COMEDY PREVIEW: Billy Connolly, no looking back and hold the tomatoes

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to be missed — and the shows to avoid at all costs. The Theater Loop is hosted by Chris Jones, chief theater critic for the Chicago Tribune. We're the online destination for breaking news and reviews of Chicago-area theater, from the downtown shows to suburban theaters to the off-Loop scene. Stop here often to feel the pulse of America’s most vibrant theater city. Plus coverage of Broadway and beyond, and reviews from Tribune contributors Nina Metz and Kerry Reid.

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Comedy | Children's | Chicago | Suburbs
Julia Keller will moderate "Critic's Eye: How the Tribune's Critics See the Chicago Arts Scene" with Chris Jones, Greg Kot, Michael Phillips, Howard Reich and John von Rhein on Oct. 11. More information on Trib Nation. • NEW THEATER LOOP NEWSLETTER
Get the latest news and reviews from Chicago theater on The Theater Loop, delivered to your mailbox weekly. To receive free newsletters and alerts, please register here. If you are already registered, sign in and view your member profile to add or remove newsletters or alerts. • FALL GUIDE / THE TOP-10 LIST:
Chris Jones picks his most-anticipated shows of the new season.
• Plus Kerry Reid's chart of 43 MORE in the city and suburbs.

• FALL GUIDE / MATCH YOUR MOOD: Chris Jones suggests shows to fit your personality, "Rock of Ages" to "Big River."

• HOT NEW FACES: Our annual picks of 10 young actors to watch for on Chicago-area stages.

• 2010 JEFF AWARDS: The nominations are in for the Equity Joseph Jefferson Awards, to be presented Oct. 25.

• "BILLY ELLIOT": When Elton John
first got to know a young dancer named Billy. | REVIEW from the Oriental Theatre

• MEET CHICAGO'S BILLYS:
Sid Smith takes a few moments with Tommy Batchelor, Giuseppe Bausilio, J.P. Viernes and Cesar Corrales. | SLIDESHOW of photos

Shows are rated on a ???? scale

• "The Absolute Best Friggin' Time of Your Life" ? ? ? ?
Open run at Second City e.t.c.

• "Big River" ???
Through Oct. 10 by BoHo at Theater Wit

• "Billy Elliot the Musical" ? ? ? ?
Through Jan. 15 at the Oriental Theatre

• "Billy Connolly Live!" ????
Through Oct. 16 at the Royal George Theatre

• "A Brief History of Helen of Troy" ???
Through Oct. 30 at Steep Theatre

• "The Comedy of Errors" ???
Through Oct. 17 at Court Theatre

• "A Chorus Line" ????
Through Oct. 31 at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire

• "Daddy Long Legs" ???½
Through Oct. 24 at Northlight Theatre

• "Detroit" ???½
Through Nov. 7 at Steppenwolf Theatre

• "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" ???
Through Oct. 10 at Theatre at the Center

• "Frost / Nixon" ???½
Through Oct. 10 at TimeLine Theatre

• "The Invasion of Skokie" ???
Through Oct. 10 at Chicago Dramatists

• "Jailbait" ???
Through Oct. 17 at Profiles Theatre

• "The Lion King" ????
Through Nov. 27 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre

• "A Memory of Two Mondays" ???½
Through Oct. 17 at the Greenhouse Theater Center

• "Million Dollar Quartet" ? ? ?½
Through May 30 at the Apollo Theater

• "Night and Day" ???
Through Oct. 31 by Remy Bumppo at the Greenhouse

• "She Loves Me" ???
Through Nov. 21 at Writers’ Theatre

• "Speed-the-Plow" ????
Through Oct. 31 at American Theater Company

• "Suicide, Incorporated" ? ? ? ?
Through Oct. 10 at The Gift Theatre

• "Thieves Like Us" ???
Through Oct. 30 at the Chopin Theatre

• "1985"
Through Nov. 7 by Factory Theater at Storefront

• "Company"
Through Nov. 14 by Griffin Theatre at Stage 773

• "The Franklin Expedition" and "A Delicate Balance"

• "Zulu Fits"
Through Nov. 7 by MCPAACT at Greenhouse Theater Center

• "Obscura: A Voyeuristic Love Story"
Through Oct. 23 at Red Tape Theatre

• "The Lady's Not for Burning"
Through Oct. 31 at the No Exit Cafe

• "Seven Snakes" and "DIALogues"

• "The Wedding Singer"
Through Oct. 31 at Circle Theatre

• "Candide"
Through Oct. 31 at the Goodman Theatre

• "Wuthering Heights"
Through Oct. 31 at the Lifeline Theatre

• "That Pretty Pretty; or the Rape Play"
and "The Sound of a Yellow Flower"

• "Menorca"
Through Oct. 16 at the 16th Street Theater

• "Romeo and Juliet"
Through Nov. 21 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater

• "1001"
Through Oct. 9 by Collaboraction at Chopin Theatre

• "Closure" and "Debris of the Prophet"

• "Lovers" and "Under America"

• "Sunday in the Park With George"
Through Oct. 31 by Porchlight at Stage 773

• "Louis Slotin Sonata"
Through Oct. 24 by A Red Orchid Theatre

• "Spoiler Alert: Everybody Dies"
Open run on the Second City Mainstage

• "The Addams Family" at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
• "American Idiot" at the St. James Theatre
• "Avenue Q" at the Golden Theatre in New York
• "Behanding in Spokane" at the Schoenfeld Theatre
• "Billy Elliot" at the Imperial Theatre
• "By Bye Birdie" at the Roundabout Theatre
• "Come Fly Away" at the Marquis Theatre
• "Enron" at the Broadhurst Theatre
• "Fences" at Cort Theatre
• "Fela!" at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre
• "God of Carnage" at the Bernard Jacobs Theatre
• "Hair" at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre
• "In the Heights" at the Richard Rodgers Theatre
• "Memphis" at the Shubert Theatre
• "Million Dollar Quartet" at the Nederlander Theatre
• "Next to Normal" at Booth Theatre
• "Promises, Promises" at the Broadway Theatre
• "Race" at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre
• "Rock of Ages" at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre
• "Sondheim on Sondheim" at Studio 54
• "South Pacific" at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre
• "Time Stands Still" at the Friedman Theatre
• "The Miracle Worker" at Circle in the Square
• "A View From the Bridge" at Cort Theater
• "West Side Story" at the Palace Theatre •  Dear Mr. New Mayor, whoever you are ... An open letter about theater and the arts in Chicago
•  'Critic's Eye' is Monday at the new Playhouse
•  '1985' by Factory Theater: Chicago Bears satire '1985' is double-plus ungood
•  Michael Halberstam gets SDC award; David Cromer will present
•  Kerry Reid reviews 'The Franklin Expedition' and 'A Delicate Balance'
•  At the Museum of Contemporary Art, a taste worth trusting in Peter Taub
•  An older, grayer Billy Connolly at Royal George has lost none of his skill for juggling stories
•  Tweet this, Dick Costolo: An Annoyance actor does OK
•  Walter Stearns to exit Porchlight and take over Mercury Theatre
•  COMEDY PREVIEW: Billy Connolly, no looking back and hold the tomatoes

• "August: Osage County"
• "Billy Elliot the Musical"
• "Million Dollar Quartet"
• "Shrek the Musical"
• "The Addams Family"
• 16th Street Theatre
• 500 Clown
• A Red Orchid Theatre
• About Face Theatre
• Actors Theatre Company
• Albany Park Theatre Project
• American Blues Theater
• American Musical Theatre Project
• American Players Theatre
• American Theater Company
• Annoyance Theatre
• Apple Tree Theatre
• Arie Crown Theatre
• Artistic Home
• Athenaeum Theatre
• BackStage Theatre Company
• Bailiwick Chicago
• Black Ensemble Theatre
• Blair Thomas & Co.
• Bohemian Theatre Ensemble
• Broadway
• Broadway in Chicago
• Broadway Playhouse
• Building Stage
• Chicago Children's Theatre
• Chicago Dramatists
• Chicago Muse
• Chicago Shakespeare Theater
• Circle Theatre
• Cirque du Soleil
• City Lit Theater
• Collaboraction
• Congo Square Theatre Company
• Court Theatre
• Dog & Pony Theatre Company
• Drury Lane Theatre
• Eclipse Theatre
• Elephant Eye Theatricals
• Factory Theater
• Gift Theatre
• Goodman Theatre
• Greenhouse Theater Center
• Griffin Theatre
• Hell in a Handbag Productions
• Hoover-Leppen Theater
• House Theatre of Chicago
• Hypocrites
• i.O. Theater
• Infamous Commonwealth
• Joseph Jefferson Awards
• Just For Laughs
• Lifeline Theatre
• Light Opera Works
• Live Bait Theater
• Lookingglass Theatre Company
• Marriott Theatre
• Mary Arrchie Theatre
• Mercury Theatre
• Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
• Neo-Futurists
• New Colony
• Next Theatre
• North Shore Center for the Performing Arts
• Northlight Theatre
• Obituaries
• Pegasus Players
• Piven Theatre Workshop
• Porchlight Music Theatre Chicago
• Profiles Theatre
• Provision Theatre
• Raven Theatre
• Ravinia Festival
• Redmoon Theater
• Redtwist Theatre
• Remy Bumppo Theatre Company
• Rivendell Theatre Ensemble
• Rosemont Theatre
• Route 66 Theatre Company
• Royal George Theatre
• Second City
• Shattered Globe
• Side Project
• Sideshow Theatre Company
• Signal Ensemble Theatre
• Silk Road Theatre Project
• Stage 773
• Stage Left Theatre
• Steep Theatre
• Steppenwolf Theatre Company
• Strangeloop
• Stratford Festival
• Strawdog Theatre
• Teatro Vista
• Teatro ZinZanni
• Theater Oobleck
• Theater Wit
• Theatre at the Center
• Theatre Building Chicago
• Theatre Seven
• Theatre-Hikes
• Theo Ubique Theatre Company
• TimeLine Theatre
• Tony Awards
• Trap Door Theatre
• TUTA Theatre
• Uptown Theatre
• Victory Gardens
• Writers' Theatre
October 2010 postsArchives // (C) 2000 www.CodeLifter.com// http://www.codelifter.com// Free for all users, but leave in this header// message to show in non-IE browsersvar txt ="Bookmark The Theater Loop"// url you wish to have bookmarkedvar url = "http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/";// caption to appear with bookmarkvar who = "Chicago Tribune - The Theater Loop"// do not edit below this line// ===========================var ver = navigator.appNamevar num = parseInt(navigator.appVersion)if ((ver == "Microsoft Internet Explorer")&&(num >= 4)) { document.write(''+ txt + '')}else{ txt += " (Ctrl+D)" document.write(txt)}

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First Grader Goes Missing From School

Posted: 10:11 pm EDT October 7, 2010

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Another student has walked away from a public school while the child was supposed to be in the care of adults. This time it happened at Dodd Elementary School in Allentown. School district officials said a first-grader was escorted by a teacher to the cafeteria at the end of the school day Thursday. At that point, the district said, the teacher handed the child over to an unnamed daycare provider in the school and the teacher left. Sometime after the teacher left and before the daycare provider transported the children to an off-site facility, the first grader went missing. Evidently, the child walked home and ended up safely in the care of a neighbor. School district officials said the police were notified as soon as they realized the student was missing. While district officials said the child was in the care of the daycare provider, they said they're always continuing to improve their procedures and will look into the incident. In early March of this year, a seven-year-old student walked out of Roosevelt Elementary School in Allentown unnoticed during the school day. She walked five blocks to her grandparents' house. At the time, then-superintendent Karen Angello told 69 News, "I was most concerned that it occurred and I do feel it's unacceptable. As a result, as we do with all incidents when they occur, we revisit all of our safety plans at all of our schools because we don't want this to be repeated." Roosevelt's principal addressed the security lapse with the school staff. Copyright 2010 WFMZ. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Dragon Saga goes into Open Testing

Marina Del Rey - Gravity Interactive, a world renowned massively multiplayer online game publisher, is proud to announce Dragon Saga (formally Dragonica Online) will be going into its first open testing phase from October 14, 2010 through October 18, 2010, with a second testing phase to begin later in the month. This will be the fourth title to be added to the WarpPortal.com growing list of free-to-play games.

"We are very excited to be bringing Dragon Saga back…" said Yoshinori Kitamura, Chief Executive Officer of Gravity Interactive, "…and welcoming new members to our WarpPortal community. Because Dragon Saga has been previously launched in North America, the bar has been set pretty high. We are striving to provide the best possible game experience for all Dragon Saga players, new and old. "

Many former Dragonica players (now Dragon Saga players) will be able to access their characters from the beginning of the second phase of testing. These players will also notice that many updates have been added since they last played, including many elements of the "Paris Strikes Back" update, which will include a raised level cap to 70, 4th classes and more…

More Information about Dragon Saga and its WarpPortal.com:

http://www.playdragonsaga.com

http://www.warpportal.com

About Dragon Saga
Dragon Saga, formally known as Dragonica Online, is rated 'E10+' for everyone over the age of 10 and is filled with a rich storyline, beautiful lands, challenging boss battles, and comical skill moves. It redefines traditional arcade-style fun for all types of MMO players! Dragon Saga's combat is fast and intense so players need to master the unique attacks, combo chains and advanced skills of their class to stay on top. Multiple gameplay modes provide countless scenarios for combat and exploration, as players face off against massive bosses, explore mysterious dungeons or engage in PvP and Guild–on-Guild free-for-alls. Cash Shop items and a diverse pet system help players customize their experience, while social elements such as Player Matching make group play easier than ever.

About Gravity Interactive, Inc.
Headquartered in Marina Del Rey, CA, Gravity Interactive, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Korean based Gravity Co., Ltd. (GRVY) Gravity is a leading global developer and publisher of a wide variety of online games including both casual and hardcore MMO's and online games. The company's most successful title, Ragnarok Online, has about 50 million registered users worldwide with over 3 million in the US, ranking the title amongst the most popular online games played throughout the world.

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Black Ops Pre-Sales Pass Modern Warfare 2

If pre-order sales are any indication, Call of Duty: Black Ops will likely be one of the best selling titles for the next year.

GameStop announced today Activision's newest shooter is tracking ahead of last year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, which has since gone on to sell over 20 million copies worldwide.

"GameStop is tracking to all-time, record reservations on Call of Duty: Black Ops," said GameStop SVP of merchandising Bob McKenzie. "We are ahead of where we were with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 last year, which previously set the industry standard."

Those who pre-order Black Ops at GameStop, whether in-store or online, can enter the company's "Surprize Attack" sweepstakes. A code printed on the receipt can be entered on the official contest website to win one of several prizes, including a Jeep Wrangler.

Call of Duty: Black Ops launches nationwide on November 9.

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EXCLUSIVE: First Look at NECA Cult Classics 1978 HALLOWEEN Michael Myers Figure

HALLOWEEN fans get ready to pick your jaws off of the floor. This is the most realistic classic 7 inch Michael Myers figure ever created, period (they nailed the mask)! No solid release date has been announced but look for this to go on pre-sale very soon. As always we will update you the minute we get the information. This figure comes complete with H1 pumpkin and Lamson knife. This is a MUST have!...

Follow up:

Source: HorrorBid

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BioWare Rewards Eager Fans with Free Upgrade to the Dragon Age II BioWare Signature Edition

EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada - Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), announced today the Dragon Age™ II BioWare Signature Edition. This limited edition of the highly anticipated action RPG will be available at no extra cost for gamers who pre-order Dragon Age II before January 11, 2011. Featuring over $20 of additional content, the Dragon Age II BioWare Signature Edition includes the full version of Dragon Age II, along with a download code for an additional playable character and new missions, the Dragon Age II digital soundtrack, an exclusive in-game digital armory featuring a variety of weapons and other digital items. The Dragon Age II BioWare Signature Edition will only be available for pre-order and online purchase on or before January 11, 2011.*

"Over the past 15 years, we've been privileged to have the support of a passionate community of fans, who continue to grow in number with every game we release," said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Senior Vice President of Electronic Arts and co-founder and Group General Manager of BioWare. "The BioWare Signature Edition of Dragon Age II is a chance for us to reward loyal fans who pre-order the game by providing them with additional high-quality content for free."

Dragon Age II is the sequel to the 2009's "RPG of the Year", featuring faster-paced action, striking new art direction and a gripping storytelling approach that allows gamers to experience the rise to power with the game's key character, Hawke. A refugee who survives the destruction of his homeland, Hawke becomes the Champion of Kirkwall but the lore surrounding his rise to power is shrouded in myth and rumor. These mysteries are the driving force behind the all-new Dragon Age II story, which spans nearly 10 years in the Dragon Age universe. Players will experience how the legend unfolds by gathering the deadliest of allies, making tough moral choices, amassing fame and fortune and sealing their place in history.

Dragon Age II will be available on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and PC in North America on March 8, 2011 and in Europe on March 11, 2011. For more information on Dragon Age II, please visit www.DragonAge.com, follow the game at twitter.com/dragonage and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DragonAgeOrigins.

* After January 11, 2011 the Dragon Age II BioWare Signature Edition will no longer be available for purchase or pre-order.

About BioWare
BioWare develops high quality console, PC and online role-playing games, focused on rich stories, unforgettable characters and vast worlds to discover. Since 1995, BioWare has created some of the world's most critically acclaimed titles, including Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire, Mass Effect and Dragon Age. BioWare operates in Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), Montreal (Quebec), Austin (Texas), Fairfax (Virginia) and Galway (Ireland). Currently announced projects at BioWare include the development of ongoing downloadable content for Mass Effect 2, one of the highest rated video games of all time, Dragon Age 2, the highly anticipated sequel to 2009's "RPG of the Year" Dragon Age: Origins, and the story-driven massively multiplayer online game, Star Wars: The Old Republic™. In 2008, BioWare was acquired by Electronic Arts, a leading global interactive entertainment publisher. For more information on BioWare, visit www.bioware.com, or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/biofeed. To join the millions of fans already registered on our community, go to http://social.bioware.com.

About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA SPORTS, EA, EA Mobile and POGO. In fiscal 2010, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $3.7 billion and had 27 titles that sold more than one million units. EA's homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.

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Industry Veterans Launch 11 Bit Studios

Warsaw, Poland - The formation of 11 bit studios, a Warsaw-based video game developer, was announced today in the Polish capital. Founded by former Metropolis Software/CD Projekt Group staff who've set out to carve their own place in the games industry in an independent studio, 11 bit will focus on high-value, high-quality, digitally-distributed games.

The team, which has produced games for major publishers including Ubisoft, Atari, Interplay and Monolith, aims to deliver unique and pioneering gameplay experiences for a wide range of platforms, including PC, iPhone, iPad and more. 11 bit's first title will be unveiled next week.

"The games industry is constantly changing, and there is a tremendous opportunity for independent developers to succeed and to push the boundaries of gameplay on digital platforms," said Grzegorz Miechowski, Managing Director of 11 bit studios. "We're going to create games that introduce unique gameplay mechanics, carry high production values and are, most importantly, fun for both hardcore gamers and more casual players."

For more information, visit http://www.11bitstudios.com and follow the studio on Twitter (@11bitstudios) and Facebook.

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