Headhunters stars the talented Aksel Hennie (Max Manus) as Roger, a charming scoundrel and Norway’s most accomplished headhunter. Roger is living a life of luxury well beyond his means, and stealing art to subsidize his expensive lifestyle. When his beautiful gallery owner wife introduces him to a former mercenary in the possession of an extremely valuable painting, he decides to risk it all to get his hands on it, and in doing so discovers something which makes him a hunted man.

Headhunters is based on Jo Nesbø’s best-selling thriller from 2008.

Nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, Monsieur Lazhar tells the poignant story of a Montreal middle school class shaken by the death of their well-liked teacher. Bachir Lazhar (Fellag), a 55-year-old Algerian immigrant, offers the school his services as a substitute teacher and is quickly hired. As he helps the children heal, he also learns to accept his own painful past.

This moving film features exquisite performances by Fellag and a stunning ensemble of child actors.

The Music Box Theatre is proud to welcome return engagements of Tony Nominated One Man Two Guvnors. National Theatre Live is a groundbreaking initiative to broadcast the best of British theatre to cinemas around the world. The first season of events, which began in June 2009 with the acclaimed production of Phèdre starring Helen Mirren, was seen by over 165,000 people on 320 screens in 22 countries. Encore shows are repeat screenings of the live performances. The performances are recorded and replayed without losing any of their magic and immediacy.

Fired from his skiffle band, Francis Henshall becomes minder to Roscoe Crabbe, a small time East End hood, now in Brighton to collect $6,000 from his fiancee’s dad. But Roscoe is really his sister Rachel posing as her own dead brother, who’s been killed by her boyfriend Stanley Stubbers. Holed up at The Cricketers Arms, the permanently ravenous Francis spots the chance of an extra meal ticket and takes a second job with one Stanley Stubbers, who is hiding from the police and waiting to be re-united with Rachel. To prevent discovery, Francis must keep his two guvnors apart. Simple.

In Richard Bean’s English version of Goldoni’s classic Italian comedy, sex, food and money are high on the agenda. James Corden returns to the National for the first time since The History Boys to play Francis.

One of the greatest feats ever created on the Nation Theatre’s stage, we are proud to bring you this theatrical event on the Music Box Theatre screen. This hybrid experience combining film and theatre is unparalleled. Audience members will see more from their seat in our Chicago cinema than the front row of the National Theatre of London—but they will feel transported to the world famous theatre on the River Thames.

Schedule

Monday, June 18, 2012

• 7:00pm: Doors open
• 7:30pm: Frankenstein (Version 1: Benedict Cumberbatch as The Creature; Jonny Lee Miller as Victor Frankenstein)

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

• 7:00pm: Doors open
• 7:30pm: Frankenstein (Version 2: Jonny Lee Miller as The Creature; Benedict Cumberbatch as Victor Frankenstein)

Sunday, July 22, 2012

• 5:30pm: Doors open
• 6:00pm: Frankenstein (Version 1: Benedict Cumberbatch as The Creature; Jonny Lee Miller as Victor Frankenstein)
• 8:30pm: Frankenstein (Version 2: Jonny Lee Miller as The Creature; Benedict Cumberbatch as Victor Frankenstein)

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

• 7:00pm: Doors open
• 7:30pm: Frankenstein (Version 1: Benedict Cumberbatch as The Creature; Jonny Lee Miller as Victor Frankenstein)

Thursday, July 26, 2012

• 7:00pm: Doors open
• 7:30pm: Frankenstein (Version 2: Jonny Lee Miller as The Creature; Benedict Cumberbatch as Victor Frankenstein)

Frankenstein enjoyed a sell-out run at the National Theatre, and went on to win awards including the 2012 Olivier Award for Best Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller.

First broadcast to cinemas in 2011, don’t miss this second chance to catch Danny Boyle’s electrifying stage production as encore screenings take place across the UK and around the world from June 2012.

Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch alternated the roles of Victor Frankenstein and the Creature throughout the show’s run at the National Theatre. Many cinemas will offer the chance to see both of these versions.

Childlike in his innocence but grotesque in form, Frankenstein’s bewildered creature is cast out into a hostile universe by his horror-struck maker. Meeting with cruelty wherever he goes, the friendless Creature, increasingly desperate and vengeful, determines to track down his creator and strike a terrifying deal.

Urgent concerns of scientific responsibility, parental neglect, cognitive development and the nature of good and evil are embedded within this thrilling and deeply disturbing classic gothic tale.

Performance Running Time: Approximately 2 hours (no interval)

Suitable only for 15yrs+

The Music Box Theatre, Chicago’s year round film festival located at 3733 N. Southport Avenue, is proud to partner with Scott Tobias and the New Cult Canon to present another great segment in the series of the same name—this time to present Black Dynamite the 2009 Blaxploitation pic that rocked Sundance and a very special PREMIERE EPISODE of the new Adult Swim animated series.

Based on 2009’s critically-acclaimed feature film, the Black Dynamite animated series further chronicles the exploits of the central character, Black Dynamite, and his crew. Under the direction of head writer Carl Jones (The Boondocks), the series features the voice talent of Michael Jai White, Tommy Davidson, Kym Whitley and Byron Minns, all of whom starred in the feature film.

After I’m Gonna Git You Sucka and Undercover Brother, the world didn’t necessarily need another blaxploitation parody, but then, the world turned out to be wrong about that. With influences ranging from Black Belt Jones to the complete works of Rudy Ray Moore, Scott Sanders’ brilliant Black Dynamite gets all the details right—the afros, platform shoes, and pimp coats; the Z-grade incompetence of the filmmaking; the scripted street lingo; the air of hyper-masculinity; the half-hearted “revolutionary” bent—but it’s a far more wide-ranging comedy than that, with jokes ranging from silly Airplane! -style spoofery to wild absurdist touches. Few saw it in theaters when it was released in 2009, but a fervent cult following has since rallied around it. – by Scott Tobias

The city streets explode into violence when “The Man” kills Black Dynamite’s (Michael Jai White) brother in this seamless recreation of the blaxploitation classics of the 1970s. He was the best agent that the CIA ever had, but these days Black Dynamite only answers to one boss — himself. When “The Man” ices Black Dynamite’s brother, starts pumping heroin into the local orphanage, and floods the ghetto with a secret weapon disguised as common malt liquor, the car chases, gunfights, and shirtless brawls that follow prove wild enough to make even Dolemite green with envy.

From the days of Thor Aackerlund and his historic victory at the 1990 Nintendo World Championships, right up to the present and Harry Hong’s perfect “Max-Out” score, this documentary chronicles over two decades of Tetris mastery.

Ecstasy of Order tracks down a group of record-holding Tetris Masters as they prepare to compete in the 2010 Classic Tetris World Championship. Witness the Masters as they reveal their secrets, recound their obsession with the game, and enter the transcendental state required to reach the highest levels, known as the “Ecstasy of Order.”

Tickets for this show are available for advance purchase online. Ticket(s) purchased online will be held at the box office on the evening of the show under your billing name.

No one under 18 admitted.

VHS may be dead, but the format is gloriously resurrected by the Found Footage Festival. Hosts Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher have compiled their most densely-packed lineup of hilarious found videos to date. Featured clips in the 2012 tour include a video featuring a woman whose enthusiasm for craft sponging borders on psychotic, highlights from a 1986 video about how to care for your ferret, a new collection of exercise tapes, including one called “The Sexy Treadmill Workout,” never-before-seen clips from the Kenny “K-Strass” Strasser yo-yo pranks that the FFF hosts pulled on local news stations last year, and an “opening act” of found classroom films from the ’60s and ’70s, curated especially for the show by renowned collector Skip Elsheimer of A.V. Geeks.

Contemporary high schooler Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) doesn’t have the most pleasant of lives. Browbeaten by his principal at school, Marty must also endure the acrimonious relationship between his nerdy father (Crispin Glover) and his lovely mother (Lea Thompson), who in turn suffer the bullying of middle-aged jerk Biff (Thomas F. Wilson), Marty’s dad’s supervisor. The one balm in Marty’s life is his friendship with eccentric scientist Doc (Christopher Lloyd), who at present is working on a time machine. Accidentally zapped back into the 1950s, Marty inadvertently interferes with the budding romance of his now-teenaged parents. Our hero must now reunite his parents-to-be, lest he cease to exist in the 1980s. It won’t be easy, especially with the loutish Biff, now also a teenager, complicating matters. Beyond its dazzling special effects, the best element of Back to the Future is the performance of Michael J. Fox, who finds himself in the quagmire of surviving the white-bread 1950s with a hip 1980s mindset. Back to the Future cemented the box-office bankability of both Fox and the film’s director, Robert Zemeckis, who went on to helm two equally exhilarating sequels.

Uninhibited by cinematic convention, this quirky cult favorite about lust and duplicity delivers nonstop laughs from beginning to end as the film’s central character (writer-director Tommy Wiseau) discovers that his foxy fiancée, Lisa (Juliette Danielle), is bedding his best friend. Adding to the hilarity are Greg Sestero, who plays the backstabbing buddy, and Carolyn Minnott as Lisa’s materialistic mom.

Join us as we do the Time Warp again! Midnight Madness ensures that what’s happening in the audience is just as entertaining as what is on screen.

For 35 years, The Rocky Horror Picture Show has delighted audiences and terrified parents. The Music Box Theatre is the proud Chicago home of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Every screening has a shadow-cast of the film (that’s actors acting in front of the screen during the film), and the Halloween screenings are known to sell out!

The Midnight Madness Virgin Kit

The Midnight Madness Virgin Kit (or “prop bag”) contains all you need for a Rocky Horror showing. Midnight Madness sells participation kits at The Music Box $3, or 2 for $5. The performers do not get paid for performing at any venue, and 100% of the proceeds from kit sales go back to cast costumes, props, promotions, etc.

What’s in the bag?

Balloon, Glow Stick, Time Warp Flier, Rubber Glove, Noisemaker, Confetti Bag, Toilet Paper, Party Hat, Sponge, Paper Plates, Cards, Instructions, Bag

Don’t-Look-Like-a-Virgin tip

Do not throw objects at the screen — that’s just not cool and can damage a very expensive screen. Thanks!

Using your Prop Bag items

• Balloon: During the song “Science Fiction Double Feature”, pop at the “When worlds collide” lyric.
• Glow Stick / flashlight: (no lighters, matches, flammables due to fire code restrictions) During the song “There’s a Light (Over at the Frankenstein Place)”, light up at the “There’s a Light” chorus.
• How to Time Warp Flier: During the “Time Warp”, get up and dance!
• Rubber Glove: During the Time Warp, get up and dance!
• Noisemakers: During the “Lab” scene, make a noise when the Transylvanian Guests use their noisemakers.
• Confetti: At the end of the “Lab” scene, when the wedding march is being played, throw some.
• Toilet Paper: When Dr. Scott makes his entrance and Brad exclaims “Great Scott!”, use some.
• Party Hat: During dinner, Frank will put on his party hat, and you should too — it’s a party now!
• Paper Plates: Use when Frank pulls the table cloth off the dinner table.
• Bell: Ring when Frank is chasing Janet after dinner and asks the musical question “Did you hear a bell ring?” and during the song “Planet Schmanet”.
• Sponges: Use when Columbia makes her “bitch out” speech and says to Frank, “You’re like a sponge!”
• Cards: Bring them out after The Floor Show, when Frank sits down and sings the line, “cards for sorrow, cards for pain”.
• Rope: Use when the rope falls from the rigging after Riff finishes shooting.

Not Allowed

• Toast
• Hot dogs and prunes
• Rice
• Water guns