Chicago Theater: Original Content from Centerstage Chicago
Sketchfest Explorer: Part 2
Last week, I explored the opening acts of the magically hilarious Chicago Sketchfest. This week, there?s even more funny.
First up was The Backrow. These guys are veterans, one of a tiny handful of groups that has performed at every Sketchfest since 2001. Their work is delightfully offbeat, turning mundane situations into surreal romps, like going to the Algonquin Target and meeting a minotaur.
This was also the first time I got to sample the work of the very locally active Latino/Latina focused group, Salsation. Salsation pulled off one of the rarest and most impressive tricks in the sketch comedy art form, injecting real drama while still being funny, addressing homophobia in the Latino community.
Pangea 3000 was my narrow favorite of the week. They essentially put on a meta show in which they are never actually able to start their material because they keep arguing over it. They deconstructed sketch conventions with very sharp deadpan wit.
The all female Mountain Dawn also put on a great show. They took a single concept, a reunion of aging actresses who once starred in the 1980s action series ?She Cops?, and made it revue length.
My biggest disappointment was Second City?s topical ?This Week? sketch show. It wasn?t necessarily bad but did not live up to their iconic name.
By coincidence more than design, the shows I sampled in the second week were all notable for the innovative ways in which they played with the traditional sketch comedy format.
All of this bodes well for the continued growth of Sketchfest into a major Chicago comedy institution. Do yourself a favor and be there in January of 2013.
Sketchfest Explorer: Part 1
Chicago Sketchfest, now in its eleventh year, is an efficient (as can be expected) finely calibrated machine of funny.
Chicago has long been one of the capital cities of sketch and its twin brother, improv. Sketchfest does a brilliant job of highlighting not only the many great local groups that perform here year round but also attracts top talent from all over the English speaking world.
The action happens at Lakeview?s Stage 773, a theater which contains four separate performance spaces. Over the eight nights of the festival, a group performs in each space for one hour or less, allowing hundreds of performers to shine onstage.
And shine they do. Sketchfest is selective and highly committed to quality. I?m happy to report that the most obvious objective was achieved: every group that I saw in Sketchfest?s first week made me laugh. A lot.
Among the great ones I saw: Happily Ever Laughter. This undergrad group from Vassar College follows in the footsteps of the Harvard Lampoon and the Cambridge Footlights in the time honored tradition of smartasses brought together by elite universities.
The New Jersey group Upset Triangle impressed me with their high concept surrealism. The flagship show of Sketchfest is arguably Chicago?s own Cupid Players, if for no other reason than it contains the festival?s founders. Cupid has a continuous musical theatre format that explores the eternal theme of loooooooooveee.
Far and away the best of what I saw was the Seattle based duo Charles. These absolutely brilliant writer performers made the audience howl with unabashedly highbrow material mixed with low, what they call ?unibrow? comedy. In practice this meant 10th century ethnic humor (?Who cut this wool, a Gaul??) jokes about Thomas Jefferson, HP Lovecraft and quantum physics. But they still find time to do bits based around Arsenio Hall, large breasts and the ghost of Patrick Swayze.
Next week: Part Two!
Where to Go Before and After the Show
So, you were able to snag tickets to a hot new production at one of Chicago's favorite theaters. Awesome. But your plans aren't quite set yet. In order to make it a really memorable experience, you'll want to find the perfect place for that efficient, yet not rushed pre-show meal. We've investigated the areas around the city's top stages and found some suitable restaurants at which to start your evening - and some great bars to hit after the curtain falls.
Briar Street Theatre
The intimate setting at Briar Street Theatre makes every seat in the house the best, so you won't have to don a poncho to ensure you get a good view of the resident Blue Man Group.
Before: Have a fun BYOB feast at Andalous Moroccan Restaurant. After: Make a beeline to Sheffield Avenue for craft beers at Sheffield's or an above-23 atmosphere at Matilda.
Cadillac Palace Theatre
This towering, 2,500-seat gem provides an evening out fit for tourists and natives alike, as it's home to bigtime productions like "The Lion King," "August: Osage County" and more.
Before: Enjoy an appropriately big meal at Rosebud Theater District. After: Savor the sleek setting at Renaissance Chicago hotel's Bar Novo.
Chase Auditorium
This downtown hall is home to just one major production, but it's a biggie: the live taping of NPR's "Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!"
Before: Enjoy borscht and vodka flights at Russian Tea Time. After: Discuss NPR-esque issues in hushed tones at Potter's in the Palmer House Hilton.
Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre
Like big Broadway shows? You'll feel at home in this huge, ornately designed venue hosting mostly musicals like "Billy Elliott."
Before: Reserve a table at Trattoria No. 10 and let the ravioli feast begin. After: Continue your super-size evening with a stop at the Hyatt Regency's BIG Bar, which claims to have the longest freestanding bar on the continent.
Goodman Theatre
A key component of the Loop Theater District, the Goodman's current home stretches a full city block with a long, open and comfortable lobby that welcomes audiences to its two theaters for a mix of classic and edgy productions.
Before: Explore one of the three restaurants in the famed Italian Village. After: Unwind with a craft brew at State and Lake in the Wit Hotel.
Mercury Theater
This 300-seat playhouse was designed as a venue in which to stage fresh off-Loop theater. For a long time, the theater was the home to a sit-down production of the comedy "Over the River and Through the Woods"; more recently, the theater scored a hit with the critically acclaimed "The Screwtape Letters."
Before: Get your fill of meat and wine at the BYOB Tango Sur (just make sure to get there early, as waits can be long). After: Chill out with some brews at Toon's, or follow the crowds south to packed spots like Sopo.
Second City
If you care about comedy, you've gotta go where it all began, and this is ground zero for improv, having spawned legends like John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Stephen Colbert and more. Before: Enjoy another Chicago classic with ribs at Twin Anchors. (Those less carnivorous might enjoy Perennial instead.) After: Head over to Old Town Ale House; you'll likely see a performer or two there before long.
Steppenwolf Theatre
The always-surprising company behind this Chicago institution puts on any number of awesome productions on three stages in its Lincoln Park complex, from experimental world-premieres to classics for the kids.
Before: Visit Boka for a decadent dinner. After: Keep the Chicago theme going with pints at Goose Island Brewery.
Going somewhere else? Use our Virtual L navigator to find a nearby bar or restaurant, or just ask us for a tip.
Picture this: You get up on stage with no costume, no props and no script. You ask for an audience suggestion, and that drunken guy in the back of the room, nursing his sixth beer, yells out "chicken wings!" Or maybe an astute Sarah Palin look-alike in the front row screams out "lipstick!" Regardless of the audience suggestion, you and your team of two, four, seven, eight or sometimes even 10 other improvisers create a variety of scenes on the fly using only this ridiculous word or phrase as the backbone.
Sound crazy? Well, it kinda is, but that's how you play the improv game. At the 2010 Chicago Improv Festival, you'll be able to catch teams of improvisers from around the world do at times hilarious, at other times dramatic, but always guaranteed strange, scenes that begin with a mere suggestion. Don't believe me? Stop by the festival to see these teams blow your fuckin' mind, as they say in the improv world.
1, 2, 3...Fag! Tuesday, April 20 at IO Theater, 8 p.m.; $12
Don't be fooled by the name: this ain't some Boystown bar brawl. Energetic Chicago improvisers John Hartman, Kellen Alexander and Seth Dodson bring together strong character work and a wacky, campy sense of humor. These boys are adept at interjecting humor into gender, proving that boys will not always ? in fact, probably never ? be boys. At their weekly Friday evening show a few weeks ago, the players created a bizarre scene about a closeted gay dad leaving his boy-obsessed teenage daughter and her dud of a little brother at home while he went on a "men's retreat" in Ohio. Watching Hartman, Alexander and Dodson brings you to a whole new understanding of queerness and comedy. And sometimes, they bring in a "hag," changing the name of this show to "1, 2, Fag and Hag!" Seriously, move over John Waters.
Messing with a Friend [with special guest Tim Meadows] Thursday, April 22 at Annoyance Theatre and Bar, 10:30 p.m.; $20
The winner of this year's Chicago Improv Festival "Improviser of the Year" (awards will be given out on Wednesday at Second City ETC), Chicago legend Susan Messing brings her renowned long-form improv show, Messing with a Friend, to the festival. In each show, she plays with one, and sometimes two, improvisers from her "special circle of friends." An inspiration to improvisers everywhere, especially women, Messing's show is a must-see - especially with SNL-alum Meadows in tow.
Boner Petite Friday, April 23 at Playground Theater, 10:30 p.m.; $10
This seven-member, all-female long-form improv team focuses on scene work and tons of physicality. Maybe you've seen them at Second City? Or IO? Perhaps in another major city like New York ? you know, the "other" comedy town? Wherever these ladies perform, their uniquely charming groupwork around topics like "how do you have sex on your wedding night?" gets laughs.
Boom Chicago All-Stars Friday, April 23 at Laugh Out Loud Theater, 9:30 p.m.; $18
Saturday, April 24 at Donny's Skybox Studio, 7 p.m.; $15 Note: Boom Chicago has reportedly been having trouble getting to Chicago due to the Icelandic volcano eruption. Keep an eye on the CIF blog for news about these and other shows.
Originally from Chicago, the members of this improv team have worked out of Amsterdam since 1993. Why Amsterdam, you ask? The founder chalks it up to a self-described great "stoner" idea they had: move there and start a troupe. Did they think it would work? Maybe. Did it work? Yes. All their shows are in English but, naturally, two-thirds of their audience is Dutch. And they've taken their shows online, too, so that American audiences can still see what they're up to. Since landing in the Netherlands, they've grown to become one of the best-known and loved improv-sketch comedy theatres in Europe. Here's to brilliant, pot-induced ideas!
Bearded Men Improv Saturday, April 24 at Athenaeum Theatre, 9 p.m.; $15
Okay, so not every improv troupe asks for a suggestion, but one thing is for certain: No one has a script. The Bearded Men are known for their Granny skit, where they hit the stage clad in your grandma's clothes: a pastel pink shirt and top, or a mint green polyester skirt-and-blouse attire, and improvise conversation about cookies, specifically Fig Newtons. In a Hot Pocket second, you'll forget that they ever called themselves bearded men. The Bearded Men are visiting from Moorhead, Minnesota.
Chocolates are cliched. Flowers appear forced. And dinner's nice, but not enough. If you're not quite sure how to one-up last year's Valentine's Day performance, consider a trip to one of the many Chicago theaters offering some sweet stage action on or before February 14. You just might get a standing ovation.
Duets for My Valentine Saturday, February 13 at Park West, 8 p.m.; $25
Being in love, flirting and seduction are all like dances. That's why this Valentine's Day performance includes every type of dance ? from jazz to modern, tango, tap, ballet, swing and even cha cha ? that'll make you swoon. Companies include DanceWorks Chicago, Elements Contemporary Ballet, Breakdance Chicago, Chicago Tap Theatre, Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre, Joel Hall Dance Company and Culture Shock Chicago.
River North Chicago Dance Company's Valentine's Weekend Engagement Friday, February 12 - Saturday, February 13 at Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 8 p.m.; $30-$65
River North Chicago checks into the Harris Theater for a weekend of Valentine's Day performances, including two world premieres (Robert Battle's "Three" and Laurie Stallings' "Suppose"), "Evolution of a Dream," a re-imagining of the Company's signature work, "Reality of a Dreamer," and several other performances.
Bikerman and the Jewish Avenger: Love Hurts Saturday, February 13 at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 10 p.m.; $16.50
No punches are pulled in this Valentine's Day show, as two ordinary guys break down the intricacies of dating, romance and love. Find a date if you can (not a young teen, please).
Valentine's Dance Night Saturday, February 13 at Ballroom Dance Chicago, 6 p.m.; $50
Ballroom Dance Chicago invites you and someone you love to celebrate a weekend of romance. You'll experience an evening of romantic Latin dance and a complimentary sampling of selected wines and hors d'oeuvres.
A Valentine's Show Sunday, February 14 at Annoyance Theatre and Bar, 8 p.m.; $10
You never know what to expect from love, so why should a show about it be any different? Derrick Aguis and Lindsey Finn use as suggestions from the audience to create an unscripted romance in this one-night-only show.
VD with Cornfusion Sunday, February 14 at Cornservatory, 6:30 p.m.; $25
Booze, food and relationship-themed comedy are on the menu for Valentine's day this year.
Show Us Your Love Sunday, February 14 at Mary's Attic, 7:30 p.m.
You could just buy a couple of $15 tickets for this collage of love-themed comic and dramatic musical selections - but to really make it special, go for the Valentine's Day Couples Package ($79), which includes two reserved seats, two servings of champagne, two red roses and a dessert to share. Get tickets at BailwickChicago.com.
Cupid Has a Heart On: A Musical Guide to Relationships Saturdays at IO Theater, 10:30 p.m.; $18
The Cupid Players continue the open run of their love-themed show, in which they poke fun at relationships, love and, well, life in general. Is there a better day to evaluate and reflect on your own self-worth this Valentine's Day? That's what we thought.
Kama Sutra The Musical February 13-March 27 at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret; 10:30 p.m. Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sunday (Feb. 14 only)
Chicago may not be home to Kama Sutra's origins ? that belongs to (duh) India ? but our big-shouldered city is the birth place of "Kama Sutra: The Musical." Dustin Hamilton and Kendel Lester reprise their roles as sexually dysfunctional Dick & Gina, with director/choreographer Buddy Reeder returning for his second season as Swami Comoniwannagetonya, the 1800-year-old creator of the Kama Sutra, whose enchanted vibrator - the John Handcock - resuscitates the couple's lackluster lustlife.
MATE: Male Attraction Techniques Exposed February 6-27 at Town Hall Pub, 7 p.m. Friday (February 12 and 26 only) and Saturday; $10
After being displaced from their convention at McCormick Place, a group of eccentric scientists gather here to present their breakthrough findings regarding the connection between animal courtship displays and human attraction techniques. The scientists explore all corners of the animal kingdom, from reptiles to arachnids, as they demonstrate males and females in pursuit of a MATE. If this doesn't get you in the mood, nothing will.
Chicago SketchFest Picks
We're not seeing a whole lot of smiling faces this time of year, and it's not just because they're all covered up by scarves. As the holiday high recedes, we need something to lift our spirits once again - and right on schedule comes the Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival (better known as Chicago Sketchfest). From January 7-17, over 100 troupes from all over the place will perform nearly 150 shows at Theatre Building Chicago. Why should you go this year? Well, we don't know your sense of humor, but we do know you're lazy, and don't want to sort through tons of bad comedy videos 'til you find an act that gets you laughing. That's why we did it for you. Here's the best of what we've found:
E. Faye Butler will take you through the American songbook at Northlight.
Want a real fireworks show on New Year's Eve? Head to one of these special theater events. You'll have a ball, we promise.
For the class clown The Chuckle Bowl Spectacular 12/31 at Lincoln Square Lanes
"Don't Spit the Water," a giddy live game show that asks audience contestants to hold cheekfuls of water while withstanding assaults from bizarro gimmick comedians, headlines what might be Chicago's least pretentious New Year's bash. The Chuckle Bowl, held at dive bowling alley Lincoln Square Lanes, features open bowling, vid screens looping comedic found footage, free pizza and cheap booze. At midnight, toast the High Life with Miller.
For your mom E. Faye Butler and Her Trio 12/31 at Northlight Theatre
This New Year's, put yourself in the hands of a diva. Hometown heroine E. Faye Butler, who blasted audiences away with lead performances in "Ella" and "Caroline or Change," will sing out 2009 with verve and a jazz trio. Perfect for grownups who want to be in bed at a reasonable hour, this show will take you through the American songbook starting at 8 p.m.
For the musical theater dork A Cabaret New Year's Celebration 12/31 at No Exit Cafe
Theo Ubique, with its young, gutsy casts and atmospherically gunky venue, almost makes showtunes cool. Almost. For the Eve, this small company will help you get your geek on in the intimate dark of the No Exit Cafe. Start with selections from their current show, "Man of La Mancha," break for snacks, then come right back for a set of musical-theater favorites at 11 p.m. Your ticket comes with an open bar, party favors and a glass of the bubbly at midnight.
For the French kissers Michelle L'Amour's Chicago Starlets 12/31 at La Mediterranee
If 2009 left you in need of an uplifting performance experience, may the splendid rear of Michelle L'Amour, duchess of Chicago burlesque, preside over the dawn of your 2010. L'Amour and her Starlets are planning two NYE performances at La Mediterranee, and the striptease will be as French as the four-course meal (included). With a champagne toast, bien sur.
For the die-hard off-Loop fan Too Much Light New Year's Eve '10 12/31 at the Neo-Futurarium
Fifty-two weeks a year, these shoestring-theater deities serve Chicagoans a rotating menu of 30 quick-fire world-premiere plays. And what did you accomplish in 2008? Celebrate another year of sold-out shows, persistent creativity, and pizza with the Neofuturists. Tickets must be purchased in advance for this one (no long lines and dice rolls) and the "30 Plays in 60 Minutes" time restriction has a special urgency: the plays must wrap before 2009.
They say "one man's trash is another man's treasure." They are the ones who try to sell you caved-in furniture and "gently used" undergarments from their front lawns every summer.
Anyone who's attempted to hunt for treasure at garage sales, thrift stores and the like knows it's a thankless pursuit that usually ends in disappointment. No one knows it better than Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett, the founders and co-hosts of the Found Footage Festival. The two comedy writers ("The Colbert Report" and "The Onion," respectively) have spent the past several years digging through a whole lot of trash in the hopes of finding their version of treasure: celebrity infomercials, amateur music videos, local ads and other humorous videos that have been - mostly for good reason - discarded from public memory.
Since their obsession was first inspired by a McDonald's training video in high school, the friends have amassed thousands of hours of ridiculous footage, some of it submitted by their growing legion of fans. And each year since 2005, they've edited the best of it together and shown it, live, to an audience while telling stories of where and how each video was found. This year's festival promises a fresh round of hilarity, with clips including a Milton Berle exercise tape and a 1987 video-dating reel submitted by none other than David Cross. We asked Prueher and Pickett to share some of their thrift-store wisdom before the fest rolls into Chicago (December 18 at Lakeshore Theater).
Why should people go to your show when they can just go online and find funny videos? What is added in the live experience?
Nick Prueher: Well, first of all, the footage in our live show is stuff you can't see anywhere else, including on our own website. But more importantly, with the glut of goofy videos out there right now, you need tour guides to separate the wheat from the chaff and take you through it. And luckily, we're willing to dig around and thrift stores and sift through hundreds of hours of discarded VHS footage to pick out just the best stuff. We also share the stories of how and where we found the videos and provide our own unique perspective on the material. Plus, when you're watching videos that weren't meant to be shown in public on a big screen, surrounded by 300 like-minded people who are there to laugh, something magical happens. And that's something you can't get in your inbox on your work computer.
YouTube has definitely changed the found-footage landscape. Is it harder to find those rarely seen gems, now that everyone?s posting up old infomercials?
NP: We've been collecting videos since 1991 and doing the Found Footage Festival since 2004, so we weren't sure how the rise of YouTube would affect what we do. But we've found that it's actually increased people's awareness and appreciation for what we do. When we first started the show, it was really tough to explain the Found Footage Festival. People would say, "But why would I want to watch bad videos?" And while my grandparents are still perplexed by the concept, I think most people have a frame of reference nowadays.
In your expert opinion, what makes for good found footage?
NP: I guess the first thing is that it has to be legitimately found on some sort of physical media, usually VHS. To us, the story of how a video was found is sometimes just as interesting as what's on it, so we're decidedly old school about our video procurement. Second, it has to be unintentionally funny. Whatever the video was attempting to do, it has to fail colossally. And lastly, although this isn't a criteria per se, we've found that a lot of our favorite videos involve people with a lot of ambition and very little talent. Luckily for us, there are a great many folks out there like that with access to video equipment.
Bargain Bernie just wants to save you money.
Tell us about a few of your favorite videos you've found, whether they made the list for this year's fest or not.
Joe Pickett: My favorite this year is this tape a friend gave us featuring raw footage from a local furniture store in Corpus Christi, Texas. It's hosted by the owner of the store who calls himself Bargain Bernie. Nick and I are huge fans of crappy local commercials and this video is a candid look behind the scenes of a pretty typical one. Bargain Bernie is probably a helluva salesman, but he's not a very good pitchman. He repeats his slogan "All I wanna do is save you money!" incessantly and he does this weird tree-hugging gesture while he's saying it. Plus he kind of reminds me of a Muppet. I've seen this video hundreds of times, but I look forward to it at every show.
Can you remember any particular videos you've found in Chicago, or that have a Chicago connection?
JP: Jan Terri, whose incredible homemade music videos were featured in our first installment, hails from some suburb of Chicago. Most of the video for "Journey to Mars" was shot at O'Hare International. Another video we've featured is actually a public access show still on the air - Chica-go-go. It's such a wonderfully bizarre kids dance show featuring kids, adults, puppets and occasionally robots dancing. Most of the time it feels like you're watching a weird dream. Nick and I appeared on an episode when we were in town a few years ago. It was so much fun, but my body wasn't used to dancing that much. I was sweating profusely and wearing a skin-tight leopard costume. I felt like I could've been arrested.
What happens to all the stuff that doesn't make it into your DVDs or shows? Does it go back to the thrift store?
NP: We have about 2,000 videos spread across two storage lockers and an apartment in Queens, NY, that we have yet to go through. But when we've watched a video and decided it doesn't make the cut, we drop it back off at a Salvation Army for other people to find. It's the circle of life.
The holidays aren't complete without David Sedaris, ruminations on the temperamental economy, some Dickens lovin' and a multicultural take on Christmas. Get out and see some theater with the family because, honestly, what else are you going to do this holiday season that doesn't involve gobbling food, sneaking under mistletoe, lighting candles and eating Chinese food because every other restaurant is closed? Yep, that's what we thought. (Scroll down to the bottom for all the Nutcracking and Caroling you can handle.)
General Merriment
"A Nutty Nutcracker Christmas"
This fun, fresh holiday spectacular for the entire family boasts holiday hits like "Welcome to Christmas Wood," "The Wind-Up Toy Ballet," and crowd favorite "Let's Ruin Christmas."
"The Santaland Diaries"
Theater Wit presents a wry holiday tradition in its sixth year. David (Sedaris) is a struggling young writer who takes a job as an elf at Macy's and struggles to maintain his dignity.
"Santa Claus Conquers the Nazis!"
World War II is going poorly for Hitler, so he decides to kidnap Santa Claus. The only thing standing in the way of their evil plot? A misunderstood elf, a misfit toy and a couple of hit men reindeer. Will that be enough to save Christmas?
"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer"
Teaming up with fellow outsider Hermie, an elf who longs to be a dentist instead of just another factory worker, this wacky North Pole pair takes a crazy adventure through scary lands like the Island of Misfit Toys. Rudolph gets a lot of slack for his brightly colored red nose but, ironically, it ends up saving the day.
"Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer"
Pull up an iceberg and join Rudolph and his misfit friends, Herbie the 'not gay enough' elf and Yukon Cornelia, the butch prospector with a deep, dark secret, as they search for happiness and attempt to outrun the horrifyingly tacky Abominable Drag-Beast.
"Father Christmas"
It's one month before Christmas, which means crunch time at the North Pole. Then St. Nick gets an unexpected visit from the 12-year-old daughter he didn't know he had. Now Santa must balance parenthood and career. Presented in the style of a classic radio program, this interactive stage reading will have you laughing all through the holidays.
"Mother Superior's Ho-Ho-Holy Night"
Did Baby Jesus get to ride in the sleigh? Was Santa in the manger with the Holy Family? Did the elves guide the Three Wise Men? Your favorite nun will answer these questions and more.
"The Second City's Exceedingly Dysfunctional Holiday Revue"
The holidays are depressing, but not with Second City. Making 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 satire is your new holiday tradition.
"Mark & Laura's Couples Advice Christmas Special"
This satire is based on TV's self-proclaimed counseling gurus and the dysfunctional American family. Will Mark & Laura's volatile relationship get in the way of their primetime debut?
"Feats of Strength: Six New Plays for Surviving the Holidays"
Dramatis Personae presents this festival featuring the works of six Chicago playwrights. Their-six minute creations based on a prompt of "surviving the holidays" are all Chicago premieres. Each play features a holiday survival situation, such as a Reindeer revolution, Jesus' birthday party, and even an electric turkey carver duel.
"Holiday Ha-Ha's with Patti Vasquez and Tim Harrison"
Patti Vasquez, a Chicago native, joins Tim Harrison to offer a perspective on family and relationships, including stories about growing up in a multi-ethnic American family.
"The Ha-Ha Holiday Show"
This improv show features totally improvised scenes based on the audience's holiday-themed suggestions.
"It Came Upon a Midnight Queen"
Hit hard by the economic downturn, the people of Dorchester, Nebraska are down in the dumps. That's when 10-year-old Annie Mitchell decides to stage a Christmas pageant to save her town. Now all she needs is a celebrity to host it, but who will she find? Find out in this new holiday show.
Holiday Traditions New and Old
"The Christmas Schooner"
The story of Peter and Alma Stossel, who decide to take Christmas trees from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan across the icy waters to post-fire Chicago, this tale always delights.
"Miracle on 34th Street"
When a whitebearded gentleman claims to be the real Santa Claus, he spreads love across New York City, convincing a divorced single mother, her solemn daughter, and the entire state of New York that Santa Claus is no myth.
"It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play"
A Chicago holiday favorite back for its eighth year, it's the classic story lovingly performed as a period radio play. ATC's ensemble plays the well-known roles from the film with heart and passion, supported by live music and live Foley sound effects.
"It's a Wonderful Life"
American Blues Theater, Chicago's second oldest Equity ensemble company, kicks off its 2009-2010 season with this new adaptation of the classic story based on the Frank Capra masterpiece and performed as a period radio piece complete with commercial breaks.
"My Three Angels"
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."
"The Snow Queen"
Talking animals, wooden soldiers, witches and lost children: Victory Gardens' production of "Snow Queen," adapted from the Hans Christian Andersen story by director Frank Galati and songwriter Michael Smith, provides enchantment and wonder. It's the story of how beautiful adolescent Gerda rescues her best friend Kai from the clutches of the titular evil monarch, whose icy lips offer the terrifying kiss of death. Along the way, she meets the usual witches and princesses, as well as ravens and reindeer.
"Tidings of Tap!"
The innovative Chicago Tap Theatre offers a new holiday tradition. Featuring rhythm- and whimsy-filled interpretations of your favorite Christmas, Chanukah and Winter songs, this family-friendly evening of culture and cheer features pieces as varied as "Carol of the Bells A Capella," "Ocho Kandelikas," and Joni Mitchell's "River."
"Mid-Winter's Tales"
This winter solstice celebration draws on songs and stories from a variety of cultures and generations. Belinda Bremner directs.
"The Gift of the Magi"
The poignant story of young, poor newlyweds, each of whom sacrifices his or her own treasures to purchase a special Christmas gift for the other. O. Henry?s classic short story of sacrifice and the enduring magic of love is transformed into a heart-warming musical treasure.
Offbeat
"G.I.F.T."
Otherworldly characters take the audience on a journey that traverses through four different environments built within the 7,000-square-foot Collaboraction space in this atypical holiday show.
The Nutcracker
"The Nutcracker" (Paramount Theatre)
Sugarplum fairies, nutcrackers, and mice dazzle you in this seasonal sensation. The ballet incorporates a cast of local dancers as well as world-class guest artists.
"The Nutcracker" (Chodl Auditorium)
This classic ballet dances into town just in time for the holiday season. Ballet Legere's 25th-anniversary production includes a full orchestra.
"The Nutcracker" (Auditorium Theatre)
The Joffrey Ballet's production has been a Chicago holiday favorite since its first performance here in 1996. Combining classical elegance with explosive action, the show rolls out favorite characters like Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy, and the warring Mice led by the Mouse King.
"The Great Russian Nutcracker" (Rosemont Theatre)
Members of the Moscow Ballet and children from SPACE arts conservatory present this holiday classic. Featuring timeless music and elegant ballet, this show is sure to delight young and old.
"The Nutcracker" (Centre East)
The Civic Ballet of Chicago presents "The Nutcracker". Pay an extra $10 and you'll get admission to the post-show Sugar Plum Parties.
"A Christmas Carol" (Civic Opera House)
This production affords the audience an opportunity to see six beloved, much-admired actors on stage in a production faithful to the original 1943 novella. The dramatic arc of the story ? tracing Scrooge from his happy childhood and adolescence to his embittered, miserly adulthood and the magical night that leads him to recognize the true meaning of Christmas ?is one of the most satisfying in all literature. The splendor of Chicago?s Civic Opera House will be filled with a lavish production featuring beautiful, historically accurate scenery, props and costumes, eye-popping special effects and a supporting cast of twenty-eight.
"A Christmas Carol" (Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace)
A popular holiday tradition entertaining hundreds of children and families each year is back once again this Christmas season. In addition to a performance from a cast of top Chicago actors, Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace offers families the special opportunity to have breakfast or dinner with Santa Claus on select performance dates.
Erica Watson was blessed with a pretty face. That may be every little girl's dream for snagging Prince Charming, but for a plus-sized woman, it can create a nightmare. "People don't realize how demeaning it is to hear 'you have such a pretty face,' as if it's wasted on you because you?re fat," she says.
Fueled by her anger about how plus-size women are treated as well as stereotypical black female media images, Chicago-born comedian and director Watson developed a one-woman show that basically "wrote itself." A 90-minute, witty ride through mammy portrayals, body image issues and the requisite "fat and sassy black woman" roles, "Fat Bitch" is Watson's answer to all the haters. The show gained great response in New York so Watson decided to bring it home to Chicago. We sat down recently with Watson for a long lunch of jerk catfish and brown stew chicken at the South Loop's Utopia International Caribbean Cuisine and talked about everything from her Hyde Park childhood to her gay mirror.
How did you develop the idea for "Fat Bitch"?
In my stand up routine, I avoid talking about my weight at all costs. It's so obvious when you're plus-size to make a fat joke. But people like Tyra did undercover reports about being big and put on fat suits. They don't ever talk to somebody like me to find out how it is to live daily like this. I want to show that hey, fat girls have a voice too. I wrote a hybrid between theater and stand-up. There are moments that are serious but it's a funny show.
What's your favorite part of the show?
One of my favorite parts is when I act out a conversation that I have every morning with my magic mirror, who happens to be a gay man. Yes, I said it, my mirror is gay and he tells me how FIERCE I am every day. If you can't get a gay best friend, a gay mirror is the next best thing!
After earning a masters in media management from Columbia College Chicago, you moved to New York to direct music videos in 2003. How did you wind up in comedy?
I worked on a couple of sets. I did some PA work and I saw what was going on behind the scenes. The women popping their butts and performing oral sex in trailers, I couldn't deal with that. So I took a comedy class at the Manhattan School of Comedy and within two weeks, I had my first show at Caroline's.
How was your body image and self awareness shaped by growing up "thick" in Hyde Park?
Yes, I was captain of the cheerleading team. Yes, I was senior class president. Yes, I was cool with everybody from the thugs to the chess team. But the guys at my school were just not interested in me. I don't think it had anything to do with my size because the "thick" girls were the favorites of the guys there. I still got a lot of attention from older guys in college and boys at other high schools. Kenwood Academy had some of the most beautiful girls in the city so the average-looking girl of any size had very tough competition there. It didn't really affect me because I have always pulled self esteem from within.
You have a small role in the movie "Precious" with Mo'Nique and newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, who are both big, beautiful black women. Are there any positive representations of big black women in the media that you'd like to see more of?
Honestly, there aren't many plus-size women in the media of any race. Even the ones we think of as "big girls," when you see them in real life, you realize they're not too big after all. When everyone on TV is a size zero, then the size 4 girl looks fat! One plus-size woman that I really admire for her fearlessness is Beth Ditto. She's my hero!
"Fat Bitch" runs through November 28 at Chicago Center for the Performing Arts. The show will return to New York in February.
So, you were able to snag tickets to a hot new production at one of Chicago's favorite theaters. Awesome. But your plans aren't quite set yet. In order to make it a really memorable experience, you'll want to find the perfect place for that efficient, yet not rushed pre-show meal. We've investigated the areas around the city's top stages and found some suitable restaurants at which to start your evening - and some great bars to hit after the curtain falls. 
E. Faye Butler will take you through the American songbook at Northlight.
Bargain Bernie just wants to save you money.
