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You’ll Laugh, You Might Cry, And You’ll Definitely Love This Play
Posted on March 11th, 2011 by Dawn Trottier
The Druid Theatre of Ireland has revived Olivier Award-winning playwright Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan and is bringing it to Chicago this month at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
The two-hour long play follows the story of an ambitious orphan, Billy “Cripple” Claven vying for his big break when a Hollywood documentary crew shows up on the impoverished Irish isle where he lives. The New York Times calls it “a subversive charmer” and The Guardian has praised it as “a break-your-heart, cruelly funny evening with an exhilarating ruthlessness.”
The Cripple of Inishmaan will run from March 16-27 at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier and tickets range from $46 to $56. For ticket purchasing and a complete schedule, visit the theatre’s website here.
Photo courtesy of Ros Kavanagh
Tags: chicago plays, chicago shakespeare, cripple of inishmaan, druid theatre of Ireland, irish chicago, Navy Pier, theatre
‘Rock of the Ages’ Brings Best of the ’80s To Chicago
Posted on September 22nd, 2010 by
When The New York Times refers to a musical “As guilty as pleasures get,” how can you resist? Tony Ward Nominee and “American Idol” finalist Constantine Maroulis rocks Chicago in the newest Broadway hit “Rock of the Ages.”
Small town girl falls in love with big city rocker in 1987 Los Angeles to the greatest songs of the 80s. The story is told through the hits of Journey, Night Ranger, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Pat Benatar, Twisted Sister, Poison, Whitesnake and many more.
Ticket prices range from $18 to $85 and may be ordered through Ticketmaster. For group tickets, call 312-977-1710. “Rock of Ages” is showing at the Bank of America Theatre from September 21 to October 3 and runs approximately 2.5 hours, including intermission.
The show advises that some of the costumes, dancing and language may not be appropriate for children under the age of 14.
This post was sponsored by the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre.
Tags: bank of america theatre, broadway in chicago, rock of the ages, theatre
‘Bye Bye Liver’ Continues To Show Audiences A Good Time
Posted on September 8th, 2010 by
Bye Bye Liver – hello fun! Every weekend at the Pub Theater Cabaret inside Fizz Chicago in Lakeview “Bye Bye Liver: The Chicago Drinking Play” involves interactive social games, pitting males versus females, actors versus audience, etc.
The show is so popular in Chicago that is has sold out every weekend for the past four years, so book your tickets early! Running about an hour, Bye Bye Liver can been seen every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. Don’t forget the drink specials: $15 buckets and $4.50 house drinks.
So what are you waiting for? A better guarantee for a good time? Not going to happen.
Must be 21 or older.
This post was sponsored by the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre.
Tags: bar, bye bye liver, fizz chicago, Lakeview, pub theater, theatre
Eclipse Theatre Company Concludes 2010 Arthur Miller Season With A Bang
Posted on August 31st, 2010 by
Eclipse Theatre Company now presents A Memory of Two Mondays by Arthur Miller at the Greenhouse Theatre Center in Lincoln Park. Running from September 2nd to October 17th, A Memory of Two Mondays was directed by ensemble member Steven Fedoruk and will be the final production of the Arthur Miller series.
The drama takes place in 1930s Brooklyn and highlights the struggles of a warehouse worker and his desire for a college education. Miller uses some of his own personal experiences to explore the challenges of make a living and pursuing your dreams.
The Greenhouse Theatre Center is the home to some of Chicago’s off-loop theatre companies and is located at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 773-404-7336. Looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend, come out to Lincoln Park for this excellent performance!
This post was sponsored by the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre.
Tags: a memory of two mondays, arthur miller, eclipse theatre company, Lincoln Park, plays, theatre
Frost/Nixon At TimeLine Theatre
Posted on August 23rd, 2010 by
The TimeLine Theatre Company kicks off their 14th season with Frost/Nixon. Many are familiar with Ron Howard’s 2008 film, but opening up this week, audiences get to experience the show live on stage. TimeLine is very excited to be the first to bring this production to Chicago. Frost/Nixon runs from August 25th through October 10th at the TimeLine Theatre Company located at 615 W. Wellington Ave in the Lakeview neighborhood.
Director Louis Contey takes you inside the intense 1977 interviews between journalist David Frost and former president Richard Nixon. Taking place three years after the Watergate scandal, Nixon is pressured to break his silence. He agrees to have a series of interview with up-and-coming broadcaster, David Frost, but unfortunately for Nixon, tensions rise and things are said that may prove to be regrettable.
Tickets range from $28 to $38 and can be purchased online or by calling the box office at 773-281-8463. Whether or not you saw the 2008 film, the live production is not to be missed.
This post has been sponsored by Navy Pier IMAX.
Tags: frost/nixon, Lakeview, theatre, timeline theatre company
Profiles Theatre acquires Stage Left Theatre, will open as The Second Stage in September
Posted on August 18th, 2010 by
Profiles Theatre, currently in its 22 season, has acquired the former Stage Left Theatre, which will open as The Second Stage on September 1. Profiles envisions the 50-seat space to foster young, emerging, and established itinerant companies as well as serve an alternate venue to the Profiles main stage so that shows with extended runs can continue without interrupting the regular season.
Stage Left moved into the space in 1995, but will now take up residence at the new Theater Wit complex beginning in October, along with three other theatre companies.
The Second Stage is located in the heart of the Lakeview neighborhood, just a few blocks south of Wrigley Field. Paid parking is available on Clark Street across from the theatre and the Addison and Belmont ‘L’ stops are within blocks.
Profiles Theatre is a not-for-profit professional theatre company founded in 1988 by five Eastern Illinois University alumni. They strive to bring works to Chicago that illuminate the determination and resiliency of the human spirit.
Check out http://www.profilestheatre.org for information on all upcoming shows at both theatres!
This post was sponsored by Navy Pier IMAX.
Tags: Lakeview, profiles theatre, small theatre companies, stage left theater, theatre
Meet the Stars of Shrek The Musical
Posted on August 2nd, 2010 by
On Thursday, August 12, meet the stars of “Shrek The Musical” with this can’t-miss package deal, which includes a three-course lunch at La Cantina!, a Segway tour, and tickets to “Shrek The Musical” for only $120.
Lunch begins at noon at the Italian Village, followed by a 2:30 p.m. Segway tour with Absolutely Chicago. Finish your day with a 7:30 p.m. showing of “Shrek The Musical” at the Cadillac Pallace Theatre.
“Shrek The Musical” is based on the Oscar-winning Dream Works film. Full of new songs, dancing and breathtaking scenery, “Shrek The Musical” is part romance, part fairy tale and fun for everyone!
Call 312-552-5100 for reservations.
This post was sponsored by the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre.
Tags: Absolutely Segway, Family Friendly, Italian Village, Shrek The Musical, theatre
Theatre AND the Hancock Observatory
Posted on May 10th, 2010 by
Struggle with choosing which attractions you’ll visit? Everyone is functioning on tighter budgets, but Chicago is officially here to help.
Head down to a Hot Tix booth for half-priced theatre tickets, and you’ll get a surprise. If you buy two tickets, you’ll get a free admission to the John Hancock Observatory (normally around $16). Not bad!
Hot Tix has two locations. Downtown they can be found across from the Chicago Cultural Center at 72 E. Randolph (near Michigan). If you’re shopping the Mag Mile, visit them at 163 East Pearson in the Water Works Visitor Center. Either way you’re getting two deals in one!
This post was sponsored by the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre. http://www.imax.com/chicago/
Tags: Chicago Entertainment & Attractions, Chicago Shopping, Hot Tix, John Hancock Observatory, Theater Chicago, theatre
Interview With Brian Dickie, General Manager of the Chicago Opera Theater
Posted on April 23rd, 2010 by Annie Kelly
Founded in 1974, Chicago Opera Theater really took off when Brian Dickie hit town in 1999. As general manager, he has sought out talent from around the work, mounted fresh, engaging productions of such works as Death in Venice, Nixon in China, and Peter Brook’s La Tragedie de Carmen, and orchestrated the company’s move to the Harris Theater in Millennium Park. With an exciting new season soon underway, Dickie paused to chat with Concierge Preferred.
How does Chicago Opera Theater differ from other opera companies?
We do not do the big, most popular operas that flourish so well at large opera companies. We do smaller scale works, Baroque or earlier, or 20th century. And every production we do is a new production.
What are you particularly looking forward to this season?
One of the most exciting things we’re doing Moses in Egypt, by Rossini, who wrote The Barber of Seville, one of the most popular of all operas. But this is one of his serious operas, which are far less often performed, although they are full of fantastic music. And this opera has had only one performance ever in Chicago, a single performance on July 2, 1863.
And Frederica von Stade appears this season, as well….
Yes, one of the great American singers of the last 40 years and who is retiring. She appears in Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers, which he wrote for her. It’s about an actress who has come to the end of her career. I’m not suggesting it’s any way autobiographical, but she’s the perfect person to play this character.
Your job keeps you awfully busy; what do you weekends?
My wife and I have a six year old, so that means Lincoln Park Zoo, Shedd Aquarium, and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, where the butterflies are particularly sought after.
Where do you take visitors when they come to town?
We usually take one of the architectural tours, or head out to the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park. If the weather is nice, we visit the Signature Room at the top of the Hancock.
Where do you like to eat?
I always think Coco Pazzo Café is really good value. And it’s lovely. And North Pond Café is a good place to take people, with a stunning view of the park and the city beyond.
This post was sponsored by the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre. http://www.imax.com/chicago/
Tags: Chicago Entertainment & Attractions, Chicago Theatre, Millennium Park, theatre
Lookingglass Theatre’s Trust Reviewed
Posted on March 16th, 2010 by Annie Kelly
Lookingglass Theatre is perhaps best known for its highly visual, physically daring shows and a delight in adapting classics of world literature. Trust, which runs through April 25, is a relatively quiet production by this company’s standards, but there’s nothing tranquil about it. Written by David Schwimmer and Andy Bellin (based on a screenplay by Bellin and Rob Festinger) and directed by Schwimmer and Heidi Stillman, this incisive and smartly staged play takes on the all too common incidence of virtual predation.
Dominated by a wall that functions as a gargantuan computer screen and an ever-changing backdrop (photos indicate a suburban home, a hotel room, hospital, business office, ice cream shop, etc.), with chairs and tables shuttled on and off by the performers, the staging is minimalist in terms of physical stuff (the actors mime eating, drinking, driving), but generous in conjuring the real world and the alternate reality of the Internet.
The initial scenes, which fly by with the swiftness of fingers hitting a keypad, summon the quotidian (kids in their rooms, parents sharing a glass of wine after work, the whole gang catching up over the dinner table), while gradually hinting at the unseen trouble to come—a 35-year old schlub in Dockers who poses as a much younger man in order to achieve intimacy with Annie, and engaging, active teen whose innocence is not yet entirely gone.
Tags: Chicago Entertainment & Attractions, Chicago Theatre, Theater Chicago, theatre
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