| How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found Nov 10 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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Mary-Arrchie Theatre at
Angel Island Theater |
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| If you had to disappear from your life, would you be able to delete yourself from Facebook? In this thrilling new play, a young advertising executive reaches the breaking point and decides to buck the system. He turns to an expert who can give him a detailed lesson in the art of escape. The mission? To dispose of everything that defined his former self. It's an adrenaline-charged, apocalyptic journey to the edge of existence. HOW TO DISAPPEAR will have you questioning everything that makes us who we are in the 21st Century. |
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| Plaid Tidings Nov 11 - Dec 27, 2009 |
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Noble Fool Theatricals |
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| The Forever Plaid four part harmony group returns thanks to a heavenly phone call from Rosemary Clooney! The heaven-sent boys (Sparky, Smudge, Jinx, and Frankie) are back to sing songs of the 30's, 40's, 50's, and a "Plaid-erized" version of Christmas specials to fulfill their mission of creating a little harmony in a troubled world. Includes a hilarious tribute to the Ed Sullivan Christmas Spectaculars featuring the Rockettes, the Chipmunks, The Vienna Boys Choir and more! |
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| He Who Gets Slapped Nov 11 - Nov 22, 2009 |
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Columbia College Chicago |
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| When life gets difficult, Paul Beaumont responds to betrayal and despair by slamming the door on a life of culture and science and running away….to join the circus! In a provincial French town in the early 19th century, Beaumont is re-incarnated as HE WHO GETS SLAPPED, a clown who can endure 100 slaps in the face, and have the audiences begging for more. However, Paul’s sad past comes back to haunt him, and new entanglements bring tragedy to the family of “artistes” that have made him one of their own among the aerialists, lion tamers and stunt people of this mesmerizing one-ring circus. |
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| Bear Down! Nov 11 - Dec 16, 2009 |
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Pub Theater at Fizz Chicago |
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| Bear Down! is a new comedy from The Pub Theater that asks Bears Fans, “Have you accepted Jay Cutler as your personal savior?” Ghosts of Bears Quarterbacks Past appear to a group of diehard fans who devote their entire lives to the blue and orange during football season. These obsessed fans are ready for a monster year thanks to the Bears new, highly-heralded quarterback, Jay Cutler, but begin to get frustrated, however, as the season takes a turn for the worse. Bear Down! is an over-the-top comedic ride that is a must-see for Bears fans across Chicago. |
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| Democracy Nov 12 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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Eclipse Theatre Company at
The Greenhouse Theater Center |
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| In the political society of Washington in the spring of 1875, two beautiful American women must decide whether to marry two dashing American men, knowing they will also marry what their men believe about America, religion, truth and success. Linney's theatrical adaptation of two novels mixes Henry Adams' tales of love and ambition in Washington with scandals from the Ulysses S. Grant administration. This insightful vision of American democracy is scathing, funny and surprisingly relevant. |
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| A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant Nov 12 - Jan 3, 2010 |
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A Red Orchid Theatre |
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| Based on the tremendous critical and artistic success of last years Chicago premiere and in the spirit of other’s Christmas Carol and Santaland Diaries, the Pageant is back. With many of the original cast members as well as new faces on stage, this year promises to be hugely entertaining, surprisingly enlightening and just a bit disturbing. An anonymous company of merry children gather on a cold winter night to rejoice in telling the story of Scientology founder and hero L. Ron Hubbard. This satirical musical explores the magic of Dianetics, the fascinating E-meter, the immortal Thetans, and the entrancing story of Xenu with the straightest of faces. |
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| Souvenir Nov 12 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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Northlight Theatre |
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| The comedic and musical true story of Florence Foster-Jenkins: a New York socialite whose tin ear couldn't keep her off the stage at Carnegie Hall. Seen through the eyes of her beloved accompanist, Souvenir is a touching and comic tribute to Ms. Jenkins' sincerity, ambition, deep love of music and complete lack of talent, all of which brought a very unique joy to thousands. |
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| The Mystery of Irma Vep Nov 12 - Dec 13, 2009 |
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Court Theatre |
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| Two actors take on innumerable dramatis personae in Ludlum's high-camp quick-change act. Vep satirizes all that is ridiculous in Gothic horror, Victorian melodrama, classic film, and conventional theater--and it's also a contender for the funniest American play of the last quarter-century. |
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| Stars in the Morning Sky Nov 12 - Nov 22, 2009 |
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UIC Theatre |
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| This retelling of Maxim Gorky's "The Lower Depths" has been adapted by Peter Christensen and Yasen Peyankov, head of UIC's acting program. It begins on the eve of the 1980 Moscow Olympics, when police herd prostitutes to the city's ramshackle outskirts. Four of them are left in a dilapidated barracks that once served as a mental hospital. Under the control of a jailer, her police-officer son and a brutal fifth prostitute, they tell their stories of family betrayals and class divisions in a communist society. |
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| Becoming Ingrid Nov 12 - Dec 5, 2009 |
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Rubicon Theatre Project at
Stage Left Theatre |
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| Set in the dank gray moors of Scotland, this fantastical excursion follows a loveable American woman named Christine and her obsessive quest to be close to her favorite author, Ingrid. While narrating with the fervor of an aspiring writer, the humorously skittish Christine attempts to appropriate Ingrid’s character, and in the process is unwittingly forced to deconstruct her own illusions of love and happiness, unpredictably affirming the age-old proverb that you can’t judge a book by its cover. |
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| The Christmas Schooner Nov 12 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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Theatre At The Center |
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| The Christmas Schooner has quickly become a beloved Chicago holiday classic, a wonderful look at families and traditions. This holiday classic tells the story of Peter and Alma Stossel, whose pioneering spirit is full of the energy and dreams of America in the 19th century. With the help of Peter's young son Karl, and the companionship of his father, Gus, from the old country, Peter decides to take Christmas Trees from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan across the icy waters to post-fire Chicago. |
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| All the Fame of Lofty Deeds Nov 12 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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The House Theatre of Chicago at
Chopin Theatre |
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| While all his contemporaries died tragic, early deaths in the mid century, fictional country music legend Lofty Deeds is alive and bewildered in the present, unsure what to make of the modern-day cartoonish exploitation of his past and his own obsolescence. Sadly reflective and yet hilariously surreal, All the Fame of Lofty Deeds mixes rock biography, live music, puppetry, and stunning visual effects to create a portrait of the demise of country and western’s golden age and the exploitation of its greatest heroes. |
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| Posthumorous Nov 12 - Nov 22, 2009 |
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Village Players Performing Arts Center |
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Dexter Twain has planned a funeral of discovery for his friends in rural Minnesota. His death has left a lot of questions that need to be answered, and many answers left in fortune cookies. As Dexter meets up with his parents and other friends in the afterlife, it turns out he has a lot to discover himself as his funeral approaches. This comedy, with its hilarious twists and turns, will be sure to keep audience members laughing. |
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| Mass Nov 12 - Nov 15, 2009 |
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Northwestern University at
Cahn Auditorium |
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| Originally commissioned by Jacqueline Kennedy in 1971 and composed by Leonard Bernstein, MASS features an eclectic mix of genres that includes rock, jazz, Broadway, blues, opera and hymns. Directed by Jeff Award-winner Dominic Missimi, this large-scale musical canvas will include new lyrics by Stephen Schwartz in consultation with Jamie Bernstein. |
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| The Addams Family Nov 13 - Jan 10, 2010 |
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Ford Oriental Theatre |
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| In a prolific career spanning six decades, Charles Addams created several thousand cartoons, sketches and drawings, many of which were famously published in The New Yorker. But it was his creation of characters that came to be known as The Addams Family that brought Addams his greatest acclaim. Now The Addams Family comes to life in a new musical which will make it's world premiere in Chicago in November 2009. |
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| Beethoven, As I Knew Him Nov 13 - Dec 5, 2009 |
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Drury Lane- Water Tower Place |
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| Hershey Felder's Beethoven, As I Knew Him is a dramatization of a little known true story as told in 1870, forty-three years after Beethoven's passing, by the person who spent a good part of the maestro's last two years by his side. With a narrative spanning several generations, Hershey Felder combines his acting, piano and musical analytical skills to bring to life the character of Ludwig van Beethoven as he existed through the eyes of one who knew him well. Featuring some of the composer's most famous works, including The Moonlight Sonata, The Pathetique Sonata, selections from Beethoven's Symphonies Nos. 5 and 9, the Grosse Fugue, as well as a movement of Beethoven's great Emperor Concerto, Beethoven, As I Knew Him is a journey through time that will bring audiences closer to the genius of the maestro Ludwig van Beethoven himself. |
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| My Three Angels Nov 13 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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Attic Playhouse |
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| Set in French Guiana, a region where on Christmas Eve the temperature has graciously dropped to 104 degrees, three amiable convicts are employed as roofers above the Ducotel's general store. The roof winds up being the least of the family's troubles. On the way from France is Henri - an evil-minded cousin and owner of the flailing store, and his nephew Paul - who recently jilted the Ducotel's fanciful young daughter. The three warm-hearted convicts are passionate believers in true justice, and decide it's their job to take the visitors on as they plot to set matters right. A captivating and comedic holiday treasure also known as "We're No Angels." |
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| Dr. Harlon's Keys To Better Living Nov 13 - Dec 13, 2009 |
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ComedyChicago Productions at
Royal George Theatre |
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| In a series of monologues, interspersed with video segments that illuminate those “Keys to Better Living,” the audience is introduced first to Dr. Harlon Stewart, and then to ten people who subscribe to the image-conscious behavior that he's espousing - people like Greg Woodside, a father determined to get the perfect Christmas card picture of his infant son; Irving Cloyd, an elderly booking agent fighting obsolescence; Trey Oliver, a socialite and international traveler; Bobby Velour, a take-no-prisoners nightclub entertainer; and Ken Liederman, a down-on-his-luck mattress salesman. |
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| A Christmas Carol, The Musical Nov 13 - Jan 2, 2010 |
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Marriott Theatre In Lincolnshire |
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| his holiday season, the Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents A Christmas Carol, The Musical. It is the endearing combination of a treasured tale with the soaring music by a Disney musical genius - and the result is breathtaking. Composer Alan Menken (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin) infuses the Dickens holiday classic with music the whole family will cherish. |
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| The Happy Family Series Nov 13 - Dec 6, 2009 |
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The Magpies at
The Viaduct |
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| Showcasing more than 30 artists over three weeks, The Happy Family Series is a brimming collection of big-hearted demonstrations exploring “harmonic antagonisms,” the awkward equilibriums, true or false, that we forge with our loved ones/enemies. With performative lectures, scroll storytellings, multi-media monologues, live music ranging from cabaret to country, one-act plays, videos, puppetry, improvisational bits and more, the series is a veritable vaudeville of delivery systems coming together to tackle a common theme: P.T. Barnum’s famous American Museum exhibit, “The Happy Family.” |
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| The David Bowie Hepzikat Velvet Flarney Solstice Spectacular...Live From Space! Nov 13 - Dec 19, 2009 |
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New Millennium Theatre Company at
National Pastime Theater |
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| In this high energy holiday romp, based off a fictional Christmas Special that never was, audiences will be treated to a star-studded tribute to the classic Andy Williams Christmas Specials of the 70s. This one of kind variety show spectacular features the kind of star power that only ‘Ziggy Stardust’ can command. This year, character appearances by Mick Jagger, Annie Lennox, Iggy Pop, Marianne Faithfull, Paul Lynde and Charo are just the tip of the iceberg; a special appearance by the Ghost of Freddy Mercury will remind us all of the joy of brotherhood and spirit of giving that the holiday and Solstice season brings. And when the mysterious Bizarro Bowie appears to reveal his jaded past, it’s a race for time to save the holidays from the ultimate universal implosion. Although, with so many celebrities on board, what could possibly go wrong? |
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| Is There Something Wrong? Nov 14 |
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Steppenwolf Theatre |
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| Joe Frank takes the Steppenwolf’s stage for an evening of spoken word and music in one of his most provocative pieces yet. The depth of his work – essentially a philosophical inquiry – is what gives it its real significance. Beneath every surreal flourish is a search for something to believe in: a yearning for love, a quest for self-acceptance. While one critic has called Frank “the most brilliant comic in America,” another has described Frank’s stories as “inspired weirdness that feeds on pathos and irony.” Others have used the words “hypnotic,” “psychotic,” “disturbing” and “terrifying.” All agree that Frank unfailingly manages to confound his audience’s expectations. |
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| A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas Nov 14 - Jan 2, 2010 |
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Emerald City Theatre Company at
Apollo Theater |
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| Taking its source material from ETA Hoffman's tale and the famous ballet, A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas remixes the story for a whole new generation of theatergoers. This new spin follows Fritz, a video game obsessed boy, and a heroic female Nutcracker as they chase down and stop the dastardly Mouse King from ruining Christmas. Suited for families with children ages 3 and up. |
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| Cooperstown Nov 14 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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Theatre Seven of Chicago at
The Greenhouse Theater Center |
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| It’s the summer of 1962, and Jackie Robinson is about to be the first black inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame. That doesn’t mean much to Junior Murphy, a black restaurant manager who can’t get a promotion, and whose little sister has her own history-making plans for the big weekend. When a Midwest minor-leaguer comes to town chasing his idol, the collision of race, love and baseball turns a sleepy New York town upside down. |
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| Oh Coward! Nov 17 - Mar 21, 2010 |
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Writers' Theatre |
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| You’re invited to a marvelous party! Weaving together songs and literary delights, Oh Coward! celebrates one of the theater’s greatest entertainers, Noel Coward. His effervescent music and charming quips combine for an unforgettable evening of the most memorable tunes of the 20th century. |
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| Rewind Nov 17 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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Side Project |
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| The story of three friends and musicians knocked about by the caprices of the music industry (and each other), REWIND is partly a “time capsule” for Eason, who (along with fellow Lookingglass Theatre ensemble member Joy Gregory) played at venues including the Metro, the Double Door and the now-defunct Lounge Act and recorded tracks for Sweet Pea Records as bass player for Chicago indie rock act Tart. REWIND is also a personal exploration - told in reverse chronological order - of the dark side of success, inspired by the private struggles and often public self-destruction of some of her musical idols. |
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| The Pillowman Nov 17 - Dec 27, 2009 |
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Redtwist Theatre |
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| A spellbinding drama with pitch dark humor about a writer accused of perpetrating the very acts depicted in his murderous stories. Featuring Redtwist’s Associate Artistic Director, Andrew Jessop, as the writer, and Jeff Award-winner (for Equus), Peter Oyloe, as his slow-witted brother. Tom Hickey, from Strawdog, and Redtwister, Johnny Garcia, are the good and bad cops respectively. |
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| Aunt Dan and Lemon Nov 18 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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BackStage Theatre Company at
Chopin Theatre |
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| BackStage Theatre Company begins its 10th Anniversary Season by asking you to step inside the home of a woman called Lemon. Lemon has a story to tell. What begins as a deceptively simple coming-of-age yarn about her seemingly ordinary family soon becomes a complex meditation on the persuasive power of intimacy. Written by one of the more controversial playwrights of the contemporary American theatre, Aunt Dan and Lemon is a both a mordant comedy and a chilling cautionary tale about the subversive nature of influence. |
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| A Christmas Carol Nov 18 - Dec 21, 2009 |
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Drury Lane- Oakbrook |
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| A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, the miserly old man, who receives a Christmas Eve visit from the ghost of his partner, Jacob Marley, warning him to mend his selfish ways. During the night three spirits appear before Scrooge, showing him visions of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future, finally revealing the possible results of his unloving, uncaring life. He promises to change as he's not the man he was. This all time favorite play with music is a holiday treat for the whole family. |
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| Carnival Nocturne Nov 19 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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Silent Theatre Company at
Storefront Theater |
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| Silent Theatre Company welcomes visitors into the mysterious underground world of a traveling carnival. In the midst of fire breathers, fortune tellers, bestial tamers and natural freaks, a somber secret lies – a curse that binds them all together. With a live band and physical acts of carnival performance, this original dark fable by Gillian Hastings combines the styles of Tim Burton and Edward Gorey in a thrilling and enchanting ride through a world of whimsy and macabre. |
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| Banana Shpeel - Cirque du Soleil Nov 19 - Jan 3, 2010 |
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Cirque du Soleil at
Chicago Theatre |
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| Propelled by crazy humor and intense choreography, Banana Shpeel plunges us into the world of Schmelky, a cruel and irritable producer who dangles fame and fortune in front of Emmett, an innocent and romantic actor who has come to audition for him. Emmett soon finds himself trapped in a flamboyant, anarchic world where Schmelky sows terror and reigns supreme. Emmett falls in love with the beautiful Katie and meets a bunch of absurd characters, including the strange Banana Man. But who is this mysterious Banana Man and how can Emmett escape the clutches of Schmelky and his henchmen? |
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| Fat Bitch! Nov 19 - Nov 28, 2009 |
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Chicago Center For Performing Arts |
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| Erica Watson – “big, bold and beautiful" actor, comedian, director and commentator for the Oxygen Network and BET – returns to her hometown Chicago with the solo show “Fat Bitch!” This five-night only run is a funny yet thought-provoking look at how society’s obsession with weight, race and class have formed the way the world views her shape, and includes her interactions with men, from the boardroom to the bedroom. Written and performed by Watson as a hybrid of theatre and stand-up, “Fat Bitch!” explores how black women and their bodies have always been subjected to admiration and ridicule, and shares images of “Mammy” and “Hottentot Venus.” |
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| Miracle on 34th Street Nov 20 - Jan 3, 2010 |
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Porchlight Music Theatre at
Theatre Building Chicago |
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| In a new holiday tradition, Porchlight Music Theatre presents a world-premiere production based on the classic story Miracle on 34th Street. When a white-bearded gentleman claims to be the real Santa Claus he brings about a genuine ‘Miracle on 34th Street,’ spreading a wave of love throughout New York City, convincing a divorced, cynical single mother, her somber daughter, and the entire state of New York that Santa Claus is no myth. |
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| Handel's Messiah Rocks Nov 20 - Nov 21, 2009 |
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Auditorium Theatre |
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| Handel's Messiah Rocks is a groundbreaking musical event that blends classical music with classic rock in a fresh new interpretation of George Fredrick Handel’s celebrated oratorio. The revolutionary musical event features stunning visual effects, thrilling songs, an orchestra, rock band, adult and children’s choirs and some of the most powerful voices in stage and screen. All of these elements combine to create a new genre of music that effortlessly embraces all generations and reinvigorates one of the most beloved musical compositions of all time. |
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| A Christmas Carol Nov 20 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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Steel Beam Theatre |
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| There are many adaptations of A Christmas Carol out there, but there's only one Broadway version! The whole family will enjoy this musical version of Charles Dickens' classic story of Scrooge and Tiny Tim, originally presented by Radio City Entertainment at Madison Square Garden. With a book by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, the stunning score tugs at the heartstrings and is sure to put everyone into a holiday mood! |
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| A Christmas Carol Nov 20 - Dec 31, 2009 |
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Goodman Theatre |
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| Based on Charles Dickens' 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol is the tale of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who is opposed to holiday cheer and indifferent to the sufferings of the poor in Victorian London. Scrooge is visited by four ghosts who offer him the opportunity to sympathize with his fellow man. Dickens' famous characters include Scrooge's kind-hearted clerk, Bob Cratchit, and his family, including Tiny Tim; the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future; the merry-making Fezziwig couple; and the Ghost of Jacob Marley. Throughout its history at the Goodman, over 1 million people have experienced A Christmas Carol and the production has hosted six directors, seven Scrooges, 27 Tiny Tims, and nearly 20,000 "Bah, Humbug!"s. |
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| Sing-Along with Santa Nov 21 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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Steel Beam Theatre |
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| Ho ho hope you like to sing! Santa and his surprisingly musical crew of elves are here to lead an interactive holiday experience. There's singing, sitting on Santa's lap, and even bags of goodies for the kiddies (naughty and nice). |
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| Patchwork USA! Nov 21 - Dec 12, 2009 |
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Raven Theatre |
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| Raven Theatre presents this world premiere show for children, PATCHWORK U.S.A.! written and directed by Producing Artistic Director Michael Menendian. PATCHWORK U.S.A.! is a collection of three short stories; "How I Love to Read", "Pepito's Story" and "The Happiest Day of My Life". |
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| Peter Gallagher, Don't Give Up On Me Nov 22 - Dec 14, 2009 |
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Drury Lane- Water Tower Place |
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| Peter Gallagher, Don't Give Up On Me is a new musical play by stage and screen star Peter Gallagher. Featuring great American song selections from “Pal Joey,” “Guys and Dolls,” and songs by Cy Coleman, Bart Howard, Lyle Lovett, Leon Russell, Burt Bacharach, Dan Penn and others, this new musical play is the story of an actor’s apprenticeships with the legends he admires: James Cagney, Jack Lemmon, Peter O’Toole, Stubby Kaye and more and the journey he takes with them. |
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| Katya Kabanova Nov 22 - Dec 12, 2009 |
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Lyric Opera |
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| In this early drama of sexual and social repression in a provincial Russian town, the breathtaking Karita Mattila reprises one of her greatest roles. She is Katya — married to an ineffectual man who's still under his mother's thumb, emotionally beaten down by a mother-in-law from hell, and destroyed by guilt when she grasps at happiness by taking a lover. |
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| The Ten Tenors Nov 24 - Nov 29, 2009 |
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Auditorium Theatre |
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| The internationally renowned Australian singing group The Ten Tenors returns to Chicago for the holidays, featuring songs from their new album Nostalgica as well as holiday classics. The Ten Tenors captures the intimacy between themselves and the audience during live performances, whilst invoking nostalgic memories of people, places or times in history, with songs ranging from Mexican bestsellers to post-war classics to jazz, including “Granada,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and the Louis Armstrong classic “What A Wonderful World.” Also included is their all-time, most requested song, Irish favorite, “Danny Boy,” and “Besame Mucho.” |
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| South Pacific Nov 24 - Nov 29, 2009 |
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Rosemont Theatre |
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| Set on a tropical island during World War II, the musical tells the sweeping romantic story of two couples -- US Navy nurse Nellie Forbush and French plantation owner Emile de Becque and Navy Airman Joe Cable and a young local native girl Liat -- and how their happiness is threatened by the realities of war and by their own prejudices. Considered by many the finest musical ever written, the score’s songs include such classics as “Some Enchanted Evening,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair,” “Younger Than Springtime,” “Bali Ha’i,” “There is Nothin’ Like A Dame,” “This Nearly Was Mine” and “A Wonderful Guy.” |
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| The Snow Queen Nov 27 - Dec 27, 2009 |
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Victory Gardens Theater - Biograph |
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| Warm storytelling, amazing puppetry and Michael Smith's magical score combine for a wild ride into Hans Christian Andersen's beloved winter tale. Returning are Tony-winning director Frank Galati, master puppeteer Blair Thomas & Co., choreographer Jim Corti, as well as veteran cast and band members. A delight for kids eight and up, Smith's wickedly funny lyrics and sophisticated songs of the heart equally engage adults of all ages. |
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| It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play Nov 27 - Dec 27, 2009 |
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American Theatre Company |
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| Bedford Falls. 1948. ATC transforms into a 1940’s radio studio to tell Capra’s classic story of one man’s affect on his community. This year ATC brings new life to this holiday tradition with a new cast, new Foley sound, and new scenes. Free milk and cookies are served after every show. |
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| Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer Nov 27 - Dec 18, 2009 |
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Annoyance Theatre |
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| Come watch Rudolph freak his parents out with his glowing nose. Have a blast watching Rudolph and Hermie being shunned from their respective societies because they are “different.” Scratch your head at the Island of Misfit Toys, and rejoice as Rudolph saves the day in the end. Of course, because it's the Annoyance, there will be special touches that you won't find anywhere else. |
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| The D-Cup Diatribes Nov 27 - Dec 19, 2009 |
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Gorilla Tango Theatre |
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| Breasts are visual and sexual…what else? Through the stories of six women and one 11-year old girl, the play explores… boobs, tatas, honeys, girls, honkers, nips, pillows, melons; blah, blah, blah. Breasts are BIG, larger than life. Melody ‘s compelling monologues take the audience on a journey into the muddled mind of a young girls’ pubescent transformation to the libertine life reminiscences of a 60-something former hippie wild child and their quizzical, quirky takes on body parts and their personal reloationship with them. |
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| It's a Wonderful Life: Live at The Biograph! Nov 27 - Dec 27, 2009 |
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American Blues Theater at
Victory Gardens Theater - Biograph |
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| The classic story, based on the 1946 Frank Capra masterpiece is performed as a period radio play complete with commercial breaks. The same creative team who brought this classic piece to Chicago audiences for six years once again brings the town of Bedford Falls to life, this time with a new adaptation at the new Victory Gardens Studio. |
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| It Came Upon a Midnight Queen Nov 27 - Dec 19, 2009 |
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Chemically Imbalanced Theater |
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| Dorchester Nebraska, population 700, is being hit hard by the tough economy. People are loosing jobs, and business are being closed. When ten year old Annie Mitchell finds out her town Community Center is going to close she decided to stage the BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER to save her town. All she needs is a big name celebrity to star in it. After she tries fan websites, and calls to managers she makes a Youtube video plea to get Nebraska born native Nick Nolte to be in the play. The video becomes an overnight viral sensation and Annie becomes the Celebrity needed to save her small town. She stars in the pageant she wrote "It Came Upon a Midnight Queen", the birth, life and death of Jesus inspired by the music of Queen. But is an internet star a big enough name to make the $10,000 needed to save her town? Find out in this hilarious and wild new holiday show. |
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| A Christmas Carol Nov 27 - Dec 24, 2009 |
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Metropolis Performing Arts Centre |
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| Metropolis freshens up its holiday production, of the traditional family tale written by Charles Dickens, with adaptation by Krista Scott and musical arrangements by George Maurer. Don’t miss Tiny Tim, the Cratchit family and everyone’s favorite old miser Scrooge in this fun, bright, musical retelling of the beloved holiday tale. It’s perfect for the whole family. |
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| The Second City's Exceedingly Dysfunctional Holiday Revue Nov 27 - Dec 31, 2009 |
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The Second City at
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre |
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| The Holidays: it’s the season of joy and giving, the time to deck the halls and gather with your family to fight about who mom and dad love most as you hack into Aunt Rose’s burnt turkey. Let’s face it, no holiday gathering is perfect. But now, The Second City is here to make light of every holiday misstep, whether it’s making up your own “creative” words to traditional carols or a disgruntled elf ruining the North Pole’s Christmas party. This seasonal satire is the perfect addition to your dysfunctional holiday traditions. |
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| The Wind in the Willows Nov 27 - Jan 3, 2010 |
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City Lit Theater |
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| The Wind in the Willows centers on the exploits of Mr. Toad, an amphibian obsessed with motor cars, and his steadfast friends Rat, Mole and Badger, who attempt to break him of his terrible habit. It also concerns a class struggle in the Wildwood between these creatures and the weasels, ferrets, and stoats. |
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| Mother Superior's Ho-Ho-Holy Night Nov 28 - Jan 3, 2010 |
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Royal George Theatre |
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| Vicki Quade, creator of the hit show Late Nite Catechism, sends Mother Superior to a new parish to help create a holiday pageant like never before. As always, Mother Superior's ruler is quick, her aim is spot-on, and she wants to help the folks at St. Gabriel's come up with a new holiday pageant that will impress the Vatican and win an audience with the Pope! |
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| The Story of the Little Mermaid Nov 30 - Dec 14, 2009 |
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Theatre At The Center |
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| he Story of the Little Mermaid tells the story of a young mermaid as she falls in love with her human prince. This adapted musical is suitable for the whole family during the holiday season. Follow the journey as the Little Mermaid is joined by her friends from land and sea; helping her to get her prince while overcoming one ultimate sacrifice. |
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| Whining in the Windy City: Holiday Edition Nov 30 - Dec 21, 2009 |
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Royal George Theatre |
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| Direct from co-starring as "Grandma" in the new musical, The Addams Family, acclaimed New York comedic actress (and hilarious holiday-hating Hebrew) Jackie Hoffman will debut her Whining in the Windy City: Holiday Edition, a no-holds-barred original musical comedy rant about showbiz, not-so-charming children, and of course the holidays |
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| Mrs Claus! A Holiday Musical Dec 1 - Dec 23, 2009 |
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Chicago Kids Company at
Beverly Arts Center |
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| Someone stole Santa's List! Join Mrs. Claus and the new Elf Class of 2009 as they try to find the missing List in time for Christmas. Will Mrs. Claus save the day? This CKC original, now in it’s eleventh year, has become a holiday tradition for families and schools throughout the Chicago community. This show is sure to put everyone in the holiday spirit in no time! Recommended for kids aged 2 – 12. |
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| Ricky Jay: A Rogue's Gallery - An Evening of Conversation and Performance Dec 1 - Dec 6, 2009 |
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Royal George Theatre |
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| Ricky Jay has long been considered one of the world's great sleight of hand artists and his career is further distinguished by the remarkable variety of his accomplishments as an author, actor, historian and film consultant. His one man shows Ricky Jay & His 52 Assistants and Ricky Jay: On the Stem were award winning critical and commercial theatrical events. |
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| Mark and Laura's Couples Advice Christmas Special Dec 2 - Jan 20, 2010 |
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Gorilla Tango Theatre |
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| Mark & Laura's Couples Advice Christmas Special is a satire based on T.V.'s self proclaimed counseling gurus and the dysfunctional American family. Will Mark & Laura’s volatile relationship get in the way of their primetime debut or will Christmas be officially over? |
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| American Buffalo Dec 3 - Feb 7, 2010 |
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Steppenwolf Theatre |
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| In a cluttered, run-down Chicago junk shop, three small-time crooks plot to steal a valuable buffalo nickel. As the heist unravels, the men’s frustration and paranoia intensify. Ensemble member Amy Morton directs this groundbreaking American play that weaves humor and menace throughout an emotionally charged struggle for identity and dominance. |
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| Rudolph, The Red-Hosed Reindeer Dec 3 - Jan 2, 2010 |
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Hell in a Handbag Productions at
Mary's Attic |
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| Chicago's favorite cross-dressing reindeer is back for its 12th year. Remount of David Cerda's parody of the classic children's television special "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer." |
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| Chad Morton's TV Christmas Miracle Dec 3 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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Village Players Performing Arts Center |
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| Chad Morton’s TV Christmas Miracle is a musical comedy set in a TV studio during the holiday season in 1968. Chad Morton is a Hollywood star who is past his prime. In the Fifties he was a pop singer, which turned him into a respected TV star during the Sixties who played to the two-martini crowd. But the ratings on his annual Christmas special have been dropping and the Network is forcing him to feature young artists on the show to boost the ratings, while Chad would rather surround himself with the more mature singers and comedians he has performed with for years. The network engages a young rock star, a country western singer and go-go dancers to make Chad’s Christmas special hip. The show is a fun and engaging romp through the generation gap of the Sixties. It harkens back to the Christmas specials of Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Andy Williams but also goes behind the scenes to ask the age old question: What is talent? |
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| Florida Devereaux Does the Holidays: So Classy it Hurts Dec 4 - Dec 20, 2009 |
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Brain Surgeon Theater at
Prop Theatre |
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| Elise Mayfield stars as charming, washed-up sitcom favorite, Florida Devereaux, who, when not promoting her TVshow’s Christmas special, solves mysteries! This comic holiday musical will be pleasing for the whole family. |
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| A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant Dec 5 - Jan 3, 2010 |
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Next Theatre Company |
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| A jubilant cast of children celebrates the life of L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the controversial religion, in uplifting pageantry and song. The actual teachings of The Church of Scientology are explained and dissected against the candy-colored backdrop of a traditional nativity play. Avant-garde performance art and children's theater meet in a musical that the New York Times called "...A spooky, sharp-toothed smile of a show... a halo of hipness and daring," while the Los Angeles Times hailed it as "An instant cult classic." Winner of the 2004 OBIE Award for Outstanding Musical. |
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| The Merry Widow Dec 5 - Jan 16, 2010 |
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Lyric Opera |
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| She's beautiful! She's rich! And if she can just get that playboy Danilo to propose, she'll be delirously happy too! And so will the Ambassador of Pontevedro. Why? Becasue Hanna, the Merry Widow, is his nation's wealthiest citizen. And if she's lured away by some Frenchman, she'll take all her lovely money with her, causing a financial meltdown of epic proportion. |
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| A Christmas Carol Dec 6 - Dec 7, 2009 |
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Paramount Theatre |
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| This lavish musical theatre production is bursting with pageantry, laughter, gorgeous costumes and classic lines. This Dickens’ tale has delighted audiences across America by artfully combining elements of spectacle, music and dance. Audiences of all ages are transported on a magical journey right alongside Ebenezer Scrooge. |
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| My Fair Lady Dec 9 - Feb 14, 2010 |
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Marriott Theatre In Lincolnshire |
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| This endearing and enchanting Lerner and Loewe family favorite follows the story of Eliza Doolittle. It’s 1910 in London, and a bet has been made to see if Eliza, a cockney flower girl, can be passed off as a duchess. Along the way, Eliza falls under the spell of Professor Henry Higgins, who loses sight that love is what matters most in his endeavor to transform the lowly flower girl. Containing some of the most memorable and treasured songs in musical theater such as “I Could Have Danced All Night,” On The Street Where You Live,” and “The Rain in Spain,” My Fair Lady is sure to charm audiences alike in this magical retelling of a classic story. |
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| Icarus Dec 9 - Jan 24, 2010 |
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Lookingglass Theatre |
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| Lift off with Artistic Director David Catlin (Lookingglass Alice) in this World Premiere commissioned by the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Using myth, scientific theory, visual metaphor, song, gravity-defying choreography, Icarus explores the psychological desire to take to the air, the need of a father to have his child succeed, and the dizzying despair of falling. |
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| Monsieur Chopin Dec 9 - Dec 19, 2009 |
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Drury Lane- Water Tower Place |
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| Monsieur Chopin is a celebrated work about the life and music of legendary composer, Frédéric Chopin. Audiences are invited to a private piano lesson that actually took place on March 4, 1848 in the opulent Parisian salon of the Polish maestro. As the lesson unfolds, Chopin reveals secrets about the art of the piano and composition, as well as secrets about himself. This intimate musical biography features Chopin’s greatest works, including the Prelude in C Minor, Mazurka in A Flat Major, Polonaise in A Major, and his elegant Nocturnes. |
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| The Nutcracker Dec 11 - Dec 27, 2009 |
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The Joffrey Ballet at
Auditorium Theatre |
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| Robert Joffrey’s uniquely American production of The Nutcracker, based on E.T.A. Hoffmann’s early 19th century German tale, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," premiered in 1987, and has become a Chicago holiday favorite since its first performance here in 1996. This distinctly original production of the holiday chestnut combines classical elegance with thrilling explosive action, set amidst lavish period costumes and spectacular scenery depicting Victorian America in the 1850s. Snowflakes and flowers dance into our hearts, as toys come joyfully to life amidst familiar characters such as Clara; her mischievous brother, Fritz; the King and Queen of the glorious Land of Snow; the Sugar Plum Fairy; the warring Mice led by the Mouse King; the Nutcracker Prince; and the mysterious Dr. Drosselmeyer. |
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| In the Heights Dec 15 - Jan 3, 2010 |
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Cadillac Palace Theatre |
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| Experience an exilarating journey one of Manhattan’s most vibrant communities, where the coffee from the corner bodega is light and sweet, the windows are always open, and the breeze carries the rhythm of three generations of music. Welcome to In the Heights, the 2008 Tony® Award winning Best Musical, with an amazing cast, incredible dancing and a gripping tale of hope and self-discovery. |
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| Mid-Winter's Tales '09 Dec 18 - Dec 21, 2009 |
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ShawChicago at
Ruth Page Center For Arts |
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| This evening of theater and music, a celebration of the Winter Solstice, draws from stories and songs from a variety of different cultures and generations. This treasured holiday tradition will feature the best of '08 and surprises for '09. |
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| A Christmas Carol Dec 22 - Dec 27, 2009 |
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Von Feldt Entertainment at
Lyric Opera |
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| A stellar cast of show business luminaries, including Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham, Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominee James Garner and popular character actors Wayne Knight (“Seinfeld”) and George Wendt (“Cheers,” Second City) will bring Charles Dickens’ beloved tale of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge and his visit from the three Ghosts of Christmas to life on the stage. |
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| George Gershwin Alone Dec 23 - Dec 31, 2009 |
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Drury Lane- Water Tower Place |
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| A celebrated work about the legendary American composer, George Gershwin Alone is a delightful play with music that incorporates the Gershwins' best-known songs, from The Man I Love and Someone to Watch Over Me, through passages and songs from An American in Paris and Porgy and Bess, to a complete performance of Rhapsody in Blue. The first popular composer to use jazz as the foremost musical element in the serious concert hall, Gershwin absorbed the musical styles, rhythms and sophistication of the American spirit and created a musical language that made its mark on both classical and popular music throughout the world. |
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| The Pirates of Penzance Dec 26 - Jan 3, 2010 |
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Light Opera Works at
McGaw YMCA |
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| Lock up your daughters! Everyone's favorite softhearted buccaneers are back, and they're in the mood for matrimony. Join the dashing Pirate King, the bumbling Sergeant of Police and the Modern Major General for a swashbuckling holiday good time! |
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| Funny Girl Dec 31 - Mar 7, 2010 |
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Drury Lane- Oakbrook |
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| Funny Girl is the semi-autobiographical tale of Brice’s meteoric rise to fame and her stormy relationship with Nick Arnstein, a wealthy and charming gambler. From her start as a gawky Brooklyn teen fast-talking her way into show business to becoming the toast of New York to the unraveling of her personal life, Funny Girl is a stunning, richly told tour de force about one of Broadway’s biggest stars. The endearing, poignant musical features a parade of great tunes including "People,” “My Man,” and "Don't Let It Rain on My Parade.” |
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| The Last of the Dragons Jan 2 - Feb 21, 2010 |
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Lifeline Theatre |
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| In Cornwall, every young princess is given over to a fire-breathing dragon so she can be rescued by a handsome prince. But the feisty young daughter of the current king doesn’t want to be rescued by a boy. In secret, she studies fencing and hatches a plan with a mathematically-minded prince to fight the last of the dragons herself! Journey to the heart of the dragon’s lair, and learn the meaning of bravery in this rousing musical fantasy for the whole family. |
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| Private Lives Jan 6 - Mar 7, 2010 |
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Chicago Shakespeare Theater |
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| Following his celebrated production of Amadeus this season, CST's own Gary Griffin directs Noël Coward’s stylish, savvy comedy about the people we can neither live with—nor without. Divorcés Amanda and Elyot meet up again quite by accident—on their second honeymoons, with brand-new spouses in tow. Fireworks fly as their reunion reveals just how quickly romance—and rivalry—can be rekindled. |
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| The 24th Annual Young Playwrights Festival Jan 7 - Jan 31, 2010 |
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Pegasus Players at
Truman College- O'Rourke Theatre |
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| An annual Chicago tradition and the oldest of its kind in the country, this year’s Young Playwrights Festival received over 800 plays written by teenagers throughout Chicago, marking a record number of submissions. Three winning teen playwrights will be selected to have their work receive a fully produced performance at Pegasus Players. Young Playwrights Festival showcases the next generation of playwrights, allowing audiences a unique glimpse into the minds of today's youth. |
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| Killer Joe Jan 8 - Feb 28, 2010 |
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Profiles Theatre |
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| Killer Joe focuses on the Smith family, a greedy, vindictive clan of Texans who hatch a plan to murder their estranged matriarch to cash in on her insurance policy. Unable to bring themselves to do the deed, they hire Killer Joe Cooper, a full-time cop and part-time contract killer. Once he steps into their trailer, their simple plan quickly spirals out of control. |
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| Rabbit Hole Jan 8 - Feb 7, 2010 |
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Steel Beam Theatre |
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| Winner of the Pulitzer for Drama in 2007, David Lindsay-Abaire's poignant play is a graceful and reverent look at a family's loss and their journey back from grief to a hopeful future. |
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| Hansel and Gretel Jan 9 - Feb 6, 2010 |
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Steel Beam Theatre |
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| Those who live in candy houses just aren't to be trusted... But that painful truth comes almost too late for our intrepid, albeit hungry, pair of youngsters. |
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| The Artist Needs a Wife Jan 12 - Feb 14, 2010 |
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Side Project |
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| A derelict basement apartment. Decades. In the future. Mott’s DJ career –
and his spunk – have turned to dust. Freud hasn’t been able to paint for
73 (Or is it 23? 95?) years. Maybe it’s time for a new fucking muse. Now.
What to do with the old one?
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| Out Of Order Jan 14 - Feb 20, 2010 |
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Metropolis Performing Arts Centre |
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| Secrets, affairs and a dead body… You know, politics. Conservative Junior Minister Richard Willey will do whatever it takes to keep his affair with the lovely Miss Worthington, a typist for his political opposition, a secret. Willey manages to fool everyone from his angry wife and bumbling, mama’s boy of a secretary, to the suspicious hotel manager and nosy waiter. That is until a dead body is uncovered in the hotel suite he and Miss Worthington are sharing for the evening. Now, Willey must enlist the aid of his uneasy secretary in a grand cover-up scheme which finds the dead body stuffed into a cupboard, dancing in a kick-line and eventually checking into a new hotel suite. |
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| No Exit Jan 14 - Feb 14, 2010 |
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The Hypocrites at
Loyola University Theatre |
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| "Man is condemned to be free; because once thrown into the world, he is responsible for everything he does,"once commented Jean-Paul Sartre. In his groundbreaking existential drama, No Exit, a trio of recently deceased strangers discover themselves locked in a windowless room, forced to cohabitate with each other - and only each other - for all eternity. Sartre masterfully employs this claustrophobic scenario to explore the oppressive side of individual freedom. |
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| The Wedding Jan 14 - Feb 14, 2010 |
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TUTA Theatre Chicago at
Chopin Theatre |
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| When nine middle class self-important guests converge on a young bride and groom’s apartment, each one slowly unravels the horrors of living a pretentious life. As the guests’ uptight facades collapse, a slapstick adventure full of extremely truthful physical and verbal humor is unleashed. Featuring live original music performed by the cast, The Wedding takes you through early Germany just after the fall of the Hapsburg Empire and in the face of rising Nazism on their borders. |
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| The Year of Magical Thinking Jan 14 - Feb 14, 2010 |
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Court Theatre |
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| Didion adapts her own acclaimed memoir to the stage. A fiercely intelligent, courageous, and witty exploration of loss, this monumental one-woman journey will be performed by Mary Beth Fisher in its Chicago premiere. |
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| First Words Jan 15 - Feb 28, 2010 |
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MPAACT at
The Greenhouse Theater Center |
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| Barbara is desperate to communicate with her autistic son. In spite of her husband’s objections, she secretly begins expensive, untested therapy. It may cost her the family she is fighting to keep together. |
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| The (edward) Hopper Project Jan 15 - Feb 21, 2010 |
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Storefront Theater |
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| WNEP Theater brings to life a mosaic of characters inspired by the paintings of American realist artist Edward Hopper. In a series of vignettes and short moments written by WNEP company members, a dozen actors follow Hopper’s New York from dawn to dark and thrust the audience into the quiet desperation and dark comedy of the city. |
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| Hughie/Krapp's Last Tape Jan 16 - Feb 21, 2010 |
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Goodman Theatre |
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| For this Broadway-bound double bill, Robert Falls and Brian Dennehy reprise their 2004 hit production of Eugene O’Neill’s one-act play Hughie. High-rolling gambler Erie and Hughie, the credulous night clerk at his apartment building, were confidants. Hughie admired Erie for his bold lifestyle, and Erie considered Hughie his good luck charm. When Hughie dies unexpectedly, Erie’s luck changes for the worse and he finds himself in dire straights. Then Erie meets the new night clerk, who reminds him enough of Hughie that he takes the gamble that his luck is about to change. Dennehy also stars in Samuel Beckett’s classic one-act, one-man show, Krapp’s Last Tape. Every year on his birthday, self-absorbed Krapp records the important—and the banal—moments of the last year. As he prepares to record a new tape on his 69th birthday, he begins to listen to his archives and stumbles upon a tender memory that he recorded half a lifetime ago. This immersion in his own history leads Krapp to question with growing regret whether his present lives up to his past. |
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| Dreamgirls Jan 19 - Jan 31, 2010 |
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Cadillac Palace Theatre |
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| Catch the Dream! Direct from the world-famous Apollo Theater in New York City, a brand new, sensational stage production of Dreamgirls comes to Chicago! Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, Dreamgirls tells the rags-to-riches story of a 1960s Motown girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. With music by Academy Award-nominee Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tony® and Grammy® Award – winning Tom Eyen, Dreamgirls features the unforgettable hits: “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going,” “One Night Only” and “Listen.” |
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| Freedom Trail Jan 19 - Jan 22, 2010 |
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Theatre At The Center |
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| Freedom Train follows the dramatic story of Harriet Tubman, a slave off of a Maryland plantation whose bravery took her across the lands to freedom. Her route later became known as the famous Underground Railroad, which is now familiar to all as the passage used by hundreds of people to escape slavery. Freedom Train takes the audience through creek beds and over hills in the dark of night as Harriet tells her story about how she, and subsequently other slaves, escaped in a fascinating series of highly theatrical scenes that use dance, dialogue, and music of the period. |
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| Mamma Mia! Jan 19 - Jan 24, 2010 |
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Rosemont Theatre |
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| An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna is about to let go of Sophie, the spirited daughter she’s raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends—practical and no-nonsense Rosie and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya - from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own. On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities. |
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| Annie Jan 19 - Jan 24, 2010 |
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Auditorium Theatre |
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| Leapin’ lizards! Annie is coming to Chicago! The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. Boasting one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, including “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “N.Y.C.” and the ever-optimistic “Tomorrow,” Annie is a delightful theatrical experience for the entire family. Don’t miss this all-new production that Variety calls “a winner!” |
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| 'Master Harold'... And The Boys Jan 20 - Mar 21, 2010 |
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TimeLine Theatre Company |
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| Recipient of a Drama Desk Award and a Tony Award nomination for Best Play in 1982, ’Master Harold’ ... and the Boys is considered Athol Fugard’s masterpiece, valued for both its universal themes of humanity and its skilled theater craft. Set in South Africa during the 1950s era of apartheid, it depicts how institutionalized racism can become absorbed by those who live under it. A white 17-year-old spends time with two African workers he has known all his life, and through their conversations on one rainy day we see what unites and divides them. The play’s beautiful and haunting dialogue and message of hope also inspire the recognition that there is much work to be done to bring people of different races together. |
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| Awake and Sing Jan 21 - Feb 28, 2010 |
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Northlight Theatre |
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| In a cramped Bronx tenement during the Great Depression, a working-class Jewish family copes with financial hardship even as they dream of a brighter future. Bessie Berger’s fierce determination keeps her family afloat, whatever the cost. Gritty, passionate, funny and heartbreaking, Odets' 1935 masterpiece (the Tony Award winner for best revival in 2006) beautifully captures both the hopes and the struggles of an unforgettable American family. |
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| The Brother/Sister Plays Jan 21 - May 23, 2010 |
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Steppenwolf Theatre |
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| On the banks of a steamy bayou, the tiny community of San Pere, Louisiana springs to life with stories of love, sexuality and coming-of-age. Influenced by lively Afro-Caribbean folklore, The Brother/Sister Plays explore the struggles that arise when the quest for self identity is at odds with community values. |
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| The Alcyone Festival 2010 Jan 21 - Feb 27, 2010 |
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Halcyon Theatre at
Lincoln Square Theater |
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| The Alcyone Festival 2010 will feature an in-depth examination of the work of Maria Irene Fornés in rotating repertory. Shows include: Letters from Cuba directed by Juan Castañeda Manual for a Desperate Crossing directed by Coya Paz Sarita directed by Gina LoPiccolo Summer in Gossensass directed by Lavina Jadhwani Tango Palace directed by Adam Dodds What of the Night directed by Margo Gray. |
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| Blue Door Jan 22 - Feb 28, 2010 |
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Victory Gardens Theater - Biograph |
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| Imagine being haunted by four generations of ancestors, all during one sleepless night. That’s the plight of Lewis, a middle-aged, divorced, black math professor forced to confront the insistent ghosts of his great-grandfather, his younger brother and others entwined in his life. |
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| The Castle Jan 22 - Mar 6, 2010 |
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Oracle Theatre |
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| Upon returning from the Crusades (one of them, anyway), a pious Knight, his ribald Squire, and a cunning Captured Servant behold lush, natural overgrowth where once there was an industrious kingdom. Is this what happens when the women are left in charge? Absurd carnage ensues as the Knight restores order by building walls. Barker's 1985 play is a catastrophic, repulsive, and hysterical examination of the orthodox institution's reaction to social progress. It also contains more nauseating tripe than Monty Python crammed in a clown-car. |
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| The Elixir of Love Jan 23 - Feb 22, 2010 |
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Lyric Opera |
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| When it comes to winning the prettiest girl in town, how can a shy guy from the country compete with a military man who's got cash and flash? No problem, as long as he's taking the elixir of love. This "guaranteed" potion of passion is purveyed by a loveable quack who could sell snow to an Eskimo — but who caers as long as it works? And it does! |
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| Short Shakespeare! The Comedy of Errors Jan 23 - Mar 6, 2010 |
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Chicago Shakespeare Theater |
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| CST's Short Shakespeare! series offers a perfect introduction to the Bard—for audiences of all ages. In this 75-minute abridged production, a wildly entertaining tale unfolds as identical twin brothers—and their identical twin servants—are lost in a mixed-up world of mistaken identities. Following each performance, audiences are welcome to join the cast for a post-show discussion. |
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| The Island Jan 27 - Mar 7, 2010 |
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Remy Bumppo Theatre at
The Greenhouse Theater Center |
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| Athol Fugard's daring drama is set in an unnamed prison based on the one where Nelson Mandela was held. John and Winston are cellmates who spend their days doing back-breaking labor, and their nights rehearsing Sophocles' Antigone to present to their fellow inmates. When John learns his sentence is being reduced, the men's friendship is tested. Fugard plays the parallels between Antigone's fight against political and patriarchal boundaries off of the imprisoned men's fight for their dignity. The Island is a testament to the resiliency of the human heart. |
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| Jeeves in Bloom Jan 27 - Feb 28, 2010 |
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First Folio Theatre |
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| This sequel to First Folio’s hit production of Jeeves Intervenes features the return of Christian Gray as the lovably loopy Bertie Wooster and Jim McCance as his unflappable butler Jeeves. When Bertie gets himself into another scrape, Jeeves must resign his service and re-invent himself as something other than a Gentleman’s Gentleman. |
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| Taming of the Shrew Jan 27 - Mar 7, 2010 |
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Provision Theater Company |
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| Petruchio has come to Padua wife hunting, and the object of his eye is none other than Katherina, also known as Kate the Curst - whom he vows to tame. Thus begins one of Shakespeare's most popular romantic farces; and the clash of an (almost) irresistible force with a (nearly) immovable object produces explosive (and madcap) results in this bold and fresh look at the battle of sexes. |
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| Distracted Jan 28 - Feb 28, 2010 |
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American Theatre Company |
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| America. Today. When Mom and Dad’s problems with Junior escalate, the advice from the world around them is to medicate. Does Jesse have Attention Deficit Disorder, or is he just a kid growing up in an A.D.D. world? From the author of Season 20’s smash hit Living Out, this fast-paced theatrical comedy explores the challenges of modern parenting in suburban America. |
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| It Runs in the Family Jan 29 - Mar 14, 2010 |
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Attic Playhouse |
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| Britain's master of the modern farce penned this fresh, split-second-timed romp. Set in the doctor’s common room of a London hospital, Dr. David Morton is rehearsing his speech for the prestigious Ponsonby Lecture, which almost certainly will propel his career into the stratosphere. In bursts an old flame, hotly pursued by her (their?) son, who is hotly pursued by the police. With the reluctant help of his sidekick Hubert, David begins piling lie on top of lie to protect his career, and everything spirals completely out of control. A delightfully frantic farce filled with snappy dialogue and non-stop comedic antics. |
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| Lucid Jan 29 - Feb 28, 2010 |
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Diamante Productions at
Athenaeum Theatre |
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| A discontented artist experiments with lucid dreaming, assuming control over his dreams and enacting his fantasies. Convinced that his only chance at self-actualization lies beyond the dreamscape, he embarks on a phantasmagorical affair with his idealized paramour, only to blur the line that separates dream from reality. |
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| The Ring Cycle Jan 30 - Mar 14, 2010 |
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The Building Stage |
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| The Building Stage, noted for unique retellings and adaptations of various media to the stage will have their newest and largest endeavor to date: a non-operatic theatrical re-imagining of the famous Richard Wagner opera cycle, The Ring of the Niebelung, into an epic long-form theatrical piece. |
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| That Face Jan 30 - Feb 28, 2010 |
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Redtwist Theatre |
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| The U.S. premiere of Polly Stenham's explosive first play which debuted at London's Royal Court in 2007. This is a savage dissection of a tangled mother-son relationship whereby the only question that matters is: how far will they go to keep each other? A blistering, merciless drama that obliterates the boundaries of the concept "dysfunctional family" once and for all. Ms Stenham was all of 21 years old when she wrote it. Featuring Redtwister Peter Oyloe. |
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| August: Osage County Feb 2 - Feb 14, 2010 |
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Ford Oriental Theatre |
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| Written by 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Letts, this grand and gripping new play tells the story of the Westons, a large extended clan that comes together at their rural Oklahoma homestead after the alcoholic patriarch disappears. Forced to confront unspoken truths and astonishing secrets, the family must also contend with matriarch Violet, a pill-popping, deeply unsettled woman at the center of the storm. |
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| The Old Settler Feb 2 - Mar 28, 2010 |
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Writers' Theatre |
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| It’s Harlem in the Spring of 1943. Elizabeth and Quilly, sisters of a certain age, are quietly nursing their loneliness and healing from heartache when their lives together change abruptly. Husband Witherspoon, a handsome young border, moves to New York from the country in search of his fiancée, and ends up finding love in the most unlikely of places. Told with heartwarming sincerity, humor and a touch of poetry, The Old Settler paints a poignant picture of two women testing the bonds of family and finding the strength and forgiveness only family can offer. |
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| The Skin of Our Teeth Feb 2 - Mar 21, 2010 |
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The Artistic Home |
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| : This Pulitzer Prize-winning comedic classic recounts the numerous travails of an average American nuclear family from New Jersey who survive some not-so-average circumstances, including the Ice Age, the Great Flood, the Napoleonic War to name a few. The play is a testament to the resiliency and fortitude of the human spirit from one of America's most celebrated playwrights. |
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| Return To Haifa Feb 4 - Mar 7, 2010 |
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Next Theatre Company |
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| 1948 marked the birth of the Jewish state and the exodus of 500,000 Palestinians from Israel. Safiyeh and Said fled during the fighting and were forced to leave their infant son behind in his crib. Holocaust survivors Ephraim and Miriam arrive in Haifa where they are given a new last name, the abandoned home and the baby to raise as their own. Now 20 years later, the boy's birth parents return, hoping to recover what they once lost. Adapted by Israeli Playwright Boaz Gaon from the seminal 1968 Palestinian novella, Return to Haifa is an intensely intimate story about how we draw the lines of home, family and identity across time and politics. Return to Haifa debuted at the Cameri Theatre in Tel Aviv as a kickoff to the 60th anniversary celebration of the founding of Israel. |
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| I Am A Camera Feb 4 - Mar 13, 2010 |
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Neo-Futurists |
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| As a picture says a thousand words, this production tells a thousand stories and inspires a thousand ideas. Greg Allen taps his roots as a darkroom photographer with this inventive homage to the photo. A photography centered experiment with themes of vision, objectivity and identity, this physical history of photography and cinema uses active imagery to discuss how how we frame the world and ourselves. |
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| Over The Tavern Feb 4 - Mar 28, 2010 |
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Noble Fool Theatricals |
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| It's 1959 in Buffalo, New York - Elvis, drive-ins, and The Honeymooners made life fun and simple. Not for the Pazinski household though! Polish-Catholics Chet and Ellen live above their tavern with their four teenagers, each questioning family values in their own mischievous ways. And when wise-cracking 12-year-old Rudy questions the Roman Catholic Church to ruler-cracking Sister Clarissa before his confirmation, the outcome is a hilarious yet touching comedy that would even make the Cleavers at a loss for good advice! Rating: PG, some mild adult language |
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| Mrs. Caliban Feb 5 - Mar 28, 2010 |
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Lifeline Theatre |
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| Dorothy is locked in a lifeless marriage of empty domestic ritual until a fugitive Reptile-man from another world arrives on her doorstep. With him, she finds forbidden love and experiences a rebirth of her spirit, even as her grasp on reality falters. Travel with Dorothy through the fragile pathways of the human psyche as she dares to live - and love - unconventionally, in this remarkable story acclaimed as one of the greatest post-war American novels. |
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| The Analytical Engine Feb 5 - Mar 28, 2010 |
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Circle Theatre |
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| In 1850 Connecticut, Hippolyta Powell has actually built the world's first computer, an analytical engine. Rather than use the machine to solve complex mathematical equations, she has used it to find her "perfect match," much to the consternation of her family, the chosen suitor, Lord Byron's daughter, and the man who truly loves her. Multiple Jeff Award winner Jon Steinhagen penned this period-perfect World Premiere with a wink to Match.com and eHarmony. |
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| Wiggerlover Feb 5 - Feb 22, 2010 |
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James Anthony Zoccoli at
Chicago Cultural Center |
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| Part memoir, part editorial, all comedy, this is the totally too-good-to-be-true story of an interracial family in 1979 Chicago. Actor/writer James Anthony Zoccoli gives a retrospective account of his life as little Jimmy: a half-Italian, half-Polish kid who thinks he’s all Black when his White mother remarries an African-American man. |
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| The Philanderer Feb 6 - Mar 1, 2010 |
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ShawChicago at
Ruth Page Center For Arts |
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| In this play, Shaw introduces a man committed to remaining uncommitted. He is a philosophizing philanderer who believes that only conventional people marry, while advanced people form "charming friendships." But when he meets a self-described "new woman" who belongs only to herself and is the property of no man, he finds he may have met his match, if not his mate. The Philanderer was written in 1893 and published as one of the three plays of Shaw’s Plays Unpleasant in 1898. This early Shaw work salutes the hilarious clash of sexism, vivisectionism and love at a time when Ibsen’s ideas were in vogue in London. |
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| Aunt Nancy and Doggie Tales Feb 6 - Mar 28, 2010 |
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Cornservatory |
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| Eccentric, storytelling Aunt Nancy is back with more stories more friends and more fun. “Aunt Nancy and Doggie Tales” is the 2nd in the series of Aunt Nancy plays written and directed by the Thompson family, for Corn Productions. In the tradition of the “Ananse the Spider Man” folk tales of West Africa, the “Aunt Nancy” plays use storytelling to entertain children and teach important life lessons. This time Aunt Nancy teams up with her niece and nephew (Meenah and Shelby) and the neighborhood dogs, to solve the mystery of "The Mysterious Stranger". |
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| Katrina: The K Word Feb 11 - Feb 21, 2010 |
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Loyola University Theatre |
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| What do you do when your home is destroyed by forces beyond your control? Based on transcripts of 2007 interviews with New Orleans residents, this docu-drama chronicles the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina, following the journeys of twelve individuals before, during, and after the storm. Some waited out the turbulence in New Orleans, others packed up and tried to leave but couldn’t. Some left forever and built new homes elsewhere, while others returned to rebuild in the broken remains of their hometown. Loyola’s production of The K-Word is a Midwest premiere and a powerful testament to the human capacity for survival and renewal in the face of disaster, a compelling call to action that forces Americans to keep the specter of yesterday’s Crescent City and the reality of post-Katrina New Orleans on our national radar. |
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| The Gimmick Feb 11 - Mar 28, 2010 |
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Pegasus Players at
Truman College- O'Rourke Theatre |
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| Pulitzer nominee and Obie winner Dael Orlandersmith’s one-woman show about a young girl in Harlem for whom writing and literature provide an escape from a lifetime of poverty and abuse. |
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| Twelve Angry Men Feb 16 - Apr 17, 2010 |
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Raven Theatre |
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| The stakes are high in this thrilling courtroom drama where a jury of twelve men are deciding the fate of a teenager accused of murdering his abusive father. When prejudices are tested and all the evidence is weighed this jury of peers must face the shocking truth. Raven Guest Artist and Founding Member of Congo Square Theatre Ensemble, Aaron Todd Douglas directs this ultimate courtroom drama. |
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| 101 Dalmations Feb 16 - Feb 28, 2010 |
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Ford Oriental Theatre |
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| 101 Dalmations the Musical is an experience for the entire family about what it means to be a family, canine and courageous. More than a simple story about good versus bad, the family bands together to overcome every hurdle and hardship in the most difficult times. Led by the creative team of Jerry Zaks, B.T. McNicholl and Dennis DeYoung, 101 Dalmations the Musical will transport audiences to a slightly topsy-turvy, exciting, and altogether fantastic reality that gives grand license for song, dance and spectacle in a one-of-a-kind show that will leave everyone cheering. |
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| Fiddler on the Roof Feb 17 - Apr 25, 2010 |
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Marriott Theatre In Lincolnshire |
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| This Tony Award-winning musical has captured the hearts of people all over the world. It is the bittersweet tale of a family coping with a changing world. Tevye, a Jewish dairyman, and his family live in a small village in 1905 Tsarist Russia. With the help of the local matchmaker, Tevye and his wife are in search of acceptable husbands for their three lively daughters. While their daughters are determined to break tradition and marry the men they love, Tevye begins to face bigger issues as Jews are being persecuted in his homeland. A hopeful celebration of the human spirit, Fiddler on the Roof features an unforgettable score with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein. |
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| Uncle Vanya Feb 18 - Mar 27, 2010 |
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Strawdog Theatre |
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| Chekhov’s classic about a country doctor’s forbidden love for his brother’s beautiful wife gets a smoldering translation from former Steppenwolf Associate Artistic Director and current Artistic Director of Trinity Rep Curt Columbus. Strawdog company member Kimberly Senior returns after directing their critically acclaimed “Cherry Orchard” in 2009 and “Three Sisters” in 2005. |
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| A Love Lost Life- The Unauthorized Story of Marlon Brando Feb 18 - Mar 21, 2010 |
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Theatre Building Chicago |
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| A Love Lost Life tells of the bonds and barriers between fathers and sons manifesting in Brando's own efforts to understand fatherhood. The 90-minute biopic reveals his feelings towards his father and his confusion about being a father to his own children. Brando's final years inspired the author's title and focus. And although Marlon Brando was a famously private man, what is indisputably known about him is that he changed the way actors act. |
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| A Midsummer Night's Dream Feb 19 - Feb 28, 2010 |
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UIC Theatre |
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| Shakespeare's romantic comedy demonstrates that “the course of true love never did run smooth,” at least not when it combines Athenian nobility, fairies, meddling parents, a misguided servant and a love potion. |
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| Noises Off Feb 19 - Mar 21, 2010 |
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Theatre At The Center |
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| Noises Off follows the on and off stage antics of an inept acting troupe as they stumble from bumbling dress rehearsal to disastrous closing night. Everything that can go wrong does, as actors desperately try to hang on to their lines, their performances, and the furniture. Add a slippery plate of sardines and a slew of slamming doors and you have the most sidesplitting backstage comedy ever put on paper. |
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| The Damnation of Faust Feb 20 - Mar 17, 2010 |
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Lyric Opera |
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| Awesome. Profound. And wildly ahead of its time. Faust's pact with the devil has inspired scores of compositions, but none match the grandeur and scope of this berlioz extravaganza! Like a film, it moves at lightning speed from scene to scene — from enchanted forests to Heaven to Hell. Like a dream, it's filled with wondrous beings, from angels to creatures that would scare Satan himself. |
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| It Could Be Any One Of Us Feb 26 - Mar 28, 2010 |
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Steel Beam Theatre |
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| The Guardian of London hails Alan Ayckbourn's 30th play as "a gently mischievous delight [whose] title is one of those lines to cherish from every country house thriller you've ever seen." This "fond parody" of the genre has a bright heart and "is a chuckling demonstration of the joy that comes from assured, masterly skill." And here's the twist: The audience chooses the murderer and the play's final scene. |
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| The Emperor's New Clothes Feb 27 - Mar 27, 2010 |
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Steel Beam Theatre |
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| There's lots of fun in store when Peter, the mischievous tailor, comes up with his sure-fire get-rich- quick scheme: embarrass the vain Emperor and make off with a basket of gold! |
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| The Marriage of Figaro Feb 28 - Mar 27, 2010 |
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Lyric Opera |
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| Sublime music, wry comedy, and penetrating reflections on life and love — Mozart gets everything right in one of Western civilization's greatest artistic achievements. And it's fun too! Figaro, the count's whip-smart valet, is set to marry Susanna, the Countess's comely maid. But the Count wants Susanna for himself! Enter Figaro with a scheme that cuts him off at the pass and teaches everyone a lesson! |
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| An Evening With Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin Mar 2 - Mar 7, 2010 |
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Cadillac Palace Theatre |
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| Two legendary Broadway stars. A once-in-a-lifetime theatrical event. An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin reunites these Tony Award®-winning virtuosos (and lifelong friends) for the first time since Evita. Much more than a concert, this is a unique musical love story told entirely through a masterful selection of the greatest songs ever written for the stage. Funny, passionate, intimate and utterly unforgettable, this is An Evening no fan of musical theatre – or of these two acclaimed performers – can afford to miss. |
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| Trust Mar 3 - May 9, 2010 |
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Lookingglass Theatre |
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| Ensemble Member David Schwimmer directs the World Premiere of his visceral new script about how a seemingly innocent encounter threatens to unravel the fabric of a normal American household. Lookingglass examines how families navigate today’s uncharted technological landscape. When children have the freedom to interact with complete strangers online, where is the line that parents must draw between fostering independence and protecting from harm? |
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| The DNA Trail Mar 4 - Apr 11, 2010 |
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Silk Road Theatre Project at
Chicago Temple |
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| Theatre meets science as a diverse group of playwrights each agree to take a genealogical DNA test in this identity-defying collection of short plays. For this adventurous project, Silk Road commissioned seven playwrights, each rooted in distinct immigrant narratives and cross-cultural experiences, to revisit their assumptions about identity politics and the perennial "who am I" question. Self, family, community, ethnicity, race, history, geography--it's all up for grabs! Come see where the DNA Trail leads to. |
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| Beautiful City Mar 4 - Apr 3, 2010 |
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Theater Mir at
Storefront Theater |
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| “This is the future” begins this darkly comic fable about urban developers, criminals, law enforcement, and even a witch, all fighting for the soul and vision of a city. Set in an urban landscape ripe for redevelopment, the parable blends off-kilter characters, fast-paced storytelling, and stinging social satire in a tale of greed, corruption, and civic responsibility. Theatre Mir’s production marks the Chicago professional premiere of this work by George F. Walker, one of Canada’s most prolific and celebrated playwrights. |
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| Number of People Mar 6 - Apr 11, 2010 |
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Piven Theatre |
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| Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and grappling with the challenges of aging, a Holocaust survivor bears witness to his past in this beautiful exploration on the elusive nature of memory. This moving one-man show is written and directed by Emilie Beck, who returns to Piven after her 2008 award-winning production, Because They Have No Words. The piece was written specifically for the playwright’s father, Piven Ensemble Member Bernard Beck. |
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| Side Man Mar 11 - Apr 18, 2010 |
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Metropolis Performing Arts Centre |
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| Winner of the 1999 Tony Award for Best Play and a Pulitzer Prize nominee, Side Man tells the story of Clifford and his father Gene, a brilliant musician whose career fades with the decline of jazz and the coming of rock & roll. With Gene unwilling or able to get a full time job, Clifford and his mother struggle to support each other and survive in his absence. We see the family fall apart as Gene puts his love of jazz before his family. Sharp dialogue and dimestore philosophy from the musicians in Gene’s band and the storytelling as told by son Clifford propel this amazing play. |
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| The Illusion Mar 11 - Apr 11, 2010 |
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Court Theatre |
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| Tony Kushner brings his sophisticated style and breathtaking language to the French Baroque's most powerful romance. A father's attempt to find his estranged son raises the curtain on a world of theatrical magic, outrageous humor, and true, complicated love. |
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| The Blue Shadow Mar 13 - May 2, 2010 |
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Lifeline Theatre |
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| A Native American girl named Shadow feels blue because she knows nothing of her heritage. When she brings together four of her neighbors to share their friendship and storytelling traditions, Shadow learns to embrace who she is, and to celebrate the beauty of all cultures. Explore a whole world of mythology in this new musical filled with folklore, laughter, and multi-lingual song, by award-winning playwright Nambi E. Kelley. |
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| The Diary of Anne Frank Mar 15 - Mar 20, 2010 |
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Theatre At The Center |
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| he timeless story, The Diary of Anne Frank, will be presented on stage March 15 through March 20. The story begins with Otto Frank, as he returns to the attic where his Jewish family survived for years, hiding from the Nazis. Taking a trip back in time, Otto begins reading The Diary of Anne Frank which follows Anne and her family as she documents the events of her life. |
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| Les Liaisons Dangereuses Mar 17 - May 2, 2010 |
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Remy Bumppo Theatre at
The Greenhouse Theater Center |
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| Christopher Hampton adapts Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Choderlos de Laclos's 1782 novel of sexual intrigue and ruthless manipulation set in the salons and boudoirs of pre-Revolutionary France. Feeling their aristocratic world waning, the Vicomte de Valmont and the Marquise de Merteuil, devise a game to test their skills as rapacious lovers. In their tenacious battle for the upper hand, they, like their innocent prey, become part of the wreckage. |
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| Uncle Vanya Mar 17 - Mar 21, 2010 |
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Chicago Shakespeare Theater |
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| Celebrate the 150th anniversary of Anton Chekhov’s birth with this acclaimed production featuring Russia’s leading actors. This extraordinary World’s Stage event marks the Chicago debut of the Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg—hailed by Peter Brook as “the finest ensemble in Europe.” Artistic Director Lev Dodin’s production of Chekhov’s classic has won worldwide critical acclaim and now comes to Chicago for five performances only. |
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| A Life Mar 18 - Apr 25, 2010 |
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Northlight Theatre |
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| In the sequel to the late Hugh Leonard’s most celebrated work, Da, John Mahoney stars in this evocative play about the evolution of friendships in a small Irish town. Desmond Drumm nears retirement and his memories come to life, reminding him of the triumphs and tragedies of his youth and prompting him to mend relationships with a childhood friend and the love interest that had charmed them both. But as scenes from the past shed light on the misunderstandings of today, Desmond must realize that his lifelong ability to use his great intellect and acerbic wit as a means of self-defense has come at a cost. |
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| Billy Elliot the Musical Mar 18 - Dec 31, 2010 |
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Ford Oriental Theatre |
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| Billy Elliot the Musical is the funny, heartwarming tale of a young boy with a dream, and a celebration of his triumph against the odds. Set against the historic British miners' strike of the 1980s, the story follows Billy's journey as a boy in a small mining town who, after stumbling across a ballet class while on his way to a boxing lesson, realizes that his future lay not in the boxing ring but on stage as a dancer. |
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| Ragtime Mar 18 - May 23, 2010 |
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Drury Lane- Oakbrook |
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| A nostalgic and powerful portrait of life in turn of the century America, Ragtime is based on E.L. Doctorow’s distinguished novel. The musical intertwines the stories of a Harlem musician, a wealthy New York family and a Latvian Jewish immigrant. Ragtime poignantly explores history’s timeless contradictions of wealth and poverty, freedom and prejudice, hope and despair, and love and hate. Featuring a Tony Award winning book by Terrence McNally, and a Tony Award-winning score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, Ragtime combines diverse fictional characters with several famous figures of the era to create a stirring musical portrayal of turn-of-the 20th century America. |
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| The Lost Boys of Sudan Mar 19 - Apr 25, 2010 |
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Victory Gardens Theater - Biograph |
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| A.I. Josh, T-Mac Sam and K-Gar Ollie all meet in the worst way: fleeing the horrors of war. And as they team up on a perilous journey to a refugee camp, they exchange heroic survival stories, song and even laughter. |
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| A Gulag Mouse Mar 21 - May 1, 2010 |
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Babes With Blades at
Trap Door Theatre |
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| Winner of the Joining Sword and Pen 2009-2010 competition, this gritty new work takes place in a Siberian gulag in the post-war Soviet Union of the 1940s. Here Masha, Svetlana, Lubov, Prushka, and newcomer Anastasia navigate a brutal world of shifting alliances and betrayals. Who will survive? |
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| The Crucible Mar 27 - May 2, 2010 |
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Infamous Commonwealth Theatre at
Raven Theatre |
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| Set during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 and written in direct response to the McCarthy trials in the 1950s, this scathing indictment of censorship remains a timeless classic of American drama - a master study on the inherent frailty, delicate beauty and limitless possibility of the human spirit. |
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| Equus Mar 27 - Apr 25, 2010 |
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Redtwist Theatre |
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| Peter Shaffer's unique modern thriller, which explores the boundaries of passion versus normalcy. The play, rooted in both modern psychology and ancient ritual, dissects the everlasting human need of worship. The use of stylized masks, creative lighting, and an original score will enhance what is sure to be an intense and electrifying theatre experience of this respected and esoteric drama. |
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| Will Rogers: An American Original Mar 31 - May 2, 2010 |
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First Folio Theatre |
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| This one-man show explores the life and times of America’s most popular humorist. At the time of his death in 1935, Will Rogers hosted the number one radio show in America, had a daily column that ran in over 400 papers, and was the number one male box office star for three years running. In the course of a career that included both Cactus Jack’s Wild West Show and the Ziegfeld Follies, Will Rogers invented the American stand-up comic. Using his trick roping skills to punctuate his delivery, Will Rogers’ folksy humor set the groundwork for everyone from Bob Hope to Johnny Carson to David Letterman. His observations on government, the economy, and society are as timely now as when he first made them. On his political affiliations: “I’m not a member of any organized political party. I’m a Democrat.” Of the Stock Market Crash: “If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?” Famous for the statement, “I never met a man I didn’t like,” Will Rogers is the quintessential image of the common man. |
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| Endgame Apr 1 - Jun 6, 2010 |
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Steppenwolf Theatre |
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| Beckett’s absurd comic masterpiece follows Hamm, a blind man unable to stand, and his servant Clov, who is unable to sit, as they pass their days in a tiny house by the sea—if the sea still exists. Pestered by Hamm’s parents, they move through their daily rituals, awaiting the end of everything. A powerful all-ensemble cast anchors this profound exploration of the stories we construct to make sense of our lives. |
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| The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Apr 2 - Jun 20, 2010 |
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Circle Theatre |
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| Yee haw! Circle presents this Broadway blockbuster of small town vice and political side stepping recounting the good times and the demise of the Chicken Ranch, known since the 1850s as one of the better “pleasure palaces” in all of Texas. Governors, senators, mayors and even victorious college football teams frequented Miss Mona's bordello until puritanical hypocrites focus righteousness on the landmark. Religious zealots dictating decency and morality—sound familiar? Stomp your feet and holler out loud, this down home charmer will thrill audiences. |
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| Into The Woods Apr 3 - May 30, 2010 |
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Porchlight Music Theatre at
Theatre Building Chicago |
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| Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s fairy tale musical first played at Porchlight in 2000–2001 and received 4 Jeff Nominations, 1 Jeff Citation and 1 After Dark Award. When a Baker and his Wife learn they've been cursed with childlessness by the Witch next door, they embark on a quest for the special objects required to break the spell, swindling, lying to and stealing from Cinderella, Little Red, Rapunzel and Jack (the one who climbed the beanstalk). Everyone's wish is granted at the end of Act One, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results. What begins a lively irreverent fantasy in the style of “The Princess Bride” becomes a moving lesson about community responsibility and the stories we tell our children. |
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