As if we needed proof of how much everybody loves the Muppets, the Gene Siskel Film Center notes that the response to its "Muppets, Music & Magic: Jim Henson's Legacy" series last fall was so huge, they're bringing it back for another run (well, most of it).
Through December 2, the Center will show a number of films from the series, including Saturday's one-time-only show of "Muppets History 201: More Rarities from the Henson Vault," a followup to the popular Muppets History 101 from last year. In addition to several other compilations, you'll also be able to see special screenings of feature films like "The Muppet Movie" (celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2009), "The Muppets Take Manhattan," "Labyrinth" and "The Dark Crystal." Check out the website for the full schedule.
Artwork by Sergei Isupov looks over Navy Pier's Festival Hall during SOFA setup Wednesday. (Al Podgorski/Sun-Times)
SOFA Chicago Through Sunday at Navy Pier; $15-$25
Celebrating its 16th year, the Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair hits Navy Pier's Festival Hall to present work from top international galleries and dealers. Check out the opening night preview gala on Thursday ($50) to get a first glimpse at the show's best work. Hors d'oeurves and wine are included. Tickets for the rest of the show are $15 a day, or $25 for a three-day pass. Get them here or at the door. More: Check out the Sun-Times' SOFA photo gallery.
Are you that guy who can recite every line from "Caddyshack," or the girl who knows the climactic scene from "Titanic" by heart? You'll probably enjoy Movieoke, the interactive event that lets you re-enact your favorite movie scenes while they play out on-screen -- in other words, it's "movie karaoke," and it's hitting Chicago in a big way.
Aspiring Spaldings and Roses can do their thing tonight at The Whistler in Logan Square (8 p.m.) and next Wednesday at the Bucktown Pub. Want to make sure your favorite flick will be available to perform? Check out the full list of movies. (Phew, they do have "Darby Gill and the Little People"!)
Monday nights are typically not the most robust times for Chicago entertainment -- many restaurants are closed and the bars are empty because everyone's home watching "Gossip Girl."
But what if you do want to get out and blow off some steam before the full reality of the work week sets in? The "You, Me, Them, Everybody" events at the Hungry Brain could be the answer. Every Monday, podcaster Brandon Wetherbee hosts events at this Roscoe Village haunt, offering up a mix of music, comedy, readings, films and more.
Tonight's free installment (8 p.m., 21+) features a screening of Wetherbee's first short film, "The Shuffle," about two people on a first date and their eventual breakup. We can't promise it will have as much drama as Dan and Olivia's budding romance, but that's why you have DVR, right?
Riot Fest Through Sunday, various theaters, prices vary ($70 for a three-day pass to Congress Theater)
Several rockin' shows (not to mention a bowling tourney) are spread out across five venues (Congress Theater, Metro, Subterranean, Double Door, Cobra Lounge) during this fifth-annual fest. We're talking mosh-inducing rock and punk including Chicago's own Screeching Weasel, NOFX, Alkaline Trio, Naked Raygun and more. Oi!
You're gonna live forever. You're gonna learn how to fly (high).
Well, you might, if you get selected as the winner in the FAME National Talent Search. The local qualifying round -- the last in a nationwide competition -- takes place at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee on August 22 and 23.
The first 400 qualifying acts to register between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday will be eligible to audition (you've gotta pay park admission to register, and you have to be at least 14), and the top 10 will move on to Sunday's semi-finals show. One winner will advance to the national finals at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, California to compete against six others for the ultimate prize: $5,000 cash, a photo spread in OK! Magazine, a five day/four night trip to Hollywood, a meeting with a top talent agent and studio executive and an appearance on the "Fame" DVD.
If you're ready to start practicing your routine, here are some guidelines. You'll have 45 seconds to either sing one song a capella, perform a dance routine to a segment of the song "Fame" or "Out Here On My Own," or perform any other activity that shows talent in the performing arts. Which could be pretty much anything, if you think about it. Check out all the official rules at generationfame.com.
If you've ever dreamed of being in the Guinness Book of World Records, now's your chance. Tonight, the Goodman Theatre, in partnership with the Chicago Outdoor Film Festival's showing of the Marx Brothers' "Duck Soup," will attempt to set the record for "most people wearing Groucho Marx glasses" at the same time. Arrive at Butler Field in Grant Park between 6-7 p.m. and sign in near the screen to get your free glasses. In order to be considered for the book, everyone will have to wear the glasses for at least 10 minutes and pose for photos and video (around 8:15 p.m.).
...or you could just come for the movie, which begins at 8:52 p.m. (sunset).
Want to avoid the scene altogether? Try one of these area drive-in theaters.
What's worse than being stuck in a hospital bed all day, every day? Being stuck in a hospital bed with nothing to watch on TV. You can do a little something to change that by dining at David Burke's Primehouse on Monday, aka National Lollipop Day.
A portion of the proceeds from every "Lollipop Tree" dessert (cheesecake lollipops with raspberry cream) sold that day will go to the Lollipop Theater Network, which helps raise funds to bring movies currently in cinemas to children confined in hospitals due to chronic and life-threatening illnesses. If even one child is saved from having to watch "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" for the 40th time, this will have been a rousing success.
Want to see "Food, Inc.," the new documentary about America's food supply? Believe it or not, one of the country's most popular fast-fooderies wants you to see it, too -- for free. Chipotle Mexican Grill -- whose motto is "Food With Integrity" -- is sponsoring two free screenings of the expose this week.
Head to the Landmark Renaissance Place (1850 2nd Street, Highland Park) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. or the Landmark Century Centre (2828 N. Clark, Chicago) on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. to grab a seat. it's first come, first served, so make sure to arrive early. And judging from the film's subject matter, you might want to skip the trip to the concession stand.
We're guessing that you're not one of the lucky few who got invited to the exclusive screening of "Public Enemies" tonight at the AMC River East (unless you're reading this, Roger). But that doesn't mean you can't head down to catch a glimpse of the stars attending the red-carpet event, including Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard and director Michael Mann. They're expected to arrive around 6 p.m., so try and leave work early -- the crowds will be out in full force.
If you were one of the millions who flocked to theaters this weekend to see Pixar's new masterpiece, "Up" — run, don't walk, or tie balloons to your house, whatever — you can continue the fanciful theme of oddball guys fulfilling their dreams by way of helium tank when the Steppenwolf Theatre Co. closes its current season later this month with, er, "Up."
It's not a stage version of the current animated movie. This "Up" is an acclaimed play by Bridget Carpenter and directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro. The story sounds familiar, though: "On the best day of his life, Walter Griffin built a flying machine that reached the clouds. Ever since, he’s tried to recapture that authentic moment of feeling completely free. His son Mikey dreams of a different path to freedom: getting rich. And his wife Helen just dreams of a husband who will keep his feet on the ground. Up is a quirky, bittersweet tale about an American family trying to escape the boundaries of the everyday by harnessing the power of the imagination." Carpenter discusses her inspiration in a video here.
"Up" plays June 18 - Aug. 23 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. Tickets are $20-$45 for the previews, $20-$70 for the regular run.
The Four Seasons hosts a legend on June 13. Filmmaker George Lucas (of "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" fame) will be the guest of honor at an exclusive event, where he will receive the Gene Siskel Film Center Visionary Award for Innovation in Filmmaking. In addition to the presentation of the statue (designed by the team behind Oscar), the white-bearded one will also engage in a discussion led by, um, Jon Favreau (come on, he did direct "Iron Man"). The conversation will include film clips from throughout Lucas's career.
The evening will kick off with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails at 6 p.m., followed by a dinner menu inspired by Lucas's films. Tickets ($400-$1,000) are available by phone at (312) 846-2072.
One question: Does a Storm Trooper suit qualify as "cocktail glam"?
FESTIVAL SHOPPING
The Randolph Street Market Festival, home of the Chicago Antique and Indie Designer markets, returns this weekend for monthly stints. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday this weekend and then the last weekend of each month through September. Admission to the market, bounded by Washington, Ada, Randolph and Ogden, is $10 for both days, $5 for students; children age 12 and younger are free. Featured will be live music, food vendors and shopping. Regular trolleys run from Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan. Call (312) 666-1200.
You've heard the saying, "Work hard, play hard." Well, how about working hard at play?
That's exactly what five local filmmakers have done, as they've collaborated on a feature-length documentary for the fourth installment of the Chicago360 documentary series, presented by Split Pillow, a nonprofit motion picture production and media literacy education company. . This year's theme: "PLAY."
The film, which premieres on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. the Music Box Theatre, is comprised of five mini-documentaries by John Firak, Sam Barber, R.J. Buckler, John Pappas and Jennifer Thornton. It explores the various ways that Chicagoans choose to spend their leisure time. You'll meet adult cheerleaders, house-music DJs, lovesick nerds, street-theatre performers, and a snow biker, among other unique characters. Tickets are $9.25, available at the door only.
Too busy working this week? There will be two additional screenings, on Saturday, May 30 at the Viaduct Theater (7 p.m.), and on Sunday, May 31 at the Hideout (4 p.m.). A Q&A with the filmmakers will follow each screening. Get tickets at www.splitpillow.com.
Did you sit through every minute of "Gigli"? Do you know every line of "Plan 9 From Outer Space"? "It Came From the Neo-Futurarium VIII: Legend of The Neo-Futurarium" is for you.
For the eighth year, the Neo-Futurists crew presents its renditions of the worst films ever made...live on stage. Whether you agree with the choices -- ranging from "Cool As Ice" to "The Naked Killer (Chik loh go yeung)" -- or not, these warped versions are sure to provide more entertainment than the originals. And at $10 a pop, each presentation is no more expensive than a ticket to see "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" (a good bet for a future installment of the series).
The full schedule is after the jump. Shows take place at the Neo-Futurarium June 25-July 30 , on Thursdays at 8 p.m.
IT'S JUST A FLESH WOUND ...
Terry Jones, a founding member of the British comedy troupe Monty Python and co-director of the 1975 movie “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” will host a showing of the film at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway, as part of the theater’s “Meet the Maker” series. An hour-long question-and-answer session after the screening will be a rare treat for Monty Python fans. Tickets are $39.50 to $44.50. Call (773) 472-3492 or visit www.lakeshoretheater.com.
If you know what these are, you need to plan a trip to the museum.
Ever since Daniel Radcliffe went naked in "Equus," we haven't been able to look at Harry Potter in quite the same way. But we're pretty sure we'll fall in love with the young wizard's story all over again once "Harry Potter: The Exhibition" begins at the Museum of Science and Industry on Thursday.
The exhibit, which has caused quite a buzz since it was first announced, will include more than 200 authentic costumes and props from the Potter films, including Harry's original wand and eyeglasses, Gryffindor school uniforms and more, in settings like the Great Hall and Hagrid's hut. There will even be a few scary creatures here and there, but we promise, no gratuitous nudity.
You'll have to buy an additional ticket to get into the exhibition during museum hours (9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday), combined admission will cost $26 for adults and $19 for children 3-11. If you dare to explore after dark, the exhibit will be open until 9 p.m. ($18 adults, $15 for kids).
This week is all about the Hamiltons — three things to do for $10.
1. Make a date with three women
Catch a 9 p.m. screening of “1, 2, y 3 Mujeres” (“1, 2 and 3 Women”), part of the 25th annual Chicago Latino Film Festival. Facets Multimedia Cinematheque, 1517 W. Fullerton; $10.
2. Kick it old school with Benny Goodman Jazz Showcase (806 S. Plymouth) presents a tribute to Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Lester Young and Chic Webb at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m.; $10. Details: (312) 360-0234.
3. Have a “funsplosion”
Comedy duo Kerpatty (Erin Pallesen and Pat Dwyer) present their latest show, “Single Entendre” at 9:30 p.m. in the Sevens cabaret space at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, 777 N. Green; $10. (312) 733-6000.
WHAT A DRAG!
The reunion seems to be sticking for Superdrag, an alt-rock band with roots in Knoxville, Tenn. After a five-year hiatus, Superdrag has a new album, "Industry Giants," and a tour that will bring them to the Metro, 3730 N. Clark, for an 18+over show at Saturday at 9 p.m. Van Ghost and the Nicholis Tremulis Orchestra are also on the bill. Tickets are $20. Call (773) 549-0203 or visit www.metrochicago.com.
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