A scene from ‘Broadsword’
Photo: Joshua Longbrake

SONS (AND DAUGHTERS) OF JERSEY Watch Broadsword playing at The Gift Theatre.

THE FIVE

Don’t-miss picks for Wed 9.25.13 through Tue 10.1.13:

1

theatre Broadsword
Don’t miss this hard-rocking drama about a struggling New Jersey heavy metal band, penned by Sons of Anarchy writer Marco Ramirez.
GO: 9/26–11/24. $20–$30. The Gift Theatre, 4802 N Milwaukee. thegifttheatre.org
2

jazz Hyde Park Jazz Festival
The city’s last major music festival of the year features more experimental jazz this time around with drummer Mike Reed and saxophonist Ken Vandermark performing.
GO: 9/28–29. Locations and details: hydeparkjazzfestival.org
3

dance Vision, Faith and Desire: Dancemakers Inspired by Martha Graham
Considered the mother of modern American dance, Martha Graham continues to leave a sizeable legacy—as evidenced by this tribute to her, featuring the work of five choreographers who were influenced by her.
GO: 9/27–28 at 7:30. $30. Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N Dearborn. winifredhaun.org
4

classical Macbeth
Before you see Lyric’s Otello in October, catch the CSO’s concert treatment of Verdi’s opera Macbeth.
GO: 9/28, 10/1–4 at 7; 10/6 at 3. $35–$278. Symphony Center, 220 S Michigan. cso.org
5

festivals Design Harvest
Score some furniture from local juried designers at this street fest in West Town. There’s an after party at Yuro Furniture on Saturday too.
GO: 9/28–29. 11–8. $5 suggested donation. Grand between Damen and Wood. design-harvest.com

WHAT I’M DOING THIS WEEKEND

Jackie Taylor
Photo: Courtesy of Jackie Taylor

Jackie Taylor

Up next in our series of weekend plans from notable, in-the-know locals—a.k.a. people we like: Jackie Taylor, founder and executive director of Black Ensemble Theatre. It’s All-Right To Have A Good Time: The Curtis Mayfield Story is playing now.

“Friday, I’m going to A Raisin in the Sun, which is my favorite play at the Timeline Theatre. The play is just written so well that it transcends race and color. I’ll probably go to Anna Maria’s Pasteria [for dinner beforehand]. They have a seafood pasta dish to die for.

“Saturday, I am going to the Hyde Park Jazz Festival. I’m just going to hear a whole lot of wonderful jazz singers, sit out in the air.

“Sunday, I’m going to see It’s All-Right To Have a Good Time: The Curtis Mayfield Story. It opened last week. A lot people don’t understand the depth of his work and how much music he actually wrote. I enjoy watching the audience as they learn things that they never knew before, and the actors that plays Curtis Mayfield are superb.” —As told to Tomi Obaro

FREEBIE OF THE WEEK

readings The Congo Square Theatre Company: Reading of The Warmth of Other Suns
As part of the city’s One Book, One Chicago program, the theatre troupe performs an excerpt from Isabel Wilkerson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Great Migration.
GO: 9/30 at 6. Free. Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, 400 S State. chipublib.org