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Chicago – Moving from writing plays for the stage to writing for film may seem like a natural transition. But at the roots in each of these separate storytelling forms there are different ways of formulating the connection between dialogue and visuals. Alice Austen made this transition when she wrote – with director Kirill Mikhanovsky – the story and screenplay for “Give Me Liberty.”

Drive, He Said: Inside the Med Van in ‘Give Me Liberty’

Photo credit: Music Box Films

“Give Me Liberty” involves medical transport driver Vic (Chris Galust), who is perpetually late for his mostly handicapped clients, but it’s not his fault. Roads are closed for a protest, and no one else can shuttle his Russian grandfather and émigré friends to a funeral. The new route uproots his scheduled clients, particularly Tracy (Lauren “Lolo” Spencer in a breakout performance), a vibrant young woman with Als. As the day goes from hectic to off-the-rails,...

Before Joseph Jefferson penned a string of hits for the Spinners in the early Seventies, he and his band the Nat Turner Rebellion – named after the 1831 slave revolt – entered Philadelphia’s famed Sigma Sound Studios and, over the course of a few years, laid down more than a dozen of searing funk-soul songs that were emblematic of the sound piping out of the City of Brotherly Love at the time.

A handful of the tracks were released as long-forgotten singles in the early Seventies, but the group disbanded before ever releasing a debut album.

Infamous Commonwealth Theatre presents our winter fundraiser: Ict's Rock Band Tournament on Sat., Feb. 7th, 7pm at Ravenswood Pub, 5455 N. Ravenswood Ave. Channel your inner rocker! Gather your band (at least three members required) and give your favorite Rock Band song your best shot. Judges will evaluate your performance based on accuracy, stage presence and creativity. The judges' scores will be averaged with the Rock Band's game score, and the top four bands will move to the final round. The grand prize winner receives a Free seven night resort stay at a destination of the winners' choice (selected from a list of several resort locations across the country, transportation not included). Only 12 bands are allowed to compete, so we highly recommend pre-registration. Please pre-register by contacting Jayme Sellers at [email protected]. $30 per team, $25 if you pre-register. "Groupies" (i.e., non-participants) pay $5 at the door. Bring as many groupies...

Steppenwolf for Young Adults continues its 2008-2009 season with Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, directed by Michael Patrick Thornton. The production, featuring ensemble member Robert Breuler with Robert Belushi, Ron Butts, Paul D'Addario, James D. Farruggio, Jessie Fisher, Richard Henzel, Keith Kupferer, Guy Massey and Andr? Teamer, runs April 21 - May 10, 2009 in the Steppenwolf Downstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. Tickets are available to the general public for weekend performances only, with all additional shows reserved for school groups. The press performance is Saturday, April 25 at 11 a.m. John Steinbeck's classic tale of friendship follows two migrant workers in California during the Great Depression. George Milton looks after his mentally-disabled friend, Lennie Small, as they travel looking for work. The two men hope to one day settle down on their own piece of land, but their plans of living the American Dream prove difficult to achieve. Michael Patrick Thornton...