Dueling Critics, between 9 and 10 a.m. Friday August 31, 91.5 FM and WBEZ.org, FREE!
Jonathan and I will review Princes of Waco at Signal Ensemble. And we’ll chat with Peter Moore of Steep Theatre about resisting (or not) the temptation to pick plays for an ensemble based on the juiciness of parts for long-time ensemble members. –KK
Impenetrable, a world premiere by Stage Left Theatre at Theater Wit, first preview Saturday September 1 at 8 p.m., $20
Stage Left beats the rest of the Chicago theater community out of the autumn starting gate with Mia McCullough’s new play about appearance and reality — specifically, the appearance of women and the reality of the pressure on them to transform themselves into some ideal of Woman as impossibly slender and eternally youthful. The playwright took the piece from synopsis through finished product in collaboration with director Greg Werstler through the company’s Downstage Left development series. Politics of all kinds is Stage Left’s specialty; in this case sexual politics takes stage center. Thursdays-Sundays through October 7; previews $20, regular run $25. –KK
Don’t-Miss List: Chicago Fringe Fest
Aug. 30, 2012Phyllis Diller: 'You CAN teach an old dog new tricks'
Aug. 30, 2012
Last week, comedian Phyllis Diller died at the age of 95. But "[w]hat's the lesson of her life, for us?" asks comedian Jeremy Owens. "Phyllis Diller proves, at least for me, that you can teach an old dog new tricks. You can start a stand-up career when you’re almost 40; you get to have your second act. If you’re lucky and live to be 95 you might even get a third, fourth or fifth. So I ask you, what is it you really want to do? Why don’t you go do it." Read an excerpt below or listen above:
“Women want men, careers, money, children, friends, luxury, comfort, independence, freedom, respect, love, and a three-dollar pantyhose that won't run,” at least according to Phyllis Diller. Long before Joan Rivers asked if we could talk and Chelsea Handler sexed it up like a frat boy, there was Phyllis. She created the mold for self-deprecating female comics and did it in an age where women were to be seen and not heard.
Daily Rehearsal: A 'Magic Flute' casting change
Aug. 29, 2012
- Emily Hindrichs will be taking over the role of The Queen of the Night in COT's The Magic Flute because Claudia Boyle wasn't able to come from Ireland because of visa issues.
- The Chicago Commercial Collective's A Steady Rain will tour the surrounding states, with stops in Wisconsin and Michigan this fall. is proud to announce their first production, the remount of the Chicago and Broadway hit drama, A Steady Rain, will tour Wisconsin and Michigan this fall.
- And this just in for an old-ish review of Lewis Black, who inaugurated City Winery.
Daily Rehearsal: Angel Busque's Eggroll invitational benefits the Lupus Foundation of America
Aug. 28, 2012
- Angel Busque’s Eggroll Invitational: Chicago is a stand-up comedy show where the proceeds will go to benefit the Lupus Foundation of America. Busque died in June from lupus; this performance is on September 20 and will feature comedians like James Fritz, Mike Lebovitz, CJ Sullivan, Sean Flannery and Chad Briggs, and will be hosted by the Puterbaugh Sisterz. Comedian Mike Bobbitt wrote a nice goodbye to Busque, who was his former sister-in-law. It's at the Lincoln Lodge.
- A review of the Annoyance's 25th anniversary show: Jenna Marotta wrote that "...parts of the evening had a funereal feel to me.
Daily Rehearsal: Henry Wishcamper to wish no more for the Goodman
Aug. 27, 2012
- Celebrate your 25th anniversary; give back to the community; raise money -- it's all in the plan for ComedySportz this year. "Over our 25 years, we've seen how the joy, imagination, and laughter that come from improv comedy make people's lives better. We're so grateful for the support we've received in this community, that we wanted to help other organizations that make Lakeview and the world better places to live," said ComedySportz President and CEO Matt Elwell in a statement. This means they're working with groups like The Night Ministry, Funny Bones Improv, the Lymphoma Research Foundation and the Sam Thompson Foundation.
A rising star in Hungarian politics finds himself shut out over how Jewish he is
Aug. 25, 2012
No, this story isn't what you think it is i.e. it's not about anti-semitism in Hungary (though, on a grand level, it is a little bit). It's about the anti-semitic behavior of one person, and the hypocrisy that came with it. Director and dramaturg Kelly Kerwin spins the story of a man who escaped the notice of much of the U.S. press, but hasn't been so lucky in his native country. Read an excerpt below or listen above:
Csanad Szegedi, a high-ranking member of the Hungarian Parliament, was notorious for his seditious remarks regarding Jews: He accused them of "buying up” the country for Israel and, according to the New York Times [via the Associated Press], “railed about the 'Jewishness' of the political elite.”
These comments are, naturally, controversial, but then Szegedi hit below the belt.
Daily Rehearsal: 'Chicago's Weird, Grandma' the latest from Barrel of Monkeys
Aug. 24, 2012
- The Fall Of The House of Usher has a good name and a good review in the Chicago Reader.
- That's Weird, Grandma has turned into That's Weird, Abuelita and now Chicago's Weird, Grandma opening at the Neo-Futurarium from Barrel of Monkeys on October 8. Performers in this iteration include theater people from all over Chicago, and will change every week.
- River North Dance Chicago's Fall Engagement opens at The Harris Theatre November 16 – 17 with a bunch of different pieces, from choreographers like Adam Barruch, Nekla Yatkin and Alvin Ailey's Robert Battle.
Daily Rehearsal: An invitation-only Laugh Factory opening
Aug. 23, 2012
- The new-and-improved Laugh Factory Chicago welcomes Tom Dreesen on Wednesday August 29 for their event From Combat to Comedy with comedians like Bobby Henline, Joe Kashnow, Steve Rice and Darisse Smith, who all have a history of service and have performed at the Laugh Factory Before. This will be the official opening of the club; note that Laugh Factory "is spreading its message that laughter is the best medicine by offering free admission for all of America's returning warriors to its four locations for an entire year," says founder Jamie Masada. But sorry, the event is invitation-only
- WildClaw Theatre Artistic Director Aly Renee Amidei is joining Lifeline Theatre as a member of the ensemble.