FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MetroBoard Night Out at Le Fleur de Lis – Raising Funds for Community Projects
Chicago, IL, January 9, 2012– The Metropolitan Board of the Chicago Urban League (MetroBoard) presents MB Night Out. MB Night Out is a dining event which partners with local restaurants to attract new and loyal customers, demonstrate commitment to the community, gain critical media exposure, and be part of the National Urban League movement. The first MB Night Out will be held on Friday, January 13 at Le Fleur de Lis in Bronzeville from 4:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Twenty-five percent of all sales from the evening will be donated to MetroBoard to raise funds for vital community service projects and professional and personal development programs. Join us for exquisite Creole cuisine, music, karaoke, friends and more.
Event Specific Details are available by visiting http://mbnightout.eventbrite.com

About the Metropolitan Board
The 2008 and 2009 NULYP Chapter of Excellence Award recipient is a Chicago Urban League auxiliary of young professionals committed to promoting and supporting the ideas and goals of the National Urban League movement throughout Chicago through community outreach, fundraising and membership development. Please visit metroboard.org for additional information.

Media Inquiries:
pr@metroboard.org
For information contact:
fundraising@metroboard.org
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MetroBoard Night Out at Le Fleur de Lis – Raising Funds for Community Projects | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Location: Utah

They prowl the night in Boston, in San Francisco, in Milwaukee and in Minneapolis. Whether they are making the world safer, or just weirder, remains debatable. Some go out armed with pepper spray or batons; others carry only mobile phones, aiming to be eyes and ears for the police, who in most cities, including Salt Lake City, are keeping a wary distance.

”We’re not endorsing them, supporting them, condemning them or anything else – we’re staying neutral and out of it,” said Detective Joshua Ashdown, of the Salt Lake City police.

Red Voltage, who in daytime life is a 23-year-old residential leasing manager named Roman Daniels, is clad head to toe in a red-and-black leather suit, his face covered by spandex. He says he is a different man when the mask comes on – a better man.

”But there are times when I’m putting the suit on, and I’m just like, ‘How crazy am I to do this?’ I do feel odd and out of the box,” said Daniels, who took over leadership of the Salt Lake City group, the Black Monday Society, six months ago after two years of patrols. ”But it’s good,” he added. ”It feels really good – for the most part.”

Mike Gailey, 31, a burly former bouncer at a strip club whose crime-fighting persona is Asylum, said that for him, joining the Black Monday Society was partly about making amends for things in his past, such as the time he spent collecting debts for drug dealers.

”I was a thug,” he said. ”There are a lot of guys like me that have pasts they’re trying to make up for.’

Red Voltage – Real Life Superheroes | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Contact:

Colleen Flanigan

Director of Marketing and Public Relations

312.704.8420, x225

cflanigan@chicagooperatheater.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chicago Opera Theater Presents the Third Annual

NATIONAL OPERA WEEK

October 28-November 6

The week will include presentations of “Pop-Up Opera” all around Chicago; an evening of One-Act Operas by composer Daron Aric Hagen; “Opera with a Twist” from COT’s young professional’s group Opera Underground; and a city-wide Opera Scavenger Hunt

CHICAGO, IL (October 5, 2011) – National Opera Week will take place October 28 – November 6, 2011.  In its third year, this week-long celebration continues to honor the opera art-form by holding exciting activities and events throughout the United States. Chicago Opera Theater (COT) will host four events during the week, bringing back the popular “Pop-Up Operas,” short opera performances in iconic Chicago locations. In conjunction with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture and the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, COT will offer a free performance of Daron Aric Hagen’s “New York Stories,” featuring members of COT’s Young Artists Program. Directly following the recital is “Opera With a Twist,” a benefit presented by the Executive Council of Opera Underground, Chicago Opera Theater’s young professional’s social club. The last event is an Opera Scavenger Hunt taking place throughout Chicago that will have participants deciphering clues to bring them to the next opera-influenced site.

“National Opera Week gives us the opportunity to bring opera to all Chicagoans,” says Brian Dickie, General Director of COT. “We hope that all of our events during this week will make opera relevant and exciting in a real-world setting, and will change pre-conceived notions about opera being stuffy or boring.”

Coordinated by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, with support of the National Endowment for the Arts, “National Opera Week celebrates the vibrancy of opera in America today, and brings the inventiveness and excitement of opera to a national audience. The strength and diversity of established opera companies, community opera ensembles and opera training programs across the United States will be shared through free, dynamic activities designed to engage novices, opera lovers and everyone in between.”

For more information on Chicago Opera Theater National Opera Week activities, please click here.

CHICAGO OPERA THEATER’S NATIONAL OPERA WEEK SCHEDULE

“Pop-Up Opera” Performances

When:   October 28 through November 6
Where:  All around Chicago!

Price:    FREE!

Chicago Opera Theater presents “Pop-Up Opera” around Chicago during National Opera Week – short performances of opera classics at iconic Chicago locations.

For hints on exact times and locations of “Pop-Up Opera” follow COT on Twitter @ChicagoOpera or find us at #popupopera.

Want to join in the fun?  Just tweet about “Pop-Up Opera” when you see it! Anyone who includes #popupopera in a tweet during National Opera Week will automatically be entered in a contest that includes COT tickets and gift cards to COT’s preferred restaurants!

Musical preparation for “Pop-Up Opera” is by Scott Gilmore, Chicago Opera Theater Director of Musical Studies.

Daron Aric Hagen’s

NEW YORK STORIES

When:  Tuesday, November 1, 6pm
Where: Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington, Chicago
Price:    FREE! (no reservations necessary)

Join us for an evening of one-act operas by acclaimed composer Daron Aric Hagen –  Broken Pieces, Just for the Night, and Cradle Song – revealing three intimate stories of six New Yorkers.  This 70 minute evening is presented with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture.

Musical preparation for “New York Stories” is by Scott Gilmore, Director of Musical Studies at COT, and directed by Joanie Schultz, who most recently directed the world premiere of Sarah Gubbins’ The Kid Thing, a co-production of the Chicago Dramatists and About Face Theatre.

Singing that evening are members of Chicago Opera Theater’s 2011-12 Young Artists Program:  Loren Battieste, Drew Ladd, Matthew Newlin, Louise Rogan, Catheryne Shuman, and Megan Rose Williams, accompanied by Sarah Cushman on the piano.

“New York Stories” is presented in collaboration with the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

Opera Underground Executive Council Presents:

“OPERA WITH A TWIST”

A Benefit For Chicago Opera Theater’s Young Artists Program

When:    Tuesday, November 1, 7:30-9:30pm
Where:   Sky Park on the 24^th floor of the MDA Apartments (63 E Lake Street)
Price:      $20 includes Dessert, Light Nosh and Cocktails

($25 at door)

Tickets:   312.704.8414 or ChicagoOperaTheater.org

Chicago Opera Theater’s Opera Underground Executive Council invites young persons under 45 years old to a special post-performance reception after “New York Stories” to raise money for COT’s Young Artists Program.  Mingle with COT Young Artists over desserts, light appetizers and cocktails.

Chicago Opera Theater’s Opera Underground is a group of young people who get together for cocktails and opera throughout the year, as well as at the mainstage season at the Harris Theater in the spring.  Chicago Opera Theater is young, vibrant, edgy and contemporary—and so are our Opera Underground members!

Chicago Opera Theater Young Artists Program is a performance-based training program for young singers. The program provides an artistic benchmark for young artists as they commence their careers, recognizing performance experience in fresh stagings of both standard and new repertoire as an essential training element.

“Opera With a Twist” is sponsored by MDA City Chicago Apartments, Alan Marshall, 18 Vodka, Sprinkles Cupcakes, and Quartino.

OPERA SCAVENGER HUNT

When:    October 28 through November 6
Where:   All around Chicago!

Price:      FREE!

Complete Chicago Opera Theater’s Scavenger Hunt during National Opera Week.  Explore classical music and opera hot spots in Chicago and be entered to win tickets to COT.  All participants will receive a discount to the upcoming 2012 Season!   The contest starts October 28 using “Scavenger with Friends”, an iPhone and Android app.

For more information about National Opera Week events around the country, please visit www.operaamerica.org/operaweek. Join the National Opera Week conversation on Twitter with #OperaWeek.

ABOUT CHICAGO OPERA THEATER

Founded in 1974, Chicago Opera Theater (COT) has carved a significant place for itself in the operatic life of Chicago and has reached an audience of hundreds of thousands through its mainstage performances, community engagement, education programs in Chicago Public Schools, as well as its renowned Young Artist Program.

Since Brian Dickie’s appointment as General Director in 1999, COT has evolved as an opera company that is young, fresh, and critically acclaimed.   The Chicago Tribune says “Chicago Opera Theater is on a roll.  The company’s splendid, adventuresome shows continue to prove that the spirit of operatic adventure is alive and well at the Harris Theater.”   The Chicago Reader calls COT “Chicago’s most interesting opera company.”

Chicago Opera Theater’s 2012 Season opens at the Harris Theater on April 14 and runs through September 23, 2012.  The Season includes Shostakovich’s Moscow, Cheryomushki, Handel’s Teseo, and Mozart’s The Magic Flute.

For tickets or more information go to ChicagoOperaTheater.org or call 312.704.8414.

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Chicago Opera Theater Presents the Third Annual NATIONAL OPERA WEEK October 28-November 6 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Member of The Irish Tenors in Solo Concert at IAHC to Benefit Autism Awareness

CHICAGO, Oct. 3, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Wexford Institute and the Irish American Heritage Center present Anthony Kearns in a solo concert of favorite songs from Ireland to Broadway to popular classics on Saturday, October 15 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at irish-american.org.  Kearns insists that “People need to come out and enjoy themselves…tap their toes, forget their woes, clap their hands, sing along, and have a good ol’ time!”

Kearns will be interviewed October 4th on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight.  He recently performed in Hallelujah Broadway at Chicago’s Auditorium Theater, thrilling audiences with his renditions of Bring Him Home, I’ll Be Seeing You, For Good, and other Broadway hits.

Kearns has joined Wexford Institute in an on-going series of solo concerts to support free online autism resources, in English and Spanish, for educators and families of children with autism. The first four concerts Wexford presented last fall resulted in those resources being accessed by individuals across the U.S. as well as 11 other countries, including Ireland.

Wexford Institute is a U.S. nonprofit educational agency.  Coincidentally, Kearns is from County Wexford in Ireland, as was the family of President John F. Kennedy. Because of these coincidences, Kearns and Wexford Institute began this successful collaboration, which also celebrates the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s presidency during this series of concerts, referred to as “The Wexford Tour.”

Kearns spends considerable time and energy every year singing for worthy causes worldwide.  Because Kearns feels blessed to have a successful international career, giving back is a strong focus.  Kearns has also performed for more than a decade at many special events, with The Irish Tenors, in his solo career, and in acclaimed opera roles in the U.S. and abroad.

Michael Collins, Ireland’s Ambassador to the U.S., called Kearns, “Ireland’s foremost tenor and a great ambassador for Ireland.” Former Ambassador, Jean Kennedy Smith, referring to Kearns’ performance at a memorial service in County Wexford for her brother, the late President Kennedy, declared, “I have never heard a better Irish tenor voice.”

For more information about Wexford Institute visit www.wexford.org and to access the free autism resources, visit: academy.wexford.org.  For more information about Kearns and to access his touring schedule, visit his website at www.anthonykearns.net.

SOURCE Wexford Institute

http://www.wexford.org

Tenor Anthony Kearns Returns to Chicago! | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO, Sept. 21, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — Miller Lite, the exclusive beer sponsor of Mexican Primera Division soccer team Club Deportivo Guadalajara, commonly referred to as Chivas de Guadalajara, is gearing up for another season on the field.

This season, Miller Lite is capturing the passion of the “herds” of Chivas’ fans with exclusive promotions tailored to the ultimate team-viewing experience through the Chiva-Gol sweepstakes. Legal-drinking-age fans can enter via text or online by following instructions and using codes inside specially-marked Miller Lite packages or on jersey jackets available at retail. Soccer fans can enter the codes up to two times per match to receive their “Chiva-Gol Minute.” If the team scores a goal during the assigned minute, the lucky fan wins a prize.

The brand is also launching the Miller Lite Chivas Facebook page that offers exclusive Chivas content and Chivas-related items.  Just visit Facebook.com/MillerLite and click on the “Chivas” tab for more information.

“We are excited to be a part of the incredible legacy that is Chivas de Guadalajara,” said Al Patel, vice president of multicultural marketing at MillerCoors. “We know how diehard Chivas’ fans are and we encourage them to build their rebanos with Miller Lite and some of the great programs we are offering this season, such as the Chiva-Gol promotion and the new Facebook tab.”

All who enter the Chiva-Gol Sweepstakes will be rewarded with eligibility for greater prizes the more weeks they play. Fans outside of California can win prize packs that include Chivas gear for the winner and his or her friends and are also automatically entered to win the grand prize, the Ultimate Miller Lite Rebano Viewing Party. California residents have the chance to win other prizes, along with receiving a $15 discount off official Rebano jerseys.

The Miller Lite Chiva-Gol promotion will be featured prominently in bilingual messaging on packaging, on billboards and in retail displays. The brand will also create limited-edition commemorative packaging and a television spot to celebrate its support of the Chivas Rebano.  In the interest of building the ultimate Rebano, Miller Lite will outfit selected bars around the country with the ultimate in Chivas-related promotional items including banners, Chiva-Gol jersey jackets, promo specialists and appearances by the team mascot, the Chiva Fighter.

Chivas is one of the most successful Mexican professional football clubs playing in the Primera Division de Mexico, having won a record 11 Primera Division titles, seven Campeon de Campeones and two Copa Mexico tournaments.  Miller Lite became the official beer sponsor in the U.S. of Chivas in 2010.

About MillerCoors

MillerCoors brews, markets and sells the MillerCoors portfolio of brands in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.  Built on a foundation of great beer brands and nearly 300 years of brewing heritage, MillerCoors continues the commitment of its founders to brew the highest quality beers.  MillerCoors is the second-largest beer company in America, capturing nearly 30 percent of U.S. beer sales.  Led by two of the best-selling beers in the industry, MillerCoors has a broad portfolio of highly complementary brands across every major industry segment.  Miller Lite is the great-tasting beer that established the American light beer category in 1975, and Coors Light is the brand that introduced consumers to refreshment as cold as the Rockies.  MillerCoors brews premium beers Coors Banquet and Miller Genuine Draft, and economy brands Miller High Life and Keystone Light.  The company also offers innovative products such as MGD 64, Miller Chill and Sparks.  The new MillerCoors craft and import company, Tenth and Blake, imports Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Pilsner Urquell, Grolsch and Molson Canadian and features craft brews from the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, Blue Moon Brewing Company and the Blitz-Weinhard Brewing Company.  MillerCoors operates eight major breweries in the U.S., as well as the Leinenkugel’s craft brewery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and two microbreweries, the 10th Street Brewery in Milwaukee and the Blue Moon Brewing Company at Coors Field in Denver.  The MillerCoors vision is to create the best beer company in America by driving profitable industry growth.  MillerCoors insists on building its brands the right way through brewing quality, responsible marketing and environmental and community impact.  MillerCoors is a joint venture of SABMiller plc and Molson Coors Brewing Company.

SOURCE Miller Lite

Miller Lite Gears Up Your Rebano With Great Taste | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Ravenswood ArtWalk will feature more than 200 artists, working in various mediums, along the Ravenswood corridor between Addison and Lawrence and adjacent areas. A map will guide visitors to all venues.

New this year! The RAW Street Fair will be located at Ravenswood and Montrose and features two days of live music, children’s art activities, art tents, food and beverages.

There will be a rooftop lounge and sculpture garden, film screenings, lectures and live performances throughout the weekend. A free trolley, with guided historical tour by a member of the Ravenswood – Lake View Historical Association, will transport visitors from one end of the event to the other. There is something for everyone at ArtWalk!

In a partnership with Chicago Artists Month and with the generous support of many local businesses, Alderman Pawar and Goose Island Brewery, the always-free ArtWalk is easily accessed from the Montrose, Irving Park or Addison bus and Brown line stops.

More information can be found on Facebook or the Ravenswood ArtWalk website: www.RavenswoodArtwalk.org

Interested in being a volunteer? Contact Mason at: info@ravenswoodartwalk.org.

Ravenswood ArtWalk Celebrates 10 Years – October 1 & 2 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Miggedy’s background includes former Old School DJ for Soul 106.3 and Mixshow DJ for WGCI’s Club 107.5. He continues to produce New & Old School mixes for SuperRadio and other Broadcast Networks. In the spring 2011, Steve produced a new album from Uk Jazz/Soul Songstress Julie Dexter titled “New Again,” available on Itunes!

“I am excited and blessed to be back on the radio,” said Miggedy. “I intend to create soulful R&B, Steppers and House mixes that will uplift spirits and bring joy to our listeners!”

Steve will be joining Soul’s DJ Dolla Bill and Malik Shabazz!

Contact: Eugene Posey
Phone: 1-877-456-9330
Email: epgreenroomedia@gmail.com
Website: www.epgreenroomedia.com

*** From EP Greenroom Media, Chicago ***

Mix DJ Steve “Miggedy” Maestro is Back on Chicago Radio | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Some of the cold-blooded creatures include: Bubba (the alligator), Big Al (the 250 lb. tortoise), Blondie (the python), and Dragon (the 60 lb. lizard).

“Children learn much quicker when they are entertained. The purpose of this show is to teach the children about nutrition and oral health in a way that’s fun,” said Dr. Kevin Boyd “There are similarities and differences in the teeth of different animals. By comparing the teeth, we can learn about the importance of our teeth, nutrition, and our overall oral health.”

Dr. Kevin Boyd and Dr. Janet Pannaralla will be checking the teeth of Bubba the Alligator! Children may also have the opportunity to take photos with the animals and ask questions.

Dentistry For Children will have a booth July 23rd and 24th from 12-5pm at the Children’s Corner at the Garden Walk. The Kids Corner will also have pony rides, a petting zoo, craft projects, food/beverages, and a pig train.

Dr. Kevin Boyd is a strong advocate for increasing public awareness regarding the fact that healthy eating is vital for achieving optimal dental and whole body health. Through academics, research, community outreach and public policy related activities, Dr. Boyd spends many hours at efforts aimed at improving children’s lives through the promotion of healthy eating behaviors.

Dentistry for Children and Families are active in the community and sponsor other events such as the Annual Free Children’s Dental Day.

For more information about Dentistry for Children and Families, please call 312-988-9855 or visit http://dentistry4children.net.

Pediatric dentist, Dr. Boyd, Uses Cold-Blooded Creatures to Teach Children about Oral Health and Nutrition | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Chicago, Illinois – July 20, 2011 – Everyone knows its cooler by the lake, (average of 15 degrees cooler on the heat index than inland) and we want you to come out and beat the heat with us. Starting today, and for the rest of the year, anytime the temperature is over 90 degrees, guests will get 10% OFF per DEGREE over 90 degrees on any Bike and Roll Chicago Bicycle Rental, Segway or Bike Tour (max. 50% OFF).

This means that a high of 97 degrees will create a discount of 50% OFF! A high temperature of 94 degrees will create a 40% discount, and a high of 92 degrees will create a 20% discount. The hotter it gets, the larger the discount!

Bike and Roll Chicago is a leading bicycle rental and Segway tour company, serving locals and visitors for the past 18 years at 10 convenient lakefront locations. Rent a bike and Hop-On, Hop-Off at any location, or join a guided bicycle or Segway tour. Favorite tours include the Amazing Lakefront Bike Tour, the Skyscraper Architectural Segway Tour, and the Friendly Neighborhoods and Presidential Bike Tours.

Bike and Roll is committed to delivering an exceptional experience to every guest! This is achieved with great rides and fun tours, quality rental equipment, safe routes, and friendly service. Whether you are a local or a tourist, Bike and Roll is a great way to explore the city, see the sites, and get around town in a fun, healthy, and green way. Visit Bike and Roll in Chicago, New York City, Miami Beach, Washington DC, and San Francisco.

A full lineup of tours, rides, locations, and rental products can be found at www.bikechicago.com

For reservations please call 312-729-1000, Ext. 0 (must mention Cooler by the Lake program to receive discount).

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For additional information please contact Jeremy Rothschild at 773-230-4422 or email jeremy@bikeandroll.com

Cooler by the Lake! Bike and Roll encourages Chicagoans to Stay Cool. Enjoy Discounted Lakefront Bike Rentals and Segway Tours. The Hotter it Gets, the Larger the Discount! | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Plain White T's

Plain White T’s & Barenaked Ladies Headline July 15th & 16th

CHICAGO, July 8, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — The following is being released by Old St. Patrick’s Church:

What: Two Nights of World Class Rock at the 27th annual World’s Largest Block Party. The Block Party is a Chicago Summer tradition not to be missed – each year nearly 20,000 people enjoy two blocks of music, food and fun.

Tickets are $40 in advance; $45 at the gate, a two-night pass is available for $75.

The price of admission includes five FREE beverages; a choice of beer, wine, soda or bottled water. You could get your beverage from a host of local celebrity bartenders.

When/Who: Friday, July 15

Mainstage
Farraday—5:40 p.m.
Cobra Starship—7:40 p.m.
Plain White T’s—9:00 p.m.

South Stage
Out for Hours—5:30 p.m.
Spazmatics—7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 16

Mainstage
No Love For Linus—5:30 p.m.
Matt Nathanson—7:05 p.m.
Barenaked Ladies—8:50 p.m.

South Stage
South of 80—6:15 p.m.

TICKETS ON SALE!
Www.worldslargestblockparty.com

Where: The entry gate is located at Madison and Des Plaines in Chicago’s West Loop and the Party takes up two full city blocks!

Why: Proceeds support the church and the Center for Social Concerns on the Old St. Pat’s campus, which houses the following outreach programs: Horizons for Youth; Career Transitions Center of Chicago; and Global Alliance for Africa.

SOURCE Old St. Patrick’s Church

http://www.oldstpats.org

Full Band Lineup Announced for the "World’s Largest Block Party" | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Documentary examines our civil justice system and the truth about those out to destroy it.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., June 24, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — We’ve all heard of the McDonald’s coffee case – the one where the elderly woman spilled coffee in her lap and sued McDonald’s for millions and won.  This case happened nearly 20 years ago, but it’s still the butt of jokes and used as an example of how Americans supposedly take advantage of our legal system.  It is the very case that tort reformers across the country refer to when making their case for civil justice “reform.”

A new documentary, Hot Coffee, reviews this infamous case and investigates why special interest groups – such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, funded behind the scenes by big tobacco, oil, insurance, pharmaceutical companies, and other such interests – want to undermine our civil justice system and restrict the legal rights of all Americans to exercise their constitutional guaranteed right to trial by jury and to receive fair and reasonable compensation for when they have been wronged.  Hot Coffee premiers on HBO Monday, June 27 at 8 PM CDT.

I strongly encourage everyone to take the time to watch this documentary, especially the citizens of Illinois.  Our state and its everyday citizens’ are continuously attacked by corporate front groups, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – not to be confused with your local Chamber of Commerce who supports local businesses.  These attacks are an effort at so-called civil justice “reform.”  The U.S. Chamber, among other front groups funded by big tobacco and their sole-minded profit friends, attacks various judiciaries in Illinois giving certain counties false labels, such as “judicial hellhole.”  They throw around buzz words such as “jackpot justice” and “frivolous lawsuits.”  Their goal?  To get citizens of Illinois to believe our justice system is being manipulated for profit.  When in fact it is being manipulated for profit, by the powerful behind-the-scenes groups that fund the U.S. Chamber.

These front groups even go to the extent to hire marketing firms to taint jury pools before trials, just like they did in Madison County where a large corporation has been accused of contaminating drinking water for thousands of people.  Fairness?  These groups don’t want fairness and they will continue to fight to increase their profits and excessive executive salaries, all at a cost to you and your family.  Their goal is to strip you and me of our constitutional rights to fair and reasonable compensation when we are injured by corporate recklessness.

The film will also examine the impact of corporate America on our judicial elections and how millions of dollars are spent to elect judges who are sympathetic to business interests.

Please be sure to watch Hot Coffee on HBO.  The documentary will be airing throughout June and July on HBO, check local listings for times.  It will surely be an eye opening experience that will shed light on corporate America’s attempt to modify the American jury trial system and prevent you and your family from getting fair compensation if you are one of their victims.

You can find out more by visiting http://hotcoffeethemovie.com or go to their Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/hotcoffeethemovie.

JERRY A. LATHEROW is the president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA), P.O. Box 5000, Springfield, IL 62705, 800-252-8501.  The Illinois Trial Lawyers Association is a statewide organization whose members specialize in representing injured consumers and workers.  The objectives of ITLA are to secure and protect the rights of those injured in their persons or civil rights and defend trial by jury and the adversarial system of justice.

SOURCE Illinois Trial Lawyers Association

http://hotcoffeethemovie.com

ITLA President Jerry A. Latherow: "I strongly Urge Everyone To Watch Hot Coffee on HBO." | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The Shoreline Sightseeing Wine Cruise takes place on our most exclusive vessel, the Celebration. The Celebration is a yacht-like boat featuring sleek, Euro-styling, a gracious main cabin and a spacious outdoor deck.

The cruise will depart from Shoreline’s docks at Navy Pier’s Ogden Slip. Tickets are $39 and are available at http://www.shorelinesightseeing.com/specialevents.html. Must be 21.

Shoreline Sightseeing is Chicago’s largest tour boat company, operating 21 boats from docks at Navy Pier. Shoreline has been family-owned and operated since 1939.

To watch video of a variety of Shoreline products, please visit our YouTube channel.

SHORELINE SIGHTSEEING: MORE BOATS, MORE TOURS, MORE CHICAGO!

# # #

Shoreline Sightseeing Toasts Summer on our First Wine Cruise | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

From May 27-30, Celebrate Summer with a Variety of Outdoor Events and Activities

There’s no better place to spend Memorial Day Weekend than in Chicago, which Priceline.com named the most popular destination for Memorial Day 2011.

Chicago’s North Michigan Avenue captured the #1 spot in the survey of the nation’s 50 most popular Memorial Day destinations. In the nine years that priceline.com has published the list, Chicago has taken the top spot four times.

Kick off the summer season by exploring new neighborhoods, swimming at lakefront beaches, catching a Major League Baseball game and more.

Or visitors can honor the spirit of the weekend by enjoying the Memorial Day Parade and visiting the National Vietnam Veteran’s Art Museum.

Visitors to the city are invited to make their first stop the Visitor Information Center in the Chicago Cultural Center, located at 77 East Randolph Street. For more information on Memorial Day activities in Chicago, or to book accommodations, visit www.ExploreChicago.org.

Chicago Greeter and Instagreeter Neighborhood Outposts

Let a friendly, knowledgeable Greeter be your guide on a free, customized walking tour for groups of up to six people. Register today and choose a neighborhood or interest to explore, such as architecture, history, or ethnic Chicago. For greater flexibility with no advance registration, try an Instagreeter tour of the Loop (Fridays-Sundays), Millennium Park (daily), or at one of three neighborhood outposts – at the Hyde Park Hyde Park Art Center (5020 S. Cornell Ave.), Second City (1616 N. Wells St.) in Old Town, and the Pilsen outpost, new in 2011, at the National Museum of Mexican Art (1852 W. 19th Street). Check www.ExploreChicago.org for the Instagreeter neighborhood outpost schedule on Saturdays from May 28 – October 8.

Chicago’s Lakefront Beaches

Chicago’s beaches are open for the summer! The Chicago Park District manages the city’s 29 beaches along Lake Michigan for the enjoyment of Chicago families and visitors. Chicago’s lakefront is also home to a lakefront biking and running trail, volleyball, soccer, concessions, golf courses, harbors, and bird sanctuaries. Admission to Chicago’s beaches is free and open to the public, with lifeguards on duty from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily through Labor Day.

Visitors can also enjoy a spectacular fireworks show overlooking the lakefront when Navy Pier begins its summer fireworks season on Saturday, May 28 at 10:15 p.m.

Baseball: A Chicago Tradition

No summer trip to Chicago would be complete without a visit to Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs and the nation’s second-oldest major league baseball park. Wrigley Field is easily accessible by the Red Line “El” train, which is part of the complete Cubs fan experience. Catch the Cubs on May 27, 28, 29 and 30 against the Pirates and May 30 against the Astros.

7th Annual Randolph Street Market Festival

The internationally known Randolph Street Market Festival kicks off its seventh season this Memorial Day weekend. Located at Plumber Hall in the West Loop neighborhood, this indoor/outdoor European-style market is the largest in the Midwest. Featuring more than 200 antique dealers selling everything from high-end antiques to vintage collectibles, the Market is often compared to Paris’ legendary flea market. Open Saturday, May 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival

The 27th annual Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival showcases the bustling nightlife and entertainment scene of the surrounding Lakeview neighborhood. Boasting popular national, regional and local music acts, this festival also features arts and crafts, fashion, food and drinks. Located on Sheffield Avenue between Belmont Avenue and School Street, the festival runs Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29 from noon to 10 p.m.

MEMORIAL DAY-SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony and Parade

The Chicago Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony and Parade is scheduled for Saturday, May 28. The Ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. at the Eternal Flame on Daley Plaza in Chicago (Dearborn and Washington Streets).

The parade steps off at noon and proceeds south on State Street from Lake Street to Van Buren Street. Chicago’s Memorial Day Parade is considered one of the largest in the nation, with 10,000 people participating annually.  Participants include many area high schools’ Marching Bands, Drum and Bugle Corps as well as many Veterans’ groups, JROTC and the military. This year’s Grand Marshal will be General Raymond T. Odierno, United States Army, Commander, U.S. Joint Forces Command.

National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum

The National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum inspires greater understanding of the real impact of war with a focus on Vietnam.

The Museum collects, preserves and exhibits art inspired by combat and created by veterans. Located in the Chicago’s South Loop neighborhood at 1801 S. Indiana Avenue, the Museum houses over 1500 works of art, including paintings, photography, sculpture, poetry and music.

All works in the Museum’s permanent collection were created by more than 100 artists who chronicled their individual experiences from the Vietnam War.

The Museum is open Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check the Museum’s website at www.nvvam.org for details about special Memorial Day events.

Conflict Zone
Through June 18

In the first collaboration of its kind, 22 combat journalists and military veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan share their images from the battlefield through this groundbreaking multimedia exhibit. Conflict Zone is inspired by Joao Silva, the New York Times photographer who lost both legs in a landmine blast in October 2010 in Afghanistan. Brought together by the non-profit Independence Fund, Silva’s colleagues from the press corps agreed to pool their work for an art exhibit that features some of the most celebrated combat journalists and photographers of this generation. Conflict Zone is the creation of the Independence Fund and is being sponsored in Chicago by the National Veterans Art Museum. It is presented in partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture at Expo 72, 72 E. Randolph Street.

Chicago War Memorials

Memorial Day is a day to remember those who served, fought, and died in defense of America.  Within Chicago are more than 30 war memorials located throughout the city, giving visitors an opportunity to honor those who served their country while learning about Chicago’s rich cultural history. More information about the city’s memorials can be found at www.ExploreChicago.org.

VISITOR INFORMATION

Visitors and Chicagoans planning to entertain out-of-town guests can receive trip-planning assistance and information by visiting www.ExploreChicago.org. Brochures and information on Chicago’s exciting events and activities are also available at the Visitor Information Centers. Friendly Visitor Representatives can answer questions and assist in planning an unforgettable itinerary. The visitor centers are located in two of the city’s most popular areas: across from Millennium Park in the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph Street; and at the historic Water Works pumping station, 163 E. Pearson Street at Michigan Avenue.

For daily alerts about fun and free things to do in Chicago, follow ExploreChicago on Twitter at www.twitter.com/explorechicago and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/explorechicago, where you can also weigh in on your Chicago favorites. Receive answers to your Chicago questions on the go, and tips on the latest citywide events and activities, via the FREE Twitter Concierge Service (@explorechicago) available daily.

The Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture is dedicated to promoting Chicago as a premier cultural destination to domestic and international leisure travelers, providing innovative visitor programs and services, and presenting free world-class public programs. For more information please visitwww.ExploreChicago.org.

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For more information or for interviews, contact Joyce Rowe, joyce.rowe@explorechicago.org, 312.742.2036.

What to do in Chicago during Memorial Day weekend | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Explore Chicago on foot or online — or by boat, bike or bus! Hundreds of suggested treks make navigating the city a breeze

The Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture announces its 2011 summer initiative, Urban Excursions: Explore Chicago, showcasing hundreds of treks, tours, itineraries, and other urban adventures downtown and throughout the neighborhoods, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

For more information about Urban Excursions: Explore Chicago, visit www.ExploreChicago.org/summer.

The centerpiece of the campaign will be the North American premiere of en route, a new theatrical event that unfolds as pedestrians walk through the streets of Chicago, written and performed by the Melbourne, Australia-based troupe One Step at a Time Like This and presented by Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

“Whether tracking down sweets, from cupcakes to cannoli, on a neighborhood bakery expedition; biking historic tree-lined boulevards; or discovering the roots of Chicago blues with an audio tour narrated by blues legend Buddy Guy, most treks are free or affordable and offer something for all ages and interests,” said Dorothy Coyle, Executive Director, Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture. “First-time visitors looking for popular and must-see attractions, seasoned travelers seeking out new destinations, or locals searching for hidden neighborhood gems will all be able to experience the city in a new way, brimming with adventures just waiting to be discovered.”

Both visitors and residents can embark on hundreds of unique urban adventures ranging from discovering authentic tacquerias in Pilsen and devouring freshly-made tortillas in Little Village; to going behind-the-scenes at Wrigley Field with visits to the press box, clubhouses, and dugouts; to taking a trot through the Art Institute to sniff out all the canines depicted in the Museum’s collection.

Additionally, the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture provides an array of helpful resources for planning your own one-of-a-kind trek. Visit www.ExploreChicago.org/summer for links to interactive Google maps, engaging essays about Chicago’s 77 distinct community areas, and facts about Visitor Information Centers staffed by friendly representatives. Beginning May 30, treks and tours throughout the city will be posted daily on the Urban Excursions blog, including neighborhood treks, thematic treks, treks within museums, festival previews, and free events.

Innovative Foursquare and SCNVGR treks — free games for mobile phones — will encourage visitors to explore Chicago’s neighborhoods while learning about the city’s unique cultural traditions. In addition, Twitter concierges at www.twitter.com/explorechicago can provide restaurant recommendations and assist visitors in planning a customized itinerary.

EN ROUTE, NORTH AMERICAN PREMIERE

Tickets $35, on sale July 1, 2011

Presented by Chicago Shakespeare Theater, One Step at a Time Like This and Richard Jordan Productions, Ltd.
Written by Julian Rickert and One Step at a Time Like This
Artists: Suzanne Kersten, Clair Korobacz, Paul Moir, Julian Rickert
July 11 – August 14

See the city with fresh eyes. Follow members of the Australian performance company One Step at a Time Like This on a unique theatrical journey that will take you through the main streets and alleys of Chicago. The journey begins with a text message which gives you instructions on where to meet your guide and borrow a specially programmed Motorola ATRIX™ 4G smartphone, which serves as the navigational tool of your excursion. You make your way through the city following instructions from the artists telling you where to walk and which track to listen to. Matching an aural soundscape to a visual landscape, en route will open audiences up to new ways of understanding the city, themselves, and others. Audience members will witness the spontaneous choreography of passers-by, listen to theatrical dialogues and musings, and project their own narratives and meanings onto what they see: a world in the process of making itself. Presented in association with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, en route’s official hotel is the Kimpton Hotels including Burnham Hotel, Hotel Allegro, Hotel Monaco and Hotel Palomar. Motorola ATRIX ™ 4G smartphones are contributed by Motorola Mobility. Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s International programming is supported, in part, by the Julius Frankel Foundation. En route is supported in part by Australian Arts Council.

ADDITIONAL TREKS, TOURS, PROGRAMS, AND EVENTS

Find a wide range of free and affordable treks, tours, events, and programs happening all summer long at www.ExploreChicago.org/summer.

Chicago Greeter and Instagreeter Neighborhood Outposts – Free

May 28 – October 8

Let a friendly, knowledgeable Greeter be your guide on a customized walking tour for groups of up to six people. Register today and choose a neighborhood or interest to explore, such as architecture, history, or ethnic Chicago. For greater flexibility with no advance registration, try an Instagreeter tour of the Loop (Fridays-Sundays), Millennium Park (daily), or at one of three neighborhood outposts – at the Hyde Park Hyde Park Art Center (5020 S. Cornell Ave.), Second City (1616 N. Wells St.) in Old Town, and the Pilsen outpost, new in 2011, at the National Museum of Mexican Art (1852 W. 19th Street). Checkwww.ExploreChicago.org/summer for the Instagreeter neighborhood outpost schedule on Saturdays.

Get Up & Go! – Free

12:15pm on Tuesdays, June 7 – September 20

Get an insider scoop on a new Chicago neighborhood each week with this conversation series at the Chicago Cultural Center Visitor Information Center (77 E. Randolph St.) hosted by Mark Bazer, creator and host of The Hideout’s acclaimed Interview Show. These weekly, informal lunchtime programs will showcase all there is to see, do, and eat in Chicago’s vibrant communities. Then depart on a guided walking tour of that week’s featured neighborhood.

Guided Photo Walks – Free

10am – 2pm on Sundays, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 18

Join Explore Chicago on two-hour, guided walks to photograph Pilsen, Wrigleyville, Bronzeville, and Lincoln Park led by Chicago Greeter volunteers. After the walk, attend a workshop at the Lincoln Park Apple Store (801 W. North Ave.) to discuss your photos with fellow photographers and learn how to organize, enhance, and share them. All types of cameras and experience levels are welcome.

Family Adventures

9:30am – 2:30pm on Fridays, July 1 – August 27
9:30am – 2:30pm on Saturdays, July 9 and 23; August 6, 20, 27

Explore Chicago with affordable, fully-guided adventures created specifically for families. These exciting one-day expeditions feature plenty of hands-on activities to keep kids engaged while learning about unique Chicago neighborhoods and parks. Choose from eight different adventures ranging from a behind-the-scenes tour of U.S. Cellular Field, home of the Chicago White Sox, to fishing in Lincoln Park, to riding a water taxi on the Chicago River. Recommended for children ages 6 and up. $12; includes lunch, admission, round-trip transportation and all other fees.

Chicago Neighborhood Tour

Discover Chicago’s diverse communities with exciting half-day bus tours, guided by neighborhood experts. This summer’s tours feature some perennial favorites, such as Chicago’s Magnificent Churches and Taste of the Neighborhoods, alongside exciting and updated excursions to neighborhoods such as historic Pullman, Uptown, and picturesque Columbus Park. $30-$50.

SCVNGR AND FOURSQUARE TREKS – FREE

SCVNGR and Foursquare, two free games for mobile phones, encourage visitors to explore Chicago’s neighborhoods while learning about the city’s unique cultural traditions. New in summer 2011, the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture is launching three new neighborhood SCVNGR treks in Wicker Park, Chinatown, and Lincoln Square to four existing thematic treks: the Explore Millennium Park Trek, the rock and hip-hop themed Explore Chicago Music Trek, the Explore Chicago Taco Trek which visits authentic tacquerias and affordable outposts of Chicago’s top chefs, and the Bike the Boulevards Trek, developed in partnership with WTTW, Chicago’s Public Television Station.

These offerings complement COTC’s award-winning Foursquare badges, which invite game players to recreate their own Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or engage in four other shot-in-Chicago film experiences to earn their On Location Badge; a Celery Salt Badge which sends visitors on a quest for the perfect Chicago-style hot dog; and the Chicago Blues Badge, which complements COTC’s Chicago Blues audio tour narrated by Buddy Guy.

WWW.EXPLORECHICAGO.ORG

In addition to Urban Excursions, www.ExploreChicago.org provides comprehensive event listings; multi-media content, including audio tours, videos and podcasts; a virtual visitor center with downloadable brochures, maps and resources for international travelers; and stunning photographs showcasing the city’s best assets. It also features Insider Profiles of Chicagoans who share their favorite things to see and do in the city.

VISITOR INFORMATION CENTERS

Visitors and Chicagoans planning to entertain out-of-town guests can receive trip-planning assistance and information by visiting www.ExploreChicago.org. Brochures and information on Chicago’s exciting events and activities and multi-lingual maps are available at Visitor Information Centers where friendly Visitor Representatives can answer questions and assist in planning an unforgettable itinerary. The Visitor Centers are located in two of the city’s most popular areas: across from Millennium Park in the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph Street; and at the historic Water Works pumping station, 163 E. Pearson Street at Michigan Avenue.

Twitter concierges are also available seven days a week at twitter.com/explorechicago to answer questions, make restaurant recommendations, and help visitors develop customized itineraries.

For daily alerts about fun and free things to do in Chicago, follow Explore Chicago on Twitter at www.twitter.com/explorechicago and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/explorechicago, where you can also weigh in on your Chicago favorites.

The Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture is dedicated to promoting Chicago as a premier cultural destination to domestic and international leisure travelers, providing innovative visitor programs and services, and presenting free world-class public programs.

For more information please visitwww.ExploreChicago.org.

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Media Contacts:

Joyce Rowe, joyce.rowe@explorechicago.org
312.742.2036

Ben Kelner, benjamin.kelner@explorechicago.org
312.744.8948

Take an urban excursion this summer in Chicago | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

“Moderns,” “MCA Moves,” “Masters,” “Muses” and “Movies” programs showcase local and national talent of the highest caliber – including Martha Graham Dance Company, Paul Taylor Dance Company, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and Stars of the New York City Ballet

CHICAGO /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ The Chicago Dancing Festival, co-produced by internationally renowned choreographer and Chicago native Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke, celebrates its 5th Anniversary season with expanded programming to include five days of free dance-related events, in venues throughout downtown Chicago, August 23 – 27, 2011.

“We’re thrilled to be celebrating this first ‘milestone’ of the Festival, our fifth anniversary,” said Lubovitch.  “We’re so grateful to Chicago, our crucial supporters, and the fans, who have all helped the Festival grow in these formative years.  We hope this is just the beginning of our growth.”

The 2011 Chicago Dancing Festival features a jam-packed series of free events, including five dance showcases, some at venues new to the 2011 Festival (such as the Auditorium Theatre and the Chicago Cultural Center); a new matinee performance; a new all-day screening of classic dance films; and an informative lecture-demonstration that offers audiences unique insight into the creative relationship between choreographers and the dancers that inspire them.  The Festival culminates with its signature grand finale dance showcase on the stunning outdoor stage of the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, the event that launched the Chicago Dancing Festival tradition five years ago.

Highlights of the 2011 line-up include top Chicago companies Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Joffrey Ballet and River North Dance Chicago, the return of New York-based iconic companies Martha Graham Dance Company, Paul Taylor Dance Company and Lar Lubovitch, plus Rocky Mountain-region powerhouses Aspen Santa Fe Ballet and Ballet West.

Festival newcomers this year include modern dance innovator Doug Varone & Dancers, celebrated Japanese Butoh exponents Eiko & Koma, young avant-garde artists Adam Barruch and Faye Driscoll, and the infamous Martha Graham impersonator Richard Move. And for the first time in its history, the Chicago Dancing Festival will present a newly commissioned work created and performed by New York-based experimental performance artist Walter Dundervill.

CHICAGO DANCING FESTIVAL 5th ANNIVERSARY SCHEDULE

Monday, August 22, 6pm:  OPENING NIGHT GALA

In advance of the five-day series of free programming, the 2011 Chicago Dancing Festival kicks off with a celebratory Opening Night Gala.  This fundraising benefit includes a lavish cocktail reception plus a performance and an opportunity to mingle with many of this year’s participating artists.  Tickets are $250 per person and can be purchased by emailing info@chicagodancingfestival.com or by calling (312) 520-2210.

Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue

Program: Performances include dancers from The Joffrey Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, plus a sneak peek at avant-garde artists Faye Driscoll and Walter Dundervill.

Tuesday, August 23, 7:30 pm:  MODERNS

The cutting edge of modern dance is represented by the work of these five daring, bold choreographers from across the country and around the world.

Venue: Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive

Program:

• Doug Varone & Dancers in Lux by Doug Varone
• Aspen Santa Fe Ballet in Uneven by Cayetano Soto
• Adam Barruch in his own solo work The Worst Pies in London
• River North Dance Company in 9-Person Precision Ball Passing by Charlie Moulton
• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in Too Beaucoup by Sharon Eyal

Wednesday, August 24, 12 noon:  MODERNS

Venue: Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive

Program: The Chicago Dancing Festival is pleased to announce, in collaboration with the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, a first-ever matinee performance.  This will launch the third season of the Harris Theater’s popular Eat to the Beat lunchtime series, featuring highlights from the previous evening’s “Moderns” program including performances by Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Doug Varone & Dancers, Adam Barruch and River North Dance Chicago.  This performance is sponsored in part the Chauncey & Marion D. McCormick Family Foundation, who also serves as the Lead Foundation Sponsor of the Eat to the Beat series.

Wednesday, August 24, 6 and 8 pm:  MCA MOVES

Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue

Program: Independent, avant-garde and up-and-coming dance artists are highlighted together in this special program hosted by renowned Martha Graham impersonator Richard Move. Japanese Butoh exponents Eiko & Koma perform a special site-specific work outside of the MCA before the show.

Thursday, August 25, 7:30 pm:  MASTERS

Works by some of the dance world’s most venerated master choreographers are seen together on one stage.

Venue: Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway

Program:

• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in Petite Mort by Jirí Kylián
• Martha Graham Dance Company in Embattled Garden by Martha Graham
• Lar Lubovitch Dance Company in The Legend of Ten by Lar Lubovitch

Friday, August 26, 10 am – 6 pm:  MOVIES

A new event for the 2011 Festival, this day-long screening features dance as portrayed through the lens of film, culminating with the ultimate dance drama The Red Shoes.

Venue: Claudia Cassidy Theater of the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph Street

Program:

• Invitation to the Dance (1956, directed by Gene Kelly)
• A Dancer’s World (1957, documentary directed by Peter Glushanok) with Martha Graham and company
• Dancemaker (1998, documentary directed by Matthew Diamond) with Paul Taylor and company
• The Red Shoes (1948, directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger)

Friday, August 26, 6pm:  MUSES

This lecture/demonstration, hosted by dance historian and journalist Lucia Mauro, features a panel of choreographers and artistic directors discussing the creative relationship between choreographers and the dancers that inspire them, accompanied by performance excerpts.

Venue: Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Avenue

Panelists:

• Janet Eilber, Artistic Director of the Martha Graham Dance Company

• Alejandro Cerrudo, Choreographer-in-Residence for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
• Lar Lubovitch, Artistic Director of the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company & Chicago Dancing Festival Co-Founder

Saturday, August 27, 7:30 pm:  CELEBRATION OF DANCE

The Festival grand finale celebrates the best of contemporary American dance.

Venue: Jay Pritzker Pavilion of Millennium Park

Program:

• The Joffrey Ballet in Stravinsky Violin Concerto by George Balanchine
• Ballet West in Sinfonietta by Jirí Kylián
• Martha Graham Dance Company in Diversion of Angels by Martha Graham
• Paul Taylor Dance Company in Esplanade by Paul Taylor
• New York City Ballet Guest Artists Gonzalo Garcia and Tiler Peck in Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux by George Balanchine
• River North Dance Company in 9-Person Precision Ball Passing by Charlie Moulton

All programs are subject to change.

Ticket Information

All events are free but tickets for the indoor performance showcases must be reserved in advance.  No reservations are needed for the film screenings or the outdoor performance at the Pritzker Pavilion.  Tickets will be available to the general public the week of July 18 in a staggered format so that each venue releases its tickets on a different day. Additional details will be announced closer to the time.

About the Chicago Dancing Festival

The Chicago Dancing Festival was founded in 2007 to heighten awareness of dance in Chicago, to increase accessibility to the art form and to provide aspiration for local artists.  Its mission is to present a wide variety of excellent dance, enrich the lives of the people of Chicago and provide increased accessibility to the art form, thereby helping create a new audience.  Its vision is to raise the national and international profile of dance in the city, furthering Chicago as a dance destination.

Lar Lubovitch (Founder, Artistic Director) is one of America’s most versatile and highly acclaimed choreographers and founded the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company 40 years ago.  In the years since, he has choreographed more than 100 dances for his New York-based company, which has performed in nearly all 50 American states as well as in more than 30 foreign countries.  Born in Chicago, Lubovitch was educated at the University of Iowa and the Juilliard School in New York.

Jay Franke (Founder, Artistic Director) first danced with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company in 2005.  Jay began his formal training at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas.  In 1993 he was selected as a Finalist for Presidential Scholar in the Arts and accepted into the Juilliard School.  Upon receiving his B.F.A. in Dance from the Juilliard School, Franke went to work with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, “THARP!”  Franke has since danced with The 58 Group, Lyric Opera Ballet Chicago, and most recently Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

The Chicago Dancing Festival is grateful to its 2011 Sponsors, including:  InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, Official Hotel Partner; American Airlines, Official Airline Partner; Museum of Contemporary Art, Venue Partner; Harris Theater for Music and Dance, Venue Partner; City of Chicago, Millennium Park, Venue Partner; The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, Venue Partner; Oakmark; Illinois Arts Council; National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works; The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation; The Elizabeth Morse Charitable Trust; and The Chicago Community Trust.

For more information, please visit www.chicagodancingfestival.com.

Chicago Dancing Festival 5th Anniversary Program Expanded to Five Days of Free Events Aug. 23-27 | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

PETER BILLINGSLEY, STAR OF THE ORIGNAL 1983 FILM, AMONG PRODUCERS OF NEW HOLIDAY MUSICAL

(May 24, 2011) This holiday season, America’s #1 Christmas movie comes to life as a hilarious holiday musical, culminating a five-city national tour at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State Street, December 14-30, 2011.

A Christmas Story, The Musical! features a bright holiday score by composer/lyricist team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book byJoseph Robinette based on the writings of radio humorist Jean Shepherd and the 1983 holiday film favorite.

Acclaimed director/choreographer Warren Carlyle (Broadway’sFinian’s Rainbow, Follies at The Kennedy Center, An Evening With Hugh Jackman) helms the production. Peter Billingsley, who starred as Ralphie in original 1983 film, serves as a producer for the holiday tour.

After acclaimed, sold-out, record-breaking runs at Kansas City Rep in 2009 and Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre in 2010, Chicago will play a major part in establishing the upcoming tour of A Christmas Story, The Musical! Auditions for major roles will be here in June (dates TBA), and this fall the cast will rehearse here, before launching a five-city national tour which culminates in Chicago just in time for the holiday season!

The tour includes engagements in Hershey, PA (Hershey Theatre, Nov. 8 – 13); Detroit, MI (Fisher Theatre, Nov. 15 – 27); Raleigh, NC (Memorial Auditorium, Nov. 29 – Dec. 4); and Tampa, FL (Straz Center, Dec. 6-11).

A Christmas Story, The Musical! chronicles young and bespectacled Ralphie Parker as he schemes his way towards the holiday gift of his dreams, a Red Ryder Action Air Rifle BB Gun (“You’ll shoot your eye out kid!”).

A kooky leg lamp, outrageous pink bunny pajamas, a maniacal department store Santa, and a double-dog-dare to lick a freezing flagpole are just a few of the distractions that stand between young Ralphie and his Christmas wish.

Produced by the film’s original Ralphie, Peter Billingsley, It’s a perennial holiday classic that will entertain the whole family.

“I’m excited and honored to tour our show through five amazing cities, culminating at the famed Chicago Theatre this holiday season,” said producer Peter Billingsley. “Chicago is one of my favorite cities and a place where I have had great experiences in my film career. Chicago’s impressive stage history and wealth of local talent made it the easy choice to anchor this year’s tour.”

“We welcome Warren Carlyle to our A Christmas Story… family,” added producer Gerald Goehring. “Warren is such an incredibly talented director and choreographer. My fellow producers and I are thrilled to have him at the helm of our tour.”

A Christmas Story, The Musical! features a scenic design by Walt Spangler (Desire Under the Elms); costume design by Elizabeth Hope Clancy (Passing Strange, The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?); lighting design by Tony Award-winner Howell Binkley (Jersey Boys, Memphis); orchestrations by 2011 Tony nominee Larry Blank (Catch Me If You Can); musical supervision by Ian Eisendrath (5th Avenue Theatre’s Sunday In The Park With George,West Side Story); dance arrangements by August Eriksmoen (Memphis, The Addams Family) and casting by Stephanie Klapper (Dividing the Estate, The Tempermentals).

Peter Billingsley joins commercial producers Gerald Goehring (Frankenstein: The Musical), Roy Miller (West Side Story revival, The Drowsy Chaperone), Michael Mitri (Frankenstein: The Musical), Pat Addiss (Promises, Promises; Spring Awakening), Louise Beard, Richard Winkler, Mariano Tolentino, Dan Frishwasser, Tim Laczynski, Bartner/Jenkins Entertainment, Angela Milonas, and Bradford W. Smith. The Chicago engagement of A Christmas Story, The Musical! is presented by  Madstone Productions and Patriot Productions.

For tickets or more information on the Chicago engagement of A Christmas Story, The Musical!, please visit http://www.thechicagotheatre.com/

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ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM:

Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (Music & Lyrics) are a musical theatre writing team living in New York City. Their first show, Edges, has been produced throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe and is licensed by Music Theatre International. Current projects include the musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s James And The Giant Peach and Dogfight, a new musical commissioned by Lincoln Center Theater. They are the youngest winners of the Jonathan Larson Award and served as songwriters for Disney Channel’s four-time Emmy-nominated series “Johnny and The Sprites.” They contributed to If You Give A Pig A Pancake and Duck For President for Theatreworks USA and were listed as part of the “50 to Watch” up-and-coming writers by The Dramatist Magazine. They were interviewed on National Public Radio, selected as 2007-2008 Dramatist Guild Fellows, and their music has been broadcast on Sirius XM’s Live On Broadway channel. The duo has played sold-out concerts across America at venues including The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Joe’s Pub in New York City and the Falcon Theater in Los

Angeles, and will soon perform in Australia’s Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June of 2010. They wrote Dr. Williams for Orchard Project’s 24-Hour Musicals benefit and will be featured in the upcoming documentary Overnight Musicals about the process by Incubation Films. They are proud graduates of The University of Michigan.

Joseph Robinette (Book) is one of the most prolific American playwrights living today. Mr. Robinette has authored or co-authored 51 published plays and musicals. His works have been produced in all fifty states and in several foreign countries, including England, Australia, Canada, Holland, Germany, Spain, Japan, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Twelve of his works have been translated into foreign languages, and another four have been anthologized with forwards by Carol Channing and Maurice Sendak. His plays have been produced by Lincoln Center, Theatreworks, Coterie Theatre, Pittsburgh Playhouse, Dallas Children’s Theatre, Barter Theatre, Laguna Playhouse, Connecticut Children’s Theatre, Seattle Children’s Theatre and the BBC, among others. Robinette collaborated with E.B.White on the authorized stage version of Charlotte’s Web, and he wrote the musical version with composer Charles Strouse (Annie and Bye, Bye, Birdie). Other authorized dramatizations include Stuart Little, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and The Paper Chase. Robinette is the recipient of numerous playwriting awards, including the Charlotte Chorpenning Cup, awarded to “an outstanding writer of children’s plays who has received national recognition” and the American Alliance for Theatre and Education’s best dramatization of the year for Sarah, Plain and Tall. In 2006, he received the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America medallion for his “body of dramatic works for children and young people in the United States and beyond.” Robinette is a professor emeritus from Rowan University (NJ) where he taught for 34 years. In 2002, he received the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award. He has led numerous workshops at elementary, middle and high schools and at state and national conventions, and was recently the keynote speaker at the Georgia State Theatre Conference. He has adjudicated a number of play festivals and has served as a judge for four national playwriting competitions. Robinette is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), the American Alliance for Theatre and Education, and he is a founding member of Opera for Youth. He has guest-lectured at several universities and has taught playwriting at the Cape Cod Writers Conference, the Ohio State Writers Series and the Philadelphia Writers Workshop.

Warren Carlyle (Director,Choreographer) Broadway credits include the critically acclaimedFinian’s Rainbow and A Tale of Two Cities. Off Broadway credits: Encores! at City Center:Girl Crazy, On the Town, Juno, and Stairway to Paradise; Working (Zipper), Slut! (ATA). Regionally, he has directed and choreographed Becoming Chaplin (La Jolla Playhouse),Buddy’s Tavern (The O’Neill Theater Center), and Lucky Guy (Goodspeed). He has choreographed Mame (Kennedy Center), The Pirates of Penzance (Papermill, Goodspeed, Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Best Choreography), The Baker’s Wife (Goodspeed), and Pageant (Second City Chicago). In his native England, his work has included has included Me and My Girl (UK Tour, Director as well, Best Production 2007 Theater Goers Choice Award), The Goodbye Girl (1st UK National Tour), Pageant (Vaudeville Theater), Sondheim’s Moving On (Bridewell Theater), and Scrooge (European Tour). 2010-2011 Season: Choreographed Randy Newman’s Harps & Angels at the Mark Taper Forum, Folliesat the Kennedy Center, Camelot at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and is the creative producer for An Evening With Hugh Jackman which premiered at San Francisco’s Curran Theatre. He is represented on film and television by Deception starring Hugh Jackman (20^thCentury Fox), “Hope and Faith” (ABC), “An Evening at the Boston Pops” (PBS), and Elton John’s “Made in England” video. As Associate Choreographer he has contributed to The Producers (Broadway, Worldwide and film), Oklahoma! (Broadway) and Center Stage (film). As a resident director and choreographer, Mr. Carlyle’s productions have included Jolson(London, Toronto), Fosse (London), and Oklahoma! (London).

Peter Billingsley (Producer) has been a member of the Hollywood community since the age of three, appearing in television commercials in the 1970s before jettisoning to fame with the holiday classic A Christmas Story in 1983, where he portrayed the unforgettable Red Ryder BB gun-seeking Ralphie Parker. Since then Billingsley has taken his talent behind the camera, bringing his comedic genius and impeccable timing to both film and television. As a producer, he has earned an Emmy nomination for the critically acclaimed Independent Film Channel TV show “Dinner For Five,” and has also worked as Executive Producer on the hit films The Break Up and Four Christmases with his longtime friend and collaborator Vince Vaughn, as well as working as producer on the 2008 blockbuster Iron Man. As a director, his most recent film was Couples Retreat, starring Vaughn and Jon Favreau, along with Malin Ackerman and Kristin Bell. Currently he’s developing the big screen adaptation of Melissa Marr’s fantasy novel Wicked Lovely, which Billingsley will produce along with Valeri Vaughn.

‘A Christmas Story, The Musical!’ to Cast, Rehearse and Culminate Five-City National Tour Here; Performances at Legendary Chicago Theatre Dec. 14-30 Only | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Highlights include video message from Lyric Opera Creative ConsultantRenée Fleming and performances from over 100 different musicians and groups specializing in Pop, Rock, Gospel, Jazz, Classical, World Music, Folk Music and Dance/Electronica; a “Sousapalooza” and “Opera & Show Tunes Sing-Along” lunchtime extravaganza in Daley Plaza; citywide venues, including both Apple Stores, the Lincoln Park Zoo and the John Hancock Center, among many others; and a Grand Finale concert at St. James Cathedral Commons with a massive public performance of “Sweet Home Chicago”

CHICAGO /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ The popular Rush Hour Concerts at St. James Cathedral series presents the inaugural Make Music Chicago, a live, one-day music festival on the first day of summer, Tuesday, June 21.

Make Music Chicago is completely free for both audiences and participants alike.  Inspired by France’s “Fête de la Musique,” a national musical holiday marking its 30^th anniversary this year, Make Music Chicago joins more than 460 cities around the world in this global music celebration.

“In presenting Make Music Chicago, Rush Hour Concerts is connecting our amazing, multi-faceted city of such diverse musical roots with the rest of the world in a global phenomenon,” said Deborah Sobol, Rush Hour Concerts Artistic and Executive Director.  “Broadening the accessibility of music has always been a key element in Rush Hour’s mission, and we’re so grateful to have the energy, excitement and involvement of so many partners, musicians and like-minded music proponents like Renée Fleming behind us in our first year, as we join the international ‘Fête de la Musique’ celebration.  Everyone can make music, and Make Music Chicago celebrates that universal fact.  We know this will be the beginning of another fantastic Chicago tradition.”

Renée Fleming, Lyric Opera’s Creative Consultant, will appear via recorded message from Paris in a special video wishing the festival well in its inaugural year.  Fleming, a world-renowned performer, plays an active leadership role with the Lyric in creating new projects and initiatives designed to increase opera audiences and awareness of the art form.

Make Music Chicago begins mid-morning with music-makers gathering in Chicago’s public spaces to engage in performances. The musical celebration continues throughout the day, with two special lunchtime highlight events, Sousapalooza, dubbed “Bring Your Instrument to Work Day,” and an Opera & Show Tunes Sing-Along taking place in Daley Plaza (50 W. Washington) from noon to 1:15 PM.

Richard Fischer, Director of Bands at Concordia University-Chicago, leads any and all eager Sousapalooza participants at noon through some of the most beloved marches of John Philip Sousa, including the Washington Post March, Semper Fidelis, Stars and Stripes Forever and Star-Spangled Banner.

Opera and chorus fans will then gather at 12:45 PM to sing some of the most beloved operatic tunes and American musical favorites. Interested participants are encouraged to register atwww.makemusicchicago.com/participate.

The Make Music Chicago Family Concert will run from 3:30 – 4:45 PM at St. James Cathedral. Quintet Attacca woodwind quintet will perform their interactive “Where in the World is Quintet Attacca?” show, which be joined with performances by the Music Institute of Chicago Suzuki Ensemble and Musikgarten at Concordia University. Parents should be prepared to sing, dance, stomp, and fly with their kids during the closing Musikgarten segment.

The day’s events close with a Grand Finale at St. James Cathedral Commons (65 East Huron Street) from 6:30–9 PM, broadcast live on 98.7WFMT.  The concert will include a massive public performance of Robert Johnson’s popular blues standard, “Sweet Home Chicago,” and music-makers of all skill levels are invited to join in.

Other venues hosting musical performances throughout the day include:

• Apple Store North Michigan Avenue (679 North Michigan Avenue)
• Apple Store Lincoln Park (801 West North Avenue)
• PianoForte Chicago (408 South Michigan Avenue)
• 900 N. Michigan Avenue
• Lincoln Park Conservatory (2391 North Stockton Drive)
• Northwestern Memorial Hospital (251 East Huron Street)
• Alliance Française de Chicago (810 North Dearborn Street)
• Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (303 East Chicago Avenue)
• Lincoln Park Zoo (2200 North Cannon Drive)
• The Breakers at Edgewater Beach (5333 North Sheridan Road)
• St. Chrysostom’s Church (1424 North Dearborn Street)
• Lake Shore Place (680 North Lake Shore Drive)
• International House at University of Chicago (1414 East 59th Street)
• Music Institute of Chicago (1991 Sheridan Road)
• Chicago Cultural Center (78 East Washington Street)
• John Hancock Center (875 North Michigan Avenue)
• Prudential Plaza
• 311 S. Wacker
• Belmont Harbor
• Various Chicago Park District locations

Additional details on locations, times and specific musical acts/events can be found by visiting www.makemusicchicago.com, with up-to-the-minute information being added throughout the coming weeks.

Participating “Music-Makers”

Make Music Chicago is a festival for people of all ages and levels – amateurs, professionals and marquee artists – to engage in music-making. The inaugural Chicago event involves over 100 different musicians, bands and ensembles from a diverse array of styles and genres.

Classical music-makers include: Singers from The Ryan Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago (voice and piano), CUBE Contemporary Chamber Ensemble (flute and oboe), Euclid Quartet (string quartet), Fifth House Ensemble (contemporary chamber music), Quintet Attacca (woodwind quintet), Maire O’Brien and Mark Riggleman (voice and piano), the Music Institute of Chicago (various instruments), Musikgarten at Concordia University (interactive singing & dancing), Sherwood Community Music School at Columbia College Chicago (violins), Suzuki-Orff School of Music (various ensembles), among many others.

Dance/Electronic music-makers include: Browntown (electronic), Blackdaylight (electronic) and Dave Cosejo (guitar, keyboard).

Folk music-makers include: Claudia Schmidt (guitar and voice), the Hannah Frank Trio (voice, guitar, and bass), John Sargent (voice and guitar), Marsha’s Music (voice) and the French Cabaret Duo (accordion and autoharp), among others.

Fusion/World music-makers include: Soulphonetics (DJs), Copacabana Trio (voice and hand percussion), Luciano Antonio (guitar and voice), Matondo (voice) and Tyrone Richardson (poetry).

Pop/Rock music-makers include:  1/2 Mad Poet (rock), the Chicago Children’s Museum’s Sometimes Band (pop), The Demerits (garage rock), Grooved Surfaces (acoustic guitar, accordion, melodica), The Hamburglars (rock), Justice Prevails! (voice, saxophone, bass, piano, drums) and many others.

Gospel, Jazz and Swing music-makers include:  the Providence St. Mel Choir, the Agnes Shawn Quartet (voice, bass, piano, drums), Chris Greene Quartet (saxophone, bass, piano, drums), Lito & Phil Gypsy Jazz Duo (guitars) and Sam Burckhardt & Jake Vinsel (tenor saxophone and bass), among many others.

For a complete list of all participants, please visit www.makemusicchicago.com/music-makers.  Additional talent will be announced in the coming weeks.

About Make Music Chicago

Make Music Chicago is inspired by France’s “Fête de la Musique,” a national musical holiday marking its 30^th anniversary this year.  Since 1982, “Fête de la Musique” has become an international phenomenon, taking place on June 21 in more than 460 cities in 110 countries, including Germany, Italy, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Australia, Vietnam, Congo, Cameroon, Fiji, Colombia, Chile, Nepal and Japan.

Partners of the inaugural Make Music Chicago include 98.7WFMT, Alliance Française de Chicago, the Consulate General of France in Chicago, Chicago Park District, Chicago Sister Cities International, Concierge Unlimited International, Entertaining Company, and St. James Cathedral.  Comcast is the lead sponsor of the event.

About Rush Hour Concerts

Rush Hour Concerts at St. James Cathedral is a free summer concert series that takes place Tuesdays from 5:15 – 6:15 pm, June through August, at St. James Cathedral in downtown Chicago.  Designed with contemporary lifestyles in mind, Rush Hour presents artists from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and other world-class ensembles from across the globe in user-friendly, 30-minute concerts.

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

First-ever ‘Make Music Chicago,’ free all-day music festival, announces venues and talents | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

About Face

The season will conclude with a new youth-driven project by About Face Youth Theatre on trans identity entitled WHAT’S THE T? EXAMINING THE “T” IN LGBTQ.

“At this politically volatile time in history, About Face is eager to present theater that gets at today’s big questions,” comments Artistic Director Bonnie Metzgar.

“With all the greed and hatred, is it possible to create real community based on love, faith and tolerance? Why would anyone bring a child into this world? Can we reach across the divides of race and class to love each other?

About Face is thrilled to embark on its 16th season with this exciting line-up of engaging works,world-class artists and new partnerships,” adds Metzgar.

In the fall:

About Face Theatre/Chicago Dramatists Co-Production

THE KID THING

By AFT Artistic Associate Sarah Gubbins

Directed by Joanie Schultz

at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago

When two lesbian couples who have been close friends for years get together for a dinner party, the unexpected news of an impending pregnancy rocks their relationships and their understanding of the world. Building on its long history as a new play powerhouse in Chicago, About Face is excited to launch a partnership with Chicago Dramatists, home of over 200 Chicago-based playwrights.

In the winter:

RUN, MOURNER, RUN

Adapted by Tarell Alvin McCraney

This powerful play is adapted from a short story in Randall Kenan’s award-winning collection Let The Dead Bury Their Dead, an influential work of Southern African-American fiction.  It engages the same electrifying ensemble narration that catapulted McCraney to national acclaim for his trilogy THE BROTHER/SISTER PLAYS.  Referencing African-American storytelling, gospel revivals, Greek tragedy and blues, RUN, MOURNER, RUN marks the beginning of a relationship between About Face and one of American theatre’s most compelling new voices.

Location TBA

In the spring:

About Face Theatre/American Theater Company Co-Production

RENT

Book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson

Co-directed by AFT Artistic Director Bonnie Metzger & ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli

at American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron St., Chicago

1990.  East Village.   About Face teams up with American Theater Company to create a powerful re-imagining of the 1996 Pulitzer Prize-winning rock opera.  At the end of the 1980s, a group of Bohemian artists struggle to find life, love and art in a brutal economy and the height of the AIDS crisis.  Artistic Directors Bonnie Metzger and PJ Paparelli bring a staggering reality to this landmark musical.  Parental discretion is advised.

In the summer:

About Face Youth Theatre presents

WHAT’S THE T?  EXAMINING THE “T” IN LGBTQ

Directed by Sara Kerastas

The latest project by About Face’s groundbreaking Youth Theatre is an exploration and celebration of trans identity.

Location TBA

Tickets for all productions will go on sale at a later date.  For updates, please visit www.aboutfacetheatre.com.

About Face Theatre (Bonnie Metzgar, Artistic Director; Jason L. Held, Executive Director) is one of Chicago’s most acclaimed theatre companies, and is a national leader in the development of new work exploring gender and sexual identity.

Since its founding by Kyle Hall and Eric Rosen in 1995, the company has premiered more than 30 new plays by writers and directors who have been recognized with several Tony Awards, The Pulitzer Prize for Drama, The MacArthur Fellowship and dozens of Joseph Jefferson Awards.

About Face Theatre announces 2011-2012 season | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO (CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM) — Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s star-studded ensemble will join 600 members of Chicago’s corporate, civic and cultural communities for

Steppenwolf’s premier fundraising event offers guests the unique opportunity to connect with Steppenwolf artists while enjoying theatrical entertainment, cocktails, a gourmet dinner, music and dancing with Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band, the opportunity to bid on once-in-lifetime auction items—and much more!

Single tickets and tables for GALA 2011 are currently available by contacting Steppenwolf’s Special Events Department at (312) 654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.  Last year’s Gala raised over $1 million for Steppenwolf’s artistic and community programming.

GALA 2011 kicks off at Steppenwolf Theatre Company with a showcase of scenes from Steppenwolf’s production of The Hot L Baltimore directed by ensemble member Tina Landau, featuring ensemble members Alana Arenas, Kate Arrington, Jon Michael Hill, James Vincent Meredith, Yasen Peyankovand Molly Regan and the entire Hot L cast.

Following the performance, the party moves two blocks south to Blackhawk on Halsted, a 15,000 square-foot space featuring theatrically-inspired décor by Event Creative and a breathtaking view of Chicago’s skyline.

There, guests will enjoy a cocktail reception, a gourmet dinner prepared by Food for Thought Catering and the annual live auction (led by auctioneer Michael Davis of Hart Davis Hart Wine Co.) featuring once-in-a-lifetime adventures with Steppenwolf ensemble members and artists.  The evening wraps up with dancing and live music by Steppenwolf co-founder Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band and a late night DJ set.

Some of this year’s live auction prizes include:

• A private on-set visit for four to CBS’s hit TV series The Good Wife, including lunch with actor Josh Charles and Steppenwolf co-founder Terry Kinney at New York’s famed Bryant Park Grill.  Includes hotel stay and round-trip airfare.
• A private on-set visit for four to FOX’s hit comedy series Raising Hope, including lunch with Steppenwolf ensemble member Martha Plimpton and Steppenwolf actors Lucas Neff and Garret Dillahunt.  Includes hotel stay and round-trip airfare.
• Luxury seats for ten to a Chicago Cubs home game with Steppenwolf co-founder Gary Sinise, who will sing Take Me Out to the Ballgame during the 7^th inning stretch. A private jam session for eight with celebrity musicians Pat Sansone and John Stirrat of Wilco along with Steppenwolf ensemble members Alana Arenas and Jon Michael Hill at the Chicago Music Exchange.  Includes a gourmet dinner prepared by award-winning celebrity chef Rick Bayless.
• A unique evening for eight with the cast of Steppenwolf’s production of Penelope, including Steppenwolf ensemble members John Mahoney and Amy Morton.  Includes tickets to the performance, overnight stay in an Elysian Hotel suite and dinner at the hotel’s Ria Private Dining Room.

The GALA 2011 Co-Chairs include: Carole L. Brown, Kenneth J. Porrello, Michael R. Salem andStephanie B. Smith.

Event:              GALA 2011

Performance:   An exclusive showcase of scenes from The Hot L Baltimore, dancing and live music with Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band plus a late-night DJ set.

Details: Featuring a cocktail reception, dinner and live auction.

Date: Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 6:30 pm

Location: Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted St.

Blackhawk on Halsted, 1460 N. Halsted St.

Tickets: To purchase tickets, contact Steppenwolf’s Special Events Department at (312) 654-5632 or specialevents@steppenwolf.org.

Deloitte is the GALA 2011 Lead Sponsor, David Herro and Jay Franke are the Raise the Paddle for Steppenwolf for Young Adults Sponsors, Liz and Eric Lefkofsky are the Live Auction Sponsors, Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. is the Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band Sponsor, Structured Development is the Event Venue Sponsor, the Elysian Hotel is the Official Hotel Partner, Ogilvy is the Official Marketing Partner and United Airlines is the Official Airline Partner.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago, IL (Martha Lavey, Artistic Director; David Hawkanson, Executive Director) is one of the nation’s leading ensemble theatres, producing up to 16 productions each year in its three Chicago theater spaces – including programming dedicated to the development of new plays and theatre for young adults.

Steppenwolf’s productions have enjoyed success both nationally and internationally, including off-Broadway, Broadway, London, Sydney and Dublin.  Formed in 1976 by a collective of actors, Steppenwolf has grown into an ensemble of 43 actors, writers and directors.

For additional information, visit www.steppenwolf.org, www.facebook.com/SteppenwolfTheatre andwww.twitter.com/SteppenwolfThtr.

Connect with Gary Sinese and other artists at Steppenwolf’s GALA 2011 fundraising event | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.