Arts & Entertainment
From a Steppenwolf Premiere to a Tiffany Lamp Exhibition, Here Are 6 Arts Picks for the Week
A rehearsal of “Mr. Wolf” at the Steppenwolf Theatre. (Joel Moorman)
The arts scene in Chicago has zero chance of moving to Arlington Heights. Not to slight the Heights, because it is home to the Metropolis Performing Arts Center and the fine live music club Hey Nonny.
But Chicago arts hit higher heights. They’re deeply rooted, part of the city’s DNA, and they aren’t as moveable as a football team. Here are this week’s cultural points of interest, taking you from the South Loop to the North Side to … Arlington Heights.
“Mr. Wolf” – Steppenwolf Theatre
Steppenwolf launches its 50th anniversary season with a provocative show about a teenager, kidnapped as a toddler, who reunites with her family. Written by ensemble member Rajiv Joseph, the play pursues hard truths about familial bonds and the wolf at the door. A strong cast in a juicy family drama sounds tailor-made for the Steppenwolf syndicate. Previews start Sept. 11
The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra – Epiphany Center for the Arts
Make plans to see a show at Epiphany, the former church renovated into a cultural hub that, not surprisingly, has a spiritual vibe. Here’s a good one: the Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, a 20-piece ensemble led by guitarist Fareed Haque. They played a rousing show in Millennium Park a few years back, and this album release concert is shaping up to be a mind-expanding melting pot of music. Sept. 14
The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra rehearses at the Epiphany Center for the Arts. (Provided)
“Faking the Band” – The Revival
The Revival is a sharp spot for improv and comedy on South Wabash. A recent addition to their roster is Faking the Band, in which a trio of comedians performs in a genuine band — a legendary group that never existed. The audience picks the songs while the band spins stories and plays hits and obscurities. This sounds absurdly fun. Fridays and Saturdays in September
“Shakkei: Work by Mayumi Lake and Bob Faust” – Elmhurst Art Museum
The first museum exhibition by Chicago artists Mayumi Lake and Bob Faust is inspired by the Japanese design principle of shakkei, meaning “borrowed scenery.” Expect kaleidoscopic artworks that echo a philosophy of combining organic and architectural elements. With appealing optics, these large-scale, immersive works chart the intersection of patterns in everyday life. Through Jan. 5
The Box Band With Howard Levy – Hey Nonny, Arlington Heights
I just checked the nightclub Hey Nonny to see if anything of interest was happening this weekend. Oh, just one of the great harmonica players of our time, Howard Levy, sitting in with The Box Band. The Box Band is new to me, but if they’re OK by Howard, they’re okay by me. Yes, a Saturday night in the suburbs and a Grammy winner sits in with the band. We’re spoiled. Sept. 13
Tiffany lamps are on display in a new exhibit at the Driehaus Museum. (Provided)
“Tiffany Lamps: Beyond the Shade” – Driehaus Museum
Don’t throw shade at me for recommending a lamp exhibition. These are Tiffany’s we’re talking about, and this looks to be an illuminating look at decorative light fixtures from the 1890s through the 1920s. Made of bronze, enamel, ceramic and glass, these lighting designs chart the shift from oil lamps to electric. The Driehaus Museum is a glittering Gilded Age house that will wow you right before you think: Wow, these people had too much money. Opens Sept. 12
Marc Vitali is the JCS Fund of the DuPage Foundation Arts Correspondent.
