Displaying items by tag: Chicago shows

It wouldn’t be Chicago history without a few mysteries nestled amongst the ivy and six cornered paths. For every historical site or fact about the windy city is a stranger truth than any books or historians can truly capture. That’s one the magical things about this biggest small town, there is always something more than meets the eye, a history as deep and chilling as the great lake it rests against. I suppose that’s why it’s equally surprising and typical to find secrets hidden in its many neighborhoods. And sometimes those surprises are found hidden behind a laundromat in Andersonville.

History has secrets. Master magician David Parr helps uncover them. In David Parr: Time Traveler, you are invited on an extraordinary journey where history, mystery, and magic collide. Blending captivating storytelling with astonishing sleight of hand, Parr explores forgotten legends, remarkable true stories, and unexplained mysteries, where history and folklore mingle in mysterious ways, and the impossible feels just within reach. Every performance is a reminder that the world is still full of surprises and mysteries, and that history is often far stranger than fiction. Join David for an unforgettable hour of wonder, curiosity, and theatrical magic that proves history still has a few secrets left to reveal.

Whether you geek out about magic, watch in a vain attempt at uncovering the trick, or are a die-hard skeptic, David Parr does not seem to mind. Embodying the mystic and aura of a magician pulled straight from the vintage posters that adorn the walls of venue, Parr is not your typical magician. He’s humble, curious, philosophical, and above all an entertainer. Weaving personal stories and historical storytelling, Parr crafts an incredible show that promises no two tricks are the same. It leaves the most skeptical people wondering if his magic was real, some of the tricks defying all logic. Throughout his set Parr poses questions but makes no attempt to answer them, leaving instead a mystery for each person to solve, as unique and complex as the magical tricks he creates. That aura possibly explains how David Parr stumped the famous Penn & Teller on their gameshow “Fool Us” in 2017, a feat few magicians ever mastered. How he did it remains a mystery, one that is now tucked away within the magic-lined walls of Chicago Magic Lounge.

Photo by Sarah Elizabeth Larson.

Chicago Magic Lounge is unlike any venue in the city. Sure, the newly remodeled McCormick mansion boasts a similar style but it pales in comparison to this charming space. Chicago Magic Lounge is a signature speakeasy-style magic theater and performance bar in Andersonville, featuring close-up and stage magic from a rotating lineup of professional magicians from Chicago and around the world. Hidden behind a secret entrance, it offers an intimate night out with live performances, craft cocktails, and shareable small plates. Whether you're planning a date-night, celebrating something special, or looking for a distinctive night out in Chicago, this speakeasy experience is worth returning to. The space offers three unique spaces within its venue, and the real mystery is how this charming place has stayed a hidden haunt for so many years. The prices are extremely reasonable. The staff are some of the most lovely and welcoming people you’ll ever meet, eager to invite you in for a spell and bring you magic potions if you are so inclined. Magic lines the walls, cases of historical magical artifacts encased for viewing, posters of predecessors watching over natural born magicians demonstrating their skills with close-up magic. It’s truly a magical experience and one that can pay homage too but can never truly replicate.

History can often repeat itself but time as we know it is often fleeting. We never know how much time we have to see the things we want to see and experience everything Chicago has to offer. I personally believe I can live one hundred lifetimes and never truly see and experience everything this city has to offer. Perhaps that is why David Parr’s show resonates so deeply. Maybe he is on to something. Perchance time really is the greatest mystery of all. And what better place in the world to experience that than right here in Chicago? Don’t let this magic disappear, stop time a moment and see David Parr at The Chicago Magic Lounge. David Parr: Time Traveler will be presented on Wednesdays through December 16^th. Tickets are available at www.chicagomagiclounge.com/time-traveler.

If our day-to-day lives were a collective color, it would probably be the color blue. Whether you are feeling blue, have the blues, or are just Blue (Da Ba Dee), it’s the color most closely associated to feelings of sadness, of cold, depression, or loneliness. Not every day is going to be sunshine and rainbows filled with vibrant hues. Some days are just…blue. Personally when I feel blue, sad songs are more poignant, rain is more comforting, and I gravitate towards shows, plays, and movies that make me feel something deeper. Because when I’m blue, I want and need to feel everything. If you want to feel something deeper too, then Time Is A Color And The Color Is Blue now playing at Bramble Arts Loft is just the play for you.

Alice Wu in Time is a Color and the Color is Blue.

Set in an ice cave, Time is a Color and the Color is Blue follows a glaciologist, Whittaker, who becomes trapped in the cave while searching for the oldest known cave paintings. As her team waits out the storm in their lab, her mind begins to spiral, memories and guilt melding and folding in on each other just like pressurized ice thousands of feet below the surface. Trapped and losing oxygen fast, Whittaker must confront how she can ask forgiveness—from the Earth, from the ice cave, from loved ones she's hurt, and from herself.

 From the moment you enter the small black box theatre within Bramble Arts Loft, you are completely immersed in the cold cave with Whittaker. Surrounded by blue ice, cut off from the outside world, you immediately feel the sense of unease and brace yourself for what is to come. Will she make it out? What drove her to be there in the first place? What must she confront in herself and in the cave? What unfolds throughout the 75-minute play is an expertly crafted story by playwright Melanie Coffey. The pressure, isolation, and loneliness Whittaker experiences within the cave is a shared experience with the audience. Like the ancient ice that surrounds her, Whittaker feels the pressure to confront her reality while reconciling with her past. Alice Wu’s portrayal of Whittaker brings humor and depth to her character, pulling you into the blue. “Time is a Color and the Color is Blue weaves a story of guilt and love and ice that breaks the surface and snaps as it comes up for air,” says Coffey. The play is neither boastful nor damning though it easily could be. Rather than shaming the audience or the characters, Coffey connects us through connection; to loved ones, time, history, and the natural world. It’s connection that will save us, in more ways than one.

Harper McCoy, Alice Wu, Stephanie Fongheiser, Sabine Wan and Mary Mikva in Time is a Color and the Color is Blue.

Did you know that blue ice is created under pressure.? When snow falls and becomes compressed to glaciers it squeezes air bubbles and enlarges ice crystals, the effect resulting in its signature blue hue. A beautiful thing created under pressure. Blue isn’t just the color of sadness and loneliness, it’s calming, soothing, and tranquil. When our days become overwhelming and we feel the weight and pressures of the world we retreat into our own caves. But in those caves of our own making we can channel the calming, reflective nature of blue. Like Whittaker, we can allow ourselves to pause, reflect, and release. To find connection to our world and ourselves. If and when you are feeling blue, be sad and take the time to pause and reflect. If you choose to venture out of that cave, consider taking a stroll in Andersonville to see a play that will make you feel all the feels and maybe, just maybe, not so blue.

Time is a Color and the Color is Blue is now playing through May 24th at the Bramble Arts Loft, 5545 N. Clark Street. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit avalanchetheatre.com/time-is-a-color.

*This review is also featured on https://www.theatreinchicago.com/!