ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater  returns to The Auditorium March 7-9 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Ronald K. Brown’s Grace. Photo by Danica Paulos REVIEW By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara Last night Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at Auditorium Theatre was as stunning as ever. This weekend marks the Company’s 56th visit to The Auditorium and we're here for it. I've seen Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater a number of times and their astonishing talent, superior production values,  kinetic costume design, and barefoot brilliance is sure to imp ..read more

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar NOW PLAYING CLUE A HILARIOUS NEW STAGE PLAY “Reminds you what a breezy night of pure entertainment feels like.” -TheaterMania “Extraordinarily entertaining.” -Broadway World Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows we adore the board game CLUE and the film version, too. We're excited to catch opening night of the stage version at CIBC Theatre on February 19th. Check back soon for our full review.  Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce that CLUE, the hilarious murder mystery comedy inspired by the Hasbro board game and adapted from the fan-favorite fi ..read more

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List The Actors Gymnasium Announces Casting for  LITTLE RED its Annual Winter Circus An original circus theatre production created and directed by Heidi Stillman  with circus choreography by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi March 1, 2025 – March 30, 2025  at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center in Evanston Recommended for ages 5+ Here at ChiIL Mama and ChiIL Live Shows, we've long been fans of The Actors Gymnasium and their excellent shows and training programs for children through adults. Chicago is lucky to have such a fabulous resource. My own son and daug ..read more

Upcoming events include Cocoa & Coffee Crawl, Wheaton Restaurant Week and more! Start off the new year exploring the culinary and cultural wonders of Downtown Wheaton, including a variety of events for the whole family. From the Cocoa & Coffee Crawl, to the Margarita & Sangria Festival, to the We Are Women Art Exhibit celebrating Women’s History Month, there is something for everyone! A complete schedule can be found at DowntownWheaton.com/events. “As an organization, our mission is to connect our business community with the local residential community, and creative events ar ..read more

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List  Lifeline Theatre Presents the  World Premiere of Leaf Based on Sandra Dieckmann’s Debut Picture Book The production runs approximately 50 minutes with no intermission Lifeline Theatre’s KidSeries presents the world premiere of Leaf, based on the beloved picture book by Sandra Dieckmann, March 15 to April 20 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. Adaptor and Lifeline ensemble member Amanda Link teams up with director Nathaniel Niemi to bring audiences a timely world premiere featuring a polar bear on their quest to return home and the young crow ..read more

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List  Lifeline Theatre Presents the Midwest Premiere of Kid Prince and Pablo  Based on The Prince and the Pauper The production runs approximately 2 hours with an intermission. Recommended for ages 13 and up A new hip-hop adaptation of The Prince and the Pauper. This production will be a first-time collaboration with Salvadoran-American artists Brian and Marvin Quijada.  Brian wrote and starred in Teatro Vista’s highly acclaimed 2022 world premiere musical, Somewhere Over the Border.  Throw 'em a Lifeline... You have 4 shots left to catch ..read more

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List  Restaged OVO by Cirque du Soleil  heads to Hoffman Estates for six performances only Feb. 13-16 After 15 years of success & three world tours, the bugs are back in town! ?? Just in time for Valentine's Day?? ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar Cirque du Soleil has been a family favorite of ours for decades. We're so jazzed to see them back in post-pandemic action and excited to catch the newly revamped OVO. Circus arts are a wonder and delight; something we could all use more of these days. Current events, life in general, and/or the winter weath ..read more

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List  Skeleton Canoe By Ty Defoe an All My Relations Collaboration New York City REVIEW By Bonnie Kenaz-Mara Here at ChiIL Mama we love to learn about the First People or First Nations of our country. As modern Americans, we have so much to improve on when it comes to sustainable practices, how to steward natural resources, respect for our elders, and more. It was a joy to learn more traditional Anishinaabe lifeways through Skeleton Canoe, via puppetry, projection work, drumming, and dance. This creative show captivated our imaginations and ins ..read more

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar: Adult Night Out Writers Theatre continues its 2024/25 Season  with the captivating solo performance piece Frida…A Self Portrait Written and Performed by Vanessa Severo  Directed by Joanie Schultz January 23 – February 23, 2025 Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Artistic Director Braden Abraham, continues its 2024/25 Season with Frida…A Self Portrait, starring acclaimed writer and performer Vanessa Severo as both herself and legendary Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, directed by Joanie Schultz. Frida...A S ..read more

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List JOIN AN EPIC PARTY WITH PLENTY OF MUSIC, ENERGY & AUDIENCE INTERACTION AT THE ALL-NEW  DISNEY ON ICE PRESENTS LET’S DANCE! The all-star cast includes fan-favorite stories from Frozen 2, Wish, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Moana **Brand-New Production Skating Into Chicagoland from January 23 – February 9, 2025** Disney On Ice is bringing the party to hometowns across the country, and the guest list is jam-packed with audience favorite Disney characters! Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy have become DJ’s, remixing Disney tunes into colorful stori ..read more