IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO Now Playing in Chicago Through May 28, 2022

ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List

IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO

The Creative Team Behind Immersive Van Gogh Directs Its Lens to the Life and Work of Frida Kahlo

Here at ChiIL Mama, we loved Lighthouse Immersive's Immersive Van Gogh so much we came out to see it 3 times! I even did yoga in the space & provided yoga photos for Fan Dads. You can still catch it in Chicago through May 30. Check out ChiIL Mama's original photo filled review here. Now we're equally jazzed to see IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO. We're still solidifying a date, so check back early and often for loads of other great Chi, IL arts and entertainment, and I'll have my full review up with original photos and videos shortly. 

Lighthouse Immersive, North America’s leading producer of ground-breaking experiential art exhibits, and Maestro Immersive Art announce their newest immersive art installation, IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO. On the heels of their critically acclaimed blockbuster Immersive Van Gogh (now on-view in 15 cities), Lighthouse Immersive and Maestro Immersive Art have set their sights on the art and life of Frida Kahlo (1907-1954), the beloved 20th century Mexican artist best known for compelling self-portraits and radiant pieces inspired by her life in her native country of Mexico. The exhibition features some of the artist’s best-known works “brought to life” by the world-renowned master of digital art, Italy’s Massimiliano Siccardi, again accompanied by composer Luca Longobardi’s resonant score. Vittorio Guidotti is the Art Director. A brilliant, bold and uncompromising painter, Kahlo’s work is globally recognized for its raw emotional vitality, vibrant color work and unflinching intimacy.

IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO arrives to Lighthouse ArtSpace at Germania Club (108 W. Germania Pl) Feb. 24 through May 28, 2022. Tickets are on sale at immersive-frida.com. Ticket prices start at $39.99 with timed and flexible options available.

In addition, IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO arrives Spring 2022 in the following cities:

Dallas, Feb. 3 through April 17, 2022

Lighthouse Dallas, 507 S. Harwood Street, Dallas, TX 75201 Co-produced with Impact Museums

Boston, Feb. 10 through May 8, 2022

Lighthouse ArtSpace at the Castle, 130 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA 02116 Co-produced with Maestro Immersive Art

Houston, Feb. 17 through April 17, 2022 1314 Brittmoore Road, Houston, TX 77043 Co-produced with Impact Museums

Denver, March 3 through May 30, 2022 Lighthouse Denver, 3900 Elati Street, Denver, CO 80216

Toronto: March 31 through May 29, 2022 1 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M5E 1W7

Los Angeles, March 31 through June 11, 2022

Lighthouse Los Angeles, 6400 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028 Co-produced with Impact Museums

“The success of Immersive Van Gogh has demonstrated that audiences are excited to experience art in a new way. Our Italian creative team are experts at digitally exploring masterworks in such a way that viewers are not merely passive observers. They obtain an even richer understanding of the artist by seeing the work as its creator might have,” said Lighthouse Immersive Producer Corey Ross. “That said, Siccardi presents Kahlo’s works in a format very distinct from that which he utilized in examining Van Gogh’s. He does not try to unify the many styles Kahlo used in her lifetime, but instead, presents them to us as a series of kinetic tableaus that may initially contradict – but eventually illuminate – each other.”

“Frida Kahlo’s work is uniquely suited to be explored in an immersive environment and her life story is equally fascinating,” added Lighthouse Immersive Producer Svetlana Dvoretsky. “Kahlo lived her life as one giant journey of exploration, and her art mirrored that journey. Our goal is to give our viewers more than an examination of her work; we also hope they will leave with a richer understanding of the smart, complex woman who created these timeless masterpieces.”

“In this piece, we will chase Frida’s world, always in motion,” adds Siccardi. “We will discover her tenderness and hostilities by taking in her observations and fantasies. Our hope is that viewers will let themselves be penetrated by Frida’s stories, and in so doing, live vicariously through her.”

Kahlo’s work bridges surrealist and magic realism traditions – blending authentic depictions of her life with fantastical elements reflecting her inner thoughts and struggles. Folk art, mysticism, surrealism, magic realism and a notably revealing series of self-portraits are all included in the projections. Among the works featured in the piece are The Two Fridas (1939), The Wounded Deer (1946), and Diego and I (1946), intermingled with an assortment of photographs, drawings and iconography. Alongside her paintings, Siccardi’s piece also includes photos of Kahlo at various ages and images of figures from Kahlo’s life that influenced her worldview. The projections are shown on Lighthouse Immersive’s massive architectural canvas, using state-of-the-art projectors for a crisp image and high-quality sound systems that heighten the mood-setting score.

For more information about IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO, visit immersive-frida.com.

About Frida Kahlo

Kahlo was born in 1907 in Mexico City. After surviving polio at the age of six, Kahlo was involved in a horrific accident at the age of 18, when the bus she was riding on was struck by a streetcar, leaving her with a broken spinal column, along with a myriad of other injuries. Bedridden, Kahlo was encouraged by her parents to take up painting to pass the time. A custom-made easel allowed her to paint while lying down. During these long days, Kahlo often spent hour after hour staring at her own image that was reflected in a mirror fixed over her bed. It is here that she began presenting herself as the subject matter of her work, channelling her personal struggles into her art. Kahlo’s travels throughout Mexico and the United States further developed her artistic style. Individualistic and rebellious, her spirit was torn between the Communist Party and the Mexican Nationalist movement. Despite her lifelong passion for her husband, Diego Rivera, she is said to have had numerous affairs with other men and women. Throughout her life, Kahlo developed a rich iconography touching on the realms of life and death and mixing violence and vulnerability in ways that often shocked viewers by pushing gender norms. Kahlo stands today as an iconic figure and a symbol of female empowerment, individual courage and Mexican pride.

Kahlo’s popularity has grown exponentially in recent decades and has been prominently featured in museums worldwide. Public interest was bolstered by several recently released biographies and Julie Taymor’s Academy Award-nominated film starring Salma Hayek. The announcement of IMMERSIVE FRIDA KAHLO comes after a recent record-breaking sale of Frida Kahlo’s 1949 painting “Diego and I,” which sold at Sotheby’s on Tuesday, Nov. 16 for $34.9 million dollars, making it the most prized piece of Latin American artwork ever sold at auction. The sale of “Diego and I” surpassed a benchmark set by Kahlo’s husband Diego Rivera in 2018, when one of his paintings sold at auction for $9.76 million.

About Lighthouse Immersive

Lighthouse Immersive brings together two of Toronto’s preeminent production companies – Starvox Entertainment, Canada’s fastest growing live entertainment company responsible for bringing hit shows like The Art of Banksy to Toronto, and Show One Productions, a full-service production company presenting concerts with high-profile classical musicians, opera stars and orchestras – to bring the world premiere of IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH to Toronto, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and 16 other North American cities. Working directly with the Italian masters of immersive digital art and other leading global creators, Lighthouse Immersive has custom-designed all exhibits to distinctly envelop the various architectural settings they inhabit.

In Toronto, Lighthouse Immersive Artspace occupies the vacant five stories of the 1 Yonge Street building that previously housed the Toronto Star’s printing presses. The main gallery encompasses 600,000 cu. ft. and the facility features two additional gallery spaces alongside offices, two gift shops and a café.

In the last year, the Canadian company has announced or opened new galleries in 21 U.S. cities including Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York City and Orlando. To date, Lighthouse Immersive has sold well over 4 million tickets to IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH across North America, with Art Net recently commenting on the wave of immersive galleries, calling it “one of the largest coordinated art phenomena of all time.”

About Maestro Immersive Art

Maria Shclover and Irina Shabshis are the co-founders of Maestro Immersive Art. Shclover founded Maestro Artist Management in 2004, Shabshis in 2005, and together they have presented more than 1,000 theatrical and classical music performances across the United States, including projects with Michel Legrand, Mikhail Baryshnikov, John Malkovich and more.

GIVEAWAY: WIN A Family 4 Pack of Tickets to Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation at Mercury Theatre Chicago March 15-June 12, 2022

Enter to WIN a Family Four Pack of Tickets Below

THE CHICAGO PREMIERE OF DISNEY’S WINNIE THE POOH: THE NEW MUSICAL STAGE ADAPTATION 

AT THE MERCURY THEATRE

Winnie the Pooh Cast (Chris Palmieri, Jake Bazel, Emmanuel Elpenord, Kirsty Moon)_Photo Credit/ Evan Zimmerman (MurphyMade)

 “Enchanting!” Time Out

“Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation is magical, sweet as honey, and full of humor. It's a wholesome, delightful, enchanting piece of theatre.” BroadwayWorld

ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List:

Family Friendly Shows On Our Radar

Here at ChiIL Mama we were raised on A. A. Milne's timeless tales of Pooh, Christopher Robin, and their best friends Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit and Owl (and Tigger too!). It was a joy to introduce the books and the classic Disney featurettes to our own children, and now we're jazzed to see the stage adaptation! We're thrilled to partner up with the production to offer a chance for two of our readers to win free family four pack of tickets to Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation. Sing Ho for the life of a bear and plan your own adventure with life-sized puppets, in the Hundred Acre Wood. 

Enter at the bottom of this post for your chance to win! 

Winnie the Pooh, Kristina Dazon (Kanga), Kirsty Moon (Roo)

Photo Credit/ Evan Zimmerman (MurphyMade)

After its acclaimed, record-breaking run in New York City, Jonathan Rockefeller’s Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation will arrive in Chicago on March 15, 2022 for a limited 13-week run through June 12, 2022 at the Mercury Theatre Chicago (3745 N. Southport Ave.) For tickets and more information about Winnie the Pooh, visit www.WinnieThePoohShow.com.

Inspired by the beloved books by A. A. Milne and the classic Disney featurettes, the production was welcomed in New York with rave reviews where it was called “A perfect reintroduction to live theater. It’s a captivating adventure with spectacular puppetry,” (Mommy Poppins); “Charming and whimsical stage show that Pooh surpasses every expectation I had for it,” (The Laughing Place); “Winnie the Pooh is delightfully first-rate,” (Theatre Pizzazz); “Irresistible. ‘Winnie the Pooh’ is sweeter than honey,” (DC Metro Arts); “An hour of bountiful joy,” (New York Theatre Guide); “Mesmerizing life-size puppets and original Sherman Brothers tunes, the beautiful new Winnie the Pooh musical is must-see,” (Theatrely); and “The wonderful thing about musicals is that musicals are wonderful things. The New ‘Winnie the Pooh’ Musical Is Sweeter than Honey,” (Toy Insider.)

“The music, the life-size puppets, and the charming performances are the perfect way to introduce (or re-introduce) audiences to live theatre, and this is a must-see show for Winnie the Pooh fans of all ages. I am thrilled to be entrusted to bring this celebrated character to the stage for new audiences as they join our adventure into the Hundred Acre Wood. And what a grand adventure we had in New York City and now we look forward to celebrating Pooh and friends in Chicago,” said Jonathan Rockefeller, creator of Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation.

In a new story from the Hundred Acre Wood, this fresh stage adaptation is told with impressive life-size puppetry, telling exciting new stories featuring characters that have played iconic roles in the lives of children for generations. Accompanying the magical, modern narrative is an original score from Nate Edmondson, which features some of the songs written for the animated feature from The Sherman Brothers’, including Winnie the Pooh, The Blustery Day, The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers and Whoop-De-Dooper Bounce and A.A. Milne’s The More It Snows (featuring music by Carly Simon) and Sing Ho, a new arrangement. 

Winnie the Pooh broke theatre box office records during its New York premiere for largest advance and is developed and presented by renowned family entertainment creator Jonathan Rockefeller (whose spectacular puppetry is omnipresent in the acclaimed productions of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Paddington Gets in a Jam and the recently released streaming film Paddington Saves Christmas). 

A leader in family entertainment, Rockefeller Productions values the safety of its patrons and its staff and will enforce current CDC and industry safety standards, all patrons will be required to wear a mask inside the theatre, and every person 12 + will be required to show proof of vaccine before entering the theatre. Children 5-11 will be admitted with one vaccine that was administered at least 14 days prior to performance. For children under 5, proof of a COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of the performance start time or a negative COVID-19 antigen test taken within 6 hours of the performance start time will be accepted. Health and safety protocols are subject to change in accordance with CDC and local public health mandates. 

The Mercury Theatre Chicago is located at 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago

Tickets are now available by visiting www.WinnieThePoohShow.com

Performances are Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m., Saturdays at 10 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m. and Sundays at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., with ticket prices starting at $38.

The cast features members of the acclaimed Off-Broadway theatrical show, including Jake Bazel as Pooh; Chris Palmieri as Tigger; Emmanuel Elpenord as Eeyore, Rabbit and Owl; and Chicagoans Emilie Rose Danno, Carolyn Plurad, and Tina-Kim Nguyen rotate in the roles of Piglet, Roo and Kanga.  

“As we embark on a national tour for Disney’s Winnie the Pooh, with Chicago

as our next stop for the Hundred Acre Wood, we are proud to have a group of

local actors joining our cast to play the distinct roles of Kanga, Piglet and

Roo. Emilie, Tina and Carolyn are dynamic performers who perfectly embody the

beloved characters, based on the classic book and animated film. They will

superbly complement the returning cast members as we bring this production to

the Mercury Theatre Chicago,” said Jonathan Rockefeller, creator of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation. 

  

The creative team for the show includes creative director Jonathan Rockefeller, co-scenic designers Jack Golden and Josh Warner, costume designer Lindsay McWilliams, lighting designer Jamie Roderick and original music and orchestrations were composed by Nate Edmonson. Puppets were created by Rockefeller Productions under lead puppet builders Matthew Lish and Ben Durocher. The production also features songs from the Disney featurette by the Oscar® and Grammy® Award-winning American songwriting duo of Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. 

About the artists in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation:  

Jonathan Rockefeller (creator and director) is an acclaimed American/Australian

producer, director and writer. Creator of family entertainment, Rockefeller’s

original works include Disney's Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Paddington Gets In a Jam, Elmer the

Patchwork Elephant Show, Mr Men & Little Miss On Stage, That Golden Girls

Show!: A Puppet Parody.  

Jake Bazel (Pooh) is a puppeteer, voice actor, writer and coach with over a decade of experience working in children’s media. Additional credits include Sesame Street (HBO/PBS), Sesame Workshop’s Helpsters (Apple TV+), Rockefeller Productions’ The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, Paddington Gets in a Jam and more. He often serves on faculty at The Highlight Foundation and as an animation voice acting coach, alongside Sunday Music at Great Big Voices.  

Chris Palmieri (Tigger) is a puppeteer and voice actor known for his work in the Emmy-nominated preschool series Snug’s House (NBC/Universal Kids). Additional credits include King Cryolophosaurus in Jim Henson’s Dinosaur Train Live. Palmieri also served as a puppet builder for Mystery Science Theater 3000 Live.  

Emmanuel Elpenord (Eeyore, Rabbit, Owl) is a puppeteer known for his work in the original cast of the off-Broadway production of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Adaptation. Additional credits include puppeteering for national and international runs of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show with Rockefeller Productions, Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater and the Bryant Park Shakespeare production of Othello.  

Emilie Rose Danno (Piglet/Roo, Kanga) is a Chicago-based actor, who most recently played Audrey in Little Shop Of Horrors at Metropolis Theatre, where she earned a

Broadway World Chicago nomination for Best Performer in a Musical. Danno has

worked in a number of other theatrical productions across the Chicagoland area

at The Miracle Center, West Side Improv and Blank Theatre Cabaret. 

Tina-Kim Nguyen (Piglet/Roo, Kanga) is a Chicago-area actor with credits like The Legacy of Sherwood Forest at Inkwell Arts and Learning, Water by the Spoonful at Northeastern Illinois University, and Richard III at Eclectic Full Contact Theatre.

 

Carolyn Plurad (Piglet/Roo, Kanga) is an award-winning actor with acting credits in City Lit’s production of Fuente Ovejuna, and The Butcher’s Son by Vi Nhan Tran. Her performance as Xinh in The Butcher’s Son was nominated in the Best Supporting Performer category of the Chicago Musical Theater Festival in 2018, and the play was the festival’s Most Promising Musical winner in the same year. Other credits include performances with the Lifeline, Oil Lamp Theater, The Second City, Steel Beam Theater, Odds Bodkin, and Chicago Kid’s Company.  

Winnie the Pooh, Chris Palmieri (Tigger), Emmanuel Elpenord (Rabbit)

Photo Credit: Evan Zimmerman (MurphyMade)

ABOUT THE SHOW

Winnie the Pooh has been enjoyed by millions of readers and viewers ever since English author A.A. Milne first chronicled the adventures of Christopher Robin’s friends in the Hundred Acre Wood in 1926. The books, featuring illustrations by English illustrator E.H. Shephard, have sold over 50 million copies worldwide. The theatrical rights to the Pooh stories were acquired by Disney in 1961, with an original intent to produce a feature film, but after production began, Walt Disney decided to make short featurettes instead. The three featurettes were subsequently incorporated into the feature The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. This was the last film in the Disney canon in which Walt Disney had personal involvement. The first featurette, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree was released during his lifetime, while Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day was still in development. Disney’s Winnie the Pooh has since become one of the best-loved and most successful franchises in history. 

 

The Sherman Brothers are the multi-talented Oscar® and Grammy® Award-winning American songwriting duo of Richard M.  Sherman and Robert B. Sherman. The Sherman Brothers wrote more motion-picture musical scores than any other songwriting team in film history.  Among these are the Disney classics Mary Poppins, The Jungle Book, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, and The Aristocats. The Sherman Brothers worked directly with Walt Disney on the first two Winnie the Pooh featurettes: Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (which garnered a Grammy Award nomination) and Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. The brothers won a Grammy Award for the third featurette: Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too. All three featurettes were incorporated into the 1977 musical film The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. The duo also wrote songs for Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore and The Tigger Movie, with their music also featured in the movie Christopher Robin.

 

Jonathan Rockefeller and Rockefeller Productions embraced the challenge of re-imaging Disney’s Winnie the Pooh for a new audience by bringing it to life on stage in puppet form. The company has garnered global accolades, from critics and audiences alike, for their production of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, with 14 productions playing on four continents. An extended run of the show in New York City culminated in Drama Desk and Off-Broadway Alliance nominations, as did Paddington Gets in a Jam, which tours China and the US in 2022. Other projects include the award-winning short film, 10 Little Rubber Ducks, written by preeminent author/illustrator Eric Carle and the recently released Christmas special Paddington Saves Christmas. 

 

Produced in association with Disney Theatrical Productions

Winnie the Pooh, Jake Bazel (Pooh)

Photo Credit/ Evan Zimmerman (MurphyMade)

Enter Here for your chance to WIN 

a Family Four Pack of Tickets from ChiIL Mama

To Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation at Chicago's Mercury Theatre 

Two winners will receive 4 tickets each to your choice of show dates (pending availability). Contest open through midnight March 22nd, 2022. Enter early and often. Winners will be emailed and announced here, on our site, as well as via our social media outlets. Good luck! 

Winnie the Pooh, Chris Palmieri (Tigger)

Photo Credit/ Evan Zimmerman (MurphyMade)

HARPER LEE’S TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD AT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO'S JAMES M. NEDERLANDER THEATRE MAY 17-29, 2022

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar  

TICKETS GO ON SALE MARCH 8 FOR

HARPER LEE’S

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

A NEW PLAY BY AARON SORKIN

BASED ON HARPER LEE’S CLASSIC NOVEL

FIRST NATIONAL TOUR OF CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED, RECORD-BREAKING PRODUCTION

STARS EMMY AWARD® WINNER RICHARD THOMAS

PLAYING AT

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO'S

JAMES M. NEDERLANDER THEATRE

MAY 17-29, 2022

Here at ChiIL Mama, we love Harper Lee’s iconic novel, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, and we're jazzed to catch the first national tour of the history-making production. Got your tickets yet? 

Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce tickets for the history-making production of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will go on sale Tuesday, March 8, 2022. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will play Broadway In Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre for a limited engagement May 17-29, 2022. Academy Award® winner Aaron Sorkin’s new play, directed by Tony Award® winner Bartlett Sher and based on Harper Lee’s classic novel will come to Chicago as part of a multi-year national tour across North America.

The complete cast was announced today for the First National Tour of the history-making production. Starring in the critically acclaimed production are Emmy Award®-winning actor Richard Thomas as Atticus Finch, Melanie Moore as Scout Finch, Jacqueline Williams as Calpurnia, Justin Mark as Jem Finch, Yaegel T. Welch as Tom Robinson, Steven Lee Johnson as Dill Harris and Mary Badham (Oscar®-nominated for the role of “Scout” in the feature film) as Mrs. Dubose. They are joined by Joey Collins as Bob Ewell, Richard Poe as Judge Taylor, Luke Smith as Horace Gilmer, Arianna Gayle Stucki as Mayella Ewell, David Christopher Wells as Sheriff Heck Tate, Anthony Natale as Link Deas, Liv Rooth as Miss Stephanie, Travis Johns as Mr. Cunningham, and ensemble members: Morgan Bernhard, Denise Cormier, Christopher R. Ellis, Stephen Elrod, Glenn Fleary, Maeve Moynihan, Daniel Neale, Dorcas Sowunmi, and Greg Wood.

Yaegel T. Welch, Steven Lee Johnson, Luke Smith, Liv Rooth, and Glenn Fleary join the tour from the Broadway production.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD holds the record as the highest-grossing American play in Broadway history. It began performances on November 1, 2018, at the Shubert Theatre and played to sold-out houses until Broadway shutdown in March 2020. On February 26, 2020, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD became the first-ever Broadway play to perform at New York’s Madison Square Garden, in front of approximately 18,000 New York City public school students, also marking the largest attendance at a single performance of a play ever in world theater. The production resumed performances on October 5, 2021 and concluded its run at the Shubert Theatre on January 16, 2022. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is set to resume performances at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre with Greg Kinnear as Atticus Finch on June 1, 2022. A production will debut in London’s West End at the Gielgud Theatre on March 10, 2022, starring Rafe Spall. 

Set in Alabama in 1934, Harper Lee’s enduring story of racial injustice and childhood innocence centers on one of the most venerated characters in American literature, small-town lawyer, Atticus Finch. The cast of characters includes Atticus’s daughter, Scout; her brother, Jem; their housekeeper and caretaker, Calpurnia; their visiting friend, Dill; and a mysterious neighbor, the reclusive Arthur “Boo” Radley. The other indelible residents of Maycomb, Alabama, are Bob Ewell, Tom Robinson, Prosecutor Horace Gilmer, Judge Taylor, and Mayella Ewell. 

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is designed by Miriam Buether, with costumes by Ann Roth, lighting by Jennifer Tipton, sound by Scott Lehrer, and an original score by Adam Guettel. Casting by Telsey and Co. The national tour is produced by Barry Diller.

For more information, please visit www.tokillamockingbirdbroadway.com

 

Follow TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD on:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/tokillamockingbirdbway/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mockingbirdbway/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/mockingbirdbway

 

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Tuesday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 21 at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 22 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 25 at 2:00 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, May 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 28 at 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, May 29 at 2:00 p.m.

 

TICKET INFORMATION

Individual tickets for TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 and range from $35.00 - $114.00 with a select number of premium tickets available. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing GroupSales@BroadwayInChicago.com. For more  information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 21 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country. A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining more than 1.7 million people annually in five theatres. Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including the Cadillac Palace Theatre, CIBC Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, Auditorium Theatre, and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway  Playhouse at Water Tower Place.

 

COVID-19  PROTOCOL

Our audiences are required to wear masks and show proof of vaccination. For details or further requirements visit broadwayinchicago.com/covid19.

 

For more information and tickets, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

 

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List: Al Fresco Restaurants In Chicago

 ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List:

Fabulous Outdoor Dining in the Windy City

Here at ChiIL Mama we are so over winter and eagerly awaiting spring, when Chicago's world class outdoor dining scene will bloom again. Literally hundreds of al fresco options line the streets and rooftops of Chicago, ranging from quick and casual family friendly fare to snazzy date night splurges.  Here's a short list of some unique and memorable choices to celebrate the return of spring.

Offshore: The world’s largest rooftop deck as recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records and one of Chicago’s most exciting hotspots located at Navy Pier boasts over 42,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space with unmatched views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. This year-round rooftop destination offers Chicagoans and travelers alike a full-service bar and world-class kitchen, along with cozy fire pits, an entertainment and gaming area, and multiple large gathering spaces for social and corporate events, weddings, and more.

Kennedy Rooftop: In search of the perfect Golden Hour views? Known for spectacular, unobstructed views of the Chicago skyline from the John Hancock to the Willis Tower, Kennedy Rooftop offers a vibrant ambiance, a delicious menu, and a unique variety of signature cocktails for all to enjoy atop the Hyatt Place Wicker Park. Space is first come first served.

Ocean Prime: Located on the iconic corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, Ocean Prime offers al fresco dining on the outdoor patio just steps away from the city’s top attractions. The modern American restaurant and lounge from award-winning Cameron Mitchell Restaurants offers an impressive menu of seafood and steak, signature cocktails, and a Wine Spectator honored wine list coupled with truly exceptional hospitality.

Chicago Firehouse Restaurant: Formerly Engine Company 104 of the Chicago Fire Department, the landmark restaurant at 1401 South Michigan Avenue features both a lush backyard patio providing a quaint escape in the city as well as an outdoor veranda affording picturesque views of the South Loop skyline. The timeless house favorites, steaks, chops, and seafood, are complemented by distinctive, contemporary seasonal dishes for all to enjoy.

Carnivale: Chicago’s one-of-a-kind restaurant serving Latin-fusion cuisine invites guests to take advantage of patio season on the scenic outdoor terrace with refreshing libations and sensational signature dishes. The West Loop hotspot also offers seven unique private and semi-private spaces, perfect for celebratory events. For reservations and event inquiries, please visit www.carnivalechicago.com.

Lírica: Sweeping lakefront views and Iberian-Inspired fare create the perfect symphony at Lírica, located at 900 E. Grand Ave on Navy Pier. Featuring a 150-seat patio on Lake Michigan, the waterfront restaurant combines world-class views of Lake Michigan with rich and rustic flavors and a vibrant atmosphere.

Replay Lincoln Park: Chicago’s favorite arcade bar located at 2833 N. Sheffield pairs outdoor dining and imbibing with epic immersive experiences in addition to more than 65 free vintage arcade games available. Replay Lincoln Park features rotating pop-up events spanning 9,000 square feet of gaming areas including their outdoor patio. To learn more about upcoming pop-ups, please visit www.replaylincolnpark.com.

City Cruises Chicago: Set sail on City Cruises’ luxurious vessels including the Odyssey Lake Michigan, Spirit of Chicago, Chicago Elite, and the Odyssey Chicago River. Whatever the holiday or occasion, it’s better on a yacht. Guests can enjoy curated cocktails and cuisine during brunch and dinner cruises, all while taking in the unmatched views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline from the Chicago River.

Pacino’s: Sicily meets South Loop at this authentic Italian eatery located within Roosevelt Collection Shops at 1010 S. Delano Ct. Led by Executive Chef Michael Serratore, Pacino’s offers a wide range of classically-inspired antipasti, pizza, salads, seafood, fresh pasta, and more. Enjoy signature cocktails or a glass of vino at the full bar indoors or pull up a seat under the outdoor pergola for an amazing outdoor dining experience.

Water’s Edge: Serving up classic American fare nestled within 88 acres of forest preserve, Water’s Edge located within Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook invites guests to dine and unwind at the lakeside café or al fresco on the patio overlooking a private lake. Water’s Edge offers both savory and sweet breakfast dishes and fresh salads, wraps, and sandwiches for lunch. Patrons can also opt to book lakeside private parties on the serene patio which cater to up to 40 guests. For more information, please call 630.568.1234 or visit their website.

Oaken Bistro + Bar: Bringing together worldly flavors and responsible, local ingredients rooted in flavors both strong and bold, Oaken Bistro + Bar, 200 N. Field Dr., features both indoor and outdoor dining, with a sleek lounge, stunning bar, spacious dining rooms, and a patio complete with intimate fire pit seating. Open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch service on weekends, the restaurant incorporates natural elements in everything from design and decor to menu offerings including a standout cocktail program complete with floral and herbal infusions.

WORLD PREMIERE OF UPON THIS SHORE: A TALE OF PERICLES AND THE DAUGHTERS OF TYRE VIA IDLE MUSE THEATRE COMPANY MARCH 3 - APRIL 3, 2022

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar  

IDLE MUSE THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM 

FOR THE WORLD PREMIERE OF 

UPON THIS SHORE: A TALE OF PERICLES AND THE DAUGHTERS OF TYRE, MARCH 3 - APRIL 3, AT THE EDGE OFF-BROADWAY THEATER

This New Version of Shakespeare’s Pericles is Adapted and Directed by 

Artistic Director Evan Jackson+ 

I'll be out to review on March 6th. In the meantime, check back with ChiIL Mama early and often. 

Idle Muse Theatre Company is proud to announce the cast for its world premiere production of Upon This Shore: A Tale of Pericles and the Daughters of Tyre, adapted and directed by Artistic Director Evan Jackson+, March 3 - April 3 at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W Catalpa Ave. The performance schedule for Upon This Shore… includes two preview performances Thursday, March 3 and Friday, March 4 at 8 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are now on sale and are $20, general admission; $15, students and seniors and $10 for Thursday Industry Nights at idlemuse.org or the Idle Muse Theatre Company Box Office, 773.340.9438.

“Best for Winter, our last adapted Shakespeare production before the pandemic, represented a process through which Idle Muse began to explore a path forward in a world deeply affected by widespread abuses and loss,” said Jackson. “My hope is that Upon this Shore: A Tale of Pericles and the Daughters of Tyre will be a similar process through which we can explore the work of reuniting after a long separation, both as a company and as a community.”

This new adaptation of Shakespeare’s Pericles, Prince of Tyre is a story about being shipwrecked—over and over again. It’s about those cast reeling, broken against strange shores by unfeeling and inexorable forces, separated from everyone and everything they know. But it’s also about reaching: reaching across the divide to those who have been taken, casting off again to find them...risking being broken again and finally swallowed by the depths. Believing there’s a shore on the other side where a light has been left on for you. It’s about the trail of kindnesses we leave behind to light the way home.

The cast includes Brendan Hutt+, (Pericles); Mara Kovacevic*, (Thaisa); Watson Swift+,(Simonides/Antiochus); Elizabeth MacDougald* (Cerimas), Xavier Lagunas+ (Thaliard), Jennifer Mohr* (Lysimacha); Laura Jones Macknin*, (Helicanas); Morgan Manasa*, (Captain/Bawd); Linsey Falls*, (Escanes/Pander); Kade Cox+/^, (Cleon); Christina Renee Jones*, (Dyonyza); Caty Gordon*, (Marina); Erik Schnitger+ (Bolt) and Ross Compton+, (understudy Simonides/Antiochus).

The creative team includes Evan Jackson+/~ (director); Libby Beyreis*, (fight choreographer); Jennifer L. Mickelson*, (intimacy designer); Laura Wiley*/~, (lighting & projection designer); Kati Lechner*/~,(music director); L.J. Luthringer+, (music & sound designer); Jessie Gowens*, (costume designer); Tristan Brandon+/~, (properties designer/literary manager/dramaturg); Carrie Hardin*, (speech & dialect coach); Becky Warner*, (stage manager); Shellie DiSalvo*/^/~, (production manager) and Michael Dalberg+/~, (board member at large).

~Connotes Idle Muse Theatre Company Member 

Pronoun Key: + (he/him/his); * (she/her/hers); ^ (they, them, theirs); = (any with respect)

 

ABOUT EVAN JACKSON+, ADAPTOR AND DIRECTOR 

Evan Jackson serves as the artistic director of Idle Muse Theatre Company, a position he has had the honor of holding since the company’s inception. He has directed 13 previous productions for Idle Muse Theatre Company, including last season's Best for Winter, being a short Shakespeare adapted from the Winter’s Tale and other works and Equivocation; The Lion in Winter and Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure (both Jeff-Recommended); The Hound of the Baskervilles; The Talking Cure; Rites and Sacrifices, a world premiere by Chicago playwright Jennifer L. Mickelson; Enchanted April; The Scullery Maid. He was also director and co-adaptor of Shotgun Shakespeare: What the Weird Sisters Saw with Idle Muse’s Literary Directo  Tristan Brandon. Outside directing projects include several short plays in the Martin de Maat New Works Festival at Boxer Rebellion Theatre, and two summers serving as assistant director for Shakespeare on the Green in Lake Forest. Jackson is a graduate of The Theatre School at DePaul University, where he received his MFA in Directing.

ABOUT IDLE MUSE THEATRE COMPANY 

Idle Muse Theatre Company’s mission is to produce theatre that is transporting,  timely and true. The company was established in 2006 by theatre artists interested in  exploring the relationship between individuals and the worlds they inhabit. Seeking to  create production opportunities for themselves and other artists, they established a modern ‘guild’ of players and environment where theatre artists of different experiences and backgrounds could develop their craft. Today, IMTC remains focused on the following core values: 

Transporting: We believe that great theatre removes both audience members and  artists from their respective reality and transports them to another world. 

Timely: We believe that human connection can be accomplished through  meaningful, relevant, and accessible storytelling here and now. 

True: We believe in unflinching honesty in our signature form of storytelling. 

In 2022, Idle Muse Theatre Company also began a profit share model with performers and cast members of each production. In addition to any stipend or payment for services, all cast and production members will receive a percentage of profits after production and marketing costs. 

 

COVID policy: In accordance with the city of Chicago guidelines, individuals over the age of five years old must show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and those 16 years old and older will also need to provide identification that matches their vaccination record. A negative test is not an acceptable substitute.  Additionally, masks are to be worn at all times. 

Idle Muse is continuing to monitor the evolving public health situation and will update this guidance as necessary to protect the safety of our audience, cast and production team.  

Idle Muse Theatre Company is partially supported and funded by generous grants  from The MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus  Foundation.  

The Edge Theater Off-Broadway has paid street parking and is wheelchair  accessible with complimentary assisted listening devices available. It is located near the Red Line Bryn Mawr stop and is on the 36 Broadway bus route

 

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER RETURNS TO THE AUDITORIUM THEATRE, MARCH 2-6, 2022

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar  

The Auditorium Theatre Presents 

Three unique programs: 

Photo by Dario Calmese

 Artistic Director Robert Battle’s 10th Anniversary celebration,

Ailey & Ellington program showcases Duke Ellington scores, and 

Return of Rennie Harris’ powerful two-act Lazarus,

plus, Ailey’s masterpiece Revelations is the inspiring finale of all performances.

Tickets now on sale!

I can't wait to see Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater once again. I'll be out to review on Friday, March 4th, so check back with ChiILMama.com early and often. 

The Auditorium Theatre (50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive) proudly presents the return of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, America’s beloved cultural ambassador to the world, for six performances only, March 2-6, 2022.  Marking a decade of leading the Company forward, Artistic Director Robert Battle presents a diverse repertory featuring Ailey’s renowned artists, including Chicago natives Solomon Dumas and Vernard Gilmore, who is now celebrating his 25th anniversary with the company. 

Three unique programs with premieres, new productions and Ailey classics include the Battle 10th Anniversary program, which opens the Chicago engagement and features 

the Chicago premiere of Battle’s For Four adapted from video to stage; the return of hip-hop innovator Rennie Harris’s acclaimed Lazarus; and an Ailey & Ellington program showcasing new productions of beloved works paying tribute to Duke Ellington.  Alvin Ailey’s American masterpiece Revelations, which has inspired generations through its powerful storytelling and soul-stirring spirituals since its creation in 1960, will serve as the finale for all performances.  

“For over 50 years, the Auditorium Theatre has proudly welcomed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as one of its Visiting Resident Companies,” said Auditorium Theatre CEO Rich Regan. It has been a pleasure to see how this world-class dance company has blossomed under the leadership of Ailey Artistic Director Robert Battle and we look forward to celebrating his 10th anniversary. And after a year’s absence, as Chicago audiences return to theatergoing, among the most anticipated events are performances by this joyous, iconic company.”

“Alvin Ailey’s vision provided the opportunity for generations of artists to use dance to inspire, unite and enlighten,” added Artistic Director Robert Battle. “Despite the twists and turns on the road we have all traveled together, we are excited to be returning to our Chicago home at the Auditorium Theatre while finding new ways to share artistry that renews our spirit of courage, hope, and joy. I am deeply humbled to have led this seminal Company for a decade, joined by incomparable dancers and choreographers on a journey of discovery that extends from the powerful works of our founder to the important voices of today – an ongoing dance dialogue that shines a light on the strength and resilience of our common humanity around the world.”

PROGRAM A: The Chicago engagement opens with the Battle 10th Anniversary program Wednesday, March 2, at 7:30pm, celebrating Robert Battle’s visionary leadership that has moved the Company forward in exciting ways into a seventh decade. The performance unveils the Chicago premiere of Battle’s For Four, translated from dance film to the center stage, set to a Wynton Marsalis delicious jazz score written in 4/4 time, which captures the pent-up energy of a world cooped up during the pandemic. The evening will also include a new production of Battle’s sensuous, swirling duet Unfold, plus Mass, Ella, In/Side, Love Stories finale, and Takademe.  PROGRAM A: The Battle 10th Anniversary program repeats on Saturday, March 5, at 8pm.

PROGRAM B: Ailey & Ellington spotlights new productions of Pas de Duke, Reflections in D, and The River Thursday, March 3, at 7:30pm.  This trio of cherished gems is among more than a dozen ballets Alvin Ailey created celebrating the musical genius of the eminent American composer Duke Ellington that have become cherished Ailey classics. Pas de Duke was Ailey’s modern dance translation of a classical pas de deux honoring two of the most renowned dancers in the world, Judith Jamison and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Reflections in D highlights the grace of the male dancer in a stunning, masterful expression of Duke Ellington’s composition. The River, originally choreographed in 1970 for American Ballet Theatre and first performed by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1980, combines classical ballet, modern dance, and jazz in sections suggesting tumbling rapids and slow currents on a voyage to the great sea, mirroring the journey of human existence. Also on the bill is perennial favorite Blues Suite, Ailey’s original masterpiece that launched the Company during its first performance in 1958. PROGRAM B: The Ailey & Ellington program repeats on Saturday, March 5, at 2pm. * A conversation with Company artists will take place immediately following the Saturday matinee. 

PROGRAM C: Hip-hop innovator Rennie Harris’ acclaimed Lazarus, a powerful ensemble work inspired by the life and legacy of Alvin Ailey, returns to the Auditorium Theatre stage Friday, March 4, at 7:30pm. The acclaimed creation of Ailey’s first two-act ballet is featured in the must-see AILEY documentary that opened the 36th season of PBS American Masters and is available to watch online for free through February 11 (visit pbs.org for more information to watch) and Hulu with a subscription. Director Jamila Wignot’s resonant biography is told through Ailey’s own words, along with interviews of those close to him, evocative archival footage, and historic performances. PROGRAM C: Lazarus repeats on Sunday, March 6, at 3pm.  

In addition to the variety of exciting repertory, the inspiring finale of all programs will be Alvin Ailey’s American masterpiece, Revelations, acclaimed around the world for sending hearts soaring and lifting audiences to their feet. Since its debut in 1960, Revelations has been seen by more people than any other modern dance work and has moved audiences through its powerful storytelling and soul-stirring music, evoking timeless themes of determination, hope, and transcendence. Springing from Ailey’s childhood memories of growing up in the south and attending services at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Texas, Revelations pays homage to the rich cultural heritage of the African American and explores the emotional spectrum of the human condition.

Performance schedule and tickets

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs at the Auditorium Theatre: Wednesday, March 2, at 7:30pm; Thursday, March 3, at 7:30pm; Friday, March 4, at 7:30pm; Saturday, March 5, at 2pm and 8pm; and Sunday, March 6, at 3pm.  

Tickets start at $40 and are available at AuditoriumTheatre.org, by calling 312.341.2300, or at the Box Office at 50 E Ida B Wells Drive in Chicago, IL. Click here for phone and in-person hours.  Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is part of the Auditorium Theatre's International Dance Series offering a 20% discount that also includes Ballet Hispanico, March 26 & 27.  Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre may also be added to the Auditorium Theatre’s “Create Your Own” Series subscription offering a 15-25% discount. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more people are also available. The Auditorium Theatre offers $15 student rush tickets to full-time college students and $5 tickets to young people ages 13-19 with Urban Gateways' Teen Arts Pass program. The Auditorium also offers a Student Savings Club for both college and high school students. The Auditorium Theatre's ADMIT ONE program offers complimentary tickets to Chicago-area community groups. 

Special thanks

The Auditorium Theatre is grateful for the support of 2021-22 Season Dance Sponsor, The Florian Fund; Alvin Ailey National Tour Sponsor, Bank of America; Alvin Ailey Chicago Performance Sponsor, Denise Littlefield Sobel; and 2021-22 Student Matinee Series Sponsors The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation and Denise Littlefield Sobel; with commissioning support for Lazarus provided by the Auditorium Theatre with sponsorship support from Ariel Investments, Avison Young, and Svoboda Capital Partners. 

The Auditorium Theatre 2021-22 Season is made possible in part with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Illinois Arts Council Agency. The Auditorium’s official hotel partner is the Palmer House Hilton and their official magazine is Chicago magazine.

About Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

In 1958, Alvin Ailey and a small group of dancers took the stage in New York and forever changed American dance and culture. One of the country’s groundbreaking greats, his Company inspires all in a universal celebration of the human spirit using the African American cultural experience and the modern dance tradition. Now in its seventh decade, Ailey continues to move forward under the leadership of Robert Battle, revealing time and again why Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is one of the world’s most beloved dance companies.  For more information, visit www.alvinailey.org

About The Auditorium Theatre 

The Auditorium Theatre, located at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive at Roosevelt University in Chicago, is an Illinois not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community, and educational programming to all of Chicago and beyond as The Theatre for the People. The organization also is committed to the continued restoration and preservation of this National Historic Landmark that originally opened in 1889. For a complete listing of events at the Auditorium Theatre, please visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.


The Auditorium Theatre is fully committed to the health and safety of our patrons and our staff. For this event, patrons 5 and over are REQUIRED to show proof of vaccination at the door. Guests under 5 may gain entry by wearing a mask at all times when not eating and drinking. All guests must wear a mask when not eating or drinking. Click here for the most current safety protocols.  


HUBBARD STREET DANCE CHICAGO ANNOUNCES 2021/22 44TH SEASON SPRING PROGRAMMING

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar 

The Contemporary Dance Company Presents a Two-Part Spring Series at 

The Museum of Contemporary Art

 

Photo by Michelle Reid

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC) has announced its 2021/22 44th season Spring Series: RE/CONNECT. The dance company will premiere two programs that will take place at the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago Ave) March 2-13.

The Spring Series features two mixed-repertory programs. Program A brings together works by some of the most prolific established and emerging choreographers in contemporary dance: B/olero by Ohad Naharin, Little Rhapsodies by Chicago native Lar Lubovitch, and two world premieres by the effervescent Darrell Grand Moultrie and Amy Hall Garner. The following week, Program B offers another opportunity to see the new work by Darrell Grand Moultrie plus Nacho Duato’s Jardí Tancat (called “hauntingly beautiful” in the fall by WTTW) and Jermaine Maurice Spivey’s The Seen, commissioned by Hubbard Street in the fall and hailed by WTTW as “provocative [and] intriguing!”

Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell, Artistic Director of HSDC, had this to say about the Spring installment of their multi-venue season: “If the Fall Series was about our return to live performance, the Spring Series is our chance to deepen the relationship to our audiences and reconnect. The intimate Edlis Neeson Theater is the perfect venue for this exciting array of world premieres, new choreographers, and returning artists.”

When asked about repeated pieces throughout the season, Fisher-Harrell said, “I like to let things catch fire. The first time we perform a piece, it creates a little spark of buzz that carries over to the next time it is performed, whether that be in a different venue or the same one. If you missed Jardí Tancat or The Seen at the Harris last fall, you have another shot at seeing these remarkable pieces during Program B. And if you saw them already, you have a chance to see different casts in a completely different setting. [Founding Artistic Director] Lou Conte used to have Programs A, B, C, D – we want to offer something for everyone! The 2-week run in the Edlis Neeson Theater at the MCA allows us to feature new artistic voices in addition to tried and true favorites, so you can attend Program A and then a week later, join us for Program B to get the full Hubbard Street experience.”

The Spring Series has performances Wednesday, March 2 through Sunday, March 13. Tickets for Spring Series: RE/CONNECT at the MCA are now on sale via the Harris Theater Box Office. They can be purchased at harristheaterchicago.org or by calling 312-334-7777, and range from $15 to $110. The Harris Theater Box Office is open from 12pm-5pm CST, Monday-Friday. Please visit mcachicago.org/visit/safety for the MCA’s up-to-date COVID-19 safety protocols. Spring Series: RE/CONNECT is not part of the MCA Stage performance program.

To demonstrate Hubbard Street’s commitment to making the arts accessible to all, a limited number of $15 tickets are available for every performance this season, with over 1,000 Hubbard Street tickets set at this special $15 price this year.

Hubbard Street is grateful to Liza Yntema for her support of female leadership in dance. Athletico Physical Therapy, Chicago Athletic Clubs, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency are Season 44: RE/CHARGE Season Partners. Amy Hall Garner’s world premiere commission is supported in part by Camille Rudge.

The Spring Series: RE/CONNECT performance schedule is as follows:

PROGRAM A: DARRELL GRAND MOULTRIE (World Premiere), OHAD NAHARIN (B/olero), LAR LUBOVITCH (Little Rhapsodies), AMY HALL GARNER (World Premiere)

Wednesday, March 2 at 7:30 pm

Thursday, March 3 at 7:30 pm

Friday, March 4 at 8:00 pm

Saturday, March 5 at 8:00 pm

Sunday, March 6 at 3:00 pm

PROGRAM B: NACHO DUATO (Jardí Tancat), JERMAINE MAURICE SPIVEY (The Seen), DARRELL GRAND MOULTRIE (World Premiere)

Wednesday, March 9 at 7:30 pm

Thursday, March 10 at 7:30 pm

Friday, March 11 at 8:00 pm

Saturday, March 12 at 8:00 pm

Sunday, March 13 at 3:00 pm

Following RE/CONNECT, Hubbard Street’s 44th season continues May 12-15, 2022 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance with Summer Series: RE/UNION. This homecoming event will feature the highly anticipated return of Ohad Naharin’s Decadance/Chicago as Program A, with Program B offering a Chicago premiere by Spenser Theberge, an encore presentation of Aszure Barton’s thrilling BUSK, and Amy Hall Garner’s world premiere commission from the spring. Tickets for RE/UNION will go on sale in spring of 2022.

About the Spring Series Choreographers

NACHO DUATO

Nacho Duato, born in Valencia, Spain, started professional ballet training with the Rambert School in London at eighteen, expanding studies at Maurice Béjart's Mudra School in Brussels and completing his dance education at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Centre in New York. In 1980 Duato signed his first professional contract with the Cullberg Ballet in Stockholm and a year later Jirí Kylián brought him to the Nederlands Dans Theater in Holland, where he was quickly incorporated into company and repertoire. His first choreographic attempt in 1983 turned into a major success: Jardí Tancat to Spanish/Catalan music by compatriot Maria del Mar Bonet won him the first prize at the International Choreographic Workshop (Internationaler Choreographischer Wettbewerb) at Cologne. Duato has created more than a dozen works for the two companies of Nederlands Dans Theater and in 1988 was named Resident Choreographer next to Hans van Manen and Jirí Kylián. His ballets form part of the repertoire of companies like Paris Opera, Cullberg Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Deutche Opera Ballet, Australian Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Ballet Gulbenkian, Finish Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet, The Singapore Ballet, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, The Washington Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, North Carolina Dance Thatre, The Boston Ballet, The Gothemburg Ballet, The Royal Swedish Ballet, The Royal Danish Ballet, The Northen Ballet, Ballet du Capitole, Ballet du Rhin, Teatro Comunale Florence, National Ballet of Portugal, The Norweigian Ballet, National Theatre Tokio, The Universal Ballet, Stars Foundation Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Staats Theater Berlin, Bolshoi Ballet, etc. From June 1990 until July 2010, Nacho Duato was Artistic Director of Compañía Nacional de Danza (Madrid-Spain). In 1995 he received the grade of Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres which is annually given by the French Embassy in Spain. In 1998 the Spanish Government rewarded him the Golden Medal for the Merit in the Fine Arts. At the Stuttgart Opera he was offered the Benois de la Danse, one of the most prestigious international awards for choreography, presented by the International Dance Association for his ballet Multiplicity, Forms of Silence and Emptiness, in April, 2000. Starting January, 2011 he held the position of Artistic Director of Mikhailowsky Ballet (Saint Petersburg, Russia). In 2014 he became Intendant and Artistic Director of Berlin State Ballet (Germany).

AMY HALL GARNER

Amy Hall Garner is a native of Huntsville, Alabama, and a graduate of The Juilliard School. Her work has been praised internationally and commissioned by Ailey II, ABT Studio Company, Collage Dance Collective, The Juilliard School, The Ailey School, Barnard College, The University of the Arts, Columbia Ballet Collaborative, Point Park University, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Recently, she has received virtual commissions from BalletX, Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Guggenheim Museum’s Works & Process Digital Series, ABT Studio Company, Boulder Ballet and a virtual collaboration between Miami City Ballet and Paul Taylor American Modern Dance. She personally coached Grammy Award winner Beyoncé, providing additional choreography for The Mrs. Carter Show World Tour. Theatrical choreography credits include: The Color Purple(Milwaukee Repertory Theater) and Invisible Thread, associate choreographer (Second Stage Theater, NYC). In 2018, she was selected to participate in Alvin Ailey’s New Directions Choreography Lab supported by the Ford Foundation. Garner was one of the first recipients of the Joffrey Ballet’s Choreography of Color Award (now titled Winning Works). She is an adjunct professor at New York University’s New Studio on Broadway at Tisch School of the Arts. In 2021, Ms. Garner was a Virginia B. Toulmin Fellow at The Center for Ballet and the Arts. Currently, she is creating and reimagining the classical ballet narrative The Nutcracker, at Baltimore School for the Arts.

LAR LUBOVITCH

Lar Lubovitch is one of America’s most versatile and widely seen choreographers. He founded the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company in 1968. Over the course of 53 years, it has gained an international reputation as one of America’s top dance companies, produced more than 120 dances and performed before millions across the U.S. and over 40 countries. Many other major companies throughout the world have performed the company’s dances, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Joffrey Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, and more. Lubovitch has created ice-dancing works for Olympians John Curry, Peggy Fleming, Dorothy Hamill, Brian Orser, JoJo Starbuck, and Paul Wylie, and he has created feature-length ice-dance specials for TV: The Planets for A&E (nominated for an International Emmy Award, a Cable AceAward, and a Grammy Award) and The Sleeping Beauty for PBS and Anglia TV, Great Britain. His theater and film work includes Sondheim/ Lapine’s Into the Woods (Tony Award nomination), The Red Shoes (Astaire Award), the Tony Award-winning revival of The King and I (on Broadway and in London’s West End), Disney’s Hunchback of Notre Dame in Berlin, and Robert Altman’s movie The Company (American Choreography Award). In 2016, he premiered The Bronze Horseman, based on the Pushkin poem, for the Mikhailovsky Ballet in Russia. In 1987, he conceived Dancing for Life, which took place at Lincoln Center. It was the first response by the dance community to the AIDS crisis, raising over one million dollars. Together with Jay Franke, in 2007 Lubovitch created the Chicago Dancing Festival, in collaboration with the City of Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art. It presented 10 seasons entirely free to the public. Recent awards: 2007 named Chicagoan of the Year by the Chicago Tribune; 2008 named similarly by Chicago Magazine; 2011 designated a Ford Fellow by United States Artists and received the Dance/USA Honors Award; 2012 his dance Crisis Variations awarded the Prix Benois de la Danse for outstanding choreography at the Bolshoi Theatre; 2013 honored for lifetime achievement by the American Dance Guild; 2014 awarded an honorary doctorate by The Juilliard School; 2016 received the Scripps/American Dance Festival Award for lifetime achievement and the Dance Magazine Award, named one of America’s Irreplaceable Dance Treasures by the Dance Heritage Coalition and appointed a Distinguished Professor at UC/Irvine. In honor of his company's 50th anniversary, in 2018 he was presented with the Martha Graham Award for lifetime achievement.

DARRELL GRAND MOULTRIE

A recipient of the Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship Award, Darrell Grand Moultrie has established himself as one of the most diverse and sought-after choreographers and master teachers. This past fall, American Ballet Theatre performed Moultrie’s Indestructible Light at New York’s Lincoln Center Theatre and Milwaukee Ballet premiered Flight Anew. Moultrie has created and staged works for The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, BalletMet Columbus, Ailey 2, Tulsa Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Smuin Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, The Juilliard School, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, and NBA Ballet in Japan. On stage, Darrell’s work can currently be seen in Space Dogs at New York’s MCC Theatre. Additionally, he has provided movement and choreography for The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of Merry Wives, the world premiere of Jeremy O. Harris’s off-Broadway play Daddy, Witness Uganda at American Repertory Theater directed by Tony Winner Diane Paulus, Sugar in Our Wounds at Manhattan Theatre Club, the off-Broadway musical Invisible Thread at Second Stage, the world premiere of Redwood at Portland Center Stage Theater, and Evita and Pride & Prejudice at Kansas City Repertory Theatre. Darrell also choreographed El Publico, a new opera at the world-famous Teatro Real in Madrid, Spain directed by Robert Castro and conducted by Robert Heras-Casado. Moultrie is also set to choreograph the world premiere of the new musical Goddess at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Moultrie is a proud New Yorker, born and raised in Harlem, and a graduate of P.S. 144, The Harbor Conservatory for the Performing Arts, LaGuardia High School, and The Juilliard School.

OHAD NAHARIN

Ohad Naharin is a choreographer, the House Choreographer of Batsheva Dance Company, and creator of the Gaga movement language. Born in 1952 in Mizra, Israel, he joined Batsheva Dance Company in 1974 despite having little training.  During his first year, guest choreographer Martha Graham invited him to join her own company in New York, where Naharin later made his choreographic debut at the Kazuko Hirabayshi studio in 1980.  For the next decade he presented works in New York and abroad, including pieces for Batsheva Dance Company, the Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, and Nederlands Dans Theater.  Naharin worked closely with his first wife, Mari Kajiwara, until she died from cancer in 2001. In 1990, Naharin was appointed Artistic Director of Batsheva Dance Company, and in the same year, he established the company’s junior division, Batsheva – the Young Ensemble.  He has since created over thirty works for both companies and set pieces on many others.  He has also collaborated with musicians including The Tractor’s Revenge, Avi Balleli and Dan Makov, Ivri Lider, and Grischa Lichtenberger.  Under the pseudonym Maxim Waratt, he composed, edited, and mixed many of his own soundtracks.  Naharin’s work has been featured in several films, including Tomer Heymann’s Out of Focus (2007) and the Heymann Brothers’ Mr. Gaga (2015). In addition to his stagework, Naharin also developed GAGA, the innovative movement research and daily training of Batsheva’s dancers that has spread internationally among both dancers and non-dancers. A citizen of both Israel and the United States, Naharin currently lives in Israel with his wife, dancer and costume designer Eri Nakamura, and their daughter, Noga.

JERMAINE MAURICE SPIVEY

Jermaine Maurice Spivey was born in Baltimore, Maryland USA and is a graduate of Baltimore School for the Arts and The Juilliard School. From 2002-2017, Jermaine lived and worked predominately throughout Europe. He has been a company member of Ballet Gulbenkian and Cullberg Ballet, worked as a freelance/guest artist for Hofesh Shechter Company, Robyn Live 2016, The LID, Arias Company and The Forsythe Company from 2013-2015 as well as a cast member of American Repertory Theater's original production The Shape She Makes conceived by Susan Misner and Jonathan Bernstein. Since 2008, Jermaine has been a member of Crystal Pite's project-based company Kidd Pivot. He has rehearsal assisted and/or staged Crystal Pite's work for companies such as Cedar Lake Ballet, Carte Blanche, Hessisches StaatsBallett Wiesbaden, Nederlands Dans Theater, and Paris Opera Ballet. Jermaine has instructed dance all across North America and Europe for professional companies, universities, studios and training programs including USC Kaufman School of Dance, Cal Arts, The Juilliard School, UCLA, NYU Tisch, Baltimore School for the Arts, The Performing Arts Project, MOVE NYC, No)one. Art House, Nuova Officina Della Danza and GöteborgsOperans Danskompani. He is a 2001 Princess Grace Awardee and a 1998 National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts 1st Level Awardee. As a choreographer, Jermaine has been commissioned by Salt Contemporary Dance, Rambert 2, LA Dance Project, The Broad Museum, Christina Aguilera Live at The Hollywood Bowl with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil, and most recently Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Jermaine has also created and performed two full evening works with partner and collaborator Spenser Theberge titled Rather This Then and Position 3.

About Hubbard Street Dance Chicago

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s mission is to bring artists, art and audiences together to enrich, engage, educate and change lives through the experience of dance. HSDC is committed to keeping its dancers creating and finding innovative ways to share exceptional contemporary dance with the community. Hubbard Street Dance Chicago grew out of the Lou Conte Dance Studio in 1977, and Conte served as Artistic Director for 23 years. Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell began her tenure at the company in March 2021. In January 2022, HSDC moved to their new home in Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue.

Hubbard Street offers extensive Education and Adaptive Dance Programs to ensure that residents in every neighborhood of Chicago have access to the benefits of dance. Visit hubbardstreetdance.com for more information.