Arts & Entertainment
Fifty years ago, a number of white suburban residents started a fair-housing movement called the North Shore Summer Project, and their work caught the attention of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Chicago Tonight’s Brandis Friedman takes a closer look at the movement – then and now – to diversify the area.
Ant expert Sean Menke reviews Marvel Studios’ new superhero movie Ant-Man, which follows ex-con Scott Lang (played by Paul Rudd) as he saves the day by harnessing a super-secret particle that allows him to shrink. Menke joins us to talk about Ant-Man, the science behind the movie, and his extensive studies on the small insects.
Renée Fleming, creative consultant for the Lyric Opera of Chicago, discusses the upcoming season at the opera house which will feature an opera curated by her.
Filming for Spike Lee’s new film Chi-Raq has wrapped up, but the debate over the film’s working title rages on. Next week, the City Council is expected to hold hearings on the film's controversial moniker.
One hundred years ago today, the SS Eastland sank in the Chicago River. Nearly 100 newly found photos from the Chicago Tribune offer a new look at Chicago's deadliest tragedy.
Chicago Tonight's Jay Shefsky talks with the founders of a local cycling movement that focuses on South and West Side neighborhoods. Meet the duo behind Slow Roll Chicago.
Need your car detailed or piano tuned? Whether you're looking for an event caterer or a portrait painter, dog groomer or furniture mover, Chicago magazine's just released list of the "Best of Chicago" highlights 72 shops, services, and activities that make the Windy City second to none.
'Grand Concourse,' 'Men of Soul,' 'Moby Dick,' & More
Chicago Sun-Times Theater Critic Hedy Weiss joins us to review the Steppenwolf’s Grand Concourse, Black Ensemble Theater’s Men of Soul, Lookingglass Theatre Company’s Moby Dick, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s The Little Mermaid.
Outdoor concerts, food and art highlight this weekend's roundup of summer events.
Drinkers across the state may be toasting Gov. Bruce Rauner, who signed a bill into law on Wednesday allowing Illinois bars to offer happy hour drink specials, but not everyone is happy about its return. On Thursday, we'll get the latest on the bill with Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D).
Harper Lee’s ‘Go Set a Watchman’ Released This Week
Harper's Lee's hugely anticipated sequel Go Set a Watchman stirs debate about its plot and its value as a successor to the Pulitzer Prize winning novel of 1960. Chicago writer Marja Mills became close friends with Harper Lee and her sister and wrote a book about the experience. She joins us to share her thoughts on the new book.
Last summer, Jay Shefsky brought us to The Garden, home of Chicago’s dirt jumps. We revisit his story of the hidden treasure found in Chicago’s woods.
Abena Joan Brown died on Sunday at age 87. She was a pioneer of the African-American theater scene in Chicago and co-founded the ETA Creative Arts Foundation in 1971. We revisit her appearance on WTTW’s Artbeat Chicago program in 1998. During the segment, Brown talks about the early days of starting a theater company.
In May, Chicago Tonight profiled the work of CoRiccio Baskin who has been creating miniature replicas of everyday objects for more than 20 years. We revisit that story.
Archbishop Blase Cupich heard prayer requests and offered blessings to inmates Tuesday morning during a private tour of Cook County Jail with Sheriff Tom Dart.