`Mortal Kombat’ Empire Goes Live

The one-two punch of the “Mortal Kombat” video game and the film of the same name – the nation’s No. 1 movie – is being followed with a live tour that zeroes in on martial artistry. “When we did the movie, only one of the actors (Robin Shou) was a champion martial artist, so there were limitations as to what could be done,” said fight choreographer Pat Johnson.

Sublime to Ridiculous // Band Can’t Shake Controversy Over `Date Rape’

It took a three-year-old song with a questionable title to win Sublime both notoriety and heavy rotation on radio stations across the country. A more appropriate title for the Orange County, Calif., trio’s hit single “Date Rape” actually would be “Anti Date Rape,” since the rapist ends up in prison – where he becomes a victim of rape himself.

Superman, After Hours : Dean Cain Tells Celeb Hobbies

People who question whether the Man of Steel is invincible have to check out “Off Camera With Dean Cain” at 7 tonight; on WLS-Channel 7. It’s not kryptonite that foils Cain – the man in tights on ABC’s “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” which airs at 7 p.m. Sundays on WLS-Channel 7 – but rather a quick soccer shootout with Andrew Shue. That’s right – the milquetoast Billy on “Melrose Place.” “Soccer is not my forte,” said Cain, laughing. “Even if it was, Andrew still probably would’ve kicked my butt.”

`Orchid’ in Bloom // Brigid Murphy Puts Illness in the Past

After a two-year battle with lymphoma – a cancer of the lymph glands – Chicago-based performance artist Brigid Murphy is enjoying her recovery. In a big way. To celebrate her health and to thank her friends and fans for their support, Murphy is bringing back her vaudevillian “Milly’s Orchid Show,” which she has staged since 1987.

Coming Out Party — Mayer Makes Directorial Debut With Story of a Club Hopper

In “Party Girl,” director Daisy von Scherler Mayer introduces viewers to Mary – a gorgeous club kid who gets the designer clothes she wants, but can’t afford, by stealing them from her friends’ closets. It quickly becomes apparent that besides throwing bitchin’ “rent” parties to fund her hedonistic lifestyle, Mary has no other visible
means of income.

Alanis Morissette: The Bizarre Bittersweet, Brooding Bubblegum of Summer ’95: Dark Themes Cloud Pop Music

Now is the summer of our discontent. That’s the only possible conclusion you can draw if you’ve been anywhere near a radio lately. Summer used to be the season of catchy, bouncy, bubblegum music. Not this year. The airwaves of summer ’95 – suddenly, inexplicably – are clogged with hummable odes to depression, confusion, weird characters and questionable behavior.

Novel Cure: Anchee Min Writes to Ease Old Pain

When Anchee Min wanted to attend the School of the Art Institute in 1984, a friend who knew English filled out her application forms, marking off “excellent” under the category for “English language skills.” When Min arrived in Chicago to begin classes, it quickly became apparent to the school’s administrators that she spoke virtually no English. She was told to come back when she had learned enough to understand classes. Six months later, Min was a student there.