Up Next: The 2017 Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival
Past Shows
| Date | Show | Venue | City | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tour: Living Room Tour | ||||
| 11/13/16 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Sidney Nagel and Young-Kee Kim (Kenwood) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 11:00am. Address: Available with ticket purchase.. An expansive 1920s-era Kenwood Mansions-area Hyde Park home featuring a beautiful ballroom. Each stop on the tour features a performance by Magali Chouinard, one our international artists from Montreal coming this Festival in a special preview performance. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 11/12/16 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Susan Hague (Bridgeport) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: 100. Address: Available with ticket purchase.. A victorian gem built in 1882 for a Chicago industrialist, on property linked to the Civil War. Each stop on the tour features a performance by Magali Chouinard, one our international artists from Montreal coming this Festival in a special preview performance. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 11/11/16 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Dorothy Zalewski and Dan Engh (Logan Square) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: 100. Address: Available with ticket purchase.. Modern design blends with cultural artifacts in this farmhouses contemporary renovation. Each stop on the tour features a performance by Magali Chouinard, one our international artists from Montreal coming this Festival in a special preview performance. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 03/31/16 - 04/03/16 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Brotherhood of the Monastic Order of Ancient Mariners Purges the Ills of Society through a Reading of the Tales of Moby-Dick | Museum of Contemporary Art | The Brotherhood of the Monastic Order of Ancient Mariners Purges the Ills of Society through a Reading of the Tales of Moby-Dick in Chicago | |
| Time: 7:30pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 220 E Chicago Avenue. This contemporary interpretation of Herman Melville’s classic reunites a team whose work resonates deeply with the American musical and theater landscape. Puppeteer Blair Thomas, songwriter Michael Smith, and percussionist Michael Zerang bring to life the seemingly impossible-to-stage symbolism of the novel by creating a play within a play that explores the implications of storytelling, tracing Ishmael’s hope that recounting his adventure will deliver his soul. In Thomas’s hands, Melville’s unexpectedly modern advice—about the search for purification and spiritual righteousness being the path to self-destruction and tragedy is allowed imaginative care. Smith’s piquant folk-rock songs and seven versatile actor-puppeteers intone his restless engagement with the book’s tension between the seen and unseen, language and silence, as small figures in the universe, watchers of nature, observers of the folly of humanity and religion. More information | ||||
| Tour: Living Room Tour | ||||
| 11/11/15 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Laura Botwinick (Bucktown/Wicker Park) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100. Address: available with ticket purchase. The home of Laura Botwinick with support from Liz Aviles and Eva Silverman. A unique living space in a small industrial building that used to be a bakery and artist studio. Each stop on the tour features a mini puppet theater festival, including an excerpt of Blair Thomas & Company’s Moby Dick along with performances by Mike Oleon and Adventure Sandwich. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 11/09/15 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Host Eva Niewiadomski at Catalyst Ranch (West Loop) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100. Address: available with ticket purchase. Host Eva Niewiadomski at Catalyst Ranch with support from Big Delicious Planet. Catalyst Ranch is a unique meeting space filled with eclectic objects, vintage furniture, vast amounts of artwork, ethnic furnishings, toys and books. Each stop on the tour features a mini puppet theater festival, including an excerpt of Blair Thomas & Company’s Moby Dick along with performances by Mike Oleon and Adventure Sandwich. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 11/08/15 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Justine Jentes & Dan Kuruna (Wicker Park) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100. Address: available with ticket purchase. The home of Justine Jentes and Dan Kuruna is a creative living space that was once a dairy, auto shop, photo studio, and gallery. Each stop on the tour features a mini puppet theater festival, including an excerpt of Blair Thomas & Company’s Moby Dick along with performances by Mike Oleon and Adventure Sandwich. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 11/07/15 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Sandi and Eric Tenfelde (Pilsen) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100. Address: available with ticket purchase. The home of Sandi and Eric Tenfelde has been a venue for over a decade of performance events that have nurtured the careers of local musicians, dancers, and puppeteers. Each stop on the tour features a mini puppet theater festival, including an excerpt of Blair Thomas & Company’s Moby Dick along with performances by Mike Oleon and Adventure Sandwich. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 11/05/15 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Scott Hughes (Edgewater) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100. Address: available with ticket purchase. The home of Scott Hughes is a penthouse terrace apartment in a 17-story, red brick and stone, gable-topped jewel built in 1927. Each stop on the tour features a mini puppet theater festival, including an excerpt of Blair Thomas & Company’s Moby Dick along with performances by Mike Oleon and Adventure Sandwich. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 11/04/15 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Joanie Friedman & Jon Stoper (Kenwood) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100. Address: available with ticket purchase. The home of Joanie Friedman & Jon Stoper with support from Alyssa Berman-Cutler, Jill Potter, Mikalina Rabinsky, and Christy Uchida. A “hidden gem” within an historic 1916 apartment building, Illinois’ first ever to go condo. Each stop on the tour features a mini puppet theater festival, including an excerpt of Blair Thomas & Company’s Moby Dick along with performances by Mike Oleon and Adventure Sandwich. Enjoy dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 01/22/15 - 02/23/15 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Selfish Giant | Ruth Page Center for Arts | The Selfish Giant in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 10:00am. Admission: $28/Child $38/Adult. Age restrictions: All Ages. Box office: 872-222-9555. Address: 1016 North Dearborn Street. Created by Blair Thomas and singer-songwriter Michael Smith – based on Oscar Wilde’s classic story about a grumpy giant who forbids children from playing in his garden. After the children are locked out, the trees and flowers refuse to grow and the garden plunges into an eternal winter. Then one morning, the children sneak back into the garden, bringing with them the joyous rebirth of spring. Featuring original puppets and music, The Selfish Giant is enormously imaginative, gigantically whimsical, and is sure to thrill children and giants of all ages. Performances 10am and 12pm weekdays, 11am and 1pm Saturdays, 11am Sundays. | ||||
| 11/20/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Selfish Giant | The Center for Performing Arts | The Selfish Giant in University Park, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $20. Age restrictions: All Ages. Box office: (708) 235-2222. Address: 1 W University Pkwy. Legendary Chicago Tribune columnist and WGN radio host Rick Kogan brings “Chicago Live!” back to the south suburbs for one night only. Featuring: Comedy from The Second City Master puppeteer Blair Thomas with a performance and also a preview of the International Puppet Theater Festival Players and the manager from Jackie Robinson West, 2014 United States Little League champions. Chicago Tribune Editorial Page Editor Bruce Dold with editorial board member Kristen McQueary and columnist Eric Zorn to discuss the outcome of the November 4 election and look ahead to Chicago’s mayoral election in February, 2015. The Almanac and much more. | ||||
| Tour: Living Room Tour | ||||
| 11/09/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Barbara Koenen & Tim Samuelson (Hyde Park) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: available with ticket purchase. The home of Barbara Koenen & Tim Samuelson (Hyde Park) is located in Mies Van Der Rohe’s first high rise apartments, and featuring collections of Chicago history and art, including Eliot Ness’ handcuffs, Ron Popeil’s Veg-O-Matic, and works by Alphonso Ianelli, Louis Sullivan, and others. Join us for this series of intimate parties and performances in five distinctive locations. Proceeds from the 2014 Living Room Tour support the upcoming Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. Each stop on the Tour includes Festival preview performances by Blair Thomas & Co., Michael Montenegro, and Manual Cinema, along with dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 11/08/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Joanie Friedman & Jon Stoper (Kenwood) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: available with ticket purchase. The home of Joanie Friedman & Jon Stoper (Kenwood) with support from Christy Uchida and Eva Silverman. With tall ceilings and a lush courtyard, a “hidden gem” within an historic 1916 apartment building, Illinois’ first ever to go condo. Join us for this series of intimate parties and performances in five distinctive locations. Proceeds from the 2014 Living Room Tour support the upcoming Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. Each stop on the Tour includes Festival preview performances by Blair Thomas & Co., Michael Montenegro, and Manual Cinema, along with dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 11/07/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Susan & Phil Hague (Groveland Park) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: available with ticket purchase. The home of Susan & Phil Hague (Groveland Park) with support from Liz Aviles and Angel Ysaguirre. Featuring ornate plaster decoration, stained glass windows, and old growth trim, a stately 1882 home in a tiny Civil War-era enclave that predates the Chicago Fire. Join us for this series of intimate parties and performances in five distinctive locations. Proceeds from the 2014 Living Room Tour support the upcoming Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. Each stop on the Tour includes Festival preview performances by Blair Thomas & Co., Michael Montenegro, and Manual Cinema, along with dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 11/06/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Susan Bachman-Rovner & Scott Rovner (North Center) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: available with ticket purchase. The home of Susan Bachman-Rovner & Scott Rovner (North Center) with support from Claire & Mark Sutton. A spacious elegant private home nestled in the Bell School Neighborhood. Join us for this series of intimate parties and performances in five distinctive locations. Proceeds from the 2014 Living Room Tour support the upcoming Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. Each stop on the Tour includes Festival preview performances by Blair Thomas & Co., Michael Montenegro, and Manual Cinema, along with dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 11/05/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Justine Jentes & Dan Kuruna (Wicker Park) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: available with ticket purchase. The home of Justine Jentes & Dan Kuruna (Wicker Park) is a creative living space that was once a dairy, auto shop, photo studio, and gallery. Join us for this series of intimate parties and performances in five distinctive locations. Proceeds from the 2014 Living Room Tour support the upcoming Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. Each stop on the Tour includes Festival preview performances by Blair Thomas & Co., Michael Montenegro, and Manual Cinema, along with dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 11/04/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | Home of Deanna Berman (Gold Coast) | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100. Age restrictions: All Ages. The home of Deanna Berman (Gold Coast) with support from Ellen Stone Belic. A home 44 floors up featuring skyline views to the south, east, and west. Join us for this series of intimate parties and performances in five distinctive locations. Proceeds from the 2014 Living Room Tour support the upcoming Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival. Each stop on the Tour includes Festival preview performances by Blair Thomas & Co., Michael Montenegro, and Manual Cinema, along with dinner, drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with the artists. | ||||
| 10/25/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Selfish Giant | The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry | The Selfish Giant in Stors, Connecticut | |
| Time: 3:00pm. Admission: Adults: $12 Students: $8 Kids: $6. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 1 Royce Circle. “The Selfish Giant” by Blair Thomas and singer/songwriter Michael Smith, who use original puppet and music to tell the story of this Oscar Wilde classic about a grumpy old giant and the children of his village who rejuvinate his garden. Special performance in conjuction with the gala opening of “Stages of Enchantment: The Little Puppet Theatre of Blair Thomas & Company” Museum Exhibit. | ||||
| 10/25/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Selfish Giant | The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry | The Selfish Giant in Stors, Connecticut | |
| Time: 1:00pm. Admission: $12 Adults, $8 Students, $6 Kids. Age restrictions: All Ages. Box office: (860) 486-2113. Address: 1 Royce Circle. “The Selfish Giant” by Blair Thomas and singer/songwriter Michael Smith, who use original puppet and music to tell the story of this Oscar Wilde classic about a grumpy old giant and the children of his village who rejuvinate his garden. Special performance in conjuction with the gala opening of “Stages of Enchantment: The Little Puppet Theatre of Blair Thomas & Company” Museum Exhibit. | ||||
| 10/22/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | Blair Thomas | The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry | Blair Thomas in Stors, Connecticut | |
| Time: 7:30pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 1 Royce Circle. Join Blair Thomas for his lecture “Liminal Worlds: Design in the Puppet Theatre” Blair will talk about his aesthetic process in conjunction with the premiere of his exhibition at the Ballard Institute. | ||||
| Tour: A Piano With Three Tales 2014 Tour | ||||
| 05/21/14 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/a-piano-with-three-tales/ | A Piano with Three Tales (excerpts) | Columbia College Dance Center | A Piano with Three Tales (excerpts) in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 1306 S Michigan Ave.. Venue phone: (312) 369-8300. MORE INFO | ||||
| 05/18/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | A Piano with Three Tales (excerpts) | Storefront Theater | A Piano with Three Tales (excerpts) in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 3:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 66 E. Randolph. This performance is part of the Chicago Humanities Festival’s Stages, Sights & Sounds Puppetolio. More information | ||||
| 05/11/14 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/a-piano-with-three-tales/ | A Piano with Three Tales (excerpts) | Tiny Tempest Farm and Theater | A Piano with Three Tales (excerpts) in Lake Geneva, WI | |
| Time: 2:00pm. Admission: $5 for children $8 for adluts. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: W4355 Mohawk Road. Email [email protected] to reserve your tickets. MORE INFO | ||||
| 05/10/14 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/a-piano-with-three-tales/ | A Piano with Three Tales (excerpts) | Tiny Tempest Farm and Theater | A Piano with Three Tales (excerpts) in Lake Geneva, WI | |
| Time: 2:00pm. Admission: $5 for children $8 for adluts. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: W4355 Mohawk Road. Email [email protected] to reserve your tickets. MORE INFO | ||||
| 05/03/14 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/a-piano-with-three-tales/ | A Piano with Three Tales | Indian Boundary Park | A Piano with Three Tales in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 1:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 2500 W. Lunt. There are two performances at 1pm and 3pm. MORE INFO | ||||
| 04/26/14 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/a-piano-with-three-tales/ | A Piano with Three Tales | Washington Park | A Piano with Three Tales in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 2:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 5531 S. Martin Luther King Dr.. MORE INFO | ||||
| 04/19/14 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/a-piano-with-three-tales/ | A Piano with Three Tales | Tuley Park | A Piano with Three Tales in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 2:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 1962 W. 95th St.. MORE INFO | ||||
| 04/12/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | A Piano with Three Tales | DuPage Children’s Museum | A Piano with Three Tales in Naperville, IL | |
| Time: 9:30am. Age restrictions: All Ages. More information | ||||
| 04/05/14 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/a-piano-with-three-tales/ | A Piano with Three Tales | Broadway Armory Park | A Piano with Three Tales in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 1:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 5917 N. Broadway Ave.. There are two performances at 1pm and 3pm. MORE INFO | ||||
| 03/29/14 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/a-piano-with-three-tales/ | A Piano with Three Tales | Austin Town Hall | A Piano with Three Tales in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 2:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 5610 W. Lake St.. MORE INFO | ||||
| 03/22/14 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/a-piano-with-three-tales/ | A Piano with Three Tales | Hamilton Park | A Piano with Three Tales in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 2:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 513 West 72nd Street. MORE INFO | ||||
| 03/15/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | A Piano with Three Tales | Music Institute of Chicago | A Piano with Three Tales in Evanston, IL | |
| Time: 12:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue. Venue phone: 847.905.1500. | ||||
| 02/22/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | Hard Headed Heart | Fort Lewis College | Hard Headed Heart in Durango, CO | |
| Time: 7:30pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. | ||||
| 02/15/14 - 06/14/14 http://www.blairthomas.org/portfolio-item/vinegar-works-in-development/ | Vinegar Works | Loyola University Museum of Art | Vinegar Works in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 2:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 820 North Michigan Avenue. The performance will run every Saturday at 2pm and 4pm. MORE INFO | ||||
| 02/15/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | A Piano with Three Tales | Music Institute of Chicago | A Piano with Three Tales in Evanston, IL | |
| Time: 2:00pm. Admission: $5. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Avenue. Venue phone: 847.905.1500. Open House 11 am Start your day at the Music Institute of Chicago. Fun for families begins with an open house in the lobby where kids play instruments at our instrument “petting” zoo and parents talk with faculty and receive special discounts on lessons and classes. A Piano with 3 Tales 12 pm In this production, a classical piano recital masquerading as puppet show, young audiences experience masterworks by monumental composers for the instrument, not to mention an enthralling tune for toy piano(yes, toy piano!) by living composer Stephen Montague. | ||||
| 01/23/14 - 02/22/14 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Selfish Giant | Ruth Page Center for Arts | The Selfish Giant in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 10:00am. Admission: $28-$38. Age restrictions: All Ages. Box office: 872-222-9555. Address: 1016 North Dearborn Street. January marks the return of the all-ages hit show The Selfish Giant, a musical spectacle created for Chicago Children’s Theatre in 2008 by two Chicago theater icons – master puppeteer Blair Thomas and singer-songwriter Michael Smith – based on Oscar Wilde’s classic story about a grumpy giant who forbids children from playing in his garden. After the children are locked out, the trees and flowers refuse to grow and the garden plunges into an eternal winter. Then one morning, the children sneak back into the garden, bringing with them the joyous rebirth of spring. Featuring original puppets and music, The Selfish Giant is enormously imaginative, gigantically whimsical, and is sure to thrill children and giants of all ages. Performances January 23rd through 25th are presented as part of Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival closing festivities. | ||||
| 12/07/13 http://www.blairthomas.org | Hard Headed Heart | Footlit Theater | Hard Headed Heart in Des Plaines, IL | |
| Time: 8:00pm. Admission: $12 general admission; $10 students and seniors; $8 group rate. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: Oakton Community College. | ||||
| Tour: Living Room Tour | ||||
| 11/16/13 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | The Home of Sidney Nagel and Young-Kee Kim | Living Room Tour in Hyde Park, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100.00. Age restrictions: All Ages. Blair Thomas & Co. presents our newest Living Room Tour, featuring a live piano performance of Chopin’s scherzo in B Flat Minor (Op 31) and the inimitable handmade puppets of Blair Thomas & Co. Living Room Tour Hosts Sidney Nagel and Young-Kee Kim have opened their expansive 1920’s-era “Kenwood Mansions”-area Hyde Park home in the to fans of Blair Thomas & Co. Sidney (a University of Chicago physicist exploring complex everday physics in disordered materials) and Young-Kee (a Fermilab physicist working with massive particles including W boson and top quark) regularly host experimental salon performances in their home; this is their first time hosting Blair Thomas & Co. Dinner and drinks for the evening are generously donated by Chuck Thurow. Fall 2013 Living Room Tours are special annual fundraising events that help fund the creation of new works by inviting audience members into private homes generously opened by our hosts. Each Living Room Tour includes a performance by Blair Thomas & Co., dinner and drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with Blair Thomas. | ||||
| 11/14/13 http://www.blairthomas.org | Living Room Tour | The Home of Charlie Jett and Dr. Nancy Church | Living Room Tour in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $100.00. Age restrictions: All Ages. Blair Thomas & Co. presents our newest Living Room Tour, featuring a live piano performance of Chopin’s scherzo in B Flat Minor (Op 31) and the inimitable handmade puppets of Blair Thomas & Co. Living Room Tour Hosts Charlie Jett and Dr. Nancy Church invite fans of Blair Thomas & Co. to enjoy the Gold Coast views from their rooftop terrace and performance space. Charlie (a writer, wine connoisseur, and US Navy veteran) and Nancy (an esteemed OB-GYN responsible for pioneering minimally invasive robotic surgeries) regularly host arts salons and discussions in their home; this is their first time hosting Blair Thomas & Co. Fall 2013 Living Room Tours invite audience members into private homes generously opened by our hosts. Each Living Room Tour includes a performance by Blair Thomas & Co., dinner and drinks, and the opportunity to discuss the work with Blair Thomas. | ||||
| 11/02/13 http://www.blairthomas.org | Moby Dick: The Hunt Continues | Harold Washington Library | Moby Dick: The Hunt Continues in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 1:30pm. Admission: Tickets: $10 (general public) /$5 (students and teachers). Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 400 S State St. Presented as part of the Chicago Humanities Festival, meshing perfectly with their theme “Animal: What Makes Us Human.” | ||||
| 08/04/13 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/puppets-take-strathmore/ | Hard Headed Heart | Strathmore Puppet Festival | Hard Headed Heart in Bethesda, MD | |
| Time: 4:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Venue phone: 301-581-5135. MORE INFO | ||||
| 08/04/13 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/puppets-take-strathmore/ | Hard Headed Heart | Strathmore Puppet Festival | Hard Headed Heart in Bethesda, MD | |
| Time: 1:00pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Venue phone: 301-581-5135. MORE INFO | ||||
| 08/03/13 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/puppets-take-strathmore/ | The Puppet Tells a Story | Strathmore Puppet Festival | The Puppet Tells a Story in Bethesda, MD | |
| Time: 10:00am. Admission: $25. Age restrictions: All Ages. Venue phone: 301-581-5135. In Blair’s workshop, The Puppet Tells the Story, participants create their very own puppet show, complete with handmade rod puppets and scripted skit. Best for ages 8-12. Kids dive in with paper, cardboard, sticks, ink markers and lots of hot glue to create their two dimensional performance masterpieces. At the Mansion at Strathmore. MORE INFO | ||||
| 07/06/13 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Selfish Giant | Acorn Theater | The Selfish Giant in Three Oaks, MI | |
| Time: 1:00pm. Admission: $15.00 (children under 4 are free). Age restrictions: All Ages. Box office: 269-756-3879. Address: 107 Generations Dr.. Venue phone: 269-756-3879. Two Chicago theater icons-Blair Thomas and singer-songwriter Michael Smith-collaborate on this staging of an Oscar Wilde classic. Original puppets and music tell the story of a grumpy old giant who forbids the children in his village from playing in his beautiful garden. After the children are locked out, the trees and flowers refuse to grow and the garden plunges into an eternal winter. Then one morning, the children sneak back into the garden, bringing with them the joyous rebirth of spring. | ||||
| 07/06/13 http://www.blairthomas.org | Free Puppet Workshop | Acorn Theater | Free Puppet Workshop in Three Oaks, MI | |
| Time: 9:00am. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 107 Generations Dr.. Venue phone: 269-756-3879. 10:00 am CST, 9:00 am EST | ||||
| 05/18/13 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Selfish Giant | Tiny Tempest Farm and Theater | The Selfish Giant in Lake Geneva, WI | |
| Time: 2:00pm. Address: W4355 Mohawk Road. Plant sale 10:00am-6:00pm | ||||
| 05/17/13 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Selfish Giant | Tiny Tempest Farm and Theater | The Selfish Giant in Lake Geneva, WI | |
| Time: 5:00pm. Address: W4355 Mohawk Road. Plant sale 10:00am-6:00pm | ||||
| 04/25/13 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/theater-music-dance-creative-partners-the-unexpected/ | THE UNEXPECTED | Museum of Contemporary Art | THE UNEXPECTED in Chicago | |
| Time: 7:00pm. Admission: $40. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 220 E Chicago Avenue. Creative Partners, an innovative collaboration in the arts that brings together three leading Chicago companies (Blair Thomas & Company, eighth blackbird, and Lucky Plush Productions) invite audiences to THE UNEXPECTED — a launch event featuring performances and a reception at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. On-site parking will be available for $11 in the MCA garage. Each company will present work from their award-winning repertory, including Blair Thomas & Co.’s “The Blackbird”, Lucky Plush’s “Cinderbox 2.0”, and eighth blackbird’s “These Broken Wings,” which was recently performed at the Grammys. MORE INFO | ||||
| 03/24/13 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/selfish-giant-at-milwaukee-art-museum/ | The Selfish Giant | Milwaukee Art Museum | The Selfish Giant in Milwaukee, WI | |
| Time: 2:30pm. Age restrictions: All Ages. Address: 700 Art Museum Drive. MORE INFO | ||||
| 01/20/13 http://www.blairthomas.org/news/moby/ | Moby-Dick (excerpts) | Storefront Theater | Moby-Dick (excerpts) in Chicago, IL | |
| Time: 2:00pm. Admission: free. Address: 66 E. Randolph. Blair Thomas, presents work-in-progress excerpts from its future production of Moby-Dick. Narrator Ishmael recounts his journey on the Pequod as Captain Ahab’s relentless pursuit of the White Whale leads the entire crew to the depths of the ocean’s great unknown. The words of this great American novel are brought to life on the stage through bunraku puppets and rolling paper scrolls. In the Works is a performance residency program that gives emerging and established performing artists the opportunity to test-drive new work in a public setting. Each residency is tailored to the needs of the artist or company and their project and each showing is a unique opportunity for audiences to get a behind-the-scenes look at new work by Chicago artists. This program is made possible through a grant from The Boeing Company. MORE INFO | ||||
| 10/30/12 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Tell-Tale Heart | Private Home | The Tell-Tale Heart in Chicago | |
| Time: 6:30pm. This incomparable interpretation of one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous short stories, a psychological portrait of a mad murderer who is tormented by the sound of his victim’s relentless heartbeat, will be performed in various private locations within Chicago in October, 2012. The performance includes original music by Mark Messing and Bunraku puppets by Shoshanna Utchenik. Each night, an intimate party and performance will support the remarkable contemporary puppet theater work of Blair Thomas & Company. Hosted in three distinctive locations, these unique events include dinner, drinks and Blair’s latest creation. Start this progressive evening in the cozy confines of the Sutton home surrounded by their eclectic art collection. Then stroll next door to a modern architectural masterpiece designed by owner Brad Lynch. | ||||
| 10/30/12 http://www.blairthomas.org | SOLD OUT: The Tell-Tale Heart | Private Home | SOLD OUT: The Tell-Tale Heart in Chicago | |
| Time: 4:15pm. Admission: $10. In addition to the evening event on October 30 at 4:15pm, there will be a separate 15 minute long family-friendly performance of “Halloween Tales” (for kids ages 3-8). Tickets are $10 | ||||
| 10/24/12 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Tell-Tale Heart | Private Home | The Tell-Tale Heart in Chicago | |
| Time: 6:30pm. Admission: $80. This incomparable interpretation of one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous short stories, a psychological portrait of a mad murderer who is tormented by the sound of his victim’s relentless heartbeat, will be performed in various private locations within Chicago in October, 2012. The performance includes original music by Mark Messing and Bunraku puppets by Shoshanna Utchenik. Each night, an intimate party and performance will support the remarkable contemporary puppet theater work of Blair Thomas & Company. Hosted in three distinctive locations, these unique events include dinner, drinks and Blair’s latest creation. Visit the home of gallery owners and art collectors De and Paul Gray, and experience their spectacular skyline view and world-class art collection, including a privately commissioned work by Jaume Plensa. | ||||
| 10/23/12 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Tell-Tale Heart | Coyle & Herr | The Tell-Tale Heart in Chicago | |
| Time: 6:30pm. Admission: $80. This incomparable interpretation of one of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous short stories, a psychological portrait of a mad murderer who is tormented by the sound of his victim’s relentless heartbeat, will be performed in various private locations within Chicago in October, 2012. The performance includes original music by Mark Messing and Bunraku puppets by Shoshanna Utchenik. Each night, an intimate party and performance will support the remarkable contemporary puppet theater work of Blair Thomas & Company. Hosted in three distinctive locations, these unique events include dinner, drinks and Blair’s latest creation. | ||||
| 09/18/12 http://www.blairthomas.org | Exploring Moby-Dick | Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts | Exploring Moby-Dick in Chicago | |
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Time: 6:30pm.
Admission: FREE.
Address: 915 East 60th Street.
Blair Thomas & Co, Lookingglass Theatre, and The House Theatre of Chicago are featured in EXPLORING MOBY-DICK – a night of three different adaptations of Herman Melville’s novel, in various sites of performance within the new Logan Center for the Arts in Hyde Park, Chicago. Audiences will move from space to space to experience the three adaptations, and are invited to join the artistic staff in the courtyard following the performance to discuss the work.
These three companies are all sharing mid-process works that explore this seminal American narrative from richly different artistic perspectives. According to Chelsea Keenan of the House Theatre: “What’s so exciting for the audience is to see that process, to get in on something rare and fleeting. What frames the three works at this stage will be not a traditional collaboration, but the source material and the astonishingly disparate directions the three groups will take them — we’ll likely witness surprising overlaps.” This event takes place as a part of the Summer Inc Residencies with Theater and Performance Studies at The University of Chicago. This project is supported by a grant from the Boeing Corporation. |
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| 05/12/12 - 05/13/12 http://www.blairthomas.org | A Kite’s Tale | Detroit Institute of Arts | A Kite’s Tale in Detroit | |
| Time: 2:00pm. Address: 5200 Woodward Ave. Venue phone: 313-833-7900. A Kite’s Tale, created by Blair Thomas & Company is the story of a little girl who sets out to fly her kite and takes a magical journey through her own imagination. Employing hand puppets, bunraku puppets and giant costumed characters, this wordless narrative is accompanied by a live performance of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, performed on solo piano by Kathryn Goodson. This delightful 40 minute long family show has been seen at venues such as Sherwood Conservatory of Music, the Chicago Cultural Center, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park in Chicago, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Music Institute of Chicago, and at the National Puppetry Festival, in Atlanta. Chicago | ||||
| 03/14/12 - 03/25/12 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Houdini Box | North Shore Center for the Performing Arts | The Houdini Box in Skokie | |
| Address: 9501 Skokie Boulevard. The Houdini Box Presented by Chicago Children’s Theatre. Book and Lyrics by Hannah Kohl, Music by Mark Messing. Based on the book THE HOUDINI BOX, written and illustrated by Brian Selznick, and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers. Brought to life right before your eyes by actors, musicians, and puppets, sure to thrill and surprise. As famed escape artist Harry Houdini circles the globe performing one incredible stunt after another, Victor, a young devotee goes through his own rigorous magician’s training — locking himself in closets, holding his breath under water and walking into walls. After a chance encounter with his hero, Victor receives a special box that just might contain the secrets of Houdini’s great success. | ||||
| 02/16/12 http://www.blairthomas.org | Hard Headed Heart | Chicago Cultural Center | Hard Headed Heart in Chicago | |
| Time: 6:00pm. Address: 78 E. Washington St. Hard Headed Heart This performance of three short works is performed in different rooms in the Chicago Cultural Center. Presented in conjunction with the Cultural Center’s exhibition Morbid Curiosity: The Richard Harris Collection. The Puppet Show of Don Cristobal (by Federico Garcia Lorca) Based on the rough fold humor of the traditional trickster Don Cristobal, this is a bawdy telling of Cristobal’s wooing and marriage to the delectable Dona Rosita. St. James Infirmary Faced with the death of his lover, we watch a man dance away his grief. The Blackbird “Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird by Wallace Stevens” Doubt inexplicitly finds its way in between the love of a man and a woman. | ||||
| 01/24/12 - 03/03/12 http://www.blairthomas.org | The Houdini Box | Mercury Theatre | The Houdini Box in Chicago | |
| Address: 3745 N Southport Ave. The Houdini Box Presented by Chicago Children’s Theatre. Book and Lyrics by Hannah Kohl, Music by Mark Messing. Based on the book THE HOUDINI BOX, written and illustrated by Brian Selznick, and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers. Brought to life right before your eyes by actors, musicians, and puppets, sure to thrill and surprise. As famed escape artist Harry Houdini circles the globe performing one incredible stunt after another, Victor, a young devotee goes through his own rigorous magician’s training — locking himself in closets, holding his breath under water and walking into walls. After a chance encounter with his hero, Victor receives a special box that just might contain the secrets of Houdini’s great success. | ||||