From Theater to New History Exhibitions, Here’s 5 Things to See This Weekend

Marc Vitali | January 2, 2025, 2:02 pm

The cast of “Hitt Records” at Black Ensemble Theatre. (Credit: Aaron Reese Boseman)

If you’ve made it to 2025, make a resolution to take a leap and dive deep into the cultural pool of Chicago. Here are a few ideas to start the year with a splash.

38^th Annual Young Playwrights Festival – Chicago Dramatists

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Pegasus Theatre presents the oldest such festival in the US. Three plays by students from Lane Tech and Whitney Young explore superheroes, gyros and a family fishing trip. Begins Jan. 5.

“Resilience: A Sensei Sense of Legacy” – Illinois Holocaust Museum

This new exhibition offers perspective on the human impact of the Japanese American incarceration camps during World War II. Eight artists use their creative visions as vehicles for transformation and change. Through June 1.

“Resilience – A Sansei Sense of Legacy”, a new exhibition at the Illinois Holocaust Museum, offers perspective on Japanese American internment camps. (Credit: Jerry Takigawa)

“Hitt Records” – Black Ensemble Theater

A new musical revue set in a vintage record shop, in which two old school music fans enlighten their customers on the relevance of Curtis Mayfield, Sister Sledge, and more. Performed with a live band. Through Jan. 26.

“A Pressing Call: Five Centuries of Women Printing” – University of Chicago

The University of Chicago’s Regenstein Library spotlights little-known historic accounts of women who have worked in the print trade, including as publishers, print shop proprietors, typesetters and booksellers. Opens Jan. 2.

Nicholas Tremulis & the Prodigals – Metro

One of Chicago’s favorite rockers leads a 15-piece band with special guests plus DJ Joe Shanahan. Tremulis is celebrating his 65^th birthday, and the night is also a benefit for the youth music program of Collaboraction Theatre Company. Saturday, Jan 4.