BROADWAY IN CHICAGO’S FREE 2013 SUMMER CONCERT

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce their annual FREE BROADWAY IN CHICAGO SUMMER CONCERT will take place on Monday, August 5, 2013 at 6:15 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park (201 E Randolph St).  Hosted by ABC 7 Chicago’s Janet Davies, Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini, the headlining performance will feature cast members from the smash hit Broadway musical MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, as well as Broadway’s biggest blockbuster WICKED, and showcase additional cast performances from ELF, EVITA, FLASHDANCE THE MUSICAL, GHOST THE MUSICAL, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, ONCE and WE WILL ROCK YOU.  The Broadway In Chicago Summer Concert at Millennium Park is sponsored by ABC 7 Chicago and produced in partnership with The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events.

This year’s concert will also feature performances by the 2013 Illinois High School Musical Theater Award recipients: John Clay III of Oak Park, Illinois, and Taylor Marie Sherry of St. Charles, Illinois.  Clay and Sherry will participate in The Jimmy™ Awards in New York City, named for legendary Broadway theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander, on July 1, 2013.

“We love being able to give back to our loyal fans and the residents of Chicago with this free concert,” said Eileen LaCario, vice president of Broadway In Chicago. “To see the number of Broadway performers who gather together for this one special night and their joy in performing on the stage of one of the most extraordinary outdoor concert settings – it is truly one of our favorite nights.”

Presented in collaboration with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events as part of Millennium Park Presents, May 26–September 11 (various dates; start times vary), Millennium Park proudly presents symphonic music, dance, opera, Broadway hits and more—performed by some of Chicago’s best-loved cultural institutions.  For full calendar information, visit millenniumpark.org.  For exciting facts about the Park, program updates and weather cancellations, follow us on Twitter @Millennium_Park and like us on Facebook.

CHICAGO PRODUCTION OF OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES

FEATURES DARA CAMERON, ALEX GOODRICH, TIM KAZURINSKY, RENEE MATTHEWS & GENE WEYGANDT

Limited engagement at Royal George Theatre starts September 24;

The producers of the hit Off-Broadway show OLD JEWS TELLING JOKESare kvelling to announce that the upcoming engagement at Chicago’s Royal George Theatre will feature a quintet of familiar (and not-so-old) faces:  Dara Cameron, Alex Goodrich, Tim Kazurinsky, Renee Matthews and Gene Weygandt.  OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES begins performances on the Main Stage of the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Street, Tuesday, September 24

Created by Peter Gethers and Daniel Okrent, OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES is directed by Marc Bruni (Associate Director, The Book of Mormon Chicago) and showcases the five actors in a revue that pays tribute to and reinvents classic jokes of the past and present. Think you’ve heard them all before?  Not this way. The show also features comic songs — brand new and satisfyingly old – as well as tributes to some of the giants of the comedy world and to OldJewsTellingJokes.com, the website created by Sam Hoffman that inspired the show.   The Off-Broadway production of OLD JEWS TELLING JOKES opened to rave reviews in May 2012 at the Westside Theatre where it continues to play to sold-out houses.

“Having spent last season with the Mormons, I can’t wait to spend this one with Chicago’s Old Jews! This is an extraordinary cast of joke tellers who will deliver a hilarious and heartwarming production,” said Bruni. “And at these prices, why don’t you have your tickets already?”

MORE JEFF NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NOMINEES

CONGRATULATIONS TO PETER OYLOE, DAVID ZAK AND KEVIN BELLIE (PAST GUESTS OF CHICAGO THEATRE REVIEW)

SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS TO CAT WILSON (REVIEWER FOR CHICAGO THEATRE REVIEW) ON HER NOMINATION

THIS YEARS JEFF AWARDS WILL BE DIRECTED BY

ENDURING LOVES – NEXT THEATRE

A DATE TO BE SAVED
MAY 7, 2013
Please mark your calendar now
to see
the
new
play
ENDURING LOVES
It’s
about
aging,
losses personal and financial,
friendship,
death,
loyalty,
and
life.
U guessed it!
It’s a comedy!
by
Zan Skolnick
(TELL YOUR FRIENDS)
to be read
at
NEXT THEATRE
927 W. Noyes
Evanston,IL
(as part of Chicago Writers’ Bloc/CWB
2013 Festival of New Plays)
8 p.m. curtain
For tickets call 1-800/838-3006,
online at www.browpapertickets.com,
or pay at the door.
Further donations welcome
More info?
zbskolnick@gmail.com

ROKA BAR

Just in time for sping, Roka Akor located at 456 N. Clark, in River North features its new Roka Bar menu, available from 5pm until 7pm and 9:30pm to close. Executive chef CeBain has created

a collection of intriguing dishes and

mixologist Jason Huffman enhances the tone with sophisticated yet sassy spring cocktails.

Be sure to check out the Shochu Smash cocktail made with Mango Thai Chilie Shochu, Orange and lemon wheels and fresh mint.

www.rokaakor.com

A Revival in Need of More Work

Jekyll & Hyde

What has become of legit singing? Where is simplicity? Has musical theatre totally morphed into a reflection of what the rest of America has become: a land of excess where, like the cars it drives, the speeds at which everything travels, the prices we pay, and 99% of its music have evolved into more, bigger, faster and louder? This seems to be director/choreographer Jeff Calhoun’s modus-operandi for his revival of Frank Wildhorn’s reworked magnum opus, which has been around in some form or other since 1990. It ultimately made its Broadway debut in 1997 and, between that production, national and international tours and local productions, it has developed quite a cult following. And like this pre-Broadway tour, that earlier incarnation also played Chicago prior to opening in New York City. Hopefully there will be some adjustments made before this production reaches the Big Apple.

MB FINANCIAL PARK AT ROSEMONT GOES MAD IN MARCH

Announcing St. Patrick’s Day, March Madness and Easter
Celebrations at MB Financial Park’s Restaurants and Attractions
 

This March, MB Financial Park at Rosemont’s unparalleled roster of restaurants and attractions will offer specials all month long in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, March Madness and Easter.

Between the weekend-long lineup of St. Pat’s festivities March 15 – 17 at Five Roses Pub, Hofbräuhaus Chicago’s Grand Opening celebration March 18, Kings Lanes, Lounge & Sports March Madness tournament March 27 and family-friendly packages for Easter Sunday, March 31 – not to mention Adobe Gila’s Margarita Fajita Cantina, Bogart’s Bar & Grill, Park Tavern and Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill – MB Financial Park at Rosemont has something for everyone this March.

For more information visit www.Rosemont.com.

FASHION OUTLETS OF CHICAGO ANNOUNCES RETAIL LINEUP

Bloomingdale’s The Outlet Store, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th
and 120 brands to open August 1, 2013
Premier U.S. outlet developer and manager AWE Talisman and Macerich (NYSE:MAC), one of the nation’s leading regional mall owners, operators and developers, today named the full slate of anchors and the list of specialty stores coming to Fashion Outlets of Chicago.  The new property is set to open just outside of Chicago – minutes away from O’Hare International Airport – in Rosemont, Ill., on August 1, 2013.
Anchors opening at the two-level, 530,000 square-foot outlet mall include Bloomingdale’s The Outlet Store, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th and Forever 21.

THE 79TH McDONALD’S® THANKSGIVING PARADE

Millions of parade-goers will kick off Thanksgiving Day amidst sky-high balloons, dazzling equestrian units, the nation’s top marching bands, talented dance troupes and the best in varied cultural entertainment. This year’s M

cDonald’s® Thanksgiving Parade will take place LIVE on State Street between Congress Parkway and Randolph Street in downtown Chicago on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (CST). For those not on the street for the cherished annual parade, the festivities will be broadcast live on WGN-9 Chicago and WGN America.

This October and November at Mayne Stage

Mayne Stage proudly presents a full lineup of eclectic events this October and November featuring XRT welcomes Leon Russell, double bill with new wave bands Bow Wow Wow and Men Without Hats, Indian electronic pioneer

Karsh Kale and more. Tickets are currently on sale at (866) 468-3401 or www.maynestage.com