Spotlight: Comedian Kevin Bozeman headlines the reopening of Crystal Lake's Raue
Stand-up at Raue Center
Chicago native Kevin Bozeman (“Last Comic Standing,” Comedy Central's “Premium Blend”) headlines the reopening of the Raue Center in Crystal Lake. Bozeman, whose latest special “Clean & Unfiltered” runs on the Dry Bar YouTube channel, performs along with featured comedian Kevin Fowler, whose debut album, “Friends with 401(k) Benefits,” is available on iTunes.
7 and 9 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Virtual tickets start at $10, in-person tickets start at $35. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.
Otherworld online
Improvised Jane Austen, Out on a Whim and Improvised Riverdale are among the ensembles performing during Otherworld Theatre Company's second Genrethon Comedy Festival: An Online Celebration of Nerdom in Comedy. Postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Genrethon 2020 has been re-imagined as an online showcase featuring the improvised Japanese game show “BATSU!,” Push Theatre's “Venetian Blinds,” and Dork Court's “Animal Crossing vs. Sims” among other performances.
“Without the confines of the theater we've truly opened ourselves up to endless possibilities,” said managing director and festival curator Katie Roberts in a prepared statement. “Chicago comedy is entering a new era right now, and it's invigorating to see artists adapt in real time to this new digital medium.”
Friday through Sunday, July 10-12, on Otherworld Theatre's platform at youtube.com. Free. See otherworldtheatre.org.
Virtual 'Mother Goose'
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre presents the family-friendly “Mother Goose Lost!” livestreamed on the company's Facebook page. Written and directed by artistic director Andrew Pond, “Mother Goose Lost!” tells the story of what happens when the titular storyteller retires and the evil Solomon Grundy rewrites her rhymes.
1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, from July 11 through Aug. 2. Free, but donations are welcome. See eclectic-theatre.com.
Felder as Beethoven
Hershey Felder follows his May livestream performance as Irving Berlin with another event. “Hershey Felder: Beethoven” will be livestreamed from Felder's Florence, Italy, home. Based on “Memories of Beethoven: Out of the House of Black-Robed Spaniards” by Dr. Gerhard von Breuning, the play-with-music chronicles Ludwig van Beethoven's life while also incorporating some of his most beloved works including “Moonlight Sonata” and “Sonata Pathetique” among others.
7 p.m. Sunday, July 12. $55. See hersheyfelder.net.
Destinos rescheduled
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chicago Latino Theater Alliance has rescheduled Destinos: The 4th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival showcasing local, national and international theater artists and productions. The third incarnation in 2019 showcased 11 companies and played to more than 9,000 people. Destinos has been rescheduled for fall 2021. See clata.org.
In other news
American Blues Theater is accepting submissions for its 2021 Blue Ink Playwriting Award. Established in 2010 to support new works, the award comes with a $1,250 prize. Playwrights should submit one copy of the manuscript to americanbluestheater.com by 11:59 p.m. Aug. 1.
Northlight Theatre invites high school students and aspiring theater artists to join its Northlight Youth Council where members get an insider's view of how professional theater is made. Applications are due by July 26. See northlight.org/programs.
The ghost light remains on at Court Theatre. Until live performances begin again, the Chicago theater is livestreaming its empty stage at courttheatre.org/theliminalspace “to allow viewers to remember and contemplate all that has transpired between their theater's walls.” The theater “holds a special place in so many of our artists and audience members' hearts,” said artistic director Charles Newell in a prepared statement. “While we aren't able to currently gather in our space, I'm thrilled about offering the broader community the opportunity to find sanctuary in our auditorium while contemplating the way in which live theater has impacted their lives.”