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Chicago – In 1963, Judy Garland had a CBS-TV variety series, and in December there was a Christmas episode featuring her kids … including Liza Minnelli. Playwright Desiree Burcum and the comedy troupe Famous In The Future have created (click link) ”A Judy Christmas” as a stage play. The show, presented by Famous In The Future productions, will have three performances the weekend before Christmas, December 20th, 21st and 22nd at the Den Theatre in Chicago.

On Friday December 6th, 1963, a mere 11 days after the assassination and funeral of John F. Kennedy – Judy Garland and JFK were friends – the singer and her children, with guest stars Jack Jones and Mel Tormé, gathered to film the Christmas special. It was part of the series “The Judy Garland Show,” which ran from 1963-64. With the heavy mourning of a nation over the proceedings, Ms. Garland managed to give them the old adage of “the show must go on.

Chicago – Yippie Yippie Yippie Fest it’s back, the 8th annual YippieFest is for the first time at the historic Chopin Theatre in Wicker Park. For three days – August 23rd, 24th and 25th, 2024 – the fest will present an unending variety of acts, plays, sketch and other stage performance arts. Tickets prices are for one day or all three days, so click YiPPIE Fest 2024.

Famous in the Future at Yippiefest on 8/24

Photo credit: YippieFest.com

YippieFest began in 2017 as an event that continued the stage tradition of the former Abbie Hoffman Died for Our Sins Festival (1989-2016). The Fest Executive Director, since its inception, is Frank Carr. The comedy group he co-founded, Famous In The Future … with current members Carr, Desiree Burcum, Tina Teske, Michael Hora and Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com … has performed in every Abbie Hoffman fest and so far every YippieFest. They will appear at 7:30pm on Saturday,...

Chicago – In 1963, Judy Garland had a CBS-TV variety series, and in December there was a Christmas episode featuring her kids … including Liza Minnelli. Playwright Desiree Burcum and the comedy troupe Famous In The Future have created (click link) ”A Judy Christmas” as a stage play.

The show, presented by Famous In The Future productions, will have three performances the week before Christmas, December 15th, 16th and 17th, at the Den Theatre in Chicago.

Desiree Burcum (front of line) as Judy Garland in ‘A Judy Christmas’

Photo credit: FamousInTheFuture.com

On Friday December 6th, 1963, a mere 11 days after the assassination and funeral of John F. Kennedy – Judy Garland was a friend of his – the singer and her children, with guest stars Jack Jones and Mel Tormé, gathered to film the Christmas special. It was part of the Judy Garland Show, which ran from 1963-64. With the heavy mourning of a nation over the proceedings,...

Chicago – Yippie! It’s back, in the neighborhood of its roots. YippieFest 2023 will be August 4th-6th in the Lakeview/Buena Park venue of Pride Arts, 4139 North Broadway in Chicago. The space is less than a half mile from the former Mary-Arrchie Theatre, whose “Abbie Hoffman Festival” was the template for the three-day performance celebration. Tickets prices are for one day or all three days, so click YiPPIE Fest 2023.

YippieFest began in 2017 as an event that continued the stage tradition of the former Abbie Hoffman Festival (1989-2016). The Fest Executive Director, since its inception, is Frank Carr. The comedy group he co-founded, Famous In The Future … with current members Carr, Desiree Burcum, Tina Teske, Michael Hora and Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com … has performed in every Abbie Hoffman fest and so far every YippieFest. They will appear at 8pm on Saturday, August 5th.

YippieFest, August 4-5-6, 2023, Frank Carr (In...

Chicago – This year was the 100th anniversary for the birth of the classic movie star/singer/performer Judy Garland. In 1963, as part of her regular CBS-TV variety series, she presented a Christmas episode, featuring her family … including Liza Minnelli. Playwright Desiree Burcum has created a musical comedy about this historic moment in television, appropriately titled “A Judy Christmas.” The show, presented by Famous In The Future productions, will have three performances the week before Christmas, December 15th, 16th and 17th, at the Den Theatre in Chicago. For tickets and more information, A Judy Christmas.

A Judy Christmas

Photo credit: FamousInTheFuture.com

On Friday December 6th, 1963, a mere 11 days after the assassination and funeral of John F. Kennedy – Judy Garland was a friend of his – the singer and her children, with guest stars Jack Jones and Mel Tormé, gathered to film the Christmas special. It was part of the Judy Garland Show,...

Chicago – It’s coming! YippieFest 2020 – joining the virtual and online revolution during these particular times – is set for August 21st through the 23rd. Details to come on schedules and times, but the whole fest can be downloaded for Free on those dates through Twitch streaming service. Click here for more details.

This Year Its Virtual and Online: YippieFest 2020

Photo credit: YippieFest.com

The 2020 YippieFest will be produced by founder Frank Carr, who also participates in the sketch comedy troupe, “Famous in the Future” … also featuring Desiree Burcum, Tina Teske, Michael Hora and Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com. They will be joined by other acts to be shown online (and free to watch), representing theater, music, stand-up comedy, monologue, performance and much more, in the spirit of the Woodstock and the Yippie nation. HollywoodChicago.com will provide more details as the festival date gets closer.

The 2020 YippieFest will be August 21st-23rd,...

Chicago – Got an act? Got a camera phone to record it? Then YippieFest wants you! The fourth annual Theater, Music, Film, Comedy and Performance festival is doing what all the hep cats are doing, going online and virtual to keep everyone safe. The acts will be submitted as video pieces, and will be presented the weekend of the Fest. The deadline for sign-up has been extended to Sunday, August 2nd, with more details after registration. Click here to register.

This Year It’s Virtual and Online: YippieFest 2020

Photo credit: YippieFest.com

The 2020 YippieFest will be produced by founder Frank Carr, who also participates in the sketch comedy troupe, “Famous in the Future” … also featuring Desiree Burcum, Tina Teske, Michael Hora and Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com. They will be joined by other acts to be shown online (and free to watch), representing theater, music, stand-up comedy, monologue, performance and much more,...

Chicago – It’s the 3rd annual YippieFest in Chicago at the Prop Thtr (Theatre), and the three days of Theater, Performance, Music, Film, Comedy and more kicks off with its 2019 edition on Friday, August 16th (7pm), and runs through Sunday, August 18th. The Fest evolved from the spirit of Mary-Arrchie Theater’s Abbie Hoffman Fest, which began 30 years ago (1989), and ended in 2016. The Fest also celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Woodstock music festival, which coincides with the weekend. For more information on YippieFest, including tickets, click here.

August 16th-18th, 2019 at the Prop Thtr in Chicago

Photo credit: YippieFest.com

The 2019 YippieFest is co-produced by founder Frank Carr, who also participates in the sketch comedy troupe, “Famous in the Future,” also featuring Desiree Burcum, Tina Teske, Michael Hora and Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com. “Famous” will perform at YippieFest on Saturday, August 17th, at 8pm. They join a huge...

Chicago – It’s the 2nd annual Yippie Fest in Chicago at the Prop Thtr (Theatre), and the three days of Theater, Performance, Music, Film, Comedy and more kicks off with the 2018 Opening Ceremonies on Friday, August 17th, and runs through Sunday, August 19th. The Fest evolved from the spirit of Mary-Arrchie Theater’s Abbie Hoffman Fest, which ran from 1989 to 2016. The Fest also celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Yippies (Youth International Party) in Chicago, during the Vietnam protests in August of 1968. The whole world was watching. For more information on Yippie Fest, including tickets, click here.

Desiree Burcum (white coat) of ‘Famous in the Future,’ Part of the 2nd Yippie Fest in Chicago

Photo credit: YippieFest.com

The 2018 Yippie Fest is co-produced by founder Frank Carr and Tina Teske, and the Talent Coordinator is Desiree Burcum. The three also perform in the sketch comedy troupe, “Famous in the Future,...