Phyllis Chen of ICE
ICE, ICE BABY They may be called ICE, but International Contemporary Ensemble
brings nothing but heat to the MCA stage.

THE FIVE

Don’t-miss picks for Wed 2.13.13 through Tue 2.19.13:

1

new music International Contemporary Ensemble
If Phyllis Chen’s toy piano compositions and wall-size multimedia installations aren’t proof that ICE has turned classical music on its head, we don’t know what is.
GO: 2/16 at 7:30; Members $22, regular $28. 220 E Chicago. mcachicago.org

2

theatre Steppenwolf Garage Rep
Steppenwolf’s annual storefront theatre fest introduces plays about everything from video game characters unleashed into reality to a Rashomon-style murder mystery. And each performance is a reasonable $20.
GO: 2/15–4/21; $20. Steppenwolf Garage, 1624 N Halsted. steppenwolf.org

3

film Casablanca Sing-Along
Sing along with your sweetie to one of Hollywood’s most famous soundtracks. Just make sure not to Bogart the night—other couples want to sing-along too.
GO: 2/14 at 7:30; $11. Music Box Theater, 3733 Southport. musicboxtheatre.com

4

rock Emilie Autumn
If Edgar Allan Poe and Cyndi Lauper had a child, it might be Emilie Autumn. After all, her fiery female band, the Bloody Crumpets, mixes burlesque, Victorian costumes, and raucous glam rock.
GO: 2/15 at 8; $18–$21. Metro, 3730 N Clark. metrochicago.com

5

film 70mm FESTIVAL
Cinephiles rejoice! On the heels of a successful screening of The Master, the Music Box launches a 70mm film series that features screenings of Vertigo and West Side Story.
GO: 2/15–2/28; $9.25. Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport. musicboxtheatre.com

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND

April Daly
April Daly

Up next in our series of weekend plans from notable, in-the-know locals—a.k.a. people we like: April Daly, a lead dancer at the Joffrey Ballet and Lake View resident. Daly performs in American Legends, the Joffrey’s winter program opening 2/13 at 7:30.

“On Valentine’s Day itself, we’re having a great benefit, What Is This Thing Called Love, with the singer Shelley MacArthur. It’s going to be a great show. I’m not performing, so I’ll just be there for fun. Afterwards, we might go to Gibson’s for a drink. It’s a chill place to go and have a cocktail, but I usually drink wine.

“Friday we have our winter program, American Legends. I’m dancing in every single performance, so it’ll be a busy weekend! It’s an amazing program because it’s not a typical ballerina show. There’s everything from ballroom dances to contemporary work; it’s a program that has a little bit of something for everybody. After the shows, my boyfriend I will probably head to Bar Pastoral and wind down with some late-night prosciutto, salami, and wine. I love Pastoral—they have such a great wine selection.

“Saturday I have two shows to perform in so I won’t have much time for anything else. But later that night I’ll go with some of the other dancers to The Gage. They have this amazing martini, the Gage Cocktail. It’s no longer on the menu, but I always order it anyways.

“I’ll end the weekend at this new Mexican steakhouse, Revolución. It’s right up the street from my house. I can have a margarita, some steak fajitas, and relax.” —As told to Elly Fishman

FREEBIE OF THE WEEK

art The Sahmat Collective
The Smart Museum opens a survey of work by the India-based, activist-minded art collective Sahmat Collective.
GO: 2/14–6/9. Smart Museum, 5550 S Greenwood. smartmuseum.uchicago.edu

 

Photography: (International Contemporary Ensemble) Courtesy of the Museum of Contemporary Art; (DalY) Courtesy of the Joffrey Ballet