Arts & Entertainment
From a Timely Theater Festival to an Evening of Mexican Soul, Here Are 6 Arts Picks for This Week
(Courtesy of the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago)
The fortuneteller told me: “I see a week full of art and culture.” I said, “What if I want to experience Hitchcock on the big screen, see a play torn from the headlines or just stay home and watch a local choir on national TV?” The fortuneteller said: “Yep, or you can see an Obama musical, visit a historic museum or — look, this is Chicago, pal. You got options. That’ll be $40 plus a convenience fee.”
“La Noche del Son” – Kehrein Center for the Arts
It’s billed as “An Evening of Mexican Soul” and brought to you by the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago, so the traditional costumes alone will make this a spectacular affair. Add folk music by the Sones de Mexico Ensemble and the classical melodies of Cuerdas Clasicas, and you’ve got a rich lineup of artists — all of them performing in the superlative acoustic space that is the Kehrein Center for the Arts in Austin. Aug. 23
Living Newspaper Festival – Broadway Armory
Five short plays inspired by recent headlines. This annual mini fest from Jackalope Theatre evokes the Federal Theatre Project of the 1930s, which presented stories based on timely events. Each show is 10 minutes long. They are presented in unison, and they all find inspiration in current media stories — one play, “Signal Down,” covers the federal funding cuts to public media. Aug. 21-25
“44: The Musical” – Studebaker Theater
The musical satire about former President Barack Obama returns to Chicago for its second term. If you long for those bygone days when the Rose Garden was intact and the White House wasn’t a gilded glitter-bomb, this might be the show for you. Joe Biden narrates, remembering what he can, and there are deft characterizations of beloved statesmen such as Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz. Aug. 23-Sept. 21
“44: The Musical” is returning to Chicago. (Mackenzie Hilton)
Technicolor Weekend – Siskel Film Center
The saturated colors of the Technicolor printing process are in full bloom in a curated lineup of great-looking movies. Among the seven films are classics like “The Birds” and “Mary Poppins.” There’s also the Jim Kelly action flick “Black Belt Jones” — and who doesn’t want to see a technicolor Jerry Lewis in “The Disorderly Orderly?” All prints are 35mm and come from private collections. Programmed by the Chicago Film Society. Aug. 22-24
Pullman Porter Museum – 10406 S. Maryland Ave.
The country’s first African American filmmaker, Oscar Micheaux, was once a Pullman porter. He’ll be remembered with a free film screening of “Oscar Micheaux Presents” and a reception with two special guests: composer Renee Baker and arts kahuna Pemon Rami. The museum is celebrating 100 years of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters — and recognizing its own 30th anniversary. Aug. 25
Leo High School Choir – “America’s Got Talent”
This Chicago youth choir recently moved forward on the long-running talent show with their rendition of The Score’s “Born for This.” On Tuesday, these 22 young men are sure to turn heads again as they perform live, raising their voices and challenging stereotypes. The choir hails from Leo Catholic High School in Auburn Gresham — and if you like what they do, you can vote and help send them to the semi-finals. Aug. 26
The Leo High School Choir on “America’s Got Talent.” (Courtesy of NBC)
Marc Vitali is the JCS Fund of the DuPage Foundation Arts Correspondent.
