Do Division Holiday Walk Festival
Division Street Merchants

The streets and shops along Division Street will act as a winter wonderland of Live Performances adn Holiday Shopping during Division Street Merchants annual family-friendly Do-Division Holiday Walk Festival.


12/01/07 - 12/01/07

11a-9p;
Free Live Theatre/Performances 3p-7p


The streets and shops along Division Street will act as a winter wonderland of Live Performances adn Holiday Shopping during Division Street Merchants annual family-friendly Do-Division Holiday Walk Festival.

Division Street Merchants and Chopin Theatre invite you to Magical Holiday Movie Moments , performances, songs and music based on memorable holiday films and television programs.

Please join us Sat Dec 1st at 2034 W. Division (just West of Division and Damen):

3:00 Welcome - Mark Smith, Poetry Slam Supa Star. Our internationally recognized host for the evening

3:05 “Rudolf vs Global Warming – Expatriates Theater (11’)
When Santa pulls half the reindeer team off Christmas detail to help him save the North Pole from melting, Rudolph steps in to find an alternative fuel source to power Santa’s sleigh while getting a little help from old friends. Directed by Karen Yates featuring company members from Backstage and TUTA theaters.

3:20 “A Christmas Story” – Empiric Theater (16’)
In 1950s America danger looms everywhere in the mind of 9-year-old boy, Ralphie Parker. Bullies, burglars, frozen metal poles and bars of soap all threaten to shatter his idyllic slice of Americana. There is only one solution--an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle! Follow Ralphie's struggle to get his hands on the perfect Christmas gift. Directed by Zach Zulauf

3:40 “International Holiday Songs” – DanMar Singers (5’)

3:45 “Rudolf vs Global Warming – Expatriates Theater (11’)

4:00 “Holidays..Improvised” – Doubleplay/Around the Coyote (10’)
doubleplay is an improvised one-act theatrical piece with improvised live musical underscore. None of the elements--characters, relationship, setting, plot, dialogue, music--is known in advance; the performers discover the piece as it is happening. doubleplay is a project of director Jonathan Pitts, actors Joe Yau and Ranjit Souri, and musician Joe Eisman. doubleplay has been performed at Athenaeum Theatre, The Chicago Improv Festival, and The Around the Coyote Festival.

4:15 “A Christmas Story” – Empiric Theater (16’)

4:35 “Too Much Santa Claus” - Free Street Youth Theatre (10’)
Christmas is a time for friends, family and SHOPPING. But one store has a problem – Santa’s sick. The kids are waiting and anxious. A new Santa is needed. And quick. Directed by Daniel Jacewicz.

4:50 Holiday Jazz – Paul Giallorenzo of Elastic Revolution (5’)
Paul Giallorenzo is an improviser, composer, and sound designer using piano, synthesizer, and electronics. His music ranges from jazz and improvised to electro-acoustic / noise. He’s co-founder and director of the Elastic Arts Foundation (EAF), a non-profit arts organization based out of the Logan Square venue ELASTIC.
4:55 “Holidays..Improvised” – Doubleplay/Around the Coyote (10’)

5:05 The Undertones Acapella Group – Northwestern University (5’)

5:15 “Holiday Songs” - AN Pritzer School Band (10’)

5:30 “A Nightmarish Christmas” – The Strange Tree Group (15’)
The Strange Tree Group spoofs the Nightmare before Christmas with 17 actors and musicians taking on Jack Skellington and the monsters before Christmas. Directed by Carolyn Klein and Emily Schwartz.

5:45 “It’s A Wonderful Slice of It’s A Wonderful Life” - Mike Nowak (10’)
A 10-minute, one-person, live version of the legendary Christmas film. Chicago actor and WGN Radio personality Mike Nowak squishes Frank Capra's two-and-a-half hour Hollywood classic into one short madcap presentation. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you can say you saw the movie this year even though it took you only ten minutes.

6:00 Christmas Tree Lighting (5’)

6:05 “Too Much Santa Claus” - Free Street Youth Theatre (10’)

6:15 Holiday Jazz – Paul Giallorenzo of Elastic Revolution (5’)

6:20 “It’s A Wonderful Slice of It’s A Wonderful Life” - Mike Nowak (10’)

6:30 Mark Smith’s Favorite Holiday Moments (5’)

6:35 “A Nightmarish Christmas” – The Strange Tree Group (15’)

6:50 The Ransom Notes Acapella Group – University of Chicago (5’)

7:00 Good Night

The day’s musical interludes provided by Paul Giallorenzo of Elastic Revolution.

Another highlight is the generous sales offered at various Division Street boutiques many offering discounts of 25-50% off. Early bird bargain hunters strongly encouraged. Plus women can check their male companions into the new sports bar The Boundary that is set to be the official “Man Sitting” spot for men to congregate. Shopping and strolling begins at 11 a.m. and continues throughout the evening.

The Do Division Holiday Walk festival is supported by SSA#33, North Community Bank, Interstate Bank, Westtown Chamber of Commerce and Windy City Scooter.

Director
Karen Yates, Emily Schwartz, Carolyn Klein, Zach Zulauf, Mike Nowak, Ranjit Souri, Joe Yau,

Performers
Rudolf vs Global Warming : Eric Paskey, Seth Zurer, Nick Szymanski, PJ Schoeny, Eric Reithel, Jazmin Corona, Kerensa Peterson. Costumes: Darcy Hofer. A Christmas Story : Augie Praley. Holiday Improv : Ranji t Souri, Joe Yau and Joe Eisman. Undertones Acapella : Northwestern University. A.N. Pritker Band : 7 advanced band students directed by Mike Trumbo (musichouseinc.com). A Nightmarish Christmas : Jack Skellington (Weston Davis), Sally (Delia Baseman), Mayor/French Horn (Scott Cupper), Dr. Finkelstein/Guitar (Wes Clark), Zero/Accordion (Thomas Zeitner), Vampires (Jennifer Marschand, Jenifer Henry), Vampire Bat (Carol Enoch), Witches (Kate Nawrocki, Emily Schwartz), Mummy (Kara Klein), Boy on Leash (Megan Baskin), Werewolf/Banjo (Tom Mackey), Behemoth/Guitar (Mark Verne), Frankenstein's Monster/Guitar (Matt Holzfeind). It's A Wonderful Slice : Mike Nowak. Ransom Notes Acapella : University of Chicago

Production
First Annual Magical Movie Moments is created and produced by Chopin Theatre.
Stage Managers: Sharon Lanza, Kasia Wrobel; Photographers: Leslie Schwartz, Krzysztof Babiracki (babiracki.com); Filmmaker: Adam Snow (pixelatedmonkey.com); Film Editor: Jack Newell.

Tags: Festival, American, 2007