Francesca’s Bryn Mawr is partnering up with Fable Festival

Francesca’s Bryn Mawr (1039 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60640; 773-506-9261)

 A newly established, community-based Fable Festival is taking place May 16 – May 20 in non-traditional spaces throughout Chicago’s Edgewater and Andersonville neighborhoods. The performance festival answers calls to action happening in town hall meetings across Chicago for more focus on neighborhood arts events in the City’s upcoming Cultural Plan.

Performances will take place in empty storefronts, public schools, cafes, restaurants, the Lakefront and bars in an effort to showcase the community and collaborate with businesses to bring more patrons to the Edgewater and Andersonville neighborhoods. This unique event invites over 20 established theater-makers and performance companies to present a weekend of new, short works based on international fairy tales and fables – often accompanied by music, puppets,  food and drink.

Thursday, May 17, 8pm - Hearts and Brains present The Story Story By Lacy Campbell.

Two puppets and two projectors telling three stories, each illustrated by three different visual artists. Assorted crostini and pizza will be provided by Francesca’s throughout the event.

Sunday, May 20, 12-2pm - iO’s Storytown

From superheroes to undersea adventures, Storytown takes you on an interactive, fully improvised adventure, using your suggestions and ideas to create a different story every time. Kids design the setting and help shape the story, and the actors, artists, and musicians bring it to life. Recommended for children 3 and up.  Francesca’s will provide gelato as refreshments for the little ones.

For more information, please visit www.fablefestival.org or call 773-828-9185

The New Colony's "Calls to Blood" Extends Performance Schedule through Nov. 28

The New Colony's "Calls to Blood" extended performance schedule to run through Nov. 28 after moving the production to the much larger cabaret space of the Royal George Theatre, which they moved to on Oct. 29 to accommodate the over whelming demand for tickets. The show premiered Oct. 12 and runs at 8 p.m. Thursdays - Saturdays.

"We always hoped for this situation, but the outpouring of interest and word of mouth for this show has taken us completely by surprise," comments Artistic Director Andrew Hobgood at Sunday's company meeting.

After only a short number of performances, The New Colony finds themselves in the delightful position of maxing out the capacity of their venue. Over the course of a week, the production team began transitioning the production to the new venue while still performing in the Gallery of the Royal George Theatre.

"Over a four-week run, less than 1,000 people would be able to see this show in the Royal George's Gallery," explains Hobgood. "Moving the production to the Cabaret space will make the show available to more people.

"Calls to Blood" tells the darkly comic tragedy of the perfect American couple and their seemingly impenetrable happiness - even as they struggle to conceive the child they want so desperately. But in trying to find a solution to this continual failure, they unearth the one truth that can destroy everything upon which their perfect lives have been built.

Here's what the press has been saying:

Chicago Tribune Recommended and Critic's Pick
"Four young performers in sync with one another, wholly able to replicate the casual jokes and hidden terror that fill the yuppie life in Chicago as it is lived, and, in the case of an arresting young actress named Sarah Gitenstein, wholly willing to dig deep and howl out her wounded innards with sufficient force to jolt you out of your uncomfortable seat."

"On the face of it, such dramas seem easy to do and, indeed, many small companies attempt them. But "Calls to Blood" and New Colony know how to heed that call much clearer than most. Andrew Hobgood's savvy production is quite the riveting show."
-- Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune

"... the New Colony's fierce production transcends the scenario's slick contours. As Alison, Gitenstein brings a breathtaking passion to the stage; torn apart by what she learns, Gitenstein manages to lift the play from its true-story origins to true art."
-- John Beer, TimeOut Chicago

Reader Recommended
"The play shouldn't work, but Asmus pack his seemingly incompatible scenes with accurate, telling observations of human behavior, and director Andrew Hobgood's pitch-perfect cast articulate them with graceful precision. Against all odds, nearly everything in this New Colony premiere rings poignantly true."
-- Justin Hayford, Chicago Reader

"Gut-wrenching! While establishing a couple's perfect relation only to rip it apart isn't new ground, this flawless execution is beyond rare."
"...it will floor you."
-- John Biederman, Centerstage Chicago

"Calls to Blood" premiered 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12 with an additional press opening Thursday, Oct. 15. "Calls to Blood" runs at 8 p.m. Thursdays - Saturdays at the Royal George Cabaret Theatre through Nov 28.

Show passes at $25 for general admission, $20 for seniors and $15 for students/industry. Visit www.thenewcolony.org/callstoblood to access the ePaybill for "Calls to Blood," Passes are on sale online through TickerMaster or by calling the Royal George Bow Office at (312) 988-9000. All passes to The New Colony productions allow the purchaser to see the show for which the pass was purchased for an unlimited number of times.