Author: Gayle
Rosemont Serves up Summer Fun
SPEND THE SUMMER IN ROSEMONT!
MB FINANCIAL PARK AT ROSEMONT BRINGS
LIVE MUSIC, COMEDY, NIGHTLIFE AND MORE TO CHICAGO’S NORTHWEST SUBURBS
“Rockin’ in the Park at Rosemont”–Free Outdoor Music Festival to be held in the 30,000-sq.-ft. Lawn Space at the Heart of MB Financial Park at Rosemont June 8-10
Newest entertainment venues to open are Adobe Gila’s Margarita Fajita Cantina, June 5, Park Tavern mid-June, Zanies Comedy Club July 6, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill mid-July and My Big Fat Greek Restaurant August 1
This summer, MB Financial Park at Rosemont, a new dining and entertainment district, will be abuzz with the hottest new dining and entertainment venues, charity events, and a free summer music festival. “MB Financial Park at Rosemont will have something for everyone this summer,” said Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens. “We are thrilled we can provide new and exciting entertainment options to the community, and are confident that our events will become a must-do for the greater Chicago area.”
Tuesday, June 5: Adobe Gila’s Margarita Fajita Cantina, located at 5455 Park Place, will officially open its doors Tuesday, June 5 at 10 p.m. Adobe Gila’s is the home of the famous sizzling fajita and also offers a variety of delicious Mexican and American appetizers, entrees and sandwiches including made-to-order guacamole as well as a large kid-friendly menu. Guests will enjoy lunch and live entertainment seven nights-a-week. Adobe Gila’s closes at 4 a.m. seven nights a week and never has a cover charge.
Thursday, June 7: Kings Lanes, Lounge & Sports will host the Charles Tillman Pro BOWLer Charity Fundraiser, presented by Meijer. This exclusive event will take place from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. to support the Charles Tillman Cornerstone Foundation, which provides resources for critically and chronically ill children in the Chicago-area. The fundraiser will be an exclusive evening of bowling, dining and celebration, where guests will have the opportunity to bid on live and silent auction items including autographed sports memorabilia. Some of Tillman’s current and former Chicago Bear teammates will join him in bowling for the cause including Devin Hester, Matt Toeaina, Nick Roach, Alex Brown and Anthony Adams.
Friday, June 8- Sunday, June 10: “Rockin’ in The Park at Rosemont,” an eclectic outdoor music festival at MB Financial Park, will feature 11 live bands, food and drink and free admission, from June 8-10.
The festival will be held on the great lawn in the center of new MB Financial Park at Rosemont. Admission is free and food and drink will be available for purchase from restaurants within the complex. The festival runs Friday, June 8 from 5 – 11 p.m., Saturday, June 9 from 1 – 11 p.m. and Sunday, June 10 from 1 – 7 p.m. Each day boasts a variety of live music including Jimmie Van Zant, Infinity, Wedding Banned, April’s Reign, Kashmir, He Said, She Said, Smokin Gunz, Hot Rocks, Fortunate Sons, School of Rock, and Rod Tuffcurls. Outside coolers cannot be brought into the park. A full schedule of performance times can be found below.
Festival Schedule
Friday, June 8
5:00 p.m. April’s Reign (Rock)
7:00 p.m. Kashmir (Led Zeppelin Tribute)
9:15 p.m. Jimmie Van Zant
Saturday, June 9
1:00 p.m. He Said, She Said (Rock/Pop)
2:45 p.m. Smokin Gunz (Country)
4:30 p.m. Hot Rocks (Rolling Stones Tribute)
7:15 p.m. Fortunate Sons (CCR/Rock)
9:00 p.m. Infinity (Classic Rock)
Sunday, June 10
1:15 p.m. School of Rock (Kids Rock Band)
3:00 p.m. Rod Tuffcurls (80s Pop)
5:15 p.m. Wedding Banned (80’s Pop/Rock/Glam)
July 6: Zanies Comedy Night Club, located at 5437 Park Place, will officially open its doors with a a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, July 6 with Rosemont Mayor, Brad Stephens, followed by its first show at 8 p.m. Opening weekend shows will feature Chicago All Stars Pat McGann (The Chicago Standup Project), Larry Reeb (HBO & Showtime) and Dobie Maxwell (Late Night with Craig Ferguson.) Other Chicago Favorites are sure to stop in. There will be free admission all weekend – July 6 and 7.
Other Summer Openings
Mid-June: Park Tavern is a contemporary spin on the gastropub that serves gastropub food in a casual yet stylish setting. Guests can pour their own draft beer from the comfort of plush overstuffed booths with the restaurant’s unique table-tap systems. In warmer months, they can enjoy a craft cocktail and the view of The Park from the roof-deck.
Mid-July: Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill will be a fun and rowdy atmosphere inspired by the music and the attitude of the “Big Dog Daddy” himself, Toby Keith. “I Love This Bar & Grill” will offer a mason jar-full of entertainment all week long; whether you want to watch the big game on one of its numerous flat screen TVs, listen to live country music from some of the country’s best high-energy live bands, dance the night away or eat some delicious down-home barbeque cooking.
August 1: My Big Fat Greek Restaurant will transport guests to the shores of the Aegean and the Mediterranean as they feast on delicious traditional Greek specialties, including dolmades, taramosalata, roast lamb, moussaka, roast chicken and, of course, flaming plates of saganaki, always accompanied by the waitstaff’s enthusiastic shouting of the classic Greek exclamation “Opa!”
In September, Hofbräuhaus Chicago will open just in time for Oktoberfest celebrations.
Theatre On the Lake to Revive Local Productions for Summer
THEATER ON THE LAKE ANNOUNCES ITS 60TH SEASON OF REVIVED PRODUCTIONS FROM LOCAL COMPANIES
The schedule for all performances June 13 – Aug. 5 is Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 6:30 p.m.
Single tickets are $17.50 and a season subscription to all eight plays is available at a discounted price of $110. All individual tickets go on sale June 5, 2012 at 2 p.m. at the Theater on the Lake box office at Fullerton Avenue and Lake Michigan or via phone at (312) 742-7994. Beginning June 5, the box office is open Tuesdays – Saturdays, 2 – 8 p.m. and Sundays, 3:30 – 7:30 p.m
Paid parking is available at the Lincoln Park Zoo located at Fullerton Avenue and Cannon Drive. CTA bus routes 151 or 156 both serve the area; for schedules, contact the RTA/CTA at (312) 836-7000. For patrons with special needs, please contact the box office at 312-742-7994 to arrange for valet parking services.
For more information about the Chicago Park District, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com or call (312) 742-PLAY.
Redtwist Extends Cripple of Inishmaan
Trailer Park comes to Chicago
Kokandy Productions proudly presents “The Great American Trailer Park Musical” (“Trailer Park), Aug. 3 through Aug. 26, 2012 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont. Directed by John D. Glover with musical direction by Allison Hendrix and choreographed by Tom Coppola, “Trailer Park” comically demonstrates what happens when you jump out of the frying pan and into the trailer park. The preview performance is Thursday, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. and opening/press night is Friday, Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. For tickets visit www.kokandyproductions.com or call the box office at 773-975-8150.
Are You Down with the Sisterhood?
Kayland Smyth
When I first researched and read the synopsis for The Dowager Daughters of Transcendence I made the assumption that it would be boring. But when I found out that the play was a comedy I became a little more excited and prepared for a laughing fit. And I am pleased to say that I got the laughter I was looking for but I left the theatre a little confused on a few parts in the play.
Read MoreHinderaker inspires audience to “Change the World”
By Kayland Smyth
If a typical 9 year old were to write a list it would be entitled “Things I want to accomplish before I turn 10.” Unless of course you are John Chapman, the main character in Andrew Hinderaker’s play I Am Going to Change the World, directed by Jonathan Berry. His list included goals of becoming a Billionaire by 35 and purchasing the Sears Tower. My first thought was “that kid has big dreams and I hope he achieves them. But that’s going to change by the time he’s in high school,” and it did; but not in the way I thought.
Read MoreTHE BLONDE, THE BRUNETTE AND THE VENGEFUL REDHEAD
WRITER’S THEATRE
Reviewed by Frank Meccia
It has amazed me for over 5 years how this 50 seat theatre consistently produces such excellent work.
Read MoreSummer Music Festival in Rosemont
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THE MB FINANCIAL PARK AT ROSEMONT ANNOUNCES
‘ROCKIN’ IN THE PARK AT ROSEMONT’ SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL LINEUP Jimmie Van Zant Headlines Free Outdoor Music Festival
With Infinity and Wedding Banned June 8-10 ROSEMONT, IL – With eleven live bands, food and drink and free admission, The Village of Rosemont presents the very first “Rockin in The Park at Rosemont,” an eclectic outdoor music festival at the MB Financial Park at Rosemont.
The festival will be held on the great lawn in the center of new MB Financial Park at Rosemont, located at 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Admission is free and food and drink will be available for purchase from restaurants within the complex.
Outside coolers cannot be brought into the park.
The festival runs Friday, June 8 from 5 – 11 p.m., Saturday, June 9 from 1 – 11 p.m. and Sunday, June 10 from 1 – 7 p.m. Each day boasts a variety of live music including JIMMIE VAN ZANT, INFINITY, WEDDING BANNED, APRIL’S REIGN, KASHMIR, HE SAID, SHE SAID, SMOKIN GUNZ, HOT ROCKS, FORTUNATE SONS, SCHOOL OF ROCK, and ROD TUFFCURLS.
Festival Schedule
Friday, June 8
5:00 p.m. April’s Reign (Rock) 7:00 p.m. Kashmir (Led Zeppelin Tribute) 9:15 p.m. Jimmie Van Zant Saturday, June 9
1:00 p.m. He Said, She Said (Rock/Pop) 2:45 p.m. Smokin Gunz (Country) 4:30 p.m. Hot Rocks (Rolling Stones Tribute) 7:15 p.m. Fortunate Sons (CCR/Rock) 9:00 p.m. Infinity (Classic Rock) Sunday, June 10
1:15 p.m. School of Rock (Kids Rock Band) 3:00 p.m. Rod Tuffcurls (80s Pop) 5:15 p.m. Wedding Banned (80’s Pop/Rock/Glam) |
tick, tick…BOOM! takes off after a slow start
By Kyle Babcock
In Rent, Jonathan Larson asked, “How do you measure a year in a life?” The answer for him at that time of his life was love – the love you have for others and the love they share for you – sage, albeit hard-to-implement, advice for all. However, earlier in his life, in his autobiographical, tick, tick…BOOM!, he delves into measuring 30 years in a life as a juxtaposition between the American stereotype of success: a family, a good job, Gucci belts, a BMW, and a “DE-luxe apartment in the sky-eye-eye” and a personal life filled with your dreams and passions that may not parlay into the American stereotype.
Fortunately, Larson chose to shun the stereotype, and despite external pressures, live for his dreams that resulted in a Pulitzer and two Tony awards as recognition for Rent. Conversely, the first thirty minutes of Porchlight Music Theatre’s production of tick, tick…BOOM! prove why he received the accolades for Rent and not this work. This is not a reflection of the cast and crew of Porchlight, who do an admirable job, but a reflection of the mediocre material that lacks the ingenuity and grittiness of Rent.
The story revolves around Jon (Adrian Aguilar), a struggling composer in 1990 (I mentioned it was autobiographical, right?) who is just days away from his 30th birthday – the end of youth according to him. Jon hears a perpetual ticking, which he acknowledges to be anxiety and the expectations of adulthood. Next, Jon’s two barometers for measuring his life are his girlfriend, Susan (Jenny Guse), and his best friend, Michael (Bear Bellinger). Both of whom have moved to New York to follow their dreams as a dancer and actor, respectively. Michael surrendered his acting career for one in Marketing, while Susan is on the cusp of trading in her dancer dream for a new dream of a full-time teaching job in Upstate New York and building a family.
The first thirty minutes are filled with clichés and the insipid “Green Green Dress” (but not a real green dress, that’s cruel*), where Susan seduces Jon, and then asks him to move Upstate with her in the forgettable “Johnny Can’t Decide.” If not for the energetic performances of the three actors and the intriguing video set, this first thirty minutes would have been unbearable. Then, to put it in today’s lexicon, wait for it (tick)…wait for it (tick)…the production took off (BOOM!).
At this point, I don’t know if the material improved or if the performances began to outshine the material. The final sixty minutes were thoroughly enjoyable with Jon and Susan perfectly executing the politest phone disagreement in “Therapy”, Karessa’s (also played by Guse) show-stopping performance in “Come to Your Senses”, and Jon’s cathartic realization to be happy he must continue his composer dream in “Why”. The latest was set during a rainstorm in Central Park, and I would be remiss to not recognize Mother Nature for the eerie assist during this production as hail rained down on the metal roof of the theater. I would also be remiss in not recognizing Aguilar for a brief, but charming, moment of acknowledging Mother Nature’s participation with an upward look and a slight smile.
The performances are outstanding with Aguilar showing promise for larger stages, if he chooses. Guse is elegant as Susan and enchanting as Karessa, while Bellinger deftly morphs into his many characters and provides a few laughs as Jon’s agent, Rosa.
The set design is simple but effective. Ann Davis creates a world that easily converted into various settings: a New York flat, a Madison Avenue ad agency, or Belvedere Castle in Central Park. The video montage was interesting; however, for the audience on the sides, some images were blocked by the sets, including the final scene, which left me wondering what I may have missed.
I recommend tick, tick…BOOM! primarily for the performances; it may be one of the few times you may see Adrian Aguilar in Chicago. It is playing at Stage 773, 1225 W Belmont until June 10.
* The not a real green dress is cruel reference is to a Barenaked Ladies’ “If I had a $1,000,000, which was popular in the early ‘90s – coincidence?
Have you written the worst ten minute play? Read on.
ABOUT THE CONTEST:
DrekFest 2012 is Stage Left’s annual, national search for America’s worst ten-minute play. Now in its sixth year, DrekFest is on a mission to expose bad writing for what it really is: damn funny. To be clear, we are not out to make fun of writers or those who love them. We are asking good writers to intentionally write awful plays that make us laugh.
We are now accepting submissions for bad, bad ten-minute plays. Of these, four terrible finalists will be selected to be performed on Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at The ComedySportz Theatre, 929 W. Belmont. The audience in attendance will vote on the Grand Prize-winning Worst Play.
Cash prizes will be given to all four finalists, as well as other highly coveted honors for the truly terrible. In addition to Worst Play, prizes that may be awarded by our panel of adjudicators include those for Worst Title, Worst Opening Line, Worst Stage Directionand Worst Character Name, among others.
All plays will be performed as staged readings with minimal or no tech, and all stage directions will be read aloud. After all four plays have been read, the writers will join the panelists onstage for a mock critique (safe, and all in good fun), during which the awards will be given. Previous panels have included theater critic and professor, Jonathan Abarbanel, Steppenwolf Managing Director David Schmitz, ComedySportz President and CEO Matt Elwell, Chicago Dramatists Managing Director Brian Loevner and nationally known playwright Mia McCullough.
Past DrekFest Grand Losers are Jamie Campbell in 2011 for A Fist Before Dying, Jake Lindquist in 2010 for Man Vs. Carp: An Environmental Tale Exploring Mostly, but not Exclusively, the Themes of Tolerance, Immigration, Conservation, and a General Understanding of the Problems Going on in the World Today, Randall Colburn in 2009 for ’SCARECROW’ OR SOME SHIT, CALL IT WHATEVER YOU F***ING WANT, I DON’T CARE. A F***ing Harsh Play About Scarecrows and Killing Bitches, and Rob Kozlowski in both 2008 and 2007 for The Frenzied Beating of the Jungle Tom-Toms Once More, Once More and Wilhelm Ferguson, Nationally Renowned Playwright, in the Midst of the Production of his Holocaust Play The Holocaust, Falls in Love with a Wheelchair-Bound Vietnam Veteran with AIDS, Whose Name Remains Unknown, Like So Many Others Like Him” respectively.
Stage Left is proud to again partner with The ComedySportz Theatre for DrekFest 2012. ComedySportz team members will be joining Stage Left and our guest directors in staging the four finalists.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
If it’s not already painfully clear, we want the funny! Preference will be given to scripts that make us laugh. Here are the submission guidelines:
DEADLINE: Submissions must be received by Friday, June 1, 2012 (note, this is not postmark date, it is a “received by” date).
Plays must perform at ten minutes or less (remember that stage directions will be read aloud)
Maximum of 5 actors per script (however, write as many characters as you please). DrekFest 2012 WILL BE TIMED. Plays exceeding 10 minutes will be ended with the sound of an annoying buzzer and action will be stopped immediately. Seriously. Keep it short.
There are no limitations on genre or subject matter. Even though Stage Left’s mission is to raise political and social debate, we know that bad writing knows no genre, so don’t worry about adhering to the mission for this contest.
We will be using a Blind Submission process. Please include the following materials with your submission:
- A cover letter on a separate sheet of paper, included in the envelope with your play (or as a separate attachment, if emailing). Envelopes and emails will not be opened by judges, only by non-judge staff members. List your contact info, including name, phone, email & street address on your cover letter.
- Your resume.
- Your availability to be in Chicago on Tuesday, July 31, 2012. Given the economy and the state of arts funding, Stage Left cannot provide travel support. You do not need to be able to travel to Chicago in order to send a submission to DrekFest; however, most of the fun is in being there!
- Your play(s). Do NOT include your name, by-line or contact info on the play itself. If mailed, plays must be clipped or bound in such a way that the pages can be easily separated for copying – no spiral bindings.
- Your submission fee of $10.00 per play (e.g., $20.00 if you submit two plays). All submission fees will go entirely towards the cash prizes awarded to the winners. If mailing, include a check made out to “Stage Left Theatre.” If emailing, call us at 773-883-8830 x5 by Friday, June 1st to charge your fee to a Visa or MasterCard. Credit card payments will have an additional $1 added.
A Note About Cash Prizes:
One hundred percent of the submission fees paid go back into the cash prizes. Therefore, the amount of the prizes will depend on the number of submissions we get. In past years, the Grand Prize has ranged from $300.00 to $400.00, and may be less or more as submissions warrant.
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Please mail your submissions to: Stage Left Theatre Attn: DrekFest 3408 N. Sheffield Ave. Chicago, IL 60657 |
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Email your submissions to:
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For questions or info, please contact: Vance Smith, Artistic Director, at 773-883-8830 |
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