Chicago is getting a Halloween parade
The Chicago Cultural Mile Association announced yesterday that it will host an inaugural Halloween parade along the lakefront on October 24. The organization hopes to attract 30,000–50,000 people, and will benefit arts education in Chicago schools. The parade will be led by Lupe Fiasco, Steve James, Dawoud Bey, and Kevin Coval.
North Coast announces its after-parties
The jam/EDM/hip-hop festival running September 4–6 in Union has announced 16 official after parties this year, with acts ranging from Sicko Mobb to Chromeo to Disco Biscuits to Steve Aoki. Check out the lot of 'em here.
Chief Keef is giving hologramming another shot
After Hammond police shut down the rapper's hologram set at Craze Fest, intended to benefit the family of slain one-year-old Dillan Harris, the rapper announced Thursday that he plans to hold three simultaneous hologram shows in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles next month. Details are scant, and Keef's original choices of venues have fallen through, but he and Hologram USA CEO Alki David assure it's happening.
A Detroit woman is suing Empire for stealing her life story for Cookie Brown
Hold onto something for this one: Detroit woman Sophia Eggleston has filed a $300 million lawsuit against Lee Daniels and Fox for using her life story to create Cookie Brown, which, all things considered, is a hugely Cookie Brown move. The suit states that Eggleston, a former drug kingpin who did time for second-degree murder, gave a copy of her memoir The Hidden Hand to Hollywood screenwriter Rita Miller in 2011, who later told her she'd pitched the book to Daniels. The suit cites other similarities to Cookie Brown including a penchant for mink coats. Stay tuned for more on this stupendous item of news.
Billy Strayhorn is getting a festival in Chicago
The seminal jazz composer and Duke Ellingston collaborator is getting a festival in Chicago celebrating his November 29 centennial. The festivities run September 4 through November 21 in venues throughout the city, and include performances by the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, Mike Smith Quartet, Dee Alexander, and D'Erania. Details.
Opening
August 6: Cirque de Soleil's latest traveling show, in which an alternate reality stems from frozen time. United Center (1901 W. Madison)
August 6: Zelda at the Oasis, about F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife Zelda Sayre Oasis and her life in the shadow of his success. Genesis Theatrical Productions at the Raven Theater (6157 N. Clark)
August 7: The Boy From Oz: A musical about the life of composer Peter Allen. Pride Films and Plays at Stage 773 (1225 W. Belmont)
August 9: The Dueling Gentlemen: A silent production in which two vaudeville performers' long-running act falters. Silent Theatre Company at the Athenaeum (2936 N. Southport)
Open Now: Loving Repeating: A musical about Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas. Kokandy Productions at Theater Wit (1229 W. Belmont)
Open Now: Stupid Fucking Bird: Sideshow's modern-day take on The Seagull returns. Victory Gardens Theater (2433 N. Lincoln)
Open Now: Fugue: Four improvised one-act dramedies. Pendulum Space (1803 W. Byron)
Open Now: The Little Mermaid: Chicago Shakespeare Theater's shiny take on the Disney original. Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier (800 E. Grand)
Open Now: Fancy Nancy: A musical spin on Jane O'Connor's new-classic picture book. Emerald City Theatre at Broadway Playhouse (175 E. Chestnut)
Open Now: Men of Soul: A musical toast to Bill Withers. Black Ensemble Theater (4450 N. Clark)
Open Now: Grand Concourse: An impassioned college dropout derails a disillusioned soup kitchen manager's time-tested shift. Steppenwolf Theatre (1650 N. Halsted)
Open Now: Beaches: Iris Rainer Dart's Broadway-bound adaptation of her own novel, which also birthed Garry Marshall's 1988 film of the same name. Drury Lane Theatre and Conference Center (100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace)
Open Now: All Our Tragic, Sean Graney's bloody 12-hour mashup of all 32 Greek tragedies. The Hypocrites at the Den Theatre (1333 N. Milwaukee)
Open Now: Moby Dick: David Catlin's mondo take on a mondo book about a mondo, mondo fish. Lookingglass Theatre (821 N. Michigan)
Open Now: The Diary of Anne Frank, directed by the unerring Kimberly Senior. Writers Theatre at Books on Vernon (664 Vernon, Glencoe)
Open Now: Game of Thongs: A Game of Thrones Burlesque. Breasteros. Yep. Gorilla Tango Theatre (1919 N. Milwaukee)
Closing
August 7: Janitors to Janitees: A janitor takes over as super and caretaker of a building. Stage 773 (1225 W. Belmont)
August 8: Take Me Back: A young man, Bill, rebuilds his life from his mother's home after a four-year stint in prison. Poor Theatre at Collaboraction's Pentagon Space (1579 N. Milwaukee)
August 8: After Today: Seven artists respond to Chicago's social, political, and economic problems. Gallery 400 (400 S. Peoria)
August 9: Pippin: High-flying, pyrotechnic, hoola-hooping action from Broadway. Broadway in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 W. Randolph)
August 9: Whatever: Two teenagers navigate love, abuse, and ever-circling adult authority figures. Side Project Theatre (1439 W. Jarvis)
August 9: Alligator: A woman's family carts her off to a mental institution. Dream Theatre Company (5026 N. Lincoln)
August 9: Body & Blood: A man finds his calling in life and sends his family up the wall. Gift Theatre Company (4802 N. Milwaukee)
August 9: The Beauty of Queen Leenane: Three Crows Theatre's inaugural production. Three Crows Theatre at Heartland Studio Theatre (7016 N. Glenwood)
August 9: Glowing Wavelengths in Between: Photographs by Sonja Thompsen. DePaul Art Museum (935 W. Fullerton)
August 9: Liminal Infrastructure: Photographs by Lauren Bon, Richard Nielsen, and Tristan Duke. DePaul Art Museum (935 W. Fullerton)