Arts & Entertainment
From a Festival Celebrating Absurd Plays to a ‘Lost’ Opera, Here Are 5 Chicago Weekend Event Picks
The cast of “Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha — A Musican Reimagining.” (Dahlia Katz)
Short plays, odd plays, an artful look at sports and celebrity — how about a rare Scott Joplin opera or a rowdy celebration of the mighty tuba? This being Chicago, you can do all of the above.
“Cut to the Chase Festival of One-Act Plays” – The Den Theatre
See an entire theater festival in 90 minutes when six short plays are performed back to back. The Artistic Home Studio presents their long-running annual fest with a price tag that works out to less than $4 per play. Most shows are world premieres, and each involves a different cast and director exploring the theme: “What is real?” May 1-4
Theater of the Absurd Festival – Chopin Theatre
Speaking of “what is real?” this first-time festival of absurd drama turns to works by legendary writers including Edward Albee, Sam Shepard and Harold Pinter. It’s an unusual marriage of talents as the Chopin Theatre partners with Gwydion Theatre, Columbia College and Northern Illinois University. Eight plays full of dark comedy and absurdity are performed in rotation. May 2-25
“Paul Pfeiffer: Prologue to the Story of the Birth of Freedom” – MCA Chicago
Athletes and celebrities get recontextualized by an American artist who “interrogates ideas of spectacle and mass culture.” Using photography of cultural icons and TV broadcasts of sporting events, Pfeiffer asks: Who’s using who? Is the image making us, or do we make images? An exhibition that might make you think the next time you’re watching the big game. Opens Saturday May 3
“Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha – A Musical Reimagining” – Harris Theater
The King of Ragtime’s “lost” 1911 opera gets rediscovered and reimagined for the 21st century with a new story and new arrangements by Grammy winner Jessie Montgomery. An all-Black cast and orchestra is led by a creative team of Black women artists who delve into Scott Joplin’s work while honoring both the African and American side of the term African-American. May 2-4
Mucca Pazza (Leverenz Photography)
Mucca Pazza International Tuba Day Celebration – Martyr’s
The theatrical, spectacular marching band Mucca Pazza does a rare club show to celebrate the mighty tuba. If that sounds ridiculous it very well may be, but this group will also blow you away in possibly the grooviest show of the weekend. If you have never seen or heard Chicago’s merry band of music makers, make plans – don’t wait until National Accordion Day. May 2
Marc Vitali is the JCS Fund of the DuPage Foundation Arts Correspondent.
