After seeing the circus a couple of weeks ago, I’m seeing another live show this weekend. Oliv A Drift, a one woman clown show written and performed by Cristi Garbo and directed by Jango Edwards. (Two shows in a month’s time! It almost seems normal!) I’ve featured Jango on the blog before (although looking back, not in some time.) He’s […]
Read more
The Nutcracker in Wonderland is a crazy holiday show I’m participating in this year. It’s a virtual show with live elements that is being produced and brainchilded by Bay Area variety wunderkind Frank Olivier. It opens this Saturday evening, and has tickets available here: https://tinyurl.com/nutcrackerinwonderland The show is a mashup of The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, circus, magic, and variety. […]
Read more
It’s Funny Friday this week! Two great performers (and alumni of Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Clown College) will be performing this Friday night via Zoom together. This is a don’t miss comedy show! Frank Olivier (http://www.funnyfrank.com) is a San Francisco based juggling phenom. He has been performing for over 30 years on the street and at corporate events doing […]
Read more
Vaudeville has made a number of attempts at revival over the years. Now it is virtual vaudeville’s turn! In 2002, I was part of the short-lived vaudeville revival that took over Times Square. [See this article from the NY Times that features my show extensively: Old Time Vaudeville Looks Young Again What with the social distancing, #coronamadness, and lots of […]
Read more
February isn’t actually Commedia Month (although it does contain international Commedia Day). But in Chicago, Laughing Stock Theatre is doing its darnedest to celebrate Commedia month anyway. They are bringing Antonio Fava, a world-renowned performer, teacher, director and maskmaker from Italy, to Chicago during the month of February. He’ll be conducting a 2 day master class 2/15-2/16 at Links Hall […]
Read more
Angela Delfini Explains It All For You. Oct 4-7, 2018 in Chicago. Directly from the New York Clown Festival, Italian clown Angelina Delfini is taking her show (along with her director John Towsen) on the road to Chicago for a one week set of workshops and performances at the PROP Theatre. The show features Delfini as both a psychiatrist and […]
Read more
The Hinterlands, a Detroit based performance troupe, has a great performance here in Chicago that ends this weekend. I highly recommend seeing it. (Currently, all seats are sold out, but there are floor cushion seats available for three shows, and the Saturday show has reached its capacity. You should get tickets now! BUY NOW) The show, titled The […]
Read more
Chicago Puppet Cabaret Nasty Brutish and Short is performing at Links Hall on Monday December 11 at 7:30 pm. This show features some of the best puppeteers in the area putting on new work, experimental work, and samples of their work. Nasty Brutish & Short is an evening of contemporary short-form puppet and object based theater for adult audiences. The […]
Read more
Montreal circus company Cavalia has a new show that opened recently in Chicago (playing through April 23, 2017 at Soldier Field). The show is called Odysseo and bills itself as “The Best Show Ever.” That’s a lot to live up to.  It’s a beautiful, sumptuous show that has amazingly talented acrobats, equestrians, and some of the most talented and trained horses […]
Read more
There’s going to be a clown event  called Laughs for the Left Behind – A Tribute to Patrick Cashin. next Saturday April 8 at 7 pm at the Seashore Day Camp and School 404 Broadway Long Branch, NJ 07740 As you might know, Pat Cashin was a well-loved and respected circus clown and performer who unexpectedly died last year– you […]
Read more
Whoever said that Circus was on its way out hasn’t been to Chicago. Right now– there are a plethora of circus shows coming up in the next few weeks (and some are ending in the next few weeks, or even next few days. Â So don’t miss them!) Â And I’m sure I’ve missed a few as well. CIRCUS SHOWS IN CHICAGO […]
Read more
I had the chance to see a great production recently at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. The show is called The Complete Deaths by Spymonkey, a British troupe of clowns/physical comedians. Â If you’ve been to Las Vegas, you may have seen their work, as they created all of the comedy numbers in the Cirque du Soleil show Zumanity. Â They are known […]
Read more
We saw the opening night of Cirque du Soleil last night.  As I wrote in my preview article, the show is not a tent show, it’s an arena show, full of puppets, projections, and acrobatics, based on the movie Avatar by James Cameron.  Here’s the plot summary I wrote in my previous article: When a natural catastrophe threatens to destroy […]
Read more
The new Cirque du Soleil touring show TORUK – The First Flight will be at the United Center in Chicago August 3-7, 2016. And you can win a 4 pack of tickets to Opening night on August 3! Scroll down to see how! Inspired by James Cameron’s record-breaking movie AVATAR, TORUK – The First Flight transports the audience to a far away […]
Read more
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PLEASE LIST, POST, AND DISSEMINATE KILL DATE AUGUST 12, 2016 Tiny Performers To Entertain in Chicago Parks The Acme Miniature Flea Circus featuring Midge and Madge, Trained Fleas, will perform in four Chicago Parks this summer. All performances are free in association with the Night Out in the Parks Program. Chicago IL July 12, 2016 This summer, […]
Read more
Returning to the New Vic May 6 – 15 In a stunning display of enchanting artistry, Carlo Colla & Sons Marionette Company (Sleeping Beauty, New Vic 2013) will tell  the story of The Pied Piper of Hamelin. It is a cautionary tale of a town overrun by greed, corruption and rats.  The show will make its  U.S. Premiere from May 6 […]
Read more