Items filtered by date: November 2007

 TBS Just For Laughs

The crowd at The Chicago Theater Just for Laughs Festival welcomed Russell Brand with a warm roar much like they would a rock star. Although Brand reissued much of his old material in the show he also got some huge laughs working the crowd spontaneously and on a bit about outdated Illinois laws.

Brand has an astute, yet poetic grasp on the issues of politics as they relate to the exploitation of the masses including Gays, women and minority issues. Brand also delivered some great material about Hitler’s class photo and Che Guevara.

But his most entertaining bits were about sexuality.

"I worship women," he said. "I see them as my way back to God. There is power in the elegance of female sexuality."

Along those lines, I actually thought his riff on “Ass Jazz for the ladies” was very positive and feministic in nature.

“Referring to a woman’s anus as “a perfect aperture, so delicate and sweet it could’ve been penned by Walt Disney, so perfectly sanitary it could dispense nothing more toxic than little pink tic-tacs,” he went on to demonstrate and sing his sexual tactic of “Ass Jazz” on a lady and her beautiful screams of pleasure. Then Brand states how unfair it is to women that the guy then says to his lady turning his ass to face her,” My turn!” and began belching out  German Oompah music instead of Jazz.

Russell Brands comments on Jesus “being a nice, mellow guy who was all about kindness to women and promoting peace and love but who has been misappropriated by Christians and Catholics” was right on the money.

I would have liked to hear more comedy penned about The Messiah in his tour branded The Messiah Complex. That joke reminded me of the classic Jesus joke penned by Woody Allen in Hannah and Her Sisters, “If Jesus Christ came back to earth today and saw all of the evil that was being done in his name, he would never stop throwing up.”

At one point Russell left the stage and had the house lights turned up so he could search the crowd for an available lady to sleep with, “You might be a woman from the Chicago area thinking ‘oh, I’d love to have sex with Russell Brand but he’s so erudite and great I’m probably not good enough for him.’ Give it a shot. You probably are good enough. Have some confidence in yourself!”

Then saying to one woman who jumped up at him, “No, not you, no reason to plead or push, it’s already been decided (waving his hands over his crotch area) down here!”

Russell Brands freewheeling, psychedelic, high energy style of comedy and delivery is very much what younger generations need in order to enlighten them in a funny way to all of the ways they are being repressed sexually, spiritually and financially by our government, mass media and organized religions. My only suggestion for him is that he take some time now to write more into his Messiah Complex material about the Messiah.

2013 Back to Bass Tour at Ravinia, IL - Sting and his musicians effortlessly delivered another satisfying performance of his stripped down “Back to Bass Tour”, playing his music spanning 25 years. Sting was joined by his longtime guitarist Dominic Miller, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums), David Sancious (keyboards) Peter Tickell (electric fiddle), and Jo Lawry (vocals).

It was a beautiful, crisp night under the stars at Ravinia Park and Sting charmed the mostly middle aged, wine drinking, Highland Park crowd with straightforward yet heartfelt renditions of most of his greatest hits. Sting opened with “If I Ever Lose My faith in You” and kept it going with a strong set list that included “Demolition Man”, “Message in A Bottle”, “Shape of My Heart”, De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da” AND “Roxanne” before coming out for encores “King of Pain”, “Every Breath You Take”, “Next To You” and “Fragile”.              

At 61, Sting looks fit as ever in his skinny jeans, flashing us all a great “gun show” under his short sleeved t-shirt, but the best thing about this concert was Sting’s voice, still strong, rich, full and capable of  hitting all the high and low notes including his trademark howls and growls.

Each of Sting’s current minimalist rock band lineups continue to perform to the high level of perfection he demands.  Peter Tickell, a 23-year-old prodigy from the UK, delivered a mind bendingly complex, fast and furious electric fiddle solo that made me laugh out loud with wonder at his youthful skills.

Sting first started this tour back in 2011 and now he is making another go round with it before releasing his first new album in 10 years, titled "The Last Ship", which will be released on Universal Music Group's Polydor Records. The Last Ship will feature 12 songs and be produced by Rob Mathes.

Even more exciting Sting news is that he will be bringing a musical production with the same name to Broadway next year. Sting (Gordon Mathew Sumner) spent nearly three years working on the story that is focused on relationships, family, and community, collaborating with Joe Mantello, the director of the hit musical "Wicked" and John Logan, co-writer of the latest James Bond film "Skyfall".

Sting seems to bend time and the quickly passing years in his favor picking up “The Back to Bass Tour” exactly where he left off in 2011 as if to say to his fans – “Get your fill of my hits, I’m still here playing rock and roll but next year I will treat you to something new and I hope you will welcome it as much as you welcome my classic catalogue.”

No word yet on if Sting will be performing in his Broadway production but I have always considered him a fine actor on a par with another brilliantly gifted, rocker and songwriter, David Bowie (The Elephant Man).

Sting fans can’t miss by seeing the Back to Bass Tour 2013 again when it hits their towns over the next 8 weeks; it is a warm, fun evening of solid hit music sure to satisfy hungry Sting fans from every generation.

In the meantime, Ravinia Park is a fantastic place to see some of our favorite musical artists and 2013 has a great schedule which includes The Go-Go’s, Journey, Jewel, Matchbox 20, The B-52’s, Natalie Cole and so many more. Be sure to check out the show listing at  http://ravinia.org/. And if you are in Chicago, don’t forget that Ravinia is one short Metra ride away and you are literally dropped off at the front gate.   

Chicago Celebrates with over 500 Cities around the World

98.7WFMT Broadcasts throughout the Day

CHICAGO (May 20, 2013) – Presented byRush Hour Concerts, Make Music Chicago, a completely free musical celebration across Chicago, returns for its third annual event taking place on the first day of summer, Friday, June 21.  Chicago joins more than 500 cities across the world celebrating music with free performances, all on the longest day of the year.  Tishman Speyer is proud to be Presenting Sponsor of Make Music Chicago 2013.

Make Music Chicago celebrates the ability of everyone to participate in music-making.  Throughout the day, people of all ages and backgrounds – beginners, amateurs, professionals and marquee artists – gather in Chicago’s public spaces to perform live music of all genres.  This year, over 25 sites host music events, including Daley Plaza, the Driehaus Museum, The Poetry Foundation, Midway Plaisance, Lincoln Park Zoo, Old Town School of Folk Music, Roosevelt University and more.  The Grand Finale takes place in the historic St. James Cathedral (65 E. Huron Street at Wabash) in River North, followed by an outdoor street party at the St. James Commons.  A complete list of performance sites can be found at www.makemusicchicago.com.

In related news, Rush Hour Concerts is pleased to announce that pianist Kuang-Hao Huang has joined Creative Director Deborah Sobol on the Make Music Chicago Creative Team.  A renowned pianist and frequent artist on the Rush Hour Concerts Summer Concert Series, Huang is collaborating with Sobol to program several locations for the June 21 celebration.  "I'm excited to join Rush Hour's creative team for Make Music Chicago," said Huang. "We are planning a range of programs across the city, from large participatory events like ‘Play the Plaza’ to a full day of live broadcasts on 98.7WFMT."

Make Music Chicago 2013 Events

Play the Plaza

Make Music Chicago invites anyone and everyone to Play the Plaza, beginning in the morning at Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington Street).  The fully participatory event welcomes all orchestra, choral and concert band musicians of any age.  Play the Plaza opens with the Rise and Shine Orchestra and continues with two popular lunchtime events returning from prior years, the Broadway and Opera Sing-Along and Sousapalooza.

• Rise and Shine Orchestra: 10 – 10:45 am

Lloyd Palmiter of Quinlan & Fabish Music Company leads musicians through vibrant orchestral music (rehearsal begins at 9:00 am). 

• Broadway and Opera Sing-Along: 11 – 11: 45 am

Bill Chin, Artistic Director of the Oriana Singers, leads Broadway and opera fans in favorite tunes.

• Sousapalooza: 12 – 12:45 pm

Richard Fischer, Director of Bands at Concordia University-Chicago, leads classic marches of John Philip Sousa. 

Any musicians interested in participating in Play the Plaza events can learn more, download repertoire and sign up at www.makemusicchicago.com/play-the-plaza.

Live Broadcasts on 98.7WFMT

Chicago's only classical music radio station, 98.7WFMT, devotes a full day of broadcasting on June 21 to Make Music Chicago, featuring live performances from the Music Institute of Chicago (1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston), the PianoForte Foundation (Fine Arts Building, Studio 825, 408 S. Michigan Avenue) and the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts (915 E. 60^th Street). The broadcast is produced by 98.7WFMT's program director, Peter Van De Graaff, who said: “Make Music Chicago is one of the city's most unique musical events and WFMT is excited to feature a day of live broadcasts from around the city on June 21^st."

• Nichols Hall at Music Institute of Chicago in Evanston: 10 am – 12 pm

Performances by Newberry Consort, Music Institute of Chicago, Opera Moda, International Chamber Artists, New Budapest Orpheum Society and Apollo Chorus

• PianoForte: 1 – 3 pm

Performances by George LePauw, Marcia Bosits, Sylvia Wang, Isabelle Olivier, Matthew Hagle, and Alex Djordjevic

• Logan Center: 4 pm – 6 pm

Performances by Fulcrum Point New Music Project featuring Kuang-Hao Huang, Avalon String Quartet, Orion Ensemble, Cavatina Duo and CUBE Ensemble

Family Concerts

Make Music Chicago includes multiple Family Concerts throughout the day.  In Lincoln Park Zoo (2001 N. Clark Street), woodwind ensemble Quintet Attacca, along with special guest narrator Mark George, President of the Music Institute of Chicago, perform their interactive "Peter and the Wolf" show.  Also, the young musicians of the Suzuki Music School of Lincoln Park perform favorites in “SuZOOki” and the young artists of the Chinese Fine Arts Society perform highlights of their repertory.

Lincoln Park Zoo

• Quintet Attacca with Mark George, “Peter and the Wolf”: 10:30 am – 11:15 am
• “SuZOOki”kids play-along:  11:30 am – 12:00 pm
• Chinese Fine Arts Society Young Artists:  12:15 pm – 1:00 pm

During the Grand Finale, Quintet Attacca also performs its interactive “Quintet Idol!” on the Scott V. Bruner Family Stage in the St. James Commons, a show intended to introduce school-age children to woodwind instruments where they decide their favorite.

Organ Crawl

• St. Chrysostom Episcopal Church (1424 N. Dearborn Street): 11:10 am – 11:40 am
  Performance by Richard Hoskins
• Fourth Presbyterian Church (126 E. Chestnut Street): 12:10 pm – 1:00 pm

Performance by Julie Vidrick Evans

• St. James Cathedral: 1:20 pm – 2:00 pmPerformance by David Jonies

More Music Throughout the Day

Make Music Chicago events take place throughout the day at these Tishman Speyer properties:

• 10 & 20 S. Wacker Drive
• 161 N. Clark Street
• 222 N. LaSalle Street
• 30 N. LaSalle Street
• 353 N. Clark Street
• 525 W. Monroe Street
• 227 W. Monroe Street
• 1 N. Franklin Street

Additional Sites Hosting Music:

• Midway Plaisance, 731 E. 60th Street
• Nichols Park, 1355 E. 53rd Street
• Diehaus Museum, 40 E. Erie Street
• The Poetry Foundation, 61 W. Superior Street
• Joan’s Music Studio, 1438 E. 57th Street
• International House (2 – 8 pm), 1414 E. 59th Street
• Resurrection Project Plaza, 1818 S. Paulina Street
• Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Avenue
• Roosevelt University, 430 S. Michigan Avenue
• Chant Restaurant (starting at 9 pm), 1509 E. 53rd Street

Grand Finale

The day’s events close with the Grand Finale, including a free two-hour concert event as part of the Rush Hour Concerts Summer Concert Series from 5 – 7 pm, at St. James Cathedral, featuring (in order of appearance, subject to change):

• A trumpet fanfare by Chicago Symphony Orchestra trumpeters Chris Martin and Tage Larsen
• Spektral Quartet performing Verdi’s String Quartet in E Minor
• Singers from the Ryan Opera Center of Lyric Opera Chicago performing selections from Carousel, The Marriage of Figaro and Dido and Aeneas
  • Janet Sung (violin) and Kuang-Hao Huang (piano) performing Poulenc’s Sonata for Violin and Piano
  • Fifth House Ensemble with participants in the 2013 fresh inc festival
  • Quintet Attacca performing the music of Paquito D'Rivera, Arturo Marquez and Astor Piazzolla
  • Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet
  • David Schrader’s improvisations on organ

The Grand Finale continues outdoors in the new St. James Commons on Wabash at Huron from 7 – 9 pm for the Make Music Chicago Street Party, featuring family programming and international music on three stages.  Renowned harmonica performer and teacher Joe Filisko leads an all-ages Harmonica Jam with harmonicas generously donated by Hohner, Inc.  A variety of food trucks will also be on hand.

About Make Music Chicago

Celebrating the ability of everyone to make music, Make Music Chicago is completely free for musicians and audiences alike.  It is inspired by Fête de la Musique, a national musical holiday in France.  Since its inaugural year in 1982, Fête de la Musique has become an international phenomenon, taking place every June 21^st in more than 500 cities in over 130 countries – including Germany, Italy, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Australia, Vietnam, Congo, Cameroon, Fiji, Colombia, Chile, Nepal and Japan – easily making it the largest music event in the world.  Make Music Chicago is part of a national group of “Make Music” cities that includes New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Make Music Chicago is presented by Rush Hour Concerts in partnership with 98.7WFMT, Alliance Française de Chicago, the Consulate General of France in Chicago, the Chicago Loop Alliance, Chicago Sister Cities International, the Chicago Park District and St. James Cathedral.

About Rush Hour Concerts

Rush Hour Concerts presents the annual Summer Concert Series featuring free concerts of “great music for busy lives” at St. James Cathedral every Tuesday evening, June 4 – August 27, 2013.  In a format that reinvents classical music for life in a new century, Rush Hour Concerts begin with a pre-concert food and beverage reception with the artists at 5:15 pm in the cathedral foyer, followed by a 30-minute concert at 5:45 pm.  The reception and concert are always free and no tickets are required.

Since its inception in 2000, Rush Hour Concerts has reinvented the classical music experience through a dedication to presenting uncompromising artistic quality; a concert format suitable to contemporary lifestyles and accessible to all listeners; and a policy of admission-free events.  Rush Hour Concerts has created groundbreaking programs and access initiatives that have revolutionized music making in Chicago and forged trendsetting partnerships with the city’s arts and cultural community. 

Rush Hour Concerts is committed to broadening arts access and launched its Community Engagement Residencies to bring expert musical instruction to under-resourced neighborhoods in Chicago through a long-term strategy of artistic and community collaboration.  Now in its 14^th year, Rush Hour Concerts has expanded into a year-round arts organization, yet remains grounded in its mission to reach across all communities with new ways for audiences to experience world-class music in Chicago.

To learn more about Make Music Chicago, please visit www.makemusicchicago.com, and to learn more about Rush Hour Concerts, please visit www.rushhour.org. 

• State of the art audiovisual capabilities in an inviting room wrapped with intimate booth seating and two levels of cabaret-style seating on the third floor of Piper's Alley.
• 5000 sq. ft. of space designed by Ryan Nestor of Barker Nestor
• This warm and intimate space seats 285 people
• Full service kitchen and bar with a no drink minimum

About TBS Just For Laughs Festival:
TBS Just For Laughs is America’s largest comedy festival bringing together the biggest stars in comedy as well as introducing new up-and-coming comedic talent. The five day festival, now in its fifth year, is a must-see for thousands of Chicago comedy fans showcasing multiple talents and historic Chicago comedy venues.
 
Tickets on sale now! Call: 312-662-4562 or log onto:  http://upcomedyclub.com. Specific information for each of the signature shows can be found at  http://upcomedyclub.com.

RAVINIA’S 2013 SUMMER SEASON OPENS WITH:

DOUBLE BILLS OF DON MCLEAN AND JUDY COLLINS,

INIDIGO GIRLS AND JOAN BAEZ

TWO SOLD-OUT NIGHTS OF STING

BENNETT GORDONG HALL $10 CLASSICS SERIES SEASON PREMIERE

KO-THI DANCE COMPANY KICKS OFF KRAFT GREAT KIDS SERIES

DON MCLEAN AND JUDY COLLINS:

• Returning hit-makers Don McLean and Judy Collins will share a double bill opening our 2013 season on June 6.

Tickets: $55-$45/Lawn $22/Park opens at 5 p.m.

INDIGO GIRLS AND JOAN BAEZ:

• With 14 studio records, three live records and three greatest hits albums, the Grammy-winning Indigo Girls return to Ravinia on a double bill with musician and activist Joan Baez, singer of such hits as “Diamonds and Rust” and “Babe, I’m Gonna Leave You,” on June 9.

Tickets: $65-$55/Lawn $27/Park opens at 4 p.m.

STING:

• Following his two-concert sold-out 2010 Ravinia debut, music icon Sting returns for two more sold-out performances, June 7 and June 8, as part of his Back to Bass Tour.
• Sting has sold nearly 100 million albums from his combined work with The Police and as a solo artist, and has earned 10 Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, an Emmy and three Oscar nominations.

Tickets: SOLD OUT/Park opens at 5 p.m.

CONCERT DANCE, INC.:

• Ravinia’s most intimate performance space, the 450-seat Bennett Gordon Hall, is home this summer to 26 concerts that cost $10 for a reserved seat.
• This year’s $10 BGH Classics series begins with two performances of Concert Dance, Inc. (CDI) on June 6 and 7.
• These performances are also part of Ravinia’s Ruth Page Festival of Dance celebrating the late dancer/choreographer.
• There will be no lawn tickets for these shows

Tickets: $10/No Lawn Sales/Park opens at 5 p.m.

KO-THI DANCE COMPANY:

• The 2013 Kraft Great Kids Concert series emulates the festival’s main-stage programming in a kid-friendly environment.
• This family series connects to the mission of the festival’s REACH*TEACH*PLAY education programs and opens June 8 at 11 a.m. with the Ko-Thi Dance Company in the Martin Theatre.
• The dancers are trained in African history, mythology and art techniques and are taught to use rhythm and dance to captivate and inspire the audience

Tickets: $10/Lawn $5/Park opens at 10 a.m.

Ravinia is North America’s oldest outdoor music festival and is located at Lake Cook and Green Bay roads in Highland Park, IL. Tickets are available by visiting Ravinia.org or calling the Ravinia Box Office at 847-266-5100. A $7 service fee is added to all online and phone ticket orders. Ravinia welcomes all festival fans to follow, connect and interact online at backstage.ravinia.org, facebook.com/Ravinia Festival and twitter.com/raviniafestival. Ravinia is a not-for-profit organization.

Umphrey's McGee has always been a band that delivers a great show when the situation warrants it. They turn in their best performances on New Year's Eve, at the end of a long run in a city, at a late-night tent at a festival, and of course, when they throw their fans a party. For the last four years, none of their shows have warranted a big performance more than their annual UM Bowl. Last Friday night, Umphrey's McGee treated their most loyal fans to a very unique concert experience and they delivered a very impressive show indeed.

At a normal concert, you might get 2 sets of music totaling about 2.5 hours, if you're lucky. At UM Bowl, you are treated to 4 sets (or quarters, if you will) taking over 5 hours, with a few timeouts. You are also introduced to the 21st century equivalent of shouting "Freebird" at a band, only this actually works. The band set up a text line, and during the third and fourth quarters, put instructions up on big screens telling people to give them ideas for where to take the jam next, or options to vote on what song will be played next. This is definitely one of the coolest ways I've seen a band interact with their crowd during a set.

This is a unique show that caters to their die-hard fans (panders, maybe?), but it is also a neat musical trick they are able to pull. Nearly everything played on the night was influenced by the crowd, and the crowd knew it. Going in to it, the crowd knew it would be basically impossible to not hear all kinds of fan favorites. By allowing so much fan interaction, they are able to take the credit for a great show and the audience has to take the blame for a bad one.

So what does all of this get you? Two sets of nearly straight improvisation (one set the band guided, one set the audience did). One set of covers, rarities and other favorites the fans voted on beforehand. Finally, you get a set where the audience was often split between itself and more interested in the outcome of a vote rather than the music on stage. Sure, as an Umphrey's fan, this was a very fun set of music to experience, however the interactive element lead to many awkward transitions, as was the case in the audience-lead jam. A regular Umphrey's show will have much smoother segues between songs, something that is really a trademark of the band.

Surely, with all this voting on songs, there were some cool moments -you must be thinking. First of all, don't call me Shirley, and secondly, of course there were. The second set started off with Orion by Metallica. Very cool, but not surprising enough you say? How about the theme from the Mos Eisley Cantina (yes, you must specify the cantina) in Star Wars. All that was missing was a big blue elephant looking alien playing a horn. This set also featured one of my favorite things to see live, the second half of Abbey Road. Unfortunately, this version didn't feature "The End", but it was great nonetheless.

The third set, which was the audience lead jam, was as brilliant as it was awkward. Several moments were great, like when someone's suggestion was just "Gin and Juice", but then quickly got awkward as it segued into "Beach Boogie". Hey, they can't all be winners. The redemption was on with "Warrior Marching into Battle" (yea, these got a little weird), but the definite peak of the set was the "Tribal Drum Jam", where percussionist Andy Farag found his piece of stage real estate very crowded.

The audience was given one additional treat which was universally loved. Before each quarter started, and before the encore, they showed parts of a Forrest Gump parody they made up, lovingly called gUMph. Joel Cummins(Keyboards) plays the role of Gump, and everyone makes an appearance as various characters. The video culminated in Cummins running across the country and to the venue, through the crowd and up on stage to perform the encore, "Runnin' on Empty". A fun (and a little cheesy) way end to a marathon concert.

So how was the UM Bowl experience? Fantastic, to hear it from a veteran of over 50 Umphrey’s McGee shows, but I am a little biased. A show like this isn’t for a casual fan. That’s what the other 100+ shows every year are for. So I suggest that you go check them out this summer at Northerly Island. They play on Saturday, August 17^th, and who doesn’t like an outdoor venue on the lakefront in the summer in Chicago? All I can say is that I hope that everyone is as lucky as I am to see their favorite band play such a unique show for their most devoted fans.

There is just something about the ballet; the people watching (it’s a very entertaining crowd), the glass of bubbly before the show starts, the curtain rising, the live orchestra playing, and of course the ballet dancers that make the most difficult of feats seem effortless. Unfortunately, like previous performances I’ve seen at the Joffrey, the most recent performance of “Othello” left me wanting more.

Once again, Joffrey loyalists will roll their eyes when I tell them I was disappointed by the “Othello” performance. This was a completely original ballet based off of a great Shakespearean tragedy and it should have been amazing. The short teaser trailer of the performance on the Joffrey’s website was dramatic and foreboding. On the other hand, as the show began, I knew immediately that I would be left wanting. Let me first say that the dancing was beautiful. The main dancers, Othello played by Fabrice Calmels and Desdemona played by April Daly, were graceful, strong, and fluid, and exactly what you’d expect in the principal dancers. Sadly, great dancers can only do so much with what they are given, and I don’t think they were learnt much in the ways of choreography and music. The music alone was enough to make someone dislike the show. Imagine an entire 2 hour performance with drums and strings building and building and taking forever to reach a crescendo and when it does nothing happens on stage to match the power behind those notes. I equate it to sitting in a scary movie, the music building your expectations to a state of uncontrollable suspense, just waiting for the killer to jump out and attack, only to have the loud crash usually tied to a scary moment to be someone yawning on screen. What a letdown, right?

Also, the choreography was a bit too in-your-face-foreshadowing of the tumultuous and ultimately grim lover’s tale. If you went through high school and college never having read Othello or seeing the movie O, then perhaps the references weren’t so easy to pick up on, but for those of us who know the story it was about as blunt as an axe to the head. At times the duets between Othello and Desdemona just consisted of him lifting her and tossing her around like a gracefully beautiful sack of potatoes, his hands and arms lingering around her neck for an awkwardly long time. Outside of those dancers, the solos of Cassio and Iago, played by Aaron Rogers and Matthew Adamcyzk respectfully, were beautiful, but the jealousy that eventually drives Iago to his dastardly acts was so jagged and rough that it took away from the grace of a great dancer. The character of Iago seethes with jealousy, hatred, and envy but it didn’t translate as powerfully as it could have in the dancing and he ended up looking like a petulant child. All in all, the entire ballet performance was lukewarm for such a heated storyline.

So why go back? Why keep going to the ballet if I’m not going to enjoy it? It’s because I believe in this art and want to be blown away each and every time. Some of the dance companies in Chicago without nearly the endowment the Joffrey has, have left me speechless and simply blown away by their performances. I suppose I just expect the same from a company with such amazing talent as the Joffrey. So I will still go, and still hope for a performance that takes my breath away and leaves me saying ‘O.’

TBS Just For Laughs Chicago, presented by State Farm^®,

To Celebrate 5^th Anniversary with Six Days of the

Funniest People on the Planet

Lineup for America’s Biggest Comedy Festival Includes

Bill Maher, Seth Meyers, Bob Newhart, David Cross, Nick Swardson,

John Hodgman, Artie Lange, Hannibal Buress, Al Madrigal,

Maria Bamford, Dylan Moran and Anjelah Johnson,

Plus the Stars of TBS’s Sullivan & Son, truTV’s Impractical Jokers,

And IFC’s The Whitest Kids U’ Know, with More Surprises To Be Announced Soon 

Tickets for June 11-16 Festival on Sale This Saturday, April 27, at 10:00 a.m. (CT)

Chicago, April 24, 2013 – TBS Just For Laughs Chicago presented by State Farm, is kicking off its 5^th Anniversary celebration with the first announcement of this year’s spectacular lineup, featuring many of comedy’s living legends, brightest stars and fastest-rising talent. Taking place Tuesday, June 11 to Sunday, June 16, this sprawling, six-day event will feature some of the funniest people on the planet performing at Chicago’s most iconic venues. Tickets for TBS Just For Laughs Chicago go on sale Saturday, April 27, at 10:00 am (CT).

Smart, subversive comedy will be on full display at The Chicago Theatre this summer, when Bill Maher serves up a hefty dose of his scathing sociopolitical commentary with his own show on June 16.  Fellow master satirist, SNL star and Weekend Update anchor Seth Meyers, performs on June 14, with special guests – The Daily Show with Jon Stewart’s Al Madrigaland Chicago’s native son and former 30 Rock writer Hannibal Buress. Living legend Bob Newhart, one of the most important and influential voices in the history of American comedy, returns to his hometown for a must-see performance on June 15. And after slipping himself back into the cutoffs of Never Nude analrapist Dr. Tobias Fünke in the hugely anticipatedArrested Development reboot, the brilliant David Cross leads a cabal of his closest comedy comrades into the State Street landmark on June 13 for David Cross & His Super Duper Pals.

The Vic will play host to a trio of exclusive performances by some of the nation’s most popular comedians, led by two live performances by the stars of truTV’s hit hidden-camera showImpractical Jokers on June 15. Nick Swardson, the newest member of Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison family and co-star of the upcoming summer comedy Grown Ups 2, will electrify audiences with a rare performance on June 13. And insanely talented MADtv alum Anjelah Johnson, known for her characters such as online sensation Bon Qui Qui, will perform on June 12.

1. Park West will serve up an embarrassment of alt-comedy riches, starting with The Daily Show correspondent, podcast superstar and Bored To Death agitator John Hodgman on June 13 with his show John Hodgman, Performing as Celebrated Humorist John Hodgman in: JOHN HODGMAN TONIGHT! On June 15, Artie Lange from The Howard Stern Show fame will offer up his no-hold-barred comedy for two shows, while alt-comedy goddess and Comedians of Comedy star Maria Bamford will perform one solo show. “The greatest comedian, living or dead” as quoted by Paris’ Le Monde newspaper, Irish comic Dylan Moran, will ruminate on life, love and loss with his inimitable sardonic wit in his new one-man show Yeah, Yeah on June 14. And the stars of two hit TV shows will take the stage for exclusive performances, with Steve Byrne, Owen Benjamin, Ahmed Ahmed and Roy Wood Jr. of TBS’s popular sitcom Sullivan & Sonslated for June 14, and IFC’s sketch-comedy superstars Trevor Moore, Zach Creggar, Sam Brown, Timmy Williams and Darren Trumeter from the IFC smash The Whitest Kids U’ Knowscheduled to perform June 12.

Stay tuned for additional amazing lineup announcements in the coming weeks!

In 2009, Just For Laughs, the world’s biggest comedy brand, partnered with TBS, one of American television’s leading purveyors of comedy, to produce a comedy festival in Chicago, the nation’s cradle of comedy. Five years later, TBS Just For Laughs Chicago is America’s single largest comedy festival, showcasing the industry’s biggest stars and brightest emerging talents at some the city’s most iconic venues. Presented in collaboration with two of the nation’s largest independent promoters, Chicago-based JAM Productions and Outback Concerts, this annual event has established itself as an integral component of Chicago’s rich cultural heritage, and a must-see for thousands of comedy fans and industry executives alike. This year, State Farm will serve as the presenting sponsor of TBS Just For Laughs Chicago.

Connect with TBS Just For Laughs Chicago:

Website:  http://www.justforlaughschicago.com 

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/TBSveryfunny 

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/tbsveryfunny | #JFLChicago

Festival Venue and Ticket Information

The 2013 edition of TBS Just For Laughs Chicago will take place across 15 locations, including such high-profile Chicago venues as The Chicago Theatre, Park West, The Vic plus many more. Tickets for the announced shows go on sale Saturday, April 27, at 10:00 a.m. (CT). Additional shows and venues will be announced soon.

• Tickets for The Chicago Theatre will be available at The Chicago Theatre box office and all Ticketmaster locations, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (312) 902-1500 or (800) 745-3000.
• Tickets for The Vic Theatre and Park West will be available at etix.com or by phone at (800) 514-ETIX.

Tickets for most festival events will also be available at respective venue box offices.

Hard music antihero Marilyn Manson arrives in Chicago to perform at Congress Theater on Friday, July 5th. Tickets to the all-ages show go on sale Friday, April 26th at noon. Purchase here: http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/260027?utm_medium=bks

Marilyn Manson’s most recent full-length album Born Villain, his eighth overall, debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart. It also grabbed the #1 spots on both the Heavy Album Chart and the Independent Album Chart.  “Born Villain is a return to form,” says CNN. “A hard-rocking album, brimming with rich imagery, visceral blowback and the glamour-meets-gutter eroticism that his best work evokes.” Rolling Stone has called the album some of his most “visceral and provocative tunes.” Born Villain earned Manson his fourth Grammy nomination at the 2013 Grammys in the category for Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for the album’s lead single “No Reflection.”  

The tumultuous relationship Marilyn Manson has cultivated with the public through his genre-defying music and anti-status quo message of thinking for oneself has resulted in sold-out tours, protests, legal battles, adoration, hate, more than 50 million records sales, award-winning distilled spirits, several Grammy nominations and, most importantly, a long list of some of the most enduring and powerful singles ever, such as “Lunchbox,” “Get Your Gunn” “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” “The Beautiful People,” “Antichrist Superstar,” “Tourniquet,” “The Dope Show” and “I Don’t Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me).”

Riot Fest Presents Marilyn Manson at Congress Theater Friday, July 5th

2135 N Milwaukee Ave  Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 360-8162

All Ages – Doors Open at 7pm

www.ticketfly.com - www.congresschicago.com - www.riotfest.org - www.marilynmanson.com

Event Detail:  http://www.ticketfly.com/event/260027

The pre-Broadway world premiere release of Big Fish hit the BIG stage, Friday, April 19^th at Chicago’s one and only Oriental theater; and it was a BIG HIT!  Just 10 years after its Hollywood release, this full length feature film has been reincarnated into a new fantastic and imaginative LIVE musical!  Based on the novel by Daniel Wallace, the BIG FISH musical give us a peak at the life of Will Bloom (played by Bobby Steggert), as he tries to learn of the life that his dying father once lived.   Edward Bloom (played by Norbert Leo Butz), though slowly coming to terms with death, comes to Bloom once more as he relives his life with his family through the tall tales that he is so notoriously known for.  The character of Edward Bloom literally pulls us, the audience, to center stage as we relives his journeys.  Through song, dance, and incredibly talented musicians, this musical really delivers from beginning to end!

One part of the show that was really unique was simply how the stage was utilized throughout the performance.  Instead of the musicians traditionally being set in the orchestra’s pit, musicians were set in the background of the stage, and the Orchestra’s pit was transformed into a sort of live “river” brought to life through the use of visual effects and projectors.  The stage set its self was a wonder to behold.  Transitions from scene to scene were flawless, and it was blatantly obvious as to how much work and rehearsal was needed to perfect this magical performance.  The use of visual effects was quietly tucked away throughout as we go from a hospital bed one moment, to a circus tent, to a town the next!  Big Fish is a unique performance unlike I've ever seen before on stage.  Once the show started going it was easy to forget that I was merely an audience member, watching from afar.  The show really almost makes you feel that you are there on stage and in the stories of Edward Bloom.  Actors Norbert Leo Butz, Bobby Steggert and Kate Baldwin really take to their roles and give you an unforgettable performance.  Notably, actor Norbert Butz is a lively and passionate actor with a great voice, that I think was very deserving of his role.  It would be a feat to top his natural talent and remarkable performance he gives the entire show.

 Big Fish is a musical for the whole family, as audiences of all ages can relate to the lives of the performers.  We all have or have had a father in our lives, and if you’re anything like me; can remember the stories and tall tales our own fathers once told us.  This connection to the audience’s own memories of a father is clear to me toward the end of the performance; as all I could hear from the audience (including me), was sniffling and the wiping away of tears of sadness as our main character comes to pass.  It was a tear jerker toward the end, as you don’t want the performance to end!  Big Fish will be playing at Chicago’s Oriental Theater from April 19^th-May 5^th 2013.  It’s only playing for a short time; however this is a PREBroadway release and I hope that after this short release to the public that it comes back in full swing for a longer showing!  Big Fish was a beautiful performance, and I honestly really enjoyed it more so than the movie!  Take advantage of this limited viewing of Big Fish, and see the story told unlike never before.   For more information about the show, or to purchase tickets, please visit BroadwayinChicago.com; and act fast, as BIG FISH will only be playing until May 5^th.