Performing Arts Search
80 Foots per Minute
Thu., May 23, 7:30 p.m.Theater & Performance
A little literary playfulness goes a long way for vocalist-musicians Emmy Bean, T-Roy Martin, and Chris Schoen, who, in their rapid-fire program of folksy musical arrangements, take on roles ranging from the pathetic oysters in Lewis Carroll's "The Walrus and the Carpenter" to Carl Sandburg reading his poem "Loam." Some songs indulge kitsch—like one that sets to music a Thomas Campion poem in which a single word ("love") has been replaced each time it appears by another ("Batman"). And though I'm generally inclined to dismiss offhand anything based on writings of the great poet Craigslist, "Past Saturday Night, Northerly Island," which adapts a missed connection into rondo form, struck me as weirdly hypnotic and catchy. The afternoon's shining ditty was "Riled Geese," inspired by Mary Oliver's poem of the same name, in which Bean does an absolutely bewitching scat-singing impression of a goose (a style susceptible to the very amusing coinage "goose scat"). —Jena Cutie
Just Another Love Story: The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet
Through 5/25: Fri-Sat 8 PMTheater & Performance
An LGBTQ reimagining of Shakespeare's classic romance. $20
The Revelettes 60s Go Go Spectacular
Through 5/25: Sat 10:30 PMTheater & Performance
This 60s pop-rock revue began with a casual ten-minute game of bingo that nobody managed to win, not that anyone seemed to care—prizes were given out to any go-go-getter who would claim them. Then emcee Andy Somma announced what appeared to be the premise of the evening's performance: "If you think about it, the next few years are just going to be the 50th anniversary of what happened in the 60s." The Revelettes took the stage in white pleather boots, first for a dance tribute to the late Annette Funicello, then to perform kitschy cult classics like "Do the Trog" and "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes." The Reveltones covered some retro chart toppers as well, proving their groovy panache with renditions of "Goldfinger" and "Song of a Preacher Man." Nothing special, all in all, but at least I went home with a consolation prize. —Hannah Gold $15
I Shit You Not
5/30: 7:30 PMTheater & Performance
Comedy show telling stories of various bodily mis-functions and other tales of comedic disgust. $5
Chicken Little
Through 5/31: Mon-Fri 10:30 AMTheater & Performance
A children's tale about a young chicken who believes the sky is falling and gathers his friends to tell the king. Showtimes vary. See website for full schedule. $12
Incident on Run #1217
Through 6/1: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PMTheater & Performance
Joseph Lark-Riley's life-size re-creation of a subway car dominates the tiny Factory Theater space, pushing the audience into two cramped rows around the edges. It also sets a perfect mood for Manny Tamayo's claustrophobic drama about a group of passengers trapped on a stopped train and terrorized by a pair of sadistic hoods. To tell the truth, though, Tamayo's storytelling is so finely wrought we would have been drawn into it even if the play had been performed, Second City style, on an empty stage with cane chairs. Matt Engle's casting and direction are pitch-perfect, and his ensemble ably brings Tamayo's characters to life; Mandy Walsh is particularly fine as a fed-up wife with a spineless husband. —Jack Helbig $20
GrimmFest
Through 6/1: Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 and 8 PMTheater & Performance
The first annual GrimmFest features eight original pieces inspired by classic stories from the Brothers Grimm. $10-15
Vaudeville Roars!
Through 6/12: Wed 7:30 PMTheater & Performance
Nobody roared convincingly when I saw this variety show—a once-a-month collaboration between Striding Lion Performance Group and Voice of the City. But the cheesy MC did boom as he guided us through nine acts offered in five different seating configurations. We learned quickly that when he said, "But wait!" at the end of each performance, the obligatory and absolutely true response was, "There's more!" Expect the good, the bad, and the ugly here. The February edition included a stunning rendition of Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills," Plucky Rosenthal's ukulele-fueled stand-up, and a sad clown playing Elvis songs squeakily on her violin. The setting is reason enough to risk a few theatrical misfires, though. Hairpin Arts Center's expansive second-floor loft space allows for ever-shifting performances and offers what Rosenthal called "a great view of the city: Foot Locker and Gap." —Hannah Gold $5-$10
2800 N. Milwaukee Ave., second floor
Logan Square Info@hairpinartscenter.org
Congrats On Your Success
First Thursday of every monthStand-Up
Rebecca O'Neil hosts this BYOB comedy show that features local stand-ups and is, curiously enough, operated out of a used book store.
I Shit You Not!
Last Thursday of every month, 8 p.m.Spoken Word/Poetry Slams/Open Mikes
Local comedians and monologists share personal stories of inadvertent defecation. Michael Sanchez and Monte LeMonte host. $5
The Wild Party Variety Hour
Open run: every last Saturday of the month, 11 PM
312-533-8023Theater & Performance
Burlesque, vaudeville, shtick, and other types of performance, hosted by Silent Theatre. $10
