Hot Times at Old Town

Appearing below are selections from the hard copy Hot Times. The objective is to highlight activities at the School and in the larger community, especially those featuring or of special interest to teachers and staff. Your suggestions are welcome. Enter a comment (under any item); it will come to me rather than automatically appearing.

Holiday Stuff to Enjoy

Snow Queen at the Biograph! Great for Families

This is a must see. Written by Michael Smith, our long-time friend and colleague, the cast includes three teachers from the school: Cathy Norden, Bob Goins, and Barb Barrow. One of the biggest hits in Victory Gardens history, this year’s production features a magical new scenic design and the same haunting and hilarious music that has charmed young and old alike. The Snow Queen takes her audience on a wild ride into the realm of myth and dream, where a talking reindeer, wooden soldiers, an enchantress, the mysterious Snow Queen holds talking animals, wooden soldiers, witches, and lost children under her spell. This is an adaptation of a Hans Christian Anderson classic, adapted by Tony Award-winning director Frank Galati and acclaimed composer Michael Smith, with design and puppets by Blair Thomas (a founder of Redmoon Theater).

Seeing Snow Queen will be a treat for the family during the holidays: romantic, melodic, and moving. The show is playing through January 6 at the Biograph theatre, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue. tickets@victorygardens.org or 773.871.3000

The Not-Your-Grandma’s Nutcracker

See our very own fiddle teacher, Maria McCullough in The Nutcracker! She’s the doll Phoebe in The House’s re-imagined version of The Nutcracker. But this isn’t the ballet you remember. Instead, this production is a fresh approach to on the traditional story, weaving together riveting dialogue, puppetry, music, spellbinding spectacle, and an eight piece string orchestra. Together, they tell a darkly moving story of magic and mystery that you never knew existed. From the creative team behind the recent Chicago hits The Sparrow and The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz, This new Nutcracker is a surprising take on a Christmas classic that’s perfect for adults and kids. Wednesdays-Fridays in the The Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Tickets are $29 ($20 students). www.steppenwolf.org or 312.335.1650.

The Not-Your-Grandpa’s New Years Eve

How’s this for an idea? Celebrate the eve with your friends at the Old Town School of Folk Music? We’ll have the Punch Brothers, recently signed by Nonesuch Records. Note that their banjo player, Noam Pikelny, was a student here.

To make an evening of it, think too of having dinner on Lincoln Avenue – the Fiddlehead at 4600 Lincoln has planned two special “tasting” menus, one of which is vegetarian. (See other page). They believe in buying locally; we do too.

Chicago Printmakers Cooperative – 18th Annual Small Print Show

Speaking of buying locally, just a couple blocks away, at 4642 N. Western Avenue, is the Chicago Printmakers Cooperative. Their show highlights a variety of print media, including etching, lithography, woodcut and monotype. Traditional as well as experimental approaches to printmaking are featured by approximately 40 artists. Most featured artwork is under $100; we guarantee that you’ll find wonderful stuff. Note: The coop’s director of Deborah Maris Lader, a member of Sons of the Never Wrong (and one of the School’s very own). Hours: Tues. through Sat., 12-5 pm through December 22nd. 293-2070.

Hear WBEZ’s hour-long Old Town School Anniversary show

WBEZ has produced a program of gtreat stuff including interviews, music, field recordings. Go to their website and check out the program section. Thanks WBEZ!

Unique Gift Idea

Convert your friend/partner/spouse’s favorite audio tape(s) to CD format. An easy choice for this job is Joe Tessone, a friend of the Old Town School, who runs the Mystery Street Recording Company at 2827 N. Lincoln. He charges $20 an hour. You can contact him at joe@mysterystreetrecording.com.

Filed under: Interesting outside the Old Town School, Uncategorized by Skip | December 8, 2007 | Comments (0)


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