The Nutcracker Nightmare at Strangeloop Theatre
Strangeloop Theatre presents
The Nutracker Nightmare
A tale of Christmas joy & horror
“The stockings are hung by the chimney with care, but oh, little children, the toys beware. The Doll Queen is coming with her icy stare, into your dreams creeps the Nutcracker Nightmare.”
In a world where dolls come to life and little children dream of sugar plum fairies, a new evil has emerged from the toy box. It’s up to one young girl, a rag doll, a toy soldier and a ballerina mouse to prevent the total destruction of Christmas. Where’s the Nutcracker when you need him?
Strangeloop’s holiday production provides a sequel to E.T.A. Hoffmann’s classic holiday tale, but this time Marie and the toys face an enemy far worse than mice that threaten to chew up dresses and eat sugar toys — and all without her precious Nutcracker to save them.
The cast includes: Lauren Bourke, Carrie Campana, Elana Elyce, Letitia Guillaud, Jaclyn Jensen, Tim Lee, Allison McCorkle, Carolyn Minor, Mark Edward Penzien, Holly Robison, Andrew Todaro and Chad Wise.
Written and directed by Strangeloop company member Maria Burnham, Nutcracker Nightmare runs two nights only: Sunday, December 15, and Monday, December 16, at 8 p.m. at Mary’s Attic, 5400 N Clark St. in Chicago, (above Hamburger Mary’s). Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or in advance at Brown Paper Tickets: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/511457.
Deathscribe 2013 – The 6th Annual International Festival of Horror Radio Plays
WildClaw Theatre
Presents
Deathscribe 2013:
The Sixth Annual International Festival of Radio Horror Plays
Chicago, IL – WildClaw Theatre Company proudly presents DEATHSCRIBE 2013, the Sixth Annual International Festival of Radio Horror Plays, on Monday December 2rd, at 8:00pm. This collection of spine-tingling audio nightmares will be presented at the historic Mayne Stage Theatre, 1328 W. Morse Ave, Chicago. Admission is $30 ($23 for students w/ identification).
Continuing our pursuit of intelligent, imaginative horror storytelling, we solicited and received over 100 original works from both theatre and horror aficionados around the world. The final five will be performed by some of Chicago’s finest actors, accompanied by Seeking Wonderland and a team of sound effects artists. The winner of the “Bloody Axe” will be chosen by a panel of horror and theatre experts. DEATHSCRIBE 2013 will present the following five original horror radio plays:
- “Strange Weather”, written by Travis Williams, directed by Jan Blixt (Michigan Shakespeare Festival).
- “We Apologize For The Inconvenience”, written by Chelsea Paice, directed by Kevin Theis (Seanachai Theatre, Deathscribe 2012).
- “The Monroe County Pumpkin Queen”, written by Joseph Zettelmaier, directed by Laura Hooper (Black Box Acting).
- “Record/Record”, written by Mark Harrison, directed by Jeffrey Gardner (Our Fair City)
- “Cheap Plastic Mask”, written by Jake Carr, directed by Noah Simon
This guarantees to be a unique and thrilling night of horrifically alternative holiday entertainment. For more info please visit us at www.wildclawtheatre.com. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.maynestage.com/Wildclaw-Deathscribe.aspx or by phone at the Mayne Stage box office, (773)381-4554.
Halloween at Gorilla Tango Theatre
Chicago, IL (October 31, 2013): Looking for Last Minute Halloween Fun? Gorilla Tango Theatre has THREE Halloween-inspired performances to tickle your funny bone!
In the mood for a spooky evening of one-acts? STROKES BEFORE THE COMING OF MIDNIGHT/DEAD. DRUNK. GIRLS. follows two separate tales. Time is running out for someone, as several disturbing characters gather together for a strange New Year’s Eve party in “Strokes Before the Coming of Midnight,” and “Dead. Drunk. Girls” explores the horror genres’ best stereotype: the tragically drunk girl. Follow a bartender as she navigates through stories of grind house suspense – one by one – witnessing the downfall of the innocent and reckless.
October 31st at 7:30pm ($18)
Soft, eerie moans. The relentless approach of shuffling footsteps. And glitter. So. Much. Glitter. In BOOBS OF THE DEAD: A WALKING DEAD BURLESQUE, the Sheriff awakes to find that a virus has taken over the world and has transformed the majority of Chicago into undead zombie burlesque dancers. The apocalypse has never been hotter.
October 31st at 9pm ($28-$35)
And last but not least, maybe zombies are exactly your thing, but boobs are? Well come howl at the Geek Girls as Gorilla Tango Burlesque presents SPOOKY BOOBS! A HALLOWEEN NIGHT CABARET! Witches, werewolves, and singing mermaids come together for a one night only Halloween cabaret hosted by Bonnie Cupcakes and Mo Less. Don’t miss some of GTB’s hottest ladies as they show you how sexy being scary can be!
October 31st at 10:30pm ($28-$35)
Come along with Gorilla Tango Theatre for the full treatment of frights and laughs and everything in between!
Gorilla Tango Theatre, (773) 598-4549, www.gorillatango.com, info@gorillatango.com
Etude: The Vampire Musical – Playing at the Des Plaines Theatre Through Nov. 3
150 years ago in the secluded mountains of France there lived a legendary and reclusive pianist and composer, a talent so prodigious that leading musicians, poets and philosophers traveled far and wide to study with this master. His name was Alkan. Everything about his existence is shrouded in mystery, including his “accidental” death in 1888. For you see he did not die…he survives to this very day as a vampire.
Our tale begins in Paris in the mid-19th century. Alkan suffers from a fatal disease that is consuming his body. The beautiful Regine, a vampire, appears, tells him she loves him and that she can save him. He accepts her dark gift and she makes him a vampire like herself. Alkan becomes the artist that he was meant to be, and his fame spreads far and wide.
Time passes and their notoriety grows. Other vampires, including the young and vivacious Colette, seek them out, and Alkan and Regine become the rulers of an ever growing kingdom of the undead. Composers pilgrimage to their hermitage in the French Alps, offering their blood in exchange for knowledge and power. Unknowingly, their careless nocturnal activities have attracted the attention the vampire hunters, a band of holy crusaders split into two rival factions led by Duvall and Jonas Schecter. Regine and Alkan swear eternal love to each other saying “Even death cannot keep us apart.” In a series of battles, Regine is killed. Alkan suffers in despair for the next 100 years awaiting his beloved’s return.
Alkan and Colette flee to America, ever pursued by the undaunted vampire hunters. In the 1980s Alkan and Colette become rock stars. By chance, Alkan is introduced to Ian Hunter and Claire, struggling musicians. Claire is the spitting image of Regine. Summarily dismissed, Hunter is approached by the eccentric Jonas Schechter, mysteriously still alive. He indicates that Claire is in grave danger.
Hunter is shocked to learn that Alkan, the focus of Claire’s affection, is one of the most powerful vampires of all time, and he reluctantly allies himself with Schecter. Alkan and Claire fall in love, and Claire reveals that she is dying of AIDS. Alkan “saves” her as he was saved. Jonas Schecter’s plot comes to fruition resulting in an epic battle…
…and they died happily ever after.
Find a Haunted House Near You This Weekend!
Looking for something fun & spooky to do this weekend? Head over to http://www.hauntedhousechicago.com and find the haunted house or Halloween attraction near you, and get your spook on!
