Even though the 2011 Naked July Festival at National Pastime Theater does not officially begin for nearly a month, the festival organizers have announced that tickets are already on sale for the performances that run from June 24th through August 6th. As in previous years, you can purchase tickets for individual performances, but if you plan to see all of the shows, you may prefer to purchase a festival pass. Click here to go directly to the secure online ticket page.
If you have not experienced the Naked July experience in past years, be sure to make your way to the historic National Pastime Theater on North Broadway this summer to be a part of this unique and artistic celebration of the beauty of the human body. Unlike many other theater ensembles that purport to stage daring and edgy performance pieces, the intrepid artistic directors and performers at NPT have the courage to explore themes of sexuality, nudity, and body acceptance in a frank and uncensored manner. It is an experience for theatergoers who want to be stimulated and enlightened.
In addition to this year’s version of The Living Canvas titled Rain that was discussed in the previous post, Naked July 2011 will also feature Oscar Wilde’s Salome with some new and provocative takes on the classic tale of sexual desire and the hypnotic beauty of the naked human form. Salome’s iconic “dance of the seven veils” ushers in an unforgettable and riveting climax to the tale, but the entire performance will draw the audience into a world of lust, desire, and seduction. You may think that you know the classic tale of the young woman who dances to please King Herod, but be prepared for a bold new take on this familiar story.
Adding a new and entertaining twist to this year’s Naked July Festival is a cabaret variety show known as the Beast Women, a cavalcade of music, poetry, dance, and burlesque. The cast is diverse and talented, and because of this, you can expect that the performances will change during the festival with new and different acts. A post in the Chicago Theater Blog sums up the tantalizing experience of the Beast Women: “Expect the laughs to be full figured, the songs to dip into deep seriousness, and the belly dancing to round out the evening with more sensual joie de vivre than the usual bump and grind.”
Like last year, the lobby of the National Pastime Theater will be transformed into an art gallery, and special events like figure painting and weekly auctions of the art pieces will take place at this historic venue. New this year is a film festival to complement the live performances in the “old speakeasy”.
In the weeks ahead, we will provide some behind-the-scenes coverage of the shows, post some production photos to help you to learn more about the performers, and provide updates of special events. Be sure to get your tickets and become a part of Naked July 2011.
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