Victory Gardens Gives New Meaning to 'Child Play'

VICTORY GARDENS FAMILY SATURDAY SERIES GIVES NEW MEANING TO "CHILD PLAY"
PARENTS WATCH THE SHOW, WHILE WE WATCH YOUR KIDS!

Victory Gardens' "Family Saturday" series kicks off October 18th with Eurydice

See five plays for only $155 per parent with an introductory Family Saturday subscription

Parents, when was the last time you and your spouse enjoyed an evening of live theater - without worrying about the high cost and hassle of finding someone to watch your kids?

Probably not since before you had them!

It's time to act like adults again, and Victory Gardens Theater's Family Saturday series makes it easy.

Victory Gardens is the only Chicago theater that provides an opportunity for parents to experience award-winning live theater, without the bother of finding a sitter. At Victory Gardens' Family Saturday performances, parents watch the show, while VGT educational professionals watch your kids!

Six Family Saturday performances ­ one per production ­ are slated for Victory Gardens' 2008-2009 season. The Family Saturday series kicks off Saturday, October 18 at 5 pm with Victory Gardens' 2008-2009 season opener, Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl. VGT education professionals will keep children 4 years and older entertained with theater games, crafts and storytelling in the Prince Charitable Trusts Rehearsal Room, while their parents are downstairs enjoying a Pulitzer Prize nominee's fresh take on the classic Orpheus myth in Victory Gardens¹ beautiful new Biograph Theater mainstage.

In addition to instilling a love for theater, Family Saturday kids' activities are tailored to each play's themes - guaranteeing a lively post-show conversation on the drive home.

Dina Berne, mother of Sophie (10) and Miriam (8), a Family Saturday subscriber last season, elaborated, "We were amazed at the amount of planning that went into the childcare. For each play there were activities for the kids that drew from the central theme of the show we were seeing downstairs. Our daughters had a great time, while my husband and I were able to enjoy a "grown-up" time in the city."

Berne added, "Being able to attend a play without the hassle of finding a sitter and then worrying that they might cancel was tremendous. Of course, not feeling rushed during the travel time to and from the theater was an added bonus."

As icing on the cake, parents are encouraged to check in during intermission and join their kids for free gourmet cupcakes, courtesy of Victory Gardens' Official Snack Sponsor, Swirlz Cupcakes.

The Victory Gardens Biograph Theater is located at 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue, in the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Call the box office - 773.871.3000 ­ to reserve seats for the October 18th Family Saturday for Eurydice.  Single tickets are $48, plus a nominal $5 sitting fee per child.

Want to save even more money, while scheduling five guaranteed date nights with your spouse? Be sure to ask about Victory Gardens' introductory five-play Family Saturday subscription offer - only $155 per parent! That's five date nights for just over $300!  Or, download an order form at
http://www.victorygardens.org/familysaturday

VICTORY GARDENS¹ 2008/09 FAMILY SATURDAY PERFORMANCES ARE:

Eurydice
Saturday, October 18, 2008 5 PM
A fresh take on the Greek Orpheus myth by MacArthur Genius award winner Sarah Ruhl.

The Snow Queen
Saturday, December 6, 2008 3 PM
Chicago's #1 alternative to traditional holiday fare, back by popular demand, for ages 8 and up. While The Snow Queen might scare younger children, bring the whole family anyway, and leave your little ones with us!

Living Green
Saturday, February 7, 2009 5 PM
A modern-day homage to A Raisin in the Sun.

Class Dismissed
Saturday, April 4, 2009 5 PM
A comedy set in the 1960s about youth and living with the consequences of how you spend it.

Love Person
Saturday, May 30, 2009 5 pm
A romance about two couples, three cultures, and four languages, performed in English, Sanskrit, American Sign Language, and projected e-mail.

Blackbird starring William L. Petersen
Saturday, July 18, 2009 5 PM
The star of CBS-TV's "CSI" returns to Victory Gardens to star in Blackbird, an intense two-person drama, by David Harrower. For mature audiences only.

Valet parking is available for only $11 at all performances at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater. Discounted parking is also available one block south at Children's Memorial Hospital for all shows except weekday matinees, and Lincoln Park Hospital two blocks south on Webster, at all times (no
overnights).

By CTA train, take the Red, Purple and Brown lines to Fullerton. Walk east on Fullerton to the first intersection, then north on Lincoln 1/2 block. The #8 Halsted,  #11 Lincoln, #37 Sedgwick/Ogden, and #74 Fullerton CTA buses all stop at the corner of Fullerton and Halsted, 1/2 block south of
the theater.  See http://www.transitchicago.com for times and routes.

For complete information about Victory Gardens, go to http://www.victorygardens.org

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