Rockettes' Radio City Christmas Spectacular Review

THE ROCKETTES TAKE CHICAGO ON AN UNPARALLELED
CHRISTMAS JOURNEY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FEATURING
NEW SCENES, DAZZLING COSTUMES AND A 50-FOOT LED SCREEN COUPLED WITH SHOW STOPPING ROCKETTES PERFORMANCES

I'm not sure I can find the words to accurately discribe the beauty and enchantment I experienced last Friday night while watching the Rockettes at Akoo Theater with my boys.  It was truly breath taking and magical.  Between the costumes and the kicks there was also holiday joy and amazing stage design.  

Did I mention, I took my boys who are currently 10, 9 and almost 5.  I have to admit I was a little nervous about how much they'd enjoy the show.  Honestly, at 10 the oldest isn't yet into appreciating the beauty that is a Rockette.  But thankfully there was Santa and Christmas magic and awesome scenery so they all loved it.  Admittedly, probably not as much as this momma did but they enjoyed it nonetheless.  It made for a fabulous date night with just me and my little men and was a great way to get into the Christmas spirit.

And there's still plenty of time to get tickets and see the show that runs until December 30th.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

Ticket Information
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, presented by Chase, plays at the Akoo Theatre at Rosemont during the 2012 holiday season for 34 dazzling performances, December 14-30, 2012. A limited number of Premium seats are available for $79.00 - $89.00 and single ticket prices range from $30.00 - $75.50. Tickets for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular are on sale to the public at the Akoo Theatre at Rosemont box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. Groups of 10 or more may reserve tickets now by contacting Group Theater Tix at 312-423-6612.

Disclosure: I have been provided with complimentary tickets in order to facilitate a show review. 

Sesame Street LIVE: Elmos Super Heros

Elmo and my little Elmo Fan. 

That little cutie pie over there...the one that ISN'T furry, he can be a real maniac, but for the most part is a very patient little man who regularly spends hours each week sitting somewhere while his brothers do their thing.  So I was exstatic when I won tickets to see Sesame Street LIVE Elmo's Super Heros.  I knew he'd enjoy the show.  But I didn't expect him to be so totally engrossed in it, to be thanking my multiple times a day for taking him, even days after the show.

I think it was partly do to knowing it was something special, for him, that he brothers had to sit through.  (Though truth be told they didn't hate it at all. But sshh don't tell their friends that.) But mostly I think it was because it was just a really fun show. We have been our fair share of productions over the last few years and as far as those targeted specifically for preschoolers, this was the highest quality I've seen.  The set was amazing, the sound was perfect.  The show as just terrific.

It didn't hurt that the helped create a fabulous atmosphere from the moment you enter the door with fun scenes to take photos in, to a coloring table and a small show area where the cast performed a few songs before the auditorium doors opened.

He kept mentioning a scary purple monster.  It wasn't until after I saw this shot that it occurred to me that THIS was what he was talking about.  He is NOT a fan of the Count's laugh...even when his dad does it! LOL

The stage before the show started.

Elmo is by fan Bryan's favorite but he loved bumbling Super Grover too, and Grover is MY personal favorite Sesame Street resident.

There were so many different scenes.  The staging was awesome.  The story was engaging for my four year old.  But it also had a tiny little one (maybe a year old if that) in the row in front of us dancing on her mom's lap like crazy!

I won these tickets but was not required in anyway to share with my readers about the show. I just genuinely thought it was a great show that made for some fun photos to share. If you want to find out more about a Sesame Street Live production near you visit the site here.

Blue Man Group: Chicago

Ten years ago, my then boyfriend (now husband) and I went to see Blue Man Group.  It was one of the best times I can remember having when we were dating.  It was a lot of fun and gave us so much to talk about for days if not weeks after. We still regularly recommend seeing them whenever the topic comes up.  And for awhile now we had talked about going back.  We had seen that the show had been updated (though I think we'd have gone back even if it was the EXACT same show) and it was one of those...'one of these days we need to go' things.  That was until last week.  We were invited to a media night and it just happened to be the night after our 8 year wedding anniversary.  The timing was perfect.  So I found a sitter and off we went. 

Because we weren't sure what the traffic would be like and we had been invited to a preshow party, we left extra early.  We arrived to a near empty parking lot right next to the Briar Street Theater.  With the help of an employee who had popped out a side door we learned that we needed to go inside and pay for parking.  So we did and then we set off to kill almost an hour.  We stopped in a place to go potty and I spotted the most delicious looking desserts. We hadn't eaten dinner yet but this was date night so we had dessert first.

What do you think? Could you have resisted? That's chocolate chip cheesecake and eclair cake.  Both were amazing and we shared.  Awww, aren't we cute! (Ok not really I MAY have threatened to stab him with a fork at one point.  But it's ok, it was just a plastic fork.)

Then we headed off to our preshow party at Wilde.

It is a beautiful place and just a few block walk from the theater.  If you are looking for a place to dine before the show.  (There are actually a TON of places to eat within walking distance!)

After enjoying conversation and some yummy wings, we headed back to the Briar Street Theater for the show.

I really think if we painted him blue he could sneak into the show!!

The lobby is not to be missed.  As you can see it has a very industrial feel. It is filled with tubes that you an listen to things through.  I think it is one of my husbands favorite parts as he loves to touch and play with stuff everywhere we go and HERE it is actually encouraged.

Once we entered the theater we weren't able to take photos....

So you will just have to trust me when I say that it is a full on sensory assault, in the best way possible.  If you've never been, Blue Man Group is sort of music meets comedy meets art.  It's like the best circus act ever in the middle of an amazing rock concert!  

And the updated show rang especially true for me as a social media lover because the new show really speaks to the technology age.

The Blue Men interact with three GiPads and poke a little fun at our multitasking, over-sharing society.  At times there is a magic show feel to the act when you are left wondering 'how'd they do that?'

Overall the show is something that can not truly be put into words.  You have to see it to fully understand it.  Along with the paint spraying drumming most people think of when it comes to Blue Man Group, there is so much more.  It's a great show for all ages, as long as they can handle loud music because it does get rockin' in there. 

After the show I managed to catch a quick photo with one of the Blue Men!!

And if you want to make a full day downtown, use the promo code below when you order and get a ticket to Skydeck Chicago with your Blue Man Group ticket!  You all know how much I love Skydeck Chicago!!!

Sweeney Todd August 11 - October 9, 2011 at Drury Lane

Sweeney Todd    August 11 - October 9, 2011 Directed By: Rachel Rockwell
Choreographed By: Rachel Rockwell

Stephen Sondheim’s haunting musical thriller has been hailed "the greatest musical of the past half-century” by the Wall Street Journal. Sophisticated and uncompromising, “Sweeney Todd” has a great sense of fun, mixing intense drama with howlingly funny moments of dark humor. You will find yourself laughing hysterically one moment and gasping in surprise the next.

Ok, seriously this show is so totally different than anything I've seen before.  I knew nothing really of the story when I entered the theater (which is beautiful by the way and doesn't contain a single bad seat).  It quickly became obvious that this show has a bit of a cult following so I may have been one of very few who were not really sure what we were in for.  I knew only that it was a "dark" show and to be honest, I gave some thought to my attendance before excepting the invite.  But I figured you never know until you try, right?  Well, I am so glad I did.  I was a great show!  It was dark, so if you're looking for happily ever after, this is NOT the show for you.  There is no happy ending, for ANYONE in this musical.  But if you enjoy suspense and dark humor, you should check it out.

I was a little worried about the gore factor in the production because I watch medical dramas through my squinted eyes, asking my husband if it's "done yet" when there are bloody scenes.  I was thankful that there was no blood involved in this show at all but rather suspense and "implied" blood.  The music and the well timed acting left you gasping at scenes even when you logically knew what was about to happen.  

I thoroughly enjoyed the show (and the company, fellow blogger Megryansmom).  

And while it should probably go without saying, I'll say it just to be sure, this show is NOT family friendly.  It is not for kids, of any age.  This play includes references to rape, incest, murder and other mature topics.

The performance schedule for SWEENEY TODD is as follows:  Wednesdays at 1:30 p.m. ($35), Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. ($35) and 8 p.m. ($40), Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ($45), Saturdays at 5 p.m. ($45) and 8:30 p.m. ($46) and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. ($45) and 6 p.m. ($40).  Lunch and dinner theater packages range from $49.75 to $68 depending on the day of the week.  Student tickets start as low as $20 and Senior Citizen tickets start as low as $29 for matinees and $43.75 for a matinee luncheon package.  

For reservations, call the Drury Lane Theatre box office at 630.530.0111, call TicketMaster at 800.745.3000, or visit www.drurylaneoakbrook.com.

Disclosure: I was provided with complimentary tickets courtesy of Drury Lane for review purposes.  I was not compensated for a positive review.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast presented by NETworks, Broadway In Chicago

The romantic Broadway musical for all generations, NETworks presentation of DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, the smash hit Broadway musical, returns to Chicago! Based on the Academy Award- winning animated feature film, this eye-popping spectacle has won the hearts of over 35 million people worldwide. Hailed by the Chicago SunTimes as “warm and winning performances, a tuneful score, and real heart,” the classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers including “Be Our Guest” and the beloved title song. Experience the romance and enchantment of DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE
BEAST!

Ticket prices are $18 to $85.

GROUPS OF 15 OR MORE ON SALE NOW!
CALL (312) 977-1710N

Last week I got a sitter and headed downtown with my husband to see Beauty and the Beast at The Oriental Theater.  First of all I love The Oriental Theater, it's a very cool venue that just has a TON of personality.  The half hour we spent inside before the show seemed to fly by as I too in the detail of the auditorium.  There is beauty hidden in ever nook and cranny.

And then there was the show.  I'm not sure you can go wrong with Beauty and the Beast because it's a great story with wonderful music.  But THIS was great show.  I have seen Beauty and the Beast done by a few different groups (what can I say, I LOVE this story) but this show still has some tricks up its sleeve that surprised me.  I won't ruin anything for anyone, but lets just say it's breathtaking and there are some things I'm STILL not sure how they did!  I seriously loved the whole show but my favorite part is the Tavern scene.  The choreography is just unbelievable!

See it before it leaves Chicago August 7th!

Disclosure: I was given complimentary tickets to see this show, however all opinions expressed are my own honest, personal feedback and I have not been compensated for a positive review.

Disney Live! presents Mickey’s Magic Show! review

This is NOT the reaction I expected from my not quite 3 year old upon entering the theater to watch Disney Live! Mickey's Magic Show!  Yet, it is exactly what I got.  He's a pretty seasoned production attender so I don't think he was overwhelmed by any of the sites or sounds, as there really were very little when this meltdown began.  So I'm let to chalk it up to, being over tired or simply unexplainable toddler days.  But thankfully, the theater staff was so kind and helpful as I darted out of our aisle with a screaming child just as the show began.  I hung back in the very last section hoping he'd quickly regain his composure.  And while he calmed down some he continued to beg to be take out of the auditorium.  So we existed the theater.  Outside there were more sweet staff members who pointed me to a monitor so that we could at least still watch the show.  We toddled on over and I barely sat down before Mickey was on stage. I explained to Bryan that what we were seeing was what was going on ON STAGE right then and we were "missing it!"  His face brighten, he turned and he began to run back to the doors, telling me to 'mon, mom!  We watched the show without issue from there thankfully.  He did get disappointed anytime all the main Mickey characters (Mickey, Miniie, Goofy and Donald) left the stage but he stayed content.  

We attended the show with a good friend of mine and her daughter, who is in sixth grade.  We all enjoyed the show.  It was a great combination of Disney characters, music and MAGIC.  There were a few tricks that weren't all too hard to figure out...but there was also quite a bit of high quality, head scratchin' magic too.  I personally love magic, and Bryan likes the up close simple magic tricks he's been exposed to but I think most of the magic in this show, went completely over his head (because he's too distracted to realize what's happened).  He enjoyed some of the sillier stuff but I don't think he caught most of the true tricks.  I'd say this show is better for the slightly older child, or the young at heart of course.   but it was still a wonderful time for all of us!!

By intermission, THIS is how Bryan was feeling! 

THANK GOODNESS FOR A LITTLE DISNEY MAGIC!