Last Weekend for Naked July 2011

Another very successful Naked July Festival is drawing to a close at the National Pastime Theater, and now only one weekend of performances remains on the calendar before the festival comes to an end. With three different shows scheduled for the NPT stage this weekend, there is still time to see these outstanding shows for the first time or to return for one last look before they are gone.

Salome (August 19 and 20, 8:00 pm)

Many theater companies have staged Oscar Wilde’s classic tale of lust and greed employing a wide variety of interpretations. While some directors have opted for gothic or contemporary settings, sometimes with kinky overtones, Laurence Bryan has crafted his NPT production in a no-nonsense manner that remains true to Wilde’s original intent. Many critics have praised the current production of Salome that is one of the anchors of the Naked July Festival this summer, but Brian Kirst in a recent issue of Sheridan Road Magazine sums up the strength of Bryan’s show as well as any writer:

“Oscar Wilde’s Salome recounts the biblical tale of the privileged and spoiled stepdaughter of a king who demands the head of John the Baptist for a seductive dance. And, indeed, Salome’s dance is a whirling marvel, here, delivered with pout and criminal intent by her young portrayer, Rebecca Wolfe. What stands out the most in this simply elegant production, though, is the beauty of Wilde’s language. Whether exploring the tormented complexities of passion or the blank beauty of the moon, Wilde’s words are poetically intriguing and frankly honest. Director Lawrence Bryan thankfully lets them speak for themselves and guides his cast to subtle, honest portrayals.”

The Living Canvas: Rain (August 19 and 20, 10:00 pm)
Much has already been written on this site about the incredible Living Canvas multimedia experience, and audiences this year have been especially intrigued and amazed by the addition of water to the story this summer. Rain features one of the larger Living Canvas ensembles in recent history, and the fourteen talented men and women who perform nude while moving through an ever-changing kaleidoscope of colorful projected patterns draw the audience into a compelling story that will create indelible memories that will persist long after the house lights go up. The audience participation segment is as popular as ever, so if you are looking for relief from the summer heat, you have two more opportunities this weekend to toss your clothes, get wet with the cast onstage, and become a part of the “living canvas” experience.

Carnival of Curiosity and Chaos (August 19, Midnight)
This late-night show by some of Chicago’s most outrageous and intrepid performance artists has something to offer for audience members who are interested in acts that are beyond the realm of the ordinary or traditional. This unique concept is best summed up in the words of performer Tom Hill:

"The freaks display their acts for peoples’ unquenchable curiosity for the outlandish and the unknown. Witness these human attractions for yourself--you will not see anything like this. The dangers are real; therefore, this is not for the faint of heart. It is an 18 and older show. Throughout the show, audience members will be given opportunities to assist with the freak performers."

Remember also that the Naked July art auction will continue until the final performances on Saturday, August 20, so plan to arrive at the theater early so you have time to look over the paintings, drawings, and sculptures that fill the NPT lobby. Don’t miss out on the final days of Naked July 2011—call the NPT box office at 773-327-7077 or visit the secure online ticket site to reserve your seats.

Rave Reviews for Rain

If you have been following the theater reviews for the Naked July shows this summer, you have probably noticed that several reviewers have heaped praise on the current show by the Living Canvas ensemble titled Rain. If you have missed them, here are some excerpts from several reviews with links to the full versions of the stories. There are only four more performances for this great Living Canvas show on the schedule this summer (August 12, 13, 19, and 20), so if you want to be mesmerized by this marvelous multimedia experience, be sure to get to the National Pastime Theater in the next two weeks before the shows close on August 20.


Writing in a recent issue of New City, Zach Freeman writes “Rain is the eighth Living Canvas show in Chicago and it’s clear that artistic director Pete Guither has really made this one a collaborative effort. Working with a script by Bill Daniel, sound designer Isaac Mandel and director/choreographer Gaby Labotka (along with the talented cast) have created a moving, funny and visually striking piece that plays out beneath Guither’s projected images. Like the water that the show constantly references, Rain effortlessly flows from one vignette to the next till it reaches its impressively splashy finale. Most notably, Rain succeeds in its mission of letting the audience see the (non-sexual) beauty in bodies of all shapes and sizes.” Read the full article in the online version of New City.

Tom Williams wrote an extensive review of Rain in the Chicago Critic blog and he gives the show a “recommended” rating. After presenting a detailed synopsis of the plot of the show, Williams sums up the spirit of Rain with his final observations: “The fun culminates with a funny rendition of “Singing in The Rain” that found the cast splashing water around while spinning their umbrellas. The audience roared their approval. The show was fun especially for those adventurous audience members who eagerly stripped naked and joined the cast on stage upon an invitation from the cast. The fun show has a visceral appeal for more than the voyeuristic; it is a pleasant and tasteful expression of the human body. The cast and the audience have fun and no one is getting exploited- all play homage to the natural beauty of the body. If you’ve never been to a Living Canvas show – try this one – it’s fun.” The full review is available at the Chicago Critic site.

Likewise, the reviewer for the Sheridan Road blog had praise for the technological qualities of the lighting and sound that are at the core of this multimedia show, and concludes with this observation: “Because of this technical ingenuity, The Living Canvas: Rain ultimately offers itself up as one of the most unique and intensely beautiful stage shows that one is lucky enough to experience in their lifetime.” Click here to read the full article on the Sheridan Road site.

Don’t miss the final shows this summer and, when you do come to National Pastime Theater to immerse yourself in this amazing experience, don’t forget that you are invited to join the cast onstage at the end of the show to shed your inhibitions (and your clothes) to find out what it feels like to be a “living canvas.”

Vagina Monologues and a Curious Carnival

As the 2011 Naked July Festival at National Pastime Theater winds down, there are still several special events and performances left on the schedule before closing night later this month. Both Salome and Living Canvas: Rain have been extended until Saturday, August 20, and two other special performances have been added to the schedule as well.

The Vagina Monologues, the groundbreaking play by Eve Ensler, will be performed in a staged reading at 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 7. Since the first version of this play was performed in 1996, Ensler’s work based on interviews with more than 200 women has received critical acclaim and has spawned a national movement known as VDay that has helped to raise awareness and funds for rape crisis centers and other resources for women. Kaitlen Osburn directed this staged reading which was added to the Naked July schedule as one more means to advance the themes of the festival this year.

Another recent addition to the Naked July schedule is a completely unique and outrageous performance piece titled The Carnival of Curiosity & Chaos: Male Review Show. With acts including trapeze silks, “human bulletin board,” bed of nails, and “block head,” this event is sure to satisfy those who seek courageous and unusual live entertainment. Tom Hill, Jeffrey Pressley, and Eric Green are the scheduled performers for this special event that will be staged at midnight on Friday, August 19.

The true nature of this unique performance piece is revealed on the Carnival of Curiousity and Chaos Facebook page:

"Witness These Human Attractions For Yourself, You Will Not See Anything Like This. The Dangers Are Real Therefore These Performances Are Not for the Faint of Heart And Are 18 And Older Shows. Throughout The Show Audience Members Will Be Given Opportunities To Assist With The Freak Performers, Talk About An Up-Close Experience!"


Only two weeks remain for Naked July 2011, so if you have not yet made your way to National Pastime Theater, be sure to check out these special shows and get your tickets for Salome and Rain before they close on August 20.