Curious Theatre Branch and Prop Thtr present the 17th Annual Rhinoceros Festival (Rhino Fest) at a new location, Prop Thtr, 3502-4 N. Elston Ave. Spanning 7 weeks, this ‘little festival that could’ is breaking new ground with more than 15 world premieres and numerous revivals of critically acclaimed and important works. Rhino Fest opens Sept. 7 with a Full-Moon Vaudeville Gala featuring performances by Ira Glass, Bryn Magnus, Jenny Magnus, Idris Goodwin and scenes from Rasaka Theatre Company’s The Masrayana. On Oct. 2, Ira Glass and Beau O’Reilly face off in a rare radio vs. theater Smackdown. The festival closes on Halloween, Oct. 31 with a Mash-Up Halloween Costume Ball hosted by Jenny Magnus. All events take place in two spaces at Prop Thtr except for Radio vs. Theatre: The Final Smackdown, which takes place at the School of the Art Institute Ballroom, 112 S. Michigan Ave.
Tickets for all events at Prop Thre except for The Masrayana are $15 or pay what you can, and the Smackdown at the SAIC is $20. Tickets for The Masrayana are $25, however if patrons mention the Rhino Theater Fest then tickets are $20. For tickets call 773-267-6660, www.curioustheatrebranch.com.
Rhino Fest takes pride in being a showcase for new and emerging theater talents in Chicago. In addition, Rhino Fest 2005 features its first children’s performance with FastFish Puppet Theater’s The Rabbit Man’s Tale, create by Blair Thomas. Companies and individuals presenting in Rhino Fest include: Asbestos Theatre Project, Halfway House Theatre Society, Hermit Arts, MAGPIES, Curious Theatre Branch’s Jenny Magnus, Michael Martin, Still Point Theatre Collective, Cin Salach and Ten Tongues, Theatre Oobleck, Prop Thtr, Brian Torrey Scott and Matthew Wilson among others.