Hot Stove Cool Music Concert to Feature Poi Dog Pondering, Parkington Sisters, Brede Baldwin & Kay Hanley at The Metro Chicago

I’m thrilled to share an event with you that I’m really looking forward to, which will help a number of youth nonprofit organizations in the Chicago area. Theo Epstein (Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations) and his brother Paul Epstein’s “The Foundation to Be Named Later” is bringing Hot Stove Cool Music back to Chicago this Friday at Metro Chicago, and we hope you can join us for this unforgettable event! A limited number of tickets are still available by visiting www.metrochicago.com or by clicking here.

This is the second time this popular event will be taking place in Chicago, while it has been occurring annually in Theo’s old home of Boston since its inception more than ten years ago. When Theo became a part of the Cubs organization, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to expand this terrific cause by bringing it along with him to Chicago. This year, we have a variety of talented musical acts taking the stage – all in the name of charity.  Dropkick Murphys’ front man Ken Casey was just added to the musical lineup, which will make this event even more fantastic. Also performing will be Poi Dog Pondering, Brede Baldwin, Jimmy Chamberlin from The Smashing Pumpkins, the Parkington Sisters, Scott Lucas from Local H, the Hot Stove All Stars featuring Hall of Fame baseball writer Peter Gammons and former Letters to Cleo vocalist, Kay Hanley.

Hot Stove Cool Music is not just a concert, but a night of celebrating music, baseball, and giving back. Cubs broadcaster Len Kasper will also be in attendance, as well as comedian Joel Murray – a Chicago favorite! – who will emcee the night. And we’ll take a brief break from the music to auction off an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime prize – two tickets to Game 5 of the Stanley Cup in Chicago on June 22 to see your Chicago Blackhawks vs. Boston Bruins!

With your help, we hope to raise money for multiple Chicago nonprofit organizations, including the Chicago Children’s Choir, City Year Chicago, Girls in the Game, Family Reach Foundation, Chicago Wapiti RFC, Late Night Peace Basketball League and Garfield Park Little League. A portion of this year’s proceeds will also go to the Boston Marathon victims’ One Fund Boston.

The Foundation To Be Named Later was launched in 2005 by Theo and Paul, with the mission to raise funds and awareness for nonprofit agencies who work on the front lines to serve disadvantaged youth and families. The Foundation invests in programs that teach leadership, education and healthy development of families. Throughout its existence, we’ve been able to give more than $6 million in grants and in-kind donations to more than 220 nonprofit organizations, and sent approximately 3,500 children to Fenway Park for a ball game. The Peter Gammons/FTBNL College Scholarship is the signature program of the Foundation, and has sent more than 30 young people with high financial needs and high educational potential to the college of their choice. Each Gammons Scholar receives an adult mentor and a laptop computer to ensure college success, and it’s a program we are all proud to support.

We hope you can make it out to Metro Chicago this Friday, June 21 for an amazing night of music, baseball and giving back, all to help support disadvantaged youth and families in the Chicago area. Again, a limited number of tickets are still available and can be purchased by visiting www.metrochicago.com.

See you all there!   -Allyce Najimy, The Foundation To Be Named Later CEO & Executive Director

Tags: blackhawks, Boston, Boston Marathon, Brede Baldwin, Bruins, chicago, chicago children's choir, chicago cubs, Chicago Wapiti RFC, Chicago Year Chicago, cubs, Dropkick Murphys, Family Reach Foundation, Fen way Park, fundraiser, Garfield Park Little League, Girls in the Game, Hot Stove Cool Music, Jimmy Chamberlin, Joey Murray, Kay Hanley, Ken Casey, Late Night Peace Basketball League, Len Kasper, Letters to Cleo, Local H, metro, One Fund Boston, Parkington Sisters, Paul Epstein, Peter Gammons, Poi Dog Pondering, Scott Lucas, smashing pumpkins, The Foundation to Be Named Later, The Metro, Theo Epstein

Sita Ram: An Original World Musical at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance

AChicagoThing presents Sita Ram from Rockit Ranch Productions on Vimeo.

What happens when you combine leaders in the world of Chicago arts, culture & entertainment? An incredible musical that takes its audience on a journey of reflection and self-discovery through song, dance, fashion and design. Sita Ram began in 2002 when Krithika Rajagopalan of Natya Dance Company commissioned founding ensemble member of the Lookingglass Theatre Company, David Kresnar, and Grammy-nominated composer, Jai Uttal, to create a world musical that encompassed Chicago’s rich diversity and culture. The first show premiered in 2006 and was a great success. The Hindu epic, Ramayana, is the basis for Sita Ram as it fuses together the past, present & future – all themes that are as relevant today as they were 3,000 years ago when Ramayana was first written.

Sita Ram is being re-launched this year and will showcase vocal performances from the Chicago Children’s Choir under the music direction of Josephine Lee. Members of the Natya Dance Company will also be an integral part of the show. Critically-acclaimed as one of the most culturally-treasured Indian dance companies in the country, the Natya Dance Company is rooted in Bharata Natyam, one of the great classical dance forms in India. Through dynamic body movement, hand gestures, rhythmic footwork and facial expressions the Natya Dance Company brings a true world-class performance to Sita Ram.

Possibly the most stunning parts of Sita Ram, are the immaculate costumes which are designed by local fashionista & designer, Azeeza Khan. If you were at Dose Market last weekend (and in months past) chances are you saw some fabulous examples of her work at Atelier AZZA. Khan takes traditional Indian aesthetic and elevates it into contemporary design that perfectly complements the elements of Sita Ram.

This incredible musical wouldn’t be possible without the wonderful help of Monika Dixon Public Relations and presenting sponsor, Walgreens. There will be three performances of Sita Ram at the Harris Theater this upcoming weekend:

Friday, December 14^th at 7:30pm

            Saturday, December 15^th at 2:00pm

            Saturday, December 15^th at 7:30pm

Don’t miss your chance to see this spectacular world musical performed by some of Chicago’s greatest singers & dancers, it’s guaranteed to be a fabulous show!

-Alex Chwastek

Tags: : Sita Ram, arts, Atelier AZZA, Azeeza Khan, Bharata Natyam, chicago, chicago children's choir, culture, dance, David Kresnar, diversity, Dose Market, entertainment, fashion, grammys, Harris Theater, Jai Uttal, Josephine Lee, Krithika Rajagopalan, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Monica Dixon PR, Natya Dance Company, Ramayana, Walgreens, world musical

Chicago Children’s Choir “Songs of The Season” Concert

Join the Chicago Children’s Choir December 11th at 3:00PM as they start to celebrate the holiday season. Under the direction of Josephine Lee, this Emmy Award-winning Concert Choir can sing!

Tickets are $15 – $65. Learn more about the choir here: http://www.harristheaterchicago.org/events/2011-2012-season/chicago-childrens-c

- Evan Jones

Tags: chicago, chicago children's choir, choir, Christmas concerts, harris theatre, holiday events