Arts & Entertainment
From Rare Imports to an Operatic Favorite, Here Are 5 Arts and Culture Picks for the Weekend
Chicago Shakespeare Theater welcomes Teatro La Plaza from Lima, Peru, for their production of “Hamlet.” (Courtesy of Chicago Shakespeare Theater)
Sculpture from Italy, theater from Peru, the inspiration for “Rent” — this week’s offerings include rare imports, an operatic favorite and a homegrown songwriter with a cinematic mind. See you at the show.
“Myth and Marble” – Art Institute of Chicago
Ancient sculptures will be unveiled at the Art Institute this weekend in their first-ever visit to North America. The 58 works date as early as the 5th century BCE, and they come from the privately held Torlonia Collection in Italy. These beauties have been out of the public eye for 70+ years. Opens March 15
The Ike Reilly Assassination – Schubas Tavern
If you dig funny, moving songs filled with detail, Ike Reilly is someone to know. The Libertyville native is criminally overlooked, though he was the focus of a recent documentary by Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine. Maybe you’ve heard “Born on Fire” on WXRT or the below gem, “Trick of the Light.” March 15-16
“Hamlet” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Shakespeare Theater welcomes Teatro La Plaza from Lima, Peru, for their production of “Hamlet.” The young cast is a group of performers with Down syndrome, and they blend Shakespeare’s text with personal stories, humor and music. It’s a provocative look at inclusion that considers the timeless question: “To be or not to be?” March 13-23
“La Bohème” – Lyric Opera of Chicago
The Puccini masterpiece dives into the triumphs and tragedies of bohemian Paris, where love blossoms among young artists as they navigate the social landscape of 19th century. This classic opera is of course the inspiration for another emotional rollercoaster, the Broadway musical “Rent.” The soprano (and Chicagoland native) Ailyn Pérez performs the iconic female lead, Mimì. Opens March 15
“Splash Hatch on the E Going Down” – Definition Theatre
Director Cheryl Lynn Bruce is an acclaimed actress and half of a local power couple (her husband is painter Kerry James Marshall). Here, she helms the Chicago premiere of a drama about a brilliant but overwhelmed 15-year-old facing the challenges of impending motherhood and a growing obsession with environmental injustice in her community. Begins March 14
Marc Vitali is the JCS Fund of the DuPage Foundation Arts Correspondent.
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