American Blues Theatre continues with their “Soldier Spotlights” at performances of this year’s critically acclaimed staging of “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!” The five servicemen spotlighted this week include:

Thursday, 12/10 8 p.m.: 1^st Lt. Milton Greenfield, Army.  Greenfield’s heroic efforts during World War II earned him nine medals including the Distinguished Service Medal and the Purple Heart. He saved the lives of three soldiers while under heavy fire and witnessed the loss of his entire crew during a single battle.

Saturday 12/12 5 p.m.: John “Fred” Sharpe, Sgt., 1^st class, Army.

As part of the 3275th Quartermaster Service Company, his first assignment was to set up and receive units in Normandy. He later went on to participate in the Battle of The Bulge. After the war, he became mentor to many troubled youth as a counselor at Sullivan House, coached Little League baseball and volunteered at Bryn Mawr Elementary School.

American Blues Theatre presents “It’s A Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!” now through Dec. 27.  All performances take place in the new Studio at Victory Gardens Theater at the Biograph, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago.  For tickets or more information call the Victory Gardens box office at 773-871-3000 or visit victorygardens.org.

Centre East, at the North Shore Center for Performing Arts in Skokie, is giving budget conscious holiday shoppers a special treat with its first ever Black Friday Sale. Beginning 10 a.m. on the busiest shopping day of the year, Fri., Nov. 27, anyone who uses code FRIDAY when purchasing single tickets will receive a 20% discount off regular ticket price for the 17 events remaining in the 2009-2010 season. Read the rest of this entry »

Don’t miss Cirque Shanghai Bright Spirit now playing at the Pepsi® Skyline Stage® on Navy Pier through September 7. This jaw dropping, eye popping, heart stopping and breathtakingly beautiful show is fun for all ages.

This dazzling showcase of strength, agility and grace is meticulously choreographed to a specially produced musical score and performed with ingenious stagecraft, offering audiences a full-scale theatrical experience. Full of energy, color, raw power and fluid beauty, Cirque Shanghai Bright Spirit is a soaring celebration of life appearing only in Chicago and only at Navy Pier for this limited summer engagement.

Special Get Out Chicago contest– enter to win ten tickets to a Cirque Shanghai performance. Enter here to win tickets by answering the following question: Name one act in Cirque Shanghai (Hint: Go to www.cirqueshanghai.com for the answer!) put your answer in the notes field. We will randomly draw a winner Monday morning.

Need a one-stop shop for entertainment this year? Just a hop, skip and a jump from Westfield Old Orchard shopping mall, Centre East at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts has a really cool 30th Anniversary Season lined up, full of theater, comedy, music, dance, including the likes of Second City, the stars of “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”,these guys below, and many more. Click here to see a full list of the Season’s performances.

Single tickets go on sale to the public beginning Saturday, Aug. 15 at 10 a.m. by phone at 847-673-6300, online at northshorecenter.org or in person at the box office at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. And there are some PERKS to being an early bird: The first 100 buyers at the box office window will get gift bags with items from Centre East artists and promotional partners. Snacks and drinks will also be provided in the lobby 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.  Free parking is available. Groups of 15 or more, call GroupTix: 877-4-GRP-TIX (877-447-7849).

On Thursday afternoon, I attended a special Cavalia performance for Chicagoland charities. After a quick lunch under the White Big Top (sitting a couple of tables away from some of the performers!), the show started. Charities from all around Chicago were there, including Lighthouse for the Blind, Boy Scouts of America, Equestrian Connection, St. Agnes Health Care and Rehab, Skinner Park Summer Camp, and many more! It was amazing to see both children and adults alike mesmerized by the performers and the horses.

After the performance, a few charities were lucky enough to go backstage and chat with some of the performers and see the horse stables.

Click here for more information about Cavalia, which is running through August 16, at Racine and Jackson, under the White Big Top.

Check Cirque Shanghai out backstage at Daley Plaza this past Monday in celebration of Chinese Cultural Week! How many of you can do this at home?

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We were lucky enough to attend and staff the Cavalia opening night on Tuesday and had such a blast! We ran into the likes of Cubs and Sox players, rapper Kid Sister, man-about-town Billy Dec, all sorts of media writers and… our GetOutChicago winners! See below for some photos and our VIDEO!

The show was exquisite: full of  live music, entrancing multimedia video, gravity-defying acrobats, and of courses, the very trained and talented horses. After the show, we headed to the reception in the chic Rendez-Vous tent lounge and enjoyed the company of the VIPs and the delicious celebration food.

Want to see what goes on in rehearsals at the Goodman Theatre? Or how about an interview with a professional set designer? Take a look at Collaboration’s Blog Site for some intenso rehearsal shots and an interview with set designer, Regina Garcia, from Collaboration and Teatro Vista’s production of El Grito del Bronx.Her set models are so cute!

The pasión begins July 15 – Plus, use the code “El Grito” and get 2-for-1 tickets to the show!

P.S. And don’t worry if you don’t speak Spanish… the show is in English!