For WGN Radio – My summer picks…

For Kids and Families:

• Lyle, Lyle, the Crocodile, Lifeline Theatre
  • June 13th -July 13th; Friday-Sunday at 1pm
  • Tickets: $10
• Cirque Shanghai: Gold ; Navy Pier outdoor theater
  • Runs all summer through Sept. 1st
  • Performed at outdoor theater at Navy Pier (just east of Ferris Wheel), so take in the show, then experience the huge fireworks display every Wednesday and Saturday evening.
  • Tickets: $12.50-$30
• Willy Wonka, Chicago Shakespeare at Navy Pier
  • July 8th – August 17th
  • Tickets: $18-$23
• Blue Man Group, Briar Street Theatre
  • Super-fun for kids of all ages
  • Tickets: $49-$59 (box office: 773-348-4000)

For Teens (and the young-at-heart):

• Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, Neo-Futurists
  • Experience Chicago’s longest running play – 20 years and counting!
  • Days/Times: Friday-Saturday, 11pm, Sunday 7pm
  • Price: $6 plus the roll of a dice (so $7-$12 – is that cool or what?!?)
• That’s Weird Grandma, Barrel of Monkeys
  • Monday nights, 8pm
  • Adults: $9 // Kids: $4

Broadway In Chicago (the big downtown shows):

• Wicked, Ford Center for the Performing Arts (Oriental Theatre)
  • After 4 super-successful years,Wicked, has announced that it will officially close in January 2009.  So catch it while you can!
  • Ticket Price: $30-$95 (Box Office: 312-902-1400)
• Jersey Boys, Bank of America Theatre (formerly Schubert Theatre)
  • Open run
  • Ticket Price: $30-$95 (Box Office: 312-902-1400)
• Shout!, Drury Lane Watertower
  • Through July 20th  
  • Tickets: $45-$55 (Box Office: 312-902-1400)

For Date Night:

• Jacques Brel’s “Lonesome Losers of the Night”, Theo Ubique Theatre
  • runs through July 20th
  • Tickets: $10-$20 (Box Office: 773-743-3355)

My two-pennies worth:

You haven’t experienced Chicago until you’ve ventured north to The Heartland Cafe in East Rogers Park.  First opened in the 1970’s, this earthy restaurant and bar jettisons you back to the late 1960’s and early 70’s (in a granola and incense kind-of-way).  The musical review, Lonesome Losers of the Night, is performed in an intimate coffee house down the street from Heartland, so first grab a bite to eat at Heartland, walk down the block to the performance, then mosey back down to The Heartland for drinks and nightly live music.

 

Comedy

• Campaign Super Nova: or How Many Democrats Does It Take To Lose An Election?
  • Second City’s newest review
  • Open run, tickets: $19-$25 (Box Office: 312-337-3992)
• Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Steppenwolf Theatre
  • runs through July 27
  • Tickets: $20-$68 (Box Office: 312-335-1650)
• Co-Ed Prison Sluts, Annoyance Theatre
  • Annoyance Theatre brings back their raunchy long-running hit of the 80’s and 90’s.
  • Runs July 4th – August 29th
  • Tickets: $15 (Box Office: 773-561-4665)
• Comedy Sportz – Comedy Sportz Theatre, Belmont and Clark
  • audience-interactive comedy competition between two teams of improv comedians, who perform a series of scenes and songs, all based on suggestions from the audience
  • Open run, now in their 21st year
  • Ticket prices vary, (Box Office: 773-549-8080)

Drama

• A Steady Rain, Royal George Theatre
  • extended through Oct 5 (then on to Broadway?)
  • Tickets: $50 (box office: 312-988-9000)
• Taste of Honey, Shattered Globe Theatre Ensemble
  • runs through July 5th
  • Tickets: $15-$35, (box office: 773-871-3000)
• Hizzoner, Prop Thtr (performed at Beverly Arts Center)
  • Running for over 2-years, this play eerily depicts the infamous Mayor Richard J. Daley and inner-workings of “The Machine”
  • runs through July 29th
  • tickets: $40

Musicals:

• Fiorello, Timeline Theatre 
  • runs through July 20th
  • Tickets: $15-$30 (Box Office: 773-281-8463)
• Ain’t Misbehavin’, Goodman Theatre
  • running June 21st – July 27th
  • Tickets: not yet announced (Box Office: 312-443-3800)
• Jekyll & Hyde, Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
  • through July 20th
  • Tickets: $20-$27 (Box Office: 773-327-5252)
• Hunchback of Notre Dame, Bailiwick Repertory
  • composed by Dennis DeYoung of the band “Styx
  • runs through July 6t
  • Tickets: $25-$45 (Box Office: 773-883-1090)
• Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Drury Lane Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace
  • runs through July 27th
  • tickets: $28-$33