Arts & Entertainment
From a Concert in an 1883 Mansion to a Local Film Fest, Here Are 6 Arts and Culture Picks for the Weekend
s. Four favorite stories from Beatrix Potter come to life in a puppet show with original music at Raven Theatre. (Charles Osgood)
Here are the early blooms of the spring arts season. Make a bouquet and share them with someone you love.
National Public Housing Museum Grand Opening – 919 S. Ada St.
The first museum of its kind will occupy the last remaining building of the 1930s-era Jane Addams Homes. Explore exhibits and restored apartments from different generations of residents. Special programs include a dance party with DJ Spinderella and art-making sessions. The city’s newest museum is located right off Taylor Street on the near West Side. Opens April 4
The Beatrix Potter Tea Party – Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St.
Here’s one for the little ones. Four favorite stories from Beatrix Potter come to life in a puppet show with original music. A trio of performers enact the tales of Peter Rabbit, Tom Kitten and friends on a dynamic set that reveals hidden surprises in trunks and suitcases. Chicago Children’s Theatre presents this limited engagement at Raven Theatre. Opens April 5
Chicago Latino Film Festival – various locations
The festival returns for its 41st year, spotlighting pan-Latino cinema and culture. Over nine days, more than 50 features and 30 shorts will be screened. The films come from the Americas, the Caribbean, Spain and local filmmakers. Dramas, comedies, horror films and documentaries will play at the Davis Theater, Landmark Century Cinema and Instituto Cervantes. April 3-14
Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) continues its 62nd season with “Soaring.” (Todd Rosenberg)
Giordano Dance Chicago – Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St.
Giordano Dance Chicago (GDC) continues its 62nd season with “Soaring” a celebration of life and legacy; the performances mark the 40th anniversary of Nan Giordano’s leadership and pay homage to her late son. The GDC brand of innovative jazz dance will include choreography by an Emmy winner, a “Dancing With the Stars” veteran and Giordano herself. April 4-5
CSO Chamber Music – Driehaus Museum, 50 E. Erie St.
Musicians from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform works to complement an art exhibition at the Driehaus Museum. Music by Philip Glass and Beethoven will fill the 1883 mansion, and the curator of the show “A Tale of Today” will introduce the work of contemporary artists who created site-specific installations based on materials found inside the extravagant building. Tues, April 8
“The Book of Grace” – Steppenwolf Theatre
This Chicago premiere promises to be a fiery family portrait. Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Suzan-Lori Parks has updated her 2010 play for the current moment. When an estranged son returns home, his stepmother tries to mend fences while his father patrols them – he’s a border guard in Texas. Expect fireworks from the writer of “Topdog/Underdog.” Through May 18
Marc Vitali is the JCS Fund of the DuPage Foundation Arts Correspondent.
