News & Reviews Category
JOHN GLOVER NAMED TO NEW JEFF POST
CONGRATULATIONS TO JOHN GLOVER ON BEING NAMED THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE JEFF COMMITTEE NON-EQUITY WING.
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Eastland the Forgotten Disaster Gets a New Life
Eastland: A New Musical
Reviewed by Frank Meccia
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From Russia with Love, from The Strange Tree Group
By Lazlo Collins
“Goodbye Cruel World”, presented by The Strange Tree Group at Theater Wit, is completely satisfying soviet satirical farce, with plenty of great acting and characters. The adaptation of the 1928 play “The Suicide”, has had a checkered past. The scenes come fast and furious during this 90 minute romp that asks the question, “If I committed suicide, who would it benefit?” Well, the many answer to the question are revealed throughout the show.
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Renaissance Faire Celebrates 25 Years of Summer Fun
Bristol Renaissance Faire Pulls Out
All the Stoppes for 25th Anniversary
Bigger, bolder and more boisterous than ever, this summer’s 25th annual Bristol Renaissance Faire promises patrons an unparalleled celebration, filled with all the first-rate revelry Faire-goers have come to expect over the past two-and-a-half decades and a queen’s ransom of special surprises. More than 200,000 visitors are expected to attend Bristol’s special anniversary celebration, which begins July 7 and runs for nine weekends through Labor Day, Sept. 3.
Rosemont Serves up Summer Fun
SPEND THE SUMMER IN ROSEMONT!
MB FINANCIAL PARK AT ROSEMONT BRINGS
LIVE MUSIC, COMEDY, NIGHTLIFE AND MORE TO CHICAGO’S NORTHWEST SUBURBS
“Rockin’ in the Park at Rosemont”–Free Outdoor Music Festival to be held in the 30,000-sq.-ft. Lawn Space at the Heart of MB Financial Park at Rosemont June 8-10
Newest entertainment venues to open are Adobe Gila’s Margarita Fajita Cantina, June 5, Park Tavern mid-June, Zanies Comedy Club July 6, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill mid-July and My Big Fat Greek Restaurant August 1
This summer, MB Financial Park at Rosemont, a new dining and entertainment district, will be abuzz with the hottest new dining and entertainment venues, charity events, and a free summer music festival. “MB Financial Park at Rosemont will have something for everyone this summer,” said Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens. “We are thrilled we can provide new and exciting entertainment options to the community, and are confident that our events will become a must-do for the greater Chicago area.”
Tuesday, June 5: Adobe Gila’s Margarita Fajita Cantina, located at 5455 Park Place, will officially open its doors Tuesday, June 5 at 10 p.m. Adobe Gila’s is the home of the famous sizzling fajita and also offers a variety of delicious Mexican and American appetizers, entrees and sandwiches including made-to-order guacamole as well as a large kid-friendly menu. Guests will enjoy lunch and live entertainment seven nights-a-week. Adobe Gila’s closes at 4 a.m. seven nights a week and never has a cover charge.
Thursday, June 7: Kings Lanes, Lounge & Sports will host the Charles Tillman Pro BOWLer Charity Fundraiser, presented by Meijer. This exclusive event will take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. to support the Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation, which provides resources for critically and chronically ill children in the Chicago-area. The fundraiser will be an exclusive evening of bowling, dining and celebration, where guests will have the opportunity to bid on live and silent auction items including autographed sports memorabilia. Some of Tillman’s current and former Chicago Bear teammates will join him in bowling for the cause including Devin Hester, Matt Toeaina, Nick Roach, Alex Brown and Anthony Adams.
Friday, June 8- Sunday, June 10: “Rockin’ in The Park at Rosemont,” an eclectic outdoor music festival at MB Financial Park, will feature 11 live bands, food and drink and free admission, from June 8-10.
The festival will be held on the great lawn in the center of new MB Financial Park at Rosemont. Admission is free and food and drink will be available for purchase from restaurants within the complex. The festival runs Friday, June 8 from 5 – 11 p.m., Saturday, June 9 from 1 – 11 p.m. and Sunday, June 10 from 1 – 7 p.m. Each day boasts a variety of live music including Jimmie Van Zant, Infinity, Wedding Banned, April’s Reign, Kashmir, He Said, She Said, Smokin Gunz, Hot Rocks, Fortunate Sons, School of Rock, and Rod Tuffcurls. Outside coolers cannot be brought into the park. A full schedule of performance times can be found below.
Festival Schedule
Friday, June 8
5:00 p.m. April’s Reign (Rock)
7:00 p.m. Kashmir (Led Zeppelin Tribute)
9:15 p.m. Jimmie Van Zant
Saturday, June 9
1:00 p.m. He Said, She Said (Rock/Pop)
2:45 p.m. Smokin Gunz (Country)
4:30 p.m. Hot Rocks (Rolling Stones Tribute)
7:15 p.m. Fortunate Sons (CCR/Rock)
9:00 p.m. Infinity (Classic Rock)
Sunday, June 10
1:15 p.m. School of Rock (Kids Rock Band)
3:00 p.m. Rod Tuffcurls (80s Pop)
5:15 p.m. Wedding Banned (80’s Pop/Rock/Glam)
July 6: Zanies Comedy Night Club, located at 5437 Park Place, will officially open its doors with a a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, July 6 with Rosemont Mayor, Brad Stephens, followed by its first show at 8 p.m. Opening weekend shows will feature Chicago All Stars Pat McGann (The Chicago Standup Project), Larry Reeb (HBO & Showtime) and Dobie Maxwell (Late Night with Craig Ferguson.) Other Chicago Favorites are sure to stop in. There will be free admission all weekend – July 6 and 7.
Other Summer Openings
Mid-June: Park Tavern is a contemporary spin on the gastropub that serves gastropub food in a casual yet stylish setting. Guests can pour their own draft beer from the comfort of plush overstuffed booths with the restaurant’s unique table-tap systems. In warmer months, they can enjoy a craft cocktail and the view of The Park from the roof-deck.
Mid-July: Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill will be a fun and rowdy atmosphere inspired by the music and the attitude of the “Big Dog Daddy” himself, Toby Keith. “I Love This Bar & Grill” will offer a mason jar-full of entertainment all week long; whether you want to watch the big game on one of its numerous flat screen TVs, listen to live country music from some of the country’s best high-energy live bands, dance the night away or eat some delicious down-home barbeque cooking.
August 1: My Big Fat Greek Restaurant will transport guests to the shores of the Aegean and the Mediterranean as they feast on delicious traditional Greek specialties, including dolmades, taramosalata, roast lamb, moussaka, roast chicken and, of course, flaming plates of saganaki, always accompanied by the waitstaff’s enthusiastic shouting of the classic Greek exclamation “Opa!”
In September, Hofbräuhaus Chicago will open just in time for Oktoberfest celebrations.
Theatre On the Lake to Revive Local Productions for Summer
THEATER ON THE LAKE ANNOUNCES ITS 60TH SEASON OF REVIVED PRODUCTIONS FROM LOCAL COMPANIES
The schedule for all performances June 13 – Aug. 5 is Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6:30 p.m.
Single tickets are $17.50 and a season subscription to all eight plays is available at a discounted price of $110. All individual tickets go on sale June 5, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Theater on the Lake box office at Fullerton Avenue and Lake Michigan or via phone at (312) 742-7994. Beginning June 5, the box office is open Tuesdays – Saturdays, 2 – 8 p.m. and Sundays, 3:30 – 7:30 p.m
Paid parking is available at the Lincoln Park Zoo located at Fullerton Avenue and Cannon Drive. CTA bus routes 151 or 156 both serve the area; for schedules, contact the RTA/CTA at (312) 836-7000. For patrons with special needs, please contact the box office at 312-742-7994 to arrange for valet parking services.
For more information about the Chicago Park District, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or call (312) 742-PLAY.
Redtwist Extends Cripple of Inishmaan
Trailer Park comes to Chicago
Kokandy Productions proudly presents “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” (“Trailer Park), Aug. 3 through Aug. 26, 2012 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont. Directed by John D. Glover with musical direction by Allison Hendrix and choreographed by Tom Coppola, “Trailer Park” comically demonstrates what happens when you jump out of the frying pan and into the trailer park. The preview performance is Thursday, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. and opening/press night is Friday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. For tickets visit www.kokandyproductions.com or call the box office at 773-975-8150.
All is Good at the Asylum
By Lazlo Collins
Seeing the “The Persecution and Assassination of Jean-Paul Marat as Performed by the Inmates of the Asylum of Charenton Under the Direction of the Marquis De Sade” after so many years, I was a little nervous. It is not done and generally contains a large cast committed to being, well, crazy. Commonly known as the “Marat/Sade”, this intensely written drama by Peter Weiss is a masterwork in its depth of emotions, and what it causes us to think about, as we witness the plays’ events. This innovative play portrays class struggle and human suffering. It asks the very basic questions of power, authority, and our own destinies.
Are You Down with the Sisterhood?
Kayland Smyth
When I first researched and read the synopsis for The Dowager Daughters of Transcendence I made the assumption that it would be boring. But when I found out that the play was a comedy I became a little more excited and prepared for a laughing fit. And I am pleased to say that I got the laughter I was looking for but I left the theatre a little confused on a few parts in the play.
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