Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Industry Ticket Offer

Cherry Smoke - the side project, 1439 W. Jarvis is offering a "pay what you can" industry performance Saturday, Dec. 4, at 4 p.m. Call or e-mail to make PWYC reservations (773-973-2150; tickets@thesideproject.net) and provide hs/r or business card at the door. There will also be that evening's 8 p.m. performance at the regular industry rate of $15; regular run tickets available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/137067.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Industry Ticket Offer

Cherry Smoke - the side project, 1439 W. Jarvis, is offering 2 for 1 industry tickets this weekend November 26-28. Bring your H/R, business card or student ID to get the both of you in to see this visceral, lyrical premiere for only $7.50 each! Email tickets@thesideproject.net to make your reservations.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Industry Ticket Offer

Departure Lounge - Bailiwick Chicago at the Royal George Cabaret Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted is offering half price industry tickets for all performances from November 26 - December 12. Only available for purchase in-person at the box office on the day of show. ($1 service fee applies) Headshot/resume or industry business card required. www.BailiwickChicago.com.

Long Day's Journey into Night -- Polarity Ensemble Theatre, 1500 N. Bell, Chicago is offering $10 industry tickets for this weekend: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 27 & 28 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Nov. 29 at 2:30 p.m. Use the discount code "Booth" for online sales at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/128707 or at the box office (1-800-838-3006). Visit http://www.petheatre.com/ for more details.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Industry Offer

Global Rhythms 6 – Fulcrum Point at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance is offering a very limited number of free industry tickets on November 26 at 8 p.m. and November 27 and 28 at 3 p.m. To redeem the tickets RSVP to info@fulcrumpoint.org before November 25. Tickets are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Visit http://www.fulcrumpoint.org/ for more information.

The Hundred Dresses- Chicago Children’s Theatre at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, is offering half off industry tickets ($17 for adults, $13 for children) for the following performances- Saturday and Sunday, November 30th and 21st at 1pm and Friday and Saturday November 26th and 27th at 1pm and 7pm and November 28th at 1pm. TYPE promo code “HDIND” when ordering tickets online at http://www.northshorecenter.org or call 847-673-6300.

Performance Opportunity in Sanibel, FL

BIG ARTS in Sanibel, FL is looking for plays for 2012 and beyond to be performed in the Herbert Strauss Theater which seats 150 people. They are offering a 2 week run of 4 performances per week. If any theater is interested in bringing one of their productions, please contact either Linda Kramer (Kramer@zebis.com) or Edina Lessack (edina@spot-onentertainment.com) at the emails listed above. Give the name(s) of the play(s) you want considered along with approximate total cost, not including housing which will be provided. If the play has already been performed, attach a couple of reviews. Sanibel is a great place to spend 2 weeks in the winter!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Where do they get this stuff?

So, Travel and Leisure (deliberately not linked), has named Chicago the number 3 destination for theatre among tourists (number four among residents, but I have no clue what that means). Behind New York, OK, I don’t agree but, behind that mecca of theatre, Providence, Rhode Island. Really?? Providence, Rhode Island?? If it wasn’t so ridiculous I’d be mad. I’m sure they make some mighty fine theatre there, but I’ve only ever even heard of one theatre in Providence. I’ve been working in this business a long time and I don’t know one single person working in theatre in Providence, like I do in New York, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami, Sarasota, Florida, New Haven, Connecticut for crying out loud. I guess it’s just a lesson for us to not take this stuff too seriously because we have no idea how it is decided and who gets to vote or whatever. But arrrghh.

Deb

Office of Tourism 2011 Guidebook of Special Values Opportunity

The Chicago Office of Tourism invites you to participate in the FREE 2011 Guidebook of Special Values online coupon program. This online coupon book is a directory of many of Chicago’s top attractions, shops and restaurants that offer a discount or other incentive for visitors. Visitors are able to search coupons in advance of their trip and find incentives to add your establishment to their travel plans. This is an excellent way to reach over 4 million tourists who do advance trip research on our websites, a number that continues to increase with the ongoing promotion of www.ExploreChicago.org, the City’s Official Tourism website.

There is no charge to participate.

The Chicago Office of Tourism will promote the online Guidebook of Special Values on the Official City Tourism website, www.ExploreChicago.org and Tourism initiative sites, as well as other travel websites. The Guidebook is actively promoted to domestic and international media, as well as through popular social media channels, including our award-winning @explorechicago visitor concierge Twitter account, Facebook, Foursquare and SCVNGR channels.

Past offers have included 2-for-1 deals, admission discounts, free goodie bags, free desserts, percentage-off restaurant bills, etc. The better the offer, the more success you will have with driving traffic to your location.

To participate, please have an authorized representative visit the following link to fill out the survey information. You will be asked for the organization’s contact information, the representative’s information (will not be published – for our use only) and your offer details. Instructions for photo or logo submission are included.

The 2011 Guidebook will launch on March, 15, 2011. This is earlier than our traditional May 1 launch date at the request of our thousands of users. The 2011 Guidebook will be available online from March 15, 2011 through March 15, 2012.

Participation deadline is Friday, December 10th.

New this year, we are encouraging participants to accept electronic coupons visible on the screen of visitor’s phones. With many Chicago tourists carrying smartphones (ie. iPhone, BlackBerry, etc), they are able to access our online coupons without the hassle of pre-printing a hard copy. This is not a requirement. If you elect to participate, we will contact you with more information.

If you have any questions about your submission please email: COTcouponsite@gmail.com.

The current coupon book can be seen online at: http://www.ExploreChicago.org/coupons.

Industry Ticket Offer

Home by Samm-Art Williams - Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis, is offering $10 industry rush tickets to its production directed by Ron OJ Parson. Rush tickets can be purchased in person at the box office beginning one hour before curtain. Subject to availability, one per person, proof of industry (H/R, business card, etc.) required.

Miracle on 34th Street - Porchlight Music Theatre at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, is offering $15 industry tickets to its holiday classic production, this Friday and Saturday at 8pm. Call the box office at 773-327-5252 and mention the word LEAGUE for the discount. Subject to availability, limit 2 tickets per order.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Industry Ticket Offer

Rudolph the Red Hosed Reindeer 2010 - Hell in a Handbag Productions at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. is offering $10 industry night tickets on Sunday, December 12 at 7:30pm. Advanced tickets can be purchased online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/131657, at the door, or by phone 1-800-838-3006 -use code word ‘industry’.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Not for Profit Incorporation and Tax Exemption Workshop

Lawyers for the Creative Arts
Wednesday, January 12, 2011, 5:30-8:45 p.m.
213 W. Institute Place, Ste. 403
The cost is $100 for one person, and $125 for two people.
This workshop will discuss whether to start a NFP, how to establish a NFP, as well as certain recurring operating problems. It will also cover in detail how to obtain a 501(c) (3) tax exemption and discuss several legal issues regarding maintaining tax exempt status. A full package of documents is included. Although this workshop is intended for artists of all types, it has been very popular with lawyers as well as it provides comprehensive coverage of the subject.
Please call LCA at 312-649-4111 to register.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Wanna Blog?

Last week we launched our first blog post from a guest writer on ChicagoPlays.com. In case you missed it, check out the blog from Bilal Dardai "A Note to the Audience (Allegedly Invisible)". We've already been in touch with a handful of other people and new writers will be featured every Friday on the website, so be sure to follow each week. We’re really excited about all the great new content this will add to the site. We are still looking for more bloggers, so if you are interested in writing something email jess@chicagoplays.com. This blog is for the theatre fan and patron, so posts should be aimed at that audience. Possible topics could be writing about favorite theatrical experiences, what it means for you to run a theatre, why theatre is important to you, etc...It can be funny or it can be serious. We're open to ideas if you have something you'd like to write about. So if you are interested or curious to try it, let us know!

Older Servers Available To Interested Company

Chicago Shakespeare Theater is replacing a number of its older servers. They're all HP ProLiant servers (6 DL380G3 and 1 ML370). They're still in relatively good physical shape, they're just older and we've moved to some newer technologies. They are bare-bones hardware-only servers with no software.

If interested contact: Jeanne DeVore, Technology Manager at jdevore@chicagoshakes.com.

Chicago Public Media/WBEZ launches new theater-oriented blog

Chicago Public Media/WBEZ 91.5 launches a new theater-oriented blog at http://www.wbez.org/culture/theater.

The blog is an extension of the popular "Dueling Critics" segment that Jonathan Abarbanel and Kelly Kleiman host on WBEZ's “848” morning magazine show. Abarbanel and Kleiman will be joined on the wbez.org site by Laura Molzahn, dance and theater critic for the Reader and Chicago Tribune, and Christopher Piatt, past theater editor at Time Out Chicago and curator of the spoken-word salon Paper Machete. Each of the four will write one day a week, and then on Fridays the Dueling Critics will do their thing!

The Theater Exchange on December 7

Chicago Public School The Office of Arts Education is pleased to present
The Theater Exchange
A free opportunity for CPS Educators to engage with Chicago’s theater professionals

Tuesday December 7, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
At: Juarez High School, 2150 S Laflin St. ,Chicago, Illinois 60608

Directing
Learn from Chicago’s Directing professionals about the role of the director and the collaborative relationship between director and designer.

Who should attend? Industry professionals, Teaching Artists, High School and Elementary Educators who are involved in leading students in performances

Panel members include:
Henry Godinez
– is a resident artistic associate at the Goodman and curator of the Goodman's Latino Theatre Festival. He is also the co-founder of Teatro Vista and an Associate Professor at Northwestern University.
Kimberly Senior – the founder of Collaboraction Theater, Kimberly has worked professionally in Chicago in a variety of positions for the past 15 years. She is an Artistic Associate of Strawdog Theater and an adjunct faculty member for DePaul University and Columbia College.
Steve Scott - is the associate producer of Goodman Theatre, where he has overseen more than 150 productions since 1987; he was also recently made a member of the Goodman’s Artistic Collective. Additionally he is an artistic associate of About Face Theatre, Eclipse Theatre Company and Collaboraction.
Linda Buchanan – is the head of scene design at Depaul University and has taught at Columbia College and the University of Chicago. She has designed for numerous theatres around the country and has received Joseph Jefferson Awards, a Helen Hayes Award for Dancing at Lughnasa at Arena Stage and numerous Joseph Jefferson Citations. She is a member of United Scenic Artists.
Heather Gilbert – is a lighting designer, based in Chicago. Recent designs can be seen at Court Theatre, Writers’ Theatre, Barrow Street Theatre, and Chicago Children’s Theatre. She was a recipient of the NEA/TCG Career Development Grant. Since 2006, she has served as the head of the lighting program at Columbia College Chicago.

Light appetizers and beverages will be provided.
To Register for this FREE event: contact Emerald City Theatre, 773-529-2690 x15 or email jstone@emeraldcitytheatre.com.

Teachers receive professional development credits from attending a Theater Exchange Event. Register on CPS University for CPDU credit.

The Theater Exchange on November 20

Chicago Public School The Office of Arts Education is pleased to present
The Theater Exchange
A free opportunity for CPS Educators to engage with Chicago’s theater professionals

Saturday, November 20, 2010, 10am – 12pm
Read, Write & Act
Bringing story and character to life in the pre-school and elementary classroom.

Who should attend? Educators of Pre-K, K, 1st, 2nd or 3rd grade.
At Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln ($6 adjacent parking)

In this hands-on workshop we will learn how to take a beloved classroom book to the next level by allowing students to create an original piece of theatre. With a book such as Where the Wild Things Are students learn about story structure, character development, explore different environments and eventually write and perform their own story! Learn how the community can be engaged by inviting Parents and friends to come together and see the final performance and support their early learners!

Lead by Melissa Law, Emerald City Education Manager and Teaching Artist
Nicole Moos, Hamilton School Pre-K teacher

A Light Breakfast will be provided
At the completion of the workshop a certificate for 4 FREE tickets to Emerald City Theatre’s “The Wizard of Oz” will be distributed. It may be used at any point during the performance run through Jan 2, 2011 (based on seat availability).

To Register for this FREE event: contact Emerald City Theatre, 773-529-2690 x15 or email TheatreSchool@emeraldcitytheatre.com. Teachers receive professional development credits from attending a Theater Exchange Event. Register on CPS University for CPDU credit.

Industry Ticket Offers

26 Miles by Quiara Alegria Hudes - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble & Teatro Vista at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave. are offering a limited number of $10 industry tix to the Sunday 11/14 performance only at 3 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the Rivendell website at www.rivendelltheatre.net with the code INDUSTRY or call the box office at 773-334-7728 and mention this offer.

The Fairy Queen by Myra Paci - Rivendell Theatre Ensemble and "In The Works", a New Play Lab at Millennium Park Pritzker Stage, 201 E. Randolph Street, are offering a limited number of industry comps to a staged reading/workshop presentation featuring renowned actor and founder of NYC’s Mabou Mines, Ruth Maleczech on Saturday, November 13 at 7:30 pm. Call 917-450-2131 or email mary.m.cross@gmail.com and mention this offer. Visit www.millenniumpark.org for more information.

6th Annual First Look Repertory of New Work - Steppenwolf Garage Theatre, 1624 N. Halsted, is offering $5 tickets for performances of The Etiquette of Vigilance and The Old Masters on Thursday, November 11th through Sunday, November 14th. To redeem your $5 tickets call Audience Services directly at 312.335.1650 or visit www.steppenwolf.org and use code “7735.” Tickets must be reserved at least one hour before performance. Subject to availability.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Director/Dramatist Exchange at the Goodman Theatre

Monday, November 22nd, 2010, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Goodman Theatre, Club Mezz, 2nd Floor
170 N. Dearborn Street

The event will be co-hosted by Douglas Post (Chicago Regional Rep, DG) and Elizabeth Margolius (Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of DirectorsLabChicago ).

This two-hour networking session will introduce directors to dramatists who are working on new plays and/or new musicals in the Chicago area. After a brief introduction, dramatists and directors may mingle and talk further.

If you would like to attend, please e-mail us no later than Monday, November 15th, 2010 at: info@directorslabchicago.com.

The first 20 directors who respond will receive a reservation to the event. In order to secure a reservation, you must submit a statement with your initial e-mail. Please include this statement in the body of your email. This one-page statement should consist of three things: (1) your contact information, (2) your professional biography (one paragraph only, written in the third person) and (3) a brief directorial statement describing your aesthetic and the kind of work that excites you. After we receive these materials, your reservation will be confirmed. Then, prior to the event, you will receive statements from all the dramatists as well as statements from the other attending directors.

There is no fee to attend this event. Drinks will be served!!

Industry Ticket Offers

I Do! I Do! - Light Opera Works Second Stage, 1420 Maple Avenue in Evanston, is offering half-price (regularly $27, $34 and $42) industry tickets this Friday and Saturday, November, 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. For tickets call 847-869-6300 or visit www.LightOperaWorks.com and use code "Honeymoon." Tickets must be purchased in advance. No door sales.

Memory - BackStage Theatre Company at Viaduct Theatre, 3111 N Western Ave, Chicago, is offering $13 industry tickets to all performances in November, Thurs-Sat at 7 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. Walk-up only, please mention industry status to box office attendant.

Long Day's Journey into Night - Polarity Ensemble Theatre, 1500 N. Bell, Chicago is offering a limited number of $10 industry tickets for this weekend: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 12 & 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Nov. 14 at 2:30 p.m. Use the discount code "Booth" for online sales at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/128707 or at the box office (1-800-838-3006). Visit http://www.petheatre.com for more details.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Industry Ticket Offer

The Water Engine: An American Fable - Theatre Seven of Chicago at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln, is offering $15 industry tickets for all Thursday, Friday, and Sunday performances by calling the Greenhouse Theater Center Box Office at 773-404-7336, or in person. Proof of industry required.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Did You Vote?

Did you vote? I love to vote. It gives me the privilege of complaining, especially in local elections. OK, so we have a republican senator, according to Americans for the Arts, he is an “arts champion,” he is a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus which attempts to “secure adequate funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute for Museums and Library Services (IMLS).” I saw that they have called the Governor’s race and it is Quinn. OK, even if the budget for the Illinois Arts Council has been slashed, he shows up everywhere and clearly supports our work.

I encourage all of you to write to your newly elected representatives and congratulate them and remind them of how important their support of the arts is to you and your organization and the communities you serve. Let them know that you can serve as a resource on the arts should they have need of one. Do it!

Mayor and Aldermen get elected next. Should be fun.

Lunar Eclipse 2010

Eclipse Theatre invites you to LUNAR ECLIPSE 2010, a Chicago Theatre Networking Mixer

Saturday November 6th, 2010, 7:30 PM
Eclipse Theatre Rehearsal Space, 4001 N. Ravenswood, Suite 402

Friends - come party & network with Eclipse as well as friends and colleagues from the Chicago theatre community, as they conclude their 2010 Arthur Miller season and celebrate all the fantastic artists in the city second to none, Chicago!

The night kicks off this Saturday at 7:30 pm at their swanky digs with food, wine & beer,
live DJ & dancing, a little Wii Bowling, and your chance to mingle with some of the coolest people in Chicago theatre!

If you are an artist in a show that evening, please come by afterwards - we'll be going into the wee hours of the night! Actors, Designers, Directors, & all Artists - feel free to bring your picture & resume!

$15 suggested donation or whatever you can donate at the door.

Industry Ticket Offer

Departure Lounge - Bailiwick Chicago at the Royal George Theatre Center, 1641 N. Halsted, is offering 50% off industry tickets for Thursday 8 p.m. and Saturday 3 p.m. shows through November 13 only. November 4 and 6 = $13.50, November 11 and 13 = $16.00 (includes $1 service fee). Available only at the box office on the day of performance. Must provide a headshot/resume or industry business card.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Industry Ticket Offer

Scorched - Silk Road Theatre Project at The Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Pierce Hall, Chicago, is offering $10 industry & student tickets on November 10 and 11 at 7:30pm. ADVANCE PURCHASES on-line only at www.srtp.org. Use coupon code "INDUSTRY." DAY OF PERFORMANCE DOOR PURCHASES – Industry Tickets available up to one hour before curtain. For further information visit www.srtp.org. Must present headshot and/or resume or valid student ID.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Industry Ticket Offers

Long Day's Journey into Night - Polarity Ensemble Theatre, 1500 N. Bell, Chicago is offering a limited number of $10 industry tickets for their Jeff nominated production this weekend: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 5 & 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday Nov. 7 at 2:30 p.m. Use the discount code "Booth" for online sales at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/128707 or at the box office (1-800-838-3006). Visit http://www.petheatre.com for more details.

The Dining Room - Appetite Theatre at The Charnel House, 3421 W Fullerton Ave, is offering $10 industry tickets with headshot/resume from November 5 - November 20. (Fridays and Saturdays at 8PM.) Call (773) 293-6036 or email tickets@appetitetheatre.com for reservations.

Night and Day – Remy Bumppo Theatre Company at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln, is offering $15 industry tickets to performances Fridays at 7:30 p.m. through 11/14. Use code INDUSTRY. http://www.remybumppo.org/ and 773-404-7336.

Detroit - Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, is offering $10 industry tickets to the Wednesday, November 3, 2 p.m. performance including a free party! Call 312-335-1650 and mention code 7687 to get the discount and at 5:30pm head to Urban Burger for the free Detroit Explore event with food, drinks and performances.