Second City's Mainstage reopens tomorrow night
After an extra-alarm fire destroyed the improv company's Old Town offices, its Mainstage reopens for regular programming tomorrow evening—three days ahead of schedule.
The MCA has a new senior curator
The Museum of Contemporary Art announced this morning that curator and author Omar Kholeif, previously of London's Whitechapel Gallery, will take over as the museum's senior curator starting November 23. Kholeif, who was born in Egypt, told the Sun-Times this morning that he hopes to explore the relationship between art and the Internet in his new role. In addition to his new curatorial gig, Kholeif will also serve as a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago's Art History department.
Chief Keef is giving hologramming another shot
After Hammond police shut down Chief Keef's hologrammed set at Craze Fest in July (the region-wide consensus being that he poses a public safety threat in the flesh and beyond), the Chicago-born rapper will perform via hologram in Los Angeles, where he currently lives, on Friday. "Tickets" to a live stream are available for $10 here.
The 606 is getting a public-art blitz
The aptly named Arts Blitz kicks of September 19 with the dedication of a mural at California and Bloomingdale followed by a graffiti-writing talk on the 21 and, on the 26, the "People's Promenade," a trail-long walk featuring visual art, live jazz, and grub. Read more about it in Time Out Chicago.
A night out from their season opener, CSO musicians are still in contract talks
With just more than 24 hours left until its subscription concert opening Thursday night, the Tribune reports that CSO musicians still haven't reached a contract agreement after their performers' collective bargaining agreement expired Sunday at midnight. If an agreement isn't reached soon, tomorrow's show and a free concert Friday in Millennium Park could be compromised.
Riot Fest damages should total around $100,000
The festival swung through its new home in Douglas Park this weekend, and was unfortunately slammed with two days of rain. The Park District and festival officials don't have an official price tag for repairs yet, but the early estimate is $100,000—double its 2013 total but ~$50,000 shy of last year's.
Chicago is throwing a culture festival, and tickets are on sale now
Chicago magazine's inaugural Culture Festival will be held on September 26 and features talks and performances by Gillian Flynn, Angel Olsen, Pete Holmes, Liza Treyger, Kyle Kinane, Jeanne Gang, Stanley Tigerman, Amanda Williams, Anna D. Shapiro, and Frank Galati. Tickets are still available starting at $30.
Opening
September 16: Spamalot: The Monty Python musical swings through the suburbs. Metropolis Performing Arts Centre (111 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights) through October 25
September 17: Sins of the Father: Three generations of African-American men confront a bleak family history. ETA Creative Arts (7558 S. Chicago) through October 25
September 17: Butcher: A man in a military uniform and Santa hat shows up at a police station on Christmas Eve with a meat hook and sign reading "arrest me" around his neck. Commence play. Signal Ensemble Theatre (1802 W. Berenice) through October 24
September 17: Washer/Dryer: A new New York marriage farce. Rasaka at Victory Gardens (2433 N. Lincoln) through October 11
September 17: Miss Buncle's Book: A Depression-era spinster writes her unwitting neighbors into an unexpected bestseller. Lifeline Theatre (6912 N. Glenwood) through November 1
Open Now: Gem of the Ocean: The latest in Ron OJ Parson's trek through August Wilson's century cycle. Court Theatre (5535 S. Ellis) through October 11
Open Now: Funnyman: A vaudeville has-been tries to relaunch his career and rekindle his wrecked relationship with his daughter. Northlight Theatre (9501 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie) through October 18
Open Now: 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
Open Now: 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
Open Now: 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
Open Now: 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
Closing
September 19: 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
September 20: Cirque du Soleil's latest traveling show, in which an alternate reality stems from frozen time. United Center (1901 W. Madison) through September 20
September 20: 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