatre); Billy Elliot, New Faces Sing 1969 and Little Me (Porchlight Music Theatre) and A Christmas Story (Citadel Theatre). 

ADAM FANE (Ensemble, Lewis, u/s Pippin) is thrilled to return to the Mercury Theater/Venus Cabaret after playing Rod in the 2014 production of Avenue Q. Selected credits include: Rock of Ages (National Tour); Billy Elliot: the Musical (Porchlight Music Theatre); Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Mamma Mia!, Hairspray & Mary Poppins (Paramount Theatre); Gypsy, Shrek the Musical, & Ride the Cyclone (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Avenue Q (Jeff Award Nominated, NightBlue) Selected on-camera credits include “Canal Street” and “Chicago P.D.” 

DON FORSTON* (King Charlemagne) is excited to return to the Mercury Theater after two Christmas seasons in the Mercury Theater Chicago’s production of The Christmas Schooner. His numerous Chicago theatre credits include My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls and Pirates of Penzance (Jeff Award Nominated) (Marriot 
Theatre); and White Christmas (Drury Lane). Select on-camera credits include “Chicago P.D.” and “Rookie of the Year.”

DONTERRIO JOHNSON* (Leading Player) returns to Mercury Theater Chicago where he was last seen in the 2014 cast of Avenue Q and The Color Purple. National Tours: Waitress Regional: Spamilton (Daveed Diggs); Jesus Christ Superstar (Judas, 2015 Jeff Award); Ain't Misbehavin (Andre, 2014 Jeff nomination); Next To Normal (Dan) and Urinetown (Mr. Cladwell). Selected on-camera credits include USA's “Sirens.” 

IRIS LIEBERMAN* (Berthe) is making her Venus Cabaret Theater debut. A Jeff Award-winning actress, she has performed leading and featured roles in over 170 productions. Selected credits include Cabaret (Theatre at the Center, Jeff nomination); Beauty and the Beast (Fireside Theatre), Elegy (Richard Christiansen Theatre), and Fiddler on the Roof (Paramount Theatre). Select on-camera credits include: “Hoodlum,” “Groundhog Day” and “Missing Person.”

MICHAEL RAWLS (Ensemble, u/s Leading Player) is excited to be a part of their first production with Venus Cabaret Theater. Their previous credits include Man of La Mancha (MadKap Productions); Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer (Hell in a Handbag) and Madagascar (Chicago Shakespeare). 

GABRIEL ROBERT (Theo) is thrilled for his Venus Cabaret Theater debut. Selected credits include Gypsy at Jedlicka Performing Arts Center and The Magic Flute at The Lyric Opera. Recent on-camera credits include a recurring role on Showtime’s “The Chi.”

SAWYER SMITH* (Fastrada) is excited to make their Venus debut! Mercury Theater Chicago credits include: The Bardy Bunch, The Producers, The Addams Family. Selected credits include: The Fly Honey Show 9 (The Inconvenience); Rock of Ages (Drury Lane Theater); First Date (Royal George); Cats, Rent and A Chorus Line (Paramount Theater); and Pippin (BoHo). Choreography credits include: Heathers: The Musical (Kokandy, Jeff Award); Altar Boyz, The Full Monty, Titanic, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Griffin Theatre) and Sweet Charity (Timber Lake Playhouse). 

KORAY TARHAN (Pippin) is thrilled to be making his Venus Cabaret Theater debut. Originally from Los Angeles, Koray graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2013 and began traveling the country working regionally from San Diego to Cincinnati. Previous credits include The Boy Who Danced on Air (Diversionary Theatre, San Diego), Cabaret (Lewis Family Playhouse), Memphis (Porchlight Music Theater) and Seussical (Drury Lane)

About the Creative Team of PIPPIN: 

L. WALTER STEARNS (Director) As Executive Director of Mercury Theater Chicago, Walter is a champion for Chicago artists and productions and has overseen the physical and cultural revival of a beautiful theatre. He has directed over 40 musicals including his Jeff Award-winning productions of The Addams Family and Ragtime as well as the Jeff Award nominated productions of Mary Poppins, The Producers, The Addams Family, Avenue Q, The Color Purple, Barnum -The Circus Musical, The Christmas Schooner, Nine the Musical, Ragtime, Gypsy, The Secret Garden, Sweeney Todd, Company, A New Brain, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along and Falsettos. He was pleased to produce The Man Who Murdered Sherlock Holmes, which was awarded the Jeff Award for New Work. Most recently, he opened the new Venus Cabaret Theater with Stephen Sondheim’s Company. Walter has received the Jeff Award (Ragtime), BroadwayWorld Award (Avenue Q), After Dark Awards, the Larry Sloan Advocate Award (for his support of Season of Concern), the first Guy Adkins award for his contributions to the art of musical theatre and the Franny Award as a distinguished alumnus of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

EUGENE DIZON (Musical Director) is ecstatic to be collaborating with this talented cast and crew of Pippin at Venus Cabaret Theater. His work is Collage, Falsettos; 4 After Dark Awards (Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, A New Brain, Merrily We Roll Along), and BroadwayWorld nominations for Hair, Mary Poppins and The Color Purple. 

Additionally, he has been the musical director for Company, The Producers and Barnum, all at the Mercury, and Company at Venus. He is honored to have been inducted into the Chicago Filipino Hall of Fame. Eugene has co-produced 6 “Season of Carols” CD’s (with Cory Goodrich) which features some of the brightest talent in Chicago theater today, for which Season of Concern awarded him the 2013 Larry Sloan Advocate Award and the Season of Concern 2018 Larry Sloan Legacy Award for consistently and passionately being a trailblazer on behalf of Season of Concern. Eugene has been musical directing for over two decades garnering 6 Jeff Awards (Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, Amadeus, Company, Into the Woods, Merrily We Roll Along), Jeff nominations for A Grand Night for Singing, Candide, Nine the Musical, Closer Than Ever, A Little Night Music, Passion and Colette.

BRENDA DIDIER (Choreographer) is thrilled to make her Venus Cabaret debut! Dider’s Mercury Theater choreography credits include Barnum, The Color Purple, The Addams Family, The Christmas Schooner, Mary Poppins and directing last season's Hair. Didier is a freelance director/choreographer and recipient of multiple Jeff Awards in direction and choreography, After Dark Awards, the National Youth Theatre Award and was honored last spring with the 2018 Guy Adkins Award for the advancement of music theatre in Chicago. 

RACHEL BOYLAN (Costume Design) is excited to be a part of Venus Cabaret’s inaugural season after having spent many years working at Mercury Theater Chicago. Her Mercury Theater Chicago design credits include: Avenue Q (2014 and 2018), Mary Poppins and I Left My Heart. Additional selected Chicago credits include: Leavings (Polarity Theater Ensemble); Hello & Goodbye (Bluebird Arts); All Girl Dracula (The Mammals); Who Too, The Dancing Plague (The Right Brain Project); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (St. James Community Theater). 

DUSTIN L. DERRY (Lighting Design) is excited to return for his fourth project with Mercury Theater Chicago after recently working on Avenue Q, Company and The Christmas Schooner. Selected theatrical work includes Bullets Over Broadway (Nightblue). Select dance credits include Ensemble Español, Inaside Chicago Dance, Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre and the Moscow Ballet. 

G. "MAX" MAXIN IV (Video Design) is excited to be working with Mercury Theatre again after last working on Avenue Q. Selected Chicago credits include: Avenue Q (Mercury Theater); Cyrano (Jeff Award Nominated); A Little Night Music, Urinetown (Jeff Award Nominated); Oklahoma (Marriott); Pippin, Chorus Line, Little Women, Cabaret, Bare (Another Door); The View Upstairs (Circle Theatre); Homos or Everyone in America, Perfect Arrangement and Angry Fags (Pride Films & Plays). 

CARL WAHLSTROM (Sound Design) is ecstatic to be working on Pippin, his 16th show at Mercury Theater Chicago. Carl’s recent design credits include the Venus Theater Cabaret inaugural production of Company and the currently running Mercury Theater Chicago production of Avenue Q. Wahlstrom is the resident sound engineer at Mercury Theater Chicago. 

SHANNA VANDERWERKER (Associate Choreographer) is delighted to make her Mercury Theater Chicago debut. Selected choreography credits include 42nd Street, Newsies, South Pacific, Beauty and the Beast, Singin’ In The Rain (Fireside Theatre); Lysistrata Jones (Refuge Theater Project, Jeff Award Nominated). Selected performance credits include Dance Captain of the 1st National Tour of Wicked as well as a swing in the Broadway company, company member of dre.dance in NYC, and “Kids of the Kingdom” at Walt Disney World. 

SCOTT FLORES-DETER* (Stage Manager) is excited to be working with Venus Cabaret Theater. Selected credits include: Pinkalicious: The Musical (Emerald City), The Nutcracker (Peoria Ballet), Late Nite Catechism 

(Nuns4Fun Entertainment), and various productions with The Second City. Flores-Deter is currently working on the Mercury Theater Chicago stage in the long-running hit, Avenue Q, after an incredible run in 2014 (BroadwayWorld Award).

1 Day Only FRANKENSTEIN: Unearthed, Panel Discussion September 30th at Lookingglass Theatre Company

Chicago Theatres Announce 

FRANKENSTEIN: Unearthed

 Special joint event between Court Theatre and Manual Cinema, Lifeline Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company and 

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company

explores four unique productions of Frankenstein

coming to Chicago stages this season

It's Time to Get Your Monsters In a Row...
Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we can't wait to celebrate 200 years of Mary Shelley's classic with four productions of FRANKENSTEIN on stage in Chicago this season. I'll be out to review all of them. How many of the "frankenfour" do you plan to see? We're already off to a stellar start with Lifeline's stunning world premiere adaptation featuring a female lead and a life sized, soul eating puppet monster! Highly recommended. 

Wondering where to start, with such a plethora of unique productions? Lookingglass Theatre Company, Court Theatre and Manual Cinema, Lifeline Theatre, and Remy Bumppo Theatre Company announce FRANKENSTEIN: Unearthed, a one-time-only event exploring the four productions of this classic tale coming to Chicago stages during the 2018-2019 season. 

FRANKENSTEIN: Unearthed takes place September 30, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Lookingglass Theatre Company. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online HERE. Lookingglass is located at 821 N Michigan Avenue at Pearson.

In celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the first publishing of Frankenstein, Mary Shelley's monster comes to life in Chicago this season with four distinctive theatrical productions at Court Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, and Remy Bumppo Theatre Company.

What is Chicago’s fascination with this undying tale? How will this story be told? Four Frankensteins, seriously? Artists David Catlin and Cordelia Dewdney (Lookingglass Theatre Company), Drew Dir (Manual Cinema), Ian Frank and Eliza Stoughton (Remy Bumppo Theatre Company), and Robert Kauzlaric and Ann Sonneville (Lifeline Theatre) will answer these questions and more in a conversation led by Chicago Tribune critic Chris Jones. Come learn about the vision behind each Frankenstein adaptation and get a preview of each show!

“As all the major Chicago productions of Frankenstein were announced this past spring, each one of them vastly different in style and substance, we realized the potential for a collaborative, synergistic exploration of this rich and constantly surprising story, and of Mary Shelley, the brilliant mind behind it,” comments Nick Sandys, Producing Artistic Director of Remy Bumppo. “That a theatrical endeavor of this scale and diversity is happening here speaks not just to the artistic dynamism of Chicago, but to the sophistication and curiosity of its arts patrons. We wanted therefore to spark a city-wide conversation with our colleagues and discuss how we are all tackling the novel's myriad themes and universal questions, which still so clearly speak to us today. This special event will bring all four theaters together for one evening and give our audiences a sneak-peek at this season's unique "Frankenstein festival"--and the chance to explore the question: Why so many Frankensteins?”

About the Artists
DAVID CATLIN (Writer/Director of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein at Lookingglass Theatre Company) is a founding Ensemble Member, actor, writer, director, and former Artistic Director of Lookingglass. David adapted and directed Moby Dick, which debuted at Lookingglass in summer 2015, toured nationally, and played again at Lookingglass in summer 2017. Other Lookingglass writing credits include: Lookingglass Alice, Icarus, Her Name Was Danger, and The Idiot (Jeff Award for Adaptation). He is currently directing A Midsummer Night’s Dream, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s original, for Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. Additional Lookingglass directing credits include: The Little Prince, Black Diamond (co-director), Metamorphosis, and West. Lookingglass acting credits include: Hard Times, The Arabian Nights, Our Town, Argonautika, La Luna Muda, The Odyssey, and The Jungle. David is an Artistic Associate with Actors Gymnasium and serves on the acting faculty at Northwestern University.

CORDELIA DEWDNEY (Mary Shelley/Elizabeth in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein at Lookingglass Theatre Company) is a graduate of Northwestern University where she studied Theatre and English. Recent credits include: Hard Times and Moby Dick at Lookingglass Theatre Company and Women Beware Women with the Chicago Shakespeare Project She has worked with Alliance Theatre, Arena Stage, and South Coast Repertory for the National tour of Moby Dick, and has appeared on Chicago Med. She is joyfully represented by Stewart Talent.

DREW DIR (Manual Cinema Co-Artistic Director) is a writer, director, and puppet designer. Previously, he served as the Resident Dramaturg of Court Theatre and a lecturer in theater and performance studies at the University of Chicago. He holds a master’s degree in Text and Performance Studies from King’s College London and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

IAN FRANK (Director of Frankenstein at Remy Bumppo) is the Artistic Assistant and the director of Frankenstein at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. He is the Producer of Remy Bumppo's SPARK Reading Series (directing both Inheritors and Conversations in Tusculum) and assistant directed Pygmalion. In Chicago, Ian directed Incident at Vichy (Jeff nomination for Best Ensemble), Another Bone and Shipwrecked! (Redtwist) and Bob: A Life in Five Acts (LiveWire) and assisted Sunday in the Park with George and Cyrano at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. He recently workshopped his own adaptation of The Call of the Wild at Milwaukee Rep. Ian holds an MFA in Directing from The Theatre School at DePaul University and has a long relationship with Actors Theatre of Louisville where he has directed several shows at the Humana Festival of New American Plays.

ELIZA STOUGHTON (Elizabeth in Frankenstein at Remy Bumppo) has worked in Chicago at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Court Theatre, Writers Theatre, Raven Theatre, TimeLine Theatre, The Gift Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, 16th Street Theatre, and Oak Park Festival Theatre. Regionally, she has worked at American Players Theatre, Cardinal Stage (Bloomington, IN), Illinois Shakespeare Festival, Riverside Theatre in Iowa, and toured many wonderful years with Montana Shakespeare in the Parks and Montana Shakespeare in the Schools. Eliza is a proud graduate of Loyola University of Chicago and a Core Ensemble member with Remy Bumppo Theatre Company.

ROBERT KAUZLARIC (Adaptor of Frankenstein at Lifeline Theatre) is a Chicago-based playwright, director, and actor. He has written more than a dozen theatrical adaptations, which have been performed in over 40 states across the U.S., as well as in England, Ireland, Wales, Canada, and Australia. Previous Lifeline adaptations include Neverwhere (Non-Equity Jeff Award: New Adaptation) and Northanger Abbey (with George Howe; Non-Equity Jeff Award: New Musical).

ANN SONNEVILLE (Victoria in Frankenstein at Lifeline Theatre) is an Ensemble Member with Trap Door Theatre, where she has appeared in numerous productions, and Red Tape Theatre, where she recently appeared in Round Heads and Pointed Heads. Other credits: Actors Theatre of Louisville, The Steppenwolf Garage, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Lifeline Theatre, Griffin Theatre, Strange Tree, Oracle Productions, the side project, The Chicago Mammals, and numerous original productions with Bruised Orange Theatre Company. Film/TV credits: Miriam Is Going To Mars (BMA Award - Best Actress), Dig Two Graves, Chicago P.D., Hunting God, and numerous shorts. She is a professional voiceover artist and instructor at the Vagabond School.

CHRIS JONES (Moderator) has been the chief theater critic and Sunday culture columnist of the Chicago Tribune since 2002 and he is author of Bigger, Brighter, Louder: 150 Years of Chicago Theater (2013), and the upcoming book Rise Up!: Broadway and American Society from 'Angels in America’ to ‘Hamilton’ (November 2018). His work has appeared often in the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, American Theater, and many other publications. In 2014, he became the director of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Critics Institute in Waterford, CT. In 2001, Chris was named by American Theater magazine as one of the most influential theater critics in America. In 2015, he was the winner of Cornell University's George W. Nathan Award, the most prestigious honor for drama critics in the United States.



About the Productions

Lifeline Theatre presents:
A world premiere adaptation of the novel by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
FRANKENSTEIN
Adapted by Robert Kauzlaric
Directed by Paul S. Holmquist
September 7 – October 28, 2018
Lifeline Theatre (6912 N Glenwood Ave)
Tickets: lifelinetheatre.com  |  773.761.4477

When an unexpected death shatters her family, Victoria retreats into the darkest recesses of her psyche in search of a way forward. To find meaning in this impossible loss, she brings a terrible creation to life – one whose existence threatens all hopes for the future. Haunted and hunted at every turn, Victoria must endure a nightmare journey of the soul in a quest for survival. Grapple with the demons of grief and denial in this world premiere adaptation of the 1818 thriller by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley.

About Lifeline
Lifeline Theatre is driven by a passion for story. Lifeline’s ensemble process supports writers in the development of literary adaptations and new work, and its theatrical and educational programs foster a lifelong engagement with literature and the arts. A cultural anchor of Rogers Park, Lifeline is committed to deepening its connection to an ever-growing family of artists and audiences, both near and far.

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company presents:
FRANKENSTEIN
By Mary Shelley, Adapted by Nick Dear
Directed by Ian Frank
October 11 – November 11, 2018
Performing at Theater Wit (1229 W Belmont Ave)
Tickets: RemyBumppo.org  |  773.975.8150
Mary Shelley’s revolutionary horror classic is shocked to life in Nick Dear’s adaptation. Retold from the abandoned creature’s point of view, this taut, muscular version raises urgent questions about scientific responsibility, parental neglect, and the nature of good and evil. *MATURE CONTENT

About Remy Bumppo Theatre Company:
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company produces theatre that thrills the ear, stirs the heart, feeds the mind, and sparks a conversation. As an ensemble-based producer of intellectually and emotionally inspiring plays that reveal the power and pleasure of language, we explore timeless ideas in timely productions that celebrate our common humanity; and we invite audiences to converse directly with the art and the artists.

Remy Bumppo challenges our audiences with the intersection of expansive ideas and rich language, often presenting texts that have been sidelined because they may seem too intellectually complex, demanding active intelligence as well as great passion from artist and patron alike. We produce such art in order to advance deeper understanding of the human condition, test commonly perceived notions, and elevate cultural discourse. We then invite audiences to converse directly with the art and the artists, engaging them in one-on-one conversation about the work itself through innovative supplementary programming.

Court Theatre presents:
FRANKENSTEIN
by Manual Cinema
adapted from the novel by Mary Shelley
concept by Drew Dir
devised by Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, and Julia Miller
original music by Kyle Vegter and Ben Kauffman
November 1 - December 2, 2018
Court Theatre (5535 S Ellis Ave)
Tickets: 773.753.4472  |  CourtTheatre.org
In a special world premiere presentation at Court Theatre, internationally-renowned multimedia company Manual Cinema stitches together the classic story of Frankenstein with Mary Shelley's own biography to create an unexpected story about the beauty and horror of creation. Using an ingenious “laboratory" of cameras, overhead projectors, actors, and puppets—and accompanied live by a chamber ensemble performing Kyle Vegter and Ben Kauffman’s haunting original score—Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein assembles music, theater, and silent film to create a Frankenstein like you’ve never seen before.

About Court Theatre
Court Theatre is the professional theatre of the University of Chicago, dedicated to innovation, inquiry, intellectual engagement, and community service. Court endeavors to make a lasting contribution to classic American theatre by expanding the canon of translations, adaptations, and classic texts. Court revives lost masterpieces, illuminates familiar texts, explores the African American theatrical canon, and discovers fresh, modern classics.

About Manual Cinema
Manual Cinema is a performance collective, design studio, and film/ video production company founded in 2010 by Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, Ben Kauffman, Julia Miller, and Kyle Vegter. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive visual stories for stage and screen. Using vintage overhead projectors, multiple screens, puppets, actors, live feed cameras, multi-channel sound design, and a live music ensemble, Manual Cinema transforms the experience of attending the cinema and imbues it with liveness, ingenuity, and theatricality.

Lookingglass Theatre Company presents:
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
Written and Directed by Ensemble Member David Catlin
From the Book by Mary Shelley
May 8–August 4, 2019
Lookingglass Theatre Company (821 N Michigan Ave)
Tickets: lookingglasstheatre.org | 312.337.0665

Within every man there is a monster; within every monster, a man. But which is which? An eerie evening of ghost stories crackles to life as Mary Shelley unspools her tale of Victor Frankenstein and his unholy experiment. This gothic tale of love, horror, and the power to create life—and destroy it—awakens in this visceral, original retelling of Frankenstein. Fresh from the brain of Ensemble Member David Catlin, creator of Moby Dick and Lookingglass Alice, comes a galvanic adaptation of this undying story. See for yourself this latest invention come to shocking life!

About Lookingglass Theatre Company
Inventive. Collaborative. Transformative. Lookingglass Theatre Company, recipient of the 2011 Regional Theatre Tony Award, was founded in 1988 by eight Northwestern University students. Entering its 31st Season, Lookingglass is home to a multi-disciplined ensemble of artists who create story-centered theatrical work that is physical, aurally rich and visually metaphoric. The Company has staged 66 world premieres, received 144 Joseph Jefferson Awards and nominations, and work premiered at Lookingglass has been produced in New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Berkeley, Philadelphia, Princeton, Hartford, Kansas City, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Louisville and St. Louis. In 2016, Lookingglass received the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.

Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago's landmark Water Tower Water Works opened in June 2003. In addition to developing and presenting Ensemble work, Lookingglass Education and Community programs encourage creativity, teamwork and confidence with thousands of community members each year. For more information, visit lookingglasstheatre.org.