Arts & Entertainment
A Pulitzer Finalist and 25 Years of the Siskel Film Center: 4 Arts Picks for Your Week
Dave Eggers (Mark Davis)
Every Thursday, WTTW News newsletter producer Josh Terry highlights his picks for the week’s must-see cultural events.
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It’s the time of year when your neighborhood is bustling. People are taking comfortable, leisurely strolls and filling up the nearby restaurants and bars’ patios. The weather’s nice, the trees are in bloom, and the city feels totally alive with possibility and sunshine. These are the perfect conditions for exploring Chicago’s multitudinous arts offerings. With you energized and enlivened by the incoming summer season, you’ll be equally edified by taking in these cultural events.
Film: “25 For 25” — Siskel Film Center
The Siskel Film Center is turning 25 this year. The State Street institution is celebrating by throwing a stacked film series throughout June, highlighting 25 important movies that have screened throughout the arthouse theater’s history. Per the Siskel’s website, “Each selection connects to a past Siskel program, highlighting the Siskel Film Center’s long-standing commitment to diverse and innovative curation.” For a list of films, click here and check the listings for screening times and tickets.
Theater: “Catch as Catch Can” — Steppenwolf Theatre
Mia Chung’s acclaimed play “Catch as Catch Can” makes its Chicago premiere at Steppenwolf this week, with shows running from June 4 through July 12. Its plot synopsis states, “When a prodigal son returns to blue collar New England, his homecoming sets off a spiraling crisis for two families, threatening not only their relationships but their very identities.” Three actors take on six roles in this “inventive” and “ferocious” drama. For showtimes and tickets, click here.
Art: First Fridays Art Exhibit — Fulton Street Collective
Fulton Street Collective, the West Town art gallery, has teamed up with the West Town Chamber of Commerce for a series of collaborative exhibits celebrating the neighborhood and what makes Chicago special. Ryan Miller curates this month’s installment, and you can RSVP to the free Friday evening event here.
Literature: Dave Eggers — Old Town School of Folk Music
Dave Eggers is the relentlessly prolific author behind 13 novels, several works of nonfiction, scores of children’s books, and his 2000 memoir “A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius,” which made him a Pulitzer Prize finalist. He’s also behind the humorous lit publication McSweeney’s and the literacy nonprofit 826 Valencia, which has an outpost in Chicago. On Wednesday, the Lake Forest College grad returns to the area to promote his 14th novel, “Contrapposto,” at the Old Town School of Folk Music. He’ll be in conversation with Kevin Boehm, co-founder of the Boka group and an 826 CHI board member. Buy tickets here.
WTTW News arts coverage is supported by the JCS Arts, Health & Education Fund of the DuPage Foundation.
