Saint Anthony Hospital is suing to keep Riot Fest out of Douglas Park
This week in Riot Fest's unending troubles: Neighboring Saint Anthony Hospital has filed a federal lawsuit against the festival alleging that "extreme" noise from Douglas Park will disrupt patient recovery. The motion, filed Friday, comes just four months after the three-day event moved to Douglas Park. On Saturday, Riot Fest released emails from the hospital's lawyers offering to withhold the lawsuit if Riot Fest agreed to move its entrances off 19th Street, keep 19th and California clear of traffic jams, and pay the hospital roughly $154,000 in fees (about $100,000 for extra security/equipment and about $54,000 for its legal team). The outcome is still TBD. Update: The hospital dropped the lawsuit Tuesday afternoon.
Steve Harvey's controversial Season 4 premiere airs this afternoon
The Season 4 premiere of Steve Harvey's talk show, focusing on "What Men Really Think," will air this afternoon on WMAQ. The show, which was filmed last month at the Oriental Theatre, drew ire after its audience of 2,000 men catcalled and jeered 150 women on stage with little intervention from Harvey. Part two airs tomorrow.
Second City cancels and moves performances through September 20
After a fire wrecked the improv company's Piper's Alley offices last month, Second City announced Friday that shows scheduled for its Mainstage, e.t.c. Stage, and Up Comedy Club will be moved or canceled through September 20. Spokeswoman Robin Hammond told the Tribune that all Sunday, Bloody Mary Sunday Brunch performances have been canceled. Meanwhile, Mainstage members will perform free improv sets at the Annoyance Theatre and comedian Jen Kirkman's Up Comedy Club set has been moved to Steppenwolf's Upstairs Theatre. Deets.
Opening
September 9: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: Edward Albee's ode to marital carnage gets the storefront treatment. Redtwist Theatre (1044 W. Bryn Mawr) through October 11
September 10: How the World Began: A former New York science teacher takes a job in rural Kansas and sparks a full-blown uproar re: the origin of the universe. Rivendell Theatre (5779 N. Ridge) through October 10
September 10: Guardians: 30-year-old storefront theater Mary Arrchie, booted by gentrification, opens its final season with Peter Morris's parallel narrative about the Abu Ghraib photos and a British tabloid publishing fake war torture photos. Mary Arrchie Theatre (735 W. Sheridan) through October 18
September 11: Brother's Keeper: A mashup of one-acts Orion's Belt and Dolly Llama. Subtext at Saint Bonaventure Church (1625 W. Diversey) through October 4
Open Now: Dogfight: A musical about three Vietnam-bound soldiers who compete to find the ugliest date on their last night at home and, predictably, get taught a lesson. BoHo at Theater Wit (1229 W. Belmont) through October 18
Open Now: The Revel: A self-described "soul-quenchin’ revival in music and spirits" crafted at U. Chicago's Performance Lab. House Theatre at the Chopin (1543 W. Division) through October 25
Open Now: American Idiot: Billie Joe's rock opera gets its local debut at Chicago's punkiest storefront. The Hypocrites at the Den (1333 N. Milwaukee) through October 25
Open Now: The Rainmaker: A woman falls for the man who promises to bring rain to her dry Midwestern town. American Blues Theater at the Greenhouse Theater Center (2257 N. Lincoln) through September 27
Open Now: The Price: Two sons duke it out over their dad's heirlooms in TimeLine's take on Arthur Miller. TimeLine Theatre (615 W. Wellington) through November 22
Open Now: The Jacksonian: The Midwest premiere of Pulitzer-winner Beth Henley's play about a displaced dentist in a seedy Mississippi motel. Profiles Theatre (4147 N. Broadway) through October 11
Open Now: The Outfit: Laura Schellhardt's fairytale-noir one-act skewering modern gender politics. Piccolo Theatre (600 Main St., Evanston) through October 10
Open Now: The Lyons: Rita fields suburban mundanity amid a dying husband and unraveling children. Aston Rep at Raven Theatre (6157 N. Clark) through September 27
Open Now: October Sky: A world-premiere musical take by Aaron Thielen on the famous book and film. Marriott Theatre (10 Marriott, Lincolnshire) through October 18
Open Now: The Universal Wolf: Joan Schenkar imagines a Little Red Riding Hood in which the predators and prey trade places. Trap Door Theatre (1655 W. Cortland) through September 26
Open Now: Things You Shouldn't Say Past Midnight: Four men and two women share three beds. Hilarity ensures. Windy City Playhouse (3014 W. Irving Park Rd.) through October 4
Open Now: After Miss Julie: Patrick Marber sets Strindberg's classic in 1945 England during Churchill's downfall. Strawdog Theatre (3829 N. Broadway) through September 26
Open Now: Patchwork Drifter: A wanderlusting youth takes a job working for a widowed shopkeeper and her two children. Babes with Blades at City Lit (1020 W. Bryn Mawr) through September 19
Open Now: Cirque du Soleil's latest traveling show, in which an alternate reality stems from frozen time. United Center (1901 W. Madison) through September 20
Open Now: The Dueling Gentlemen: A silent production in which two vaudeville performers' long-running act falters. Silent Theatre Company at the Athenaeum (2936 N. Southport) through September 20
Closing
September 13: Chicago Fringe Festival: The sixth-annual ode to all things alt features 147 performances of 47 shows in five venues across Jefferson Park. See website for details.