Arts & Entertainment
A Podcast’s Film Festival and a Symphonic ‘Star Wars’: 4 Arts Picks for Your Weekend
"The Royal Tenenbaums" is screening at Filmspotting Fest II (Touchstone Pictures)
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 been a good summer in Chicago so far. Despite the above-average rainfall, the weather’s been splendid, the Chicago White Sox are sitting atop the American League Central Division, and the Bulls just drafted two prospects, Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain, who make local basketball fans hopeful for the future. Another reason for optimism? The wealth of culturally enriching arts events that happen across the city every day. Below is just a small sample of what’s on offer this weekend.
Performance: “Mocrep Presents ‘I Live Every Day’” — Steppenwolf Theatre
Steppenwolf’s LookOut series is designed to highlight “emerging artists and performance legends, quintessential Chicago companies and young aspiring ensembles, familiar Steppenwolf faces and new friends.” All events happen in the venue’s intimate 1700 Theater, and the latest installation is the performance art ensemble Mocrep. The local collective bills its work as “mostly performance, arguably music.” They feature some interdisciplinary artists, prominent Chicago musical improvisors and more. Their latest show draws from the work of country singer Tammy Wynette. Performances run Thursday, Friday and Saturday. You can buy tickets here.
Art: “Voices Embodied: Prognostication” — Design Museum of Chicago
Questions of accessibility, inclusivity and a “disability-forward future” linger in a new exhibit at the Design Museum of Chicago. “Voices Embodied: Prognostication” boasts the work of 38 local, national and international artists, who were tasked with pushing “the boundaries of what a typical museum show looks like.” These works go on display Friday and will remain on view until January 2027. For more information, click here.
Music: “‘Star Wars: A New Hope’ in Concert” — Chicago Symphony Orchestra
The great thing about the symphony is that you can witness timeless works from composers who died more than 200 years ago or you can hear the score to an enduring sci-fi classic from the 1970s. The latter is on display this weekend at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where conductor Sarah Hicks leads the CSO through John Williams’ Oscar-winning score for “Star Wars: A New Hope.” Performances run Thursday through Saturday. Click here for tickets.
Film: “Filmspotting Fest II” — Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture, Music Box Theatre
For more than 20 years, “Filmspotting” has been one of the most essential film podcasts, and it’s based in Chicago. Hosted by Adam Kempenaar and Josh Larsen, the show will be hosting its second-ever film festival at the Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture and the Music Box Theatre this weekend. Screenings include 2016’s “Krisha,” which features a Q&A with director Trey Edward Schultz, 2001’s “Wet Hot American Summer,” 2001’s “The Royal Tenenbaums” and more. For showtimes, tickets and festival passes, click here.
WTTW News arts coverage is supported by the JCS Arts, Health & Education Fund of the DuPage Foundation.
