Chicago production company stages NEW Harry Potter parody

A brand new Harry Potter-themed stage parody, titled "Chester and the Unbearable Burden, Parts I and II" premieres this week in Chicago, IL.

With inspiration drawn from the celebrated Potter saga as well as The Lord of the Rings, this play is a "love letter" to both literary works. The show's writer, Ben Fort, is a graduate of the writing program at The Second City, a prestigious drama school that has hatched many Saturday Night Live cast members, and which has begun the comedic writing careers of actors such as Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carrell.

The show's premise:

Dirkwood Wizarding Academy's Spooksday Ball is fast approaching, and Chester would like to take a girl other than his best friend Lillian. First, Chester must prove he's not just another wizard orphaned by the Dark Lord Molvak.

Chester's problems increase when strange visitors, Sean and Hamfast, arrive at Dirkwood with a mysterious ring and a transcendent elf who bears ominous news of Molvak's return.

Can Chester conquer death with the help of Lillian and Headmaster Dilfor? Will Chester be thwarted by escaped convict Gene or the sinister Professor Tansy? See for yourself in this two-part fantasy comedy filled with death, love, protagonism, and teen angst.

"Chester" performances run Thursdays-Sundays, February 9th to March 6 at the Athenaeum Theater (2936 N. Southport Ave, Chicago IL). MuggleNet will be attending and will provide a written review of the show next week. The show's creators have been very active on both Twitter and Facebook, even holding a "Monoctopus Drawing Contest" based on one of Chester's antagonists in the show.

For more information, including a trailer of the show, please visit the Six Hours Short web site. Tickets can be purchased on-line at this link. We hope to see all of Chicago's (and surrounding areas') Potter fans visiting this theater and supporting its newest production!

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Tom Felton to appear at Fan Expo Convention in Vancouver and Calgary Comic & Entertaiment Expo this April

Tom Felton is scheduled to appear as a special guest at the Fan Expo in Vancouver, British Columbia, which takes place on April 21st and 22nd at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

At this time, the only scheduled item is a photo opportunity, but if it is like most conventions, you can look forward to an autograph session and possibly a panel discussion featuring Tom.

Additionally, Tom is set to appear at the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo at the BMO Centre from April 27th-29th. No events with Tom are listed as of yet, but should be announced soon.

Thanks to Tania for the tip!

Lastly, MuggleNet will be represented at the MegaCon convention later this month and we will have a report and photos as soon as they are available.

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'The Woman in Black' draws more than expected at box office opening day

According to a report, The Woman in Black was projected to bring in around $11 million in box office gross for the entire weekend. Surprisingly, at the end of Friday, The Woman in Black was in a battle for first place with Chronicle by bringing in over $8 million gross as the two films are running neck-and-neck to take top honors this weekend.

Chronicle was in first place after Friday, bringing in an estimated $8.65 million and The Woman in Black took in an estimated $8.3 million.

Today, the numbers will continue to grow, but in general, Super Bowl Sunday is traditionally one of the lowest grossing incomes at the box office with so many viewers watching the game Sunday night. For example: in 2011, Super Bowl weekend was the third worst weekend of the year bringing in a total of $87.3 million - about half of the opening weekend of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows alone.

Did you see The Woman in Black yet? Let us know what you thought of it in our comments below.

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