11/30/07
Bailey on the Rocks
All right, so it’s as clichéd as fruitcake; still, It’s a Wonderful Life encapsulates the spirit of the holidays. That doesn’t mean you’re stuck with corny rehashings and cable reruns. This season, two theatres offer creative interpretations of the Frank Capra classic worth catching. American Theater Company (1909 W. Byron St.; 773-929-1031) spins the sentimental fable as a radio play, complete with commercial breaks, live sound effects, and a wholesome snack of milk and cookies after the show. Tickets are $40. Meanwhile, George Bailey sings his sorrows (and triumphs) in Porchlight Music Theatre’s production at Theatre Building Chicago (1225 W. Belmont Ave.; 773-327-5252), adapted from the musical by the Pulitzer- and Tony-winning Sheldon Harnick. Tickets are $35; $34 on Fridays. Both shows run through December 30th. • And a bonus for theatre-goers: We just caught wind of this...
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11/21/07
Laugh It Off
We’re not saying there are proven weight-loss benefits to laughter, but who couldn’t use a good chuckle following the family-and-food marathon known as Thanksgiving? Comedienne Mary Lynn Rajskub, a.k.a. quirky Chloe from TV’s 24, brings her one-woman show Turns Out I’m Funny to Lakeshore Theater (3175 N. Broadway; 773-472-3492) Saturday the 24th at 7 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $22.50. For those who just can’t picture hauling themselves off the couch post-turkey, catch the winner of the 2007 Andy Kaufman Award for...
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11/16/07
Straight from the Factory
Andy Warhol’s contribution to the art world is undisputed, but his films have always occupied a more dubious position in mainstream public opinion. Facets is here to convince you there’s more to those factory flicks than Edie Sedgwick’s pretty face. The cinémathèque’s Warhol and the Film Factory festival kicks off Friday the 16th with Night at the Factory, one of the city’s more imaginative fetes. The gala, which runs from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Museum of Contemporary Art Warehouse (1747 W. Hubbard St.; 773-281-9075), includes a DIY false-eyelash station and...
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11/09/07
15 Minutes . . . for a Fee
And you thought the Do It Yourself Hallelujah chorus was cool. Indulge long-suppressed aspirations for the stage at Victory Gardens’ Casting Auction Benefit. (Hey, your mother always said you stole the show as “townsperson number two.”) Amateur actors—meaning absolutely no experience required—can bid on more than 50 starring, supporting, and children’s roles in The Pajama Game, to be performed February 15th and 16th with a cast composed entirely of auction winners. The party starts 6 p.m. Friday the 9th at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater (2433 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-549-5788, ext. 2140) with a buffet and open bar. Bidding for supporting roles via silent auction begins at $150; starring roles go on the block for $500 and up in a live auction; prospective actors are encouraged to shout, dance, and generally strut their stuff while bidding. Admission is...
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11/02/07
Cheats and Beats
What do Chicago blues, Polish sausage, and infomercial impresario Ron Popeil have in common? All three got a big boost from the inimitable Maxwell Street Market. The documentary Cheat You Fair: The Story of Maxwell Street covers the outdoor bazaar’s 120-year history, from the working poor who first peddled their wares there, to the famous electrified blues born out of musicians’ need to be heard over the din, to the market’s relocation in 1994 when UIC took over the land. The film premières 7 p.m. Saturday the 3rd at Skokie Theatre (7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie; 847-677-7761); the evening includes beer and wine, dinner, and...
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