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Dirksen Federal Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn St. | Sun-Times file

The money paid for more than 80 flights for Stuart Nitzkin and members of his family, according to the feds. It paid for vacations to Scotland, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, Florida, Arizona and Denver, including stays at Ritz-Carlton hotels in several cities and The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.

Accusing him of “greed” and a “skewed way of looking at the world,” a federal judge handed a three-and-a-half-year prison sentence Thursday to a onetime disabled children’s charity director who the feds say stole nearly $1 million from the organization.

U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis handed down the sentence to Stuart Nitzkin of Deerfield, who admitted earlier this year he submitted bogus invoices, receipts and other reimbursement requests to pay for luxury vacations, tickets to NBA games and other personal expenses.

“This was just simple greed,” Ellis said. “And it was your attempt to live a life that you couldn’t afford.”

Before he was sentenced, Nitzkin apologized to the judge and said, “I know that I can bring value to the world, and I pledge to do so.” He added, “Nothing like this will ever happen again.”

Nitzkin served as executive director of American Friends of the Israel Sport Center for the Disabled, court records show. Prosecutors say Nitzkin had previously worked as a telemarketer and a salesman before taking the job, which paid a salary of $150,000 a year.

During the summers of 2014 through 2016, they said he also worked for an unaffiliated camp in Wisconsin, where he was paid $100,000 as its co-director.

Meanwhile, the feds say Nitzkin stole $831,400 from the disabled children’s charity. They said his fraudulent transactions ranged from less than $100 to thousands of dollars. They said he paid for home and auto insurance, purchases at “a large appliance and television store,” duct cleaning, property taxes, a health club and treatment at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute.

The money paid for more than 80 flights for Nitzkin and members of his family, according to the feds. It paid for vacations to Scotland, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, Florida, Arizona and Denver, including stays at Ritz-Carlton hotels in several cities and The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas.

Nitzkin charged the charity more than $7,000 for Bulls tickets in 2014 and more than $10,000 for Bulls tickets in 2015, as well as tickets to Cleveland Browns games, prosecutors say. He also spent the money at Bed, Bath and Beyond, Macy’s, Target, and even Dairy Queen.

“[Nitzkin] repeatedly has said that he would ‘never hurt the kids,’ but that is exactly what he did,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheri Mecklenburg wrote in a court memo last month.

The prosecutor wrote that the charity “had to spend considerable time and money dealing with accountants and lawyers” to straighten out the mess Nitzkin left behind, and to reassure and rebuild its donor base. Mecklenburg also acknowledged that, “with the help of its donors, the charity is now more successful than ever.”

But the prosecutor also wrote that Nitzkin “has been thriving financially and has the means to pay the charity full restitution” — but “has chosen not to do so.” Rather, she wrote that Nitzkin settled a lawsuit from the charity for $315,000, meaning he “still owes the charity more than a half million dollars.”

Meanwhile, Mecklenburg said a friend financed Nitzkin’s purchase of the friend’s successful staffing company for millions of dollars. She wrote that Nitzkin pays himself “a lucrative salary” there, in excess of what he made at the charity, “as well as regular substantial bonuses and a car allowance that exceeds his car costs.”

Nitzkin owns a home in Deerfield, land in Texas, Colorado and Missouri, has multiple financial accounts and has a net worth in the millions, Mecklenburg wrote.

“Nitzkin has been thriving for the past five years, while the charity has suffered,” she argued.

When she handed down the sentence, Ellis ordered Nitzkin to pay the remaining $516,400 restitution. She also told him, “There was no reason at all that you could not have paid restitution over the last couple of years.”

“What that would have shown is that yes, you really were remorseful, and that yes, you took responsibility for what you did,” Ellis said.

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The Blackhawks and Seth Jones flopped in their season-opening 4-2 loss to the Avalanche. | AP Photo/David Zalubowski

The Hawks’ new depth won’t help much if their top players don’t perform as expected. But not every opponent will be as tough as the Avalanche.

NEWARK, N.J. — Every offseason brings optimism to most NHL teams. And every opening week dents that optimism in abrupt, startling ways.

So it’s hardly unprecedented that the Blackhawks, despite their ultra-active summer of upgrades, fell flat in their first of 82 games in 2021-22. But the way they did so — looking completely baffled by the sport of hockey for the first period of a lopsided 4-2 loss to the Avalanche — was nonetheless cause for concern.

General manager Stan Bowman and coach Jeremy Colliton touted, before puck drop Wednesday, the Hawks’ bolstered depth as a key ingredient in their anticipated breakthrough.

“Part of that is we’ve brought in some new players, but a lot of these [returning] guys have started to take that next step,” Bowman said. “Last year was a big year for a lot of guys to get their feet wet and to get used to what it would be like in the NHL, but we always want to try to build on that and come back and be further along.

“We’re going to encounter injuries, whether it’s Jonathan [Toews] or whoever, so we’ll be tested… But we’re going to be in a position to hopefully get through that better than in years past.”

In the most basic sense, they’re right: the Hawks do have more NHL-level or close-to-NHL-level players under contract than they have in years. Dylan Strome and Adam Gaudette probably don’t deserve to be healthy scratches. AHL-bound prospects Lukas Reichel, Mike Hardman, Reese Johnson, Nicolas Beaudin and Jakub Galvas could all give good arguments why they should be on the roster, too.

Yet against an extremely well-rounded Avalanche powerhouse (even without superstar Nathan MacKinnon), the Hawks showed they still can’t remotely match that quality of depth. The game was never truly competitive: The Avs at one point led 23-3 in five-on-five scoring chances and finished up 45-24 in total scoring chances.

Although a loss in Colorado hardly spells doom — many other teams will suffer a similar fate this season, and the Devils on Friday will present a much fairer test — it revealed a key flaw in the Hawks’ reconstructed lineup.

Namely, many of the players expected to be top contributors on this team have only been great (or healthy) one of the past two seasons.

In 2019-20, Marc-Andre Fleury was merely average, Alex DeBrincat was snakebitten, Calvin de Haan was injured and Kevin Lankinen and Brandon Hagel were in the AHL. In 2021, Jonathan Toews didn’t play, Jake McCabe and Kirby Dach barely played, Tyler Johnson played fourth-line minutes and Seth Jones struggled mightily. Only Patrick Kane, Dominik Kubalik and Connor Murphy are building off consecutive good years.

The Hawks had imagined, and planned as if, they’d get the other-season — the good-season — versions of those players.

But if they don’t, inexperienced role players will end up over-slotted and over-matched as Colliton desperately seeks to spark his team — as happened Wednesday, when the game finished with Henrik Borgstrom centering Kane and DeBrincat, MacKenzie Entwistle next to Dach and Riley Stillman anchoring Jones.

“We just didn’t have enough guys going,” Colliton said.

When that happens, the depth disappears quickly.

The viability of Colliton’s defensive system is another issue. As intelligent a hockey mind as he is, as similar (contrary to popular belief) the system is to that of numerous other teams and as encouraged as the defensemen sounded about their unit’s progress in training camp, the fact remains that the Hawks have constantly bled scoring chances throughout Colliton’s tenure to date and looked no better defensively Wednesday.

All of the aforementioned concerns can be dismissed, for now, due to the tiny sample size. After all, way-too-early overreactions are as common in the NHL as offseason optimism and opening-week reality checks.

But Wednesday’s disaster did sketch a worryingly believable blueprint for how this Hawks season could crumble in the coming months.

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The Joffrey Ballet ensemble dances “Under the Trees’ Voices” at the Lyric Opera House. | Photo by Cheryl Mann

This well-chosen, often high-voltage program seemed to be just the thing for an audience hungry for live dance.

The Joffrey Ballet opened its 2021-22 season with an aptly titled program that carried at least two timely meanings — “Home: A Celebration.”

On one hand, the first of 10 performances Wednesday evening marked the company’s full-fledged return to the stage — its performing home — after nearly 20 months because of the coronavirus shutdown. (It did previously take part in a Millennium Park dance showcase in August and gave one performance at the Ravinia Festival on Sept. 17.)

While the Joffrey gamely continued its artistic activities on-line during the pandemic, dance — more than perhaps any other art form — needs to be seen live because it depends on such elements as space and physicality, which simply cannot be fully conveyed virtually.

At the same time, there was also another kind of celebration of home Wednesday evening as the Joffrey marked its debut at the Lyric Opera House — a move that was announced in 2017 and delayed by one season because of COVID-19.

The company typically begins its season with a mixed-repertory program, and “Home: A Celebration,” a line-up of four works that ran nearly 2 1/2 hours with two intermissions, was no exception.

Unlike the preponderance of story ballets the company presents the rest of the season, the emphasis here is less on narrative and more on the movement itself and the skills of the dancers, who appear to have lost little if any of their edge during their time away from the stage.

Cheryl Mann
The Joffrey Ballet’s “Birthday Variations,” featuring Amanda Assucena and Alberto Velazquez.

This well-chosen, often high-voltage program seemed to be just the thing for an audience hungry for live dance. There was an appealing diversity of styles and moods among the four works as well as a smart intermingling of solos, duos and larger ensembles — a mix that kept the evening fresh and engaging.

The Joffrey’s mixed-rep offerings often include only recent works, so it was a wonderful surprise to find “Birthday Variations,” a 1986 work by Gerald Arpino, one of the company’s co-founders, heading the program, and it proved to an ideal opener. Although Joffrey puts an accent on the contemporary, classical ballet remains at the heart of everything it does, and this work, which was very much choreographed in that style with tutus and opulent jackets, seemed like the perfect way to re-launch the company’s live performances.

This work is suffused with gentle, unhurried elegance, and while it has its moments of bravura technique, that is not the emphasis. One lovely half-lift in the pas de deux features the female dancer running her feet in the air, an uncomplicated and oft-used choreographic device, but it is done here, like everything else, with a sense of decorum and grace.

“Birthday Variations” features three ensemble sections (at first, five women and one man) and the refined pas de deux stunningly realized by Amanda Assucena and Alberto Velazquez. Also included are six short solo variations, and, of those, Valeria Chaykina’s performance particularly stood out, as she made the most of seemingly very little — a series of skip jumps and a few other choreographic bits.

The work is set to Giuseppe Verdi’s timeless music, which was ably performed by conductor Scott Speck and the Lyric Opera Orchestra. It is taking over as the Joffrey pit orchestra with the company’s move to the venue.

But the work that really sticks in the memory from this program is the poetically titled “Under the Trees’ Voices” by Nicholas Blanc, Joffrey’s rehearsal director and principal coach who is clearly coming into his own as a choreographer. This was its stage premiere following an on-line debut performance in April.

Zeroing in to the very essence of Ezio Bosso’s Symphony No. 2, with its evocative repetitions and ostinatos, Blanc summons a melancholic autumnal feeling, suggesting the looming dangers to the natural world, while hope remains ever-present. Action is set against stillness, as solo dancers and duos rise up and flow fluidly in and out the ensemble of 15 dancers, a community of forest creatures or nymphs with their leaf-patterned, translucent smocks. Through it all, Blanc capitalizes on simple movements like a dancer holding the palms of her hands in front of her face as though reading a book.

Rounding out the program are Chanel DaSilva’s “Swing Low,” centering on five bird men, including an Icarus-like fallen figure, and Yoshihisa Arai’s “Bolero,” set to the famed score of Maurice Ravel. The latter inventively juxtaposes the slightly manic, off-kilter movements of a single female, impressively realized by Anais Bueno, against the suitably hypnotic, almost ritualist movements of a 14-member ensemble.

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“Speaking from a player’s standpoint, for sure. I definitely want him in,” White Sox All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson said of manager Tony La Russa. “He did a great job with the way he managed and just being open. “For me, yeah, I want him to be back.” | Stacy Revere/Getty Images

“I want him to be back,” the All-Star shortstop said.

White Sox manager Tony La Russa said he would return next season if the players want him back, and while there isn’t much doubt the 77-year-old Hall of Famer will return, staunch support from an important voice in the clubhouse came Thursday.

“Speaking from a player’s standpoint, for sure. I definitely want him in,” All-Star shortstop Tim Anderson said. “He did a great job with the way he managed and just being open.

“For me, yeah, I want him to be back.”

On Wednesday, Jose Abreu said he hadn’t talked to La Russa about next year after this season ended in a disappointing three-games-to-one defeat to the Astros in the ALDS.

“But I’m pretty sure he’s going to come back,” Abreu said through a translator. “He won’t leave us alone. He’s going to be with us.”

When La Russa was hired in the offseason in a stunning move by chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, an immediate reaction was the assumption La Russa’s age (76 at the time) and old school manner would clash with the culture of a fun, free spirited Sox clubhouse. Anderson’s bat flipping and outgoing persona were driving forces in the team’s “Change the Game” mantra, and Anderson was somewhat skeptical at first. He took a wait-and-see approach.

But he warmed up to La Russa after initial conversations, and his respect for the manager grew during the season.

“Huge impact,” Anderson said of La Russa’s leadership. “Everybody thought we weren’t going to get along, but we were talking behind the scenes the whole time. For him, the players come first, and he makes that known. We’re one big family.”

Anderson has spoken of his appreciation for La Russa’s office door “always being open” for conversations about baseball and non-baseball issues.

“When we took the field, we were going to go out and play hard for him and give him everything we got,” Anderson said Thursday. “I’m very pleased with him.

“He did a great job coming in and being a part of what we’re trying to do. I couldn’t be more happy with what he did. The relationship was great, overall, with the players. Everybody was just getting along with him. Hopefully he can step right back in and continue to push us next year and make these decisions that he did. He did a great job overall, and I was very pleased with how he handled it.”

Anderson charactered the Sox’s season as positive.

“We won the division, that didn’t happen last year. We also brought two playoff games to Chicago, that didn’t happen last year,” he said. “So I think it’s just a step to where we’re trying to get to, and we’ve just got to keep believing and trusting in that process and take it step by step.

“We competed all season, through injuries, really through everything. And just for us to get to where we were, it says a lot about the ball club and this organization.”

La Russa is completed the first year of what is believed to be a three-year contract.

“For me, yeah, I want him to be back,” Anderson said. “But at the end of the day, my decision don’t really matter. So I guess it all depends on what the front office thinks.”

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The Bears and Packers last played Jan. 3. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ rivalry game against the Packers at Soldier Field.

The Sun-Times’ experts offer their picks for the Bears’ rivalry game against the Packers at Soldier Field:

Rick Morrissey

Packers 24-17

It certainly would help the Bears’ cause if Aaron Rodgers developed debilitating bunions right before game time. Short of that, it’s going to take a masterful performance by the Bears’ D to stop Rodgers, whose knowledge of the game and quick release make masterful defensive performances a rarity. The good news? Justin Fields gets another start under his belt. Season: 3-2.

Rick Telander

Packers 24-18

Question: Does it matter they’re playing at Soldier Field where Rodgers will hear an earful all day? I’m saying no. The guy doesn’t have a pulse. Thinking Hannibal Lector calm here, the way Mr. Lector can eat your liver with a nice Chianti and a smile. Rodgers is a cold surgeon. Dissects Bears year after year and eats ’em whole. Yuck. Season: 3-2.

Patrick Finley

Bears 20-17 (OT)

Only a fool would bet against Rodgers, but here’s my argument: Since Week 2 — that’s not taking the Rams’ beatdown into account — the Bears defense ranks first in the NFL in sacks, eighth in passer rating allowed, seventh in passing yards allowed and 12th in yards per carry allowed. If the Bears defense is elite, we’ll see it Sunday. Season: 5-0.

Jason Lieser

Packers 23-19

The Bears appear to be headed in the right direction, but there’s a big difference between that and already being on top like the Packers. Green Bay is just as fearsome as last season, when it was a Super Bowl contender, and the Bears still have some climbing to do to reach that level. Season: 4-1.

Mark Potash

Packers 23-20

With a rejuvenated defense, an improved running game and a wild card in Fields, the Bears have a great chance to pull off the upset. But Rodgers usually finds a way to win. Season: 4-1.

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Are you the best sports fan in the country? Prove it! FanSided is searching for our Fan of the Year and we’re giving away awesome prizes. We’re all fans of something. Here at FanSided, that fan spirit is what brings us to work every day, working to connect your fan communities with the stories that […] Are you the 2021 FanSided Sports Fan of the Year? – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & MoreRead More

The immersive “Recipe for Disaster” includes cocktail, wine and food samples. | Emily Madigan

Chicagoans can find a range of plays, musicals and dance shows at local theaters large and small. Our guide has the latest on what’s on stage in the city.

Welcome to our highlights of events and entertainment on stage at Chicago’s theaters. From local productions to Broadway hits, our guide has the latest on shows in the city. Bookmark this page and check back for updates and ticket information.

Goodman Theatre

Liz Lauren
E. Faye Butler stars in “Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer).”

WHAT: E. Faye Butler stars in Cheryl L. West’s “Fannie (The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer).” The biographical play is inspired by the life of the famed voting rights activist and defines what it means to be a true revolutionary. The play features more than 10 iconic spirituals, including “We Shall Not Be Moved,” “I’m on My Way to Freedom” and “I Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round.” Henry Godinez directs.

WHEN: From Oct. 15-Nov 14

WHERE: Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn

TICKETS: $15+

VISIT: goodmantheatre.org

‘The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe: A Love Story

Courtesy Oak Park Festival Theatre
Christian Gray stars as the title character in “Madness of Edgar Allan Poe.”

WHAT: “The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe: A Love Story”: David Rice’s immersive play follows the writer (Christian Gray) as he grapples with love and madness after the death of his beloved wife Virginia (Erica Bittner). The performance, comprised of six of Poe’s poems and short stories, leads audience members through the dark halls of historic Pleasant Home.

WHEN: From Oct. 15-Nov.7

WHERE: Oak Park Festival Theatre at Pleasant Home, 217 Home, Oak Park

TICKETS: $44

VISIT: oakparkfestival.com

Ensemble Espanol

Dean Paul
Pictured Ensemble Espanol Company Dancers in “Pasion Oculta (Hidden Passion)” choreographed by Irma Suarez Ruiz.

WHAT: Ensemble Espanol presents the world premiere of Nino de los Reyes’ “Ritmo de la Tierra” and “Al Golpe” as well as performances of Wendy Clinard’s “Tangos de Granada” and other popular works from the company’s repertoire such as “Viva Galicia,” “Horizonte” and “Pasion Oculta.”

WHEN: At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16

WHERE: Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Parkway.

TICKETS: Tickets: 25+

VISIT: auditoriumtheatre.org.

Alton Brown

David Allen
Alton Brown hosts “Alton Brown: Live! Beyond the Eats.”

WHAT: Food Network host Alton Brown hits the road with his new culinary variety show, “Alton Brown: Live! Beyond the Eats.” He says “audiences can expect more cooking, more comedy, more music and more potentially dangerous science stuff.” There’s also an interactive segment and he warns: “Prepare for an evening unlike any other and if I call for volunteers … think twice.”

WHEN: At 3 and 8 p.m. Oct. 16

WHERE: CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe

TICKETS: Tickets: $25+

VISIT: broadwayinchicago.com.

St. Sebastian Players

WHAT: Garson Kanin’s classic play, “Born Yesterday,” a comedy about an uneducated young woman who goes in search of an education, opens the season for Saint Sebastian Players.

WHEN: From Oct. 15-Nov. 7

WHERE: St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey

TICKETS: $25

VISIT: saintsebastianplayers.org.

Trap Door Theatre

WHAT: Trap Door Theatre offers a virtual presentation of “Dinner with Marx,” a collection of musical videos inspired by the poetry of Romanian playwright Matei Visniec and featuring a cast of 12 artists from around the globe.

WHEN: Streams from Oct. 15-17

TICKETS: $10

VISIT: trapdoortheatre.com.

The Seldoms

Andrew Glatt
The Seldoms

WHAT: The Seldoms perform “Grass,” a new dance theater piece about turf grass and cannabis told through dance, text and animation.

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14-16

WHERE: Dance Center at Columbia College, 1306 S. Michigan

TICKETS: $10-$30

VISIT: dance.colum.edu.

Maria Bamford

Photo by Robyn Von Swank
Maria Bamford

WHAT: Comedian Maria Bamford takes a journey through her deeply personal and experimental comedy.

WHEN: From Oct. 14-17

WHERE: The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee

TICKETS: $35-$55.

VISIT: thedentheatre.com.

‘Othello’

WHAT: Kelvin Roston Jr. stars in Court Theatre’s staging of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, “The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice.” The scenic design places audiences in the middle of the action as the noble general grapples with complex notions of race, gender and complicity at the center of the play’s murderous events that speak to a world on the brink of change. Co-directed by Charles Newell and Gabrielle Randle-Bent.

WHEN: From Oct. 7-Dec. 5

WHERE: Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis

TICKETS: $56-$76 in person, $35-$50 streaming version; courttheatre.org.

VISIT: For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit courttheatre.org.

‘Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog’

WHAT: Joss Whedon, Maurissa Tancharoen, Jed Whedon and Zack Whedon’s internet musical “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog” comes to life on stage in a production by Black Button Eyes Productions which is also a benefit for Season of Concern. Supervillain wannabe Dr. Horrible (Kevin Webb) shares his plans to crush his nemesis, win the woman of his dreams and join the Evil League of Evil. Ed Rutherford directs.

WHEN: From Oct. 8-Nov. 6

WHERE: The Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway

TICKETS: $30

VISIT: For tickets and updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit drhorriblechicago.eventbrite.com.

Joffrey Ballet

Photo by Matt de la Pena
The Joffrey Ballet’s “Bolero” (pictured is Joffrey dancer Anais Bueno)

WHAT: The Joffrey Ballet returns to live performances with “Home: A Celebration” in its inaugural season at the Lyric Opera House. The mixed-repertory program includes the world premieres of Nicolas Blanc’s “Under the Trees’ Voices” and Yoshihisa Arai’s “Bolero” plus Chanel DaSilva’s “Swing Low” and Robert Joffrey’s “Birthday Variations.”

WHEN: From Oct. 13-24

WHERE: Lyric Opera House 20 N. Wacker

TICKETS: $35+

VISIT: For tickets and updated information regarding the Joffrey’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit Joffrey.org.

‘The Wide Night’

Joe Martinez
Linda Reiter and Aila Ayilam Peck star in Shattered Globe Theatre and Interrobang Theatre Project’s Chicago premiere of “This Wide Night.”

WHAT: Shattered Globe Theatre presents “This Wide Night,” Chloe Moss’s drama about two formerly incarcerated women who test their friendship outside prison walls. Aila Ayilam Peck and Linda Reiter star; Georgette Verdin directs.

WHEN: From Oct. 11-Nov. 13

WHERE: Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont

TICKETS: $45

VISIT: For tickets and updated information regarding the theatre’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit sgtheatre.org

‘The Relocation of Nokwsi’

Courtesy of Chicago Children’s Theatre
“The Relocation of Nokwsi”

WHAT: Chicago Children’s Theatre marks National Indigenous People’s Day with the online film, “The Relocation of Nokwsi.” The virtual puppet production is inspired by author Robert Hicks Jr.’s grandfather’s journey away from his people — the Cherokee, Paiute, Yakama, and Shoshone — to live and work in Chicago.

WHEN: Streams Oct. 11-Nov. 11

TICKETS: free with suggested donation.

VISIT: chicagochildrenstheatre.org

Cabinet of Curiosity

Photo by Caleb Donat
Cabinet of Curiosity present “Fields of Fire,”

WHAT: The always creative minds at Cabinet of Curiosity present “Fields of Fire,” the ensemble’s fourth public ritual event. Sit at a massive round table adorned with fire and organics and witness an event with story and music all orbiting a grand tree.

WHEN: From Oct. 7-10

WHERE: at Boler Park, 3601 Arthington

TICKETS: $25, free for Lawndale residents

VISIT: For tickets and updated information regarding the event’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit scocechicago.com

‘Creative Hustle’

WHAT: Writer-producer-actor Jay Davis presents “Creative Hustle,” a new show that brings a variety of entertainers together. Host Rodney Perry welcomes poet J. Ivy, comedian Tanisha “Just Nesh” Rice, Damon Williams, Leon Rogers and Grammy award-winning singer Tarrey Torae and more. This is a taping of a pilot for a potential new television series and Davis says he’s following the example of the 1987 HBO special “Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime.”

WHEN: At 7 p.m. Oct. 10 and 24

WHERE: The Den Theatre

TICKETS: $21, $51

VISIT: For tickets and updated information regarding the theatre’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit thedentheatre.com.

‘The Jigsaw Bride: A Frankenstein Story’

WHAT: Something or someone lies in the ruins of Dr. Frankenstein’s castle in Joseph Zettelmaier’s gothic horror tale “The Jigsaw Bride: A Frankenstein Story.”

WHEN: From Oct. 13-Nov. 14

WHERE: First Folio Theatre at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st and Rt. 83, Oak Brook

TICKETS: $49, $59

VISIT: V firstfolio.org.

‘House of the Exquisite Corps’

WHAT: “House of the Exquisite Corpse” is a horror peepshow, puppet theater anthology where hallways, rooms and hidden doors unveil worlds that terrify and amaze.

WHEN: From Oct. 7-30

WHERE: The Rough House at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division

TICKETS: $21-$26

VISIT: roughhousetehater.com.

Goodman Theatre Readings

WHAT: The Goodman Theatre presents a series of Playwrights Unit Readings: “The Madness of Mary Todd” by Terry Guest, “La Fuente De Cascabeles” by Exal Iraheta, “Expatriate” by Steve Pickering, “Rust” by Nancy Garcia Loza, “You Deserve to Be Here” by Alex Lubischer, “Boxing Play” by Marisa Carr and “Rack Up” by Eliza Bent.

WHEN: From Oct. 9-Nov. 4

WHERE: Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn

TICKETS: Admission is free

VISIT: goodmantheatre.org.

Redtwist Theatre

WHAT: Stephen Karam’s “The Humans” is a drama about a family holiday gathering that unravels into tantrums and unspoken secrets; directed by Steve Scott.

WHEN: From Oct. 7-Nov. 14

WHERE: Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr

TICKETS: $35+

VISIT: redtwist.org

‘Legally Blonde’

WHAT: The musical-comedy “Legally Blonde” follows Elle Woods transformation from sorority girl to Harvard law student.

WHEN: From Oct. 7-Nov. 20

WHERE: Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W Campbell, Arlington Heights

TICKETS: $40

VISIT: metropolisarts.com

‘Songs for Nobodies’

Photo by Michael Brosilow
Bethany Thomas in “Songs for Nobodies.”

WHAT: “Songs for Nobodies” is Joanna Murray-Smith’s one-woman tour-de-force that celebrates the iconic work of Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf and Maria Callas. Bethany Thomas stars in the story of the unexpected encounters between these divas and the ordinary women whose lives they changed. Rob Lindley directs.

WHEN: From Sept. 23-Oct. 31

WHERE: Northlight Theatre at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie.

TICKETS: $30-$89

VISIT: For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit northlight.org.

‘A Recipe for Disaster’

Emily Madigan
The immersive “Recipe for Disaster” includes cocktail, wine and food samples.

WHAT: Chef Rick Bayless teams up with Windy City Playhouse for “A Recipe for Disaster,” an immersive experience. Bayless, artistic director Amy Rubenstein and associate artistic director Carl Menninger created the farcical play which revolves around a trendy restaurant where everything that could go wrong does. Audiences will sample cocktails, wine and food created by Bayless. David H. Bell directs. WHEN: Performances begin Oct. 6 in an open-ended run.

WHERE: staged at the Club Level at Petterino’s, 150 N. Dearborn.

TICKETS: $90-$130. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit windycityplayhouse.com.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater: ‘As You Like It’

WHAT: Shakespeare meets The Beatles in Daryl Cloran’s adaptation of the classic romantic comedy “As You Like It.” Cloran, who also directs, sets the play in the ’60s and infuses it with the music of the Beatles. More than 20 musical numbers from the Fab Four’s songbook are performed by a cast led by Lakeisha Renee as Rosalind and Liam Quealy as Orlando.

WHEN: From Oct. 6-Nov. 21

WHERE: Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand

TICKETS: $49-$90. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit chicagoshakes.com.

PrideArts: ‘4000 Days’

WHAT: PrideArts presents Peter Quilter’s “4000 Days,” a comedy-drama about a man who wakes up from a three-week coma and finds he remembers nothing from the past 11 years including his relationship with his partner; directed by Jay Espano.

WHEN: From Oct. 1-31

WHERE: The Broadway, Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway

TICKETS: $30. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit pridearts.org

Second City

WHAT: The Second City’s 109th revue, not yet titled, is a comedic examination of how we’re all striving to find joy in a seemingly never-ending stream of apocalyptic change from conspiracy theories to social anxiety to navigating the current political landscape.

WHEN: Presented in an open-ended run beginning Sept. 30

WHERE: The Second City, 1616 N. Wells

TICKETS: $29-$55

VISIT: For more information on the festival and updated information regarding the Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, secondcity.com/chicago-shows/

‘Rent’

Amy Boyle
Cody Jenkins and Samantha Mbolekwa in “Rent.”

WHAT: The “Rent 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour” is the last chance to catch this celebrated touring production. Jonathan Larson’s Tony Award-winning musical follows a diverse group of artists and friends struggling to follow their dreams. It’s the first production to open to a live audience in a Broadway in Chicago theater in more than a year.

WHEN: From Oct. 5-10

WHERE: CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe

TICKETS: $25+

VISIT: For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit broadwayinchicago.com.

More on stage…

Vicki Quade’s “Holy Ghost Bingo: God, Goblins & Games” returns Oct. 1-31 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln. Tickets: $35. Visit greenhousetheater.org.

Black Ensemble Theater’s cabaret series begins with “The Feel Good Musical Revue” at 8 p.m. Oct. 1-2 and 3 p.m. Oct. 3 at Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark. Tickets: $45. Visit blackensembletheater.org.

The House Theatre of Chicago’s 10-part “Dracula: A Serial Audio Play” begins Oct. 1 with new episodes each week. Streams free at thehousetheatre.com.

Broken Nose Theatre presents an audio adaptation of its hit 2019 family drama “Kingdom.” Streams (pay-what-you-can) from Oct. 4-24 at brokennosetheatre.com.

Dance Doings…

Winifred Haun & Dancers premiere a new work, “When day comes,” and other dances including “Your nearest exit may be behind you,” “Bento” and “Finding the Light” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1-2 at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn. Tickets: $24, $35. Visit winifredhaun.org.

The experimental company Zephyr Dance performs “Recurrences,” a re-staged, shortened reconstruction of elements from its piece “Allowances and Occurrences.” At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 2 and 9 at The Martin, 2500 W. Chicago. Tickets: $10. Visit zephyrdance.com.

The Chicago Tap Summit, M.A.D.D. Rhythms’ annual celebration of tap, includes classes, panels, performances and more. From Oct. 1-3 at Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. Ticket prices vary. Visit maddrhythms.com.

Destinos: Chicago International Latino Theater Festival

WHAT: Destinos: Chicago International Latino Theater Festival returns Sept. 23-Oct. 17 with its always diverse roster featuring works from Chicago and around the world. The performances, in addition to the Goodman Theatre’s staging of “American Mariachi,” performed at a various venues are Lagartijas Tirades al Sol’s “Tijuana” (Sept. 23-26), which asks the question: What does democracy mean in Mexico today?; Teatro Tariakuri’s “La manera como luces esta noche” (Sept. 25-Oct., 17), a comedic fairy tale about a princess and the commoner who loves her; Combat Hippies’ “AMAL” (Sept. 30-Oct. 3), an examination of the impact of war; Casa de Teatro’s “Mal de Amores” (Oct. 8-10), a fusion of storytelling and song as an old man tells love stories and a woman sings boleros, baladas and rancheras; Urban Theater Company’s “Brujaja” (Oct. 9-10), which pairs theater, dance and drumming; Teatro Vista’s “Futurology presents: The Fifth World” (Oct. 10-11), a new serial audio play about a true crime producer who is entangled in myth’s as old as the world; Vision Latino Theatre’s “Y tu abuela, where is she?” (Oct. 11-24), about an interracial couple seeking to modify the genes of their unborn children; Agus, Sol y Sereno’s “Corazon de Papel” (Oct. 14-17), a depiction of post-Hurricane Puerto Rico told through puppetry; Aguijon Theater’s “La Gran Tirana: Descarga dramatica” (Oct. 15-Nov. 21), a new work inspired by La Lupe, the Queen of Latin Soul.

VISIT: For more information on the festival and updated information regarding the COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit clata.org.

‘Songs for a New World’

Courtesy of Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre
Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre’s season begins with Jason Robert Brown’s “Songs for a New World.” Pictured in rehearsal are Emily Goldberg (from left), Matthew Hunter, Averis I. Anderson and Nora Navarro.

WHAT: Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre’s season begins with Jason Robert Brown’s “Songs for a New World,” which tells the stories of people facing a variety of life-changing crisis and features a score that blends pop, gospel and jazz.

WHEN: From Sept. 24-Oct. 24

WHERE: Howard Street Theatre, 721 Howard, Evanston

TICKETS: $42-$54

VISIT: For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit theo-u.com.

‘Last Night in Karaoke Town’

Michael Courier
Factory Theater presents “Last Night in Karaoke Town.”

WHAT: Factory Theater restages “Last Night in Karaoke Town,” Mike Beyer and Kirk Pynchon’s comedy set in one of Cleveland’s oldest karaoke bars that may have to close its doors when the new owner announces he wants to change it into a cider bar. Directed by Kim Boler.

WHEN: From Sept. 24-Nov. 6

WHERE: The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard

TICKETS: $10-$25.

VISIT: For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit thefactorytheater.com.

Steppenwolf: Tracy Letts

WHAT: Here’s a trio of treats from playwright Tracy Letts. Leading up to the Steppenwolf Theatre restaging of his play “Bug” in November, the company is streaming three short plays which Letts says, “share at least one thread: a world off-kilter… they feel very much like stories for 2021.” Rainn Wilson performs the monologue “Night Safari,” which poses questions about animal behavior and human biology; William Petersen, Karen Rodriguez and Mike Nussbaum voice the puppets in “The Old Country,” in which two men in a diner wax nostalgic; and Letts performs “The Stretch,” a monologue about a horse race that is not what it seems. Patrick Zakem directs the first two and outgoing artistic director Anna D. Shapiro directs the third.

WHEN: Streams from Sept. 29-Oct. 24

TICKETS: $20

VISIT: steppenwolf.org.

‘American Mariachi’

WHAT: Jose Cruz Gonzalez’s “American Mariachi” is the story of a young woman, Luca (Tiffany Solano), who spends her days caring for her ailing mother, Amalia (Gigi Cervantes), but longs to shake up her life. When the mariachi songs on a forgotten album spark her mother’s memory, she sets out to create an all-female mariachi band, an unheard of idea in the 1970s, the time in which the play is set. It’s a “funny, tender-hearted story about family, tradition and memory,” says director Henry Godinez. The cast includes an ensemble of musicians from the Grammy-nominated group Sones de Mexico.

WHEN: From Sept. 18-Oct. 24

GOODMAN THEARE: Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn

TICKETS: $25+

INFO: For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit goodmantheatre.org.

Lyric Opera — ‘Macbeth’

WHAT: The Lyric Opera’s 67th season begins with “Macbeth,” the inaugural production of music director Enrique Mazzola. The new production of Verdi’s opera from Scottish director Sir David McVicar is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, a portrait of a power-hungry couple and their bloody ascent to the throne of Scotland. Roman Burdenko portrays Macbeth with Sondra Radvanovsky as Lady Macbeth. Sung in Italian with projected English subtitles.

WHEN: From Sept. 17-Oct. 9

WHERE: Lyric Opera, 20 N. Wacker

TICKETS: $39+

INFO: For updated information regarding the Lyric’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit lyricopera.org.

‘The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 5 — Sex!’

Rick Aguilar Studios
Ed Jones (from left), Grant Drager and David Cerda with (bottom, right) Ryan Oates in “The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 5-Sex!”

WHAT: Hell in a Handbag Productions long-running parody series continues with “The Golden Girls: The Lost Episodes, Vol. 5 — Sex!,” in which Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia explore their naughty side. Original cast members — David Cerda, Grant Drager, Ed Jones and Ryan Oates — star as the Geriatric Fab Four. Written by Cerda and directed by Madison Smith.

WHEN: From Sept. 16-Oct. 23

WHERE: Leather Archives & Museum, 6418 N. Greenview

TICKETS: $27-$45.

INFO: For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit handbagproductions.org.

‘Forever Plaid’

WHAT: Drury Lane Theatre returns with “Forever Plaid,” Stuart Ross and James Raitt’s musical revue packed with hit tunes from the 1950s. Paul Stancato directs.

WHEN: From Sept. 17-Nov. 7

WHERE: Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace

TICKETS: $59-$72.

INFO: For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit drurylanetheatre.com.

The Neo-Futurists

Joe Mazza
“The Infinite Wrench” by the Neo-Futurists

WHAT: The Neo-Futurists kick off their season with the return of the late-night show “The Infinite Wrench,” in which the ensemble attempts to perform 30 plays in 60 minutes.

WHEN: Ongoing performances are at 7 p.m. Sundays

WHERE: Neo-Futurists, 5153 N. Ashland

TICKETS: $10

INFO: For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit neofuturists.org.

‘Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992’

Courtesy of Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre
Jazzma Pryor in “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992.”

WHAT: Jazzma Pryor stars in Anna Deavere Smith’s tour-de-force solo show “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992.” In it she portrays nearly four dozen people who were connected either directly or indirectly to the 1992 Los Angeles riots that erupted after the trial and acquittal of the police officers accused of assaulting Rodney King. The playwright shaped the piece from interviews that she conducted while researching the play. Tim Rhoze directs.

WHEN: From Sept. 11-26

WHERE: Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes, Evanston

TICKETS: $25. For vaccination and/or mask policies, visit fjtheatre.com.

‘The World Goes Round’

@BrandonDahlquistPhotography
Kevin Earley (from left), Allison E. Blackwell, Meghan Murphy, Joseph Anthony Byrd, Amanda Rose are featured in “The World Goes Round” at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire.

WHAT: The songs of musical theater team John Kander and Fred Ebb are the centerpiece of the revue “The World Goes Round.” The hit parade of songs includes selections from “Cabaret,” “New York, New York,” “All That Jazz,” “Funny Lady,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “Maybe This Time” and more. The cast features Allison E. Blackwell, Joseph Anthony Byrd, Kevin Earley, Meghan Murphy and Amanda Rose; Marcia Milgrom Dodge directs and choreographs.

WHEN:From Sept. 15-Nov. 7

WHERE: Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire

TICKETS: $50-$60. For vaccination and/or mask policies, visit marriotttheatre.com.

‘Thirteen Days’

Photo by Steve Graue
Sheila Willis (from left), Cameron Feagin, Kat Evans, Julia Kessler and Maggie Cain star in “Thirteen Days” at City Lit Theater.

WHAT: “Thirteen Days” is Brian Pastor’s adaptation of Robert F. Kennedy’s memoir of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The world-premiere play, performed by an all-female cast, is set in President John F. Kennedy’s Situation Room where he maneuvers his way through the conflicting counsel of his advisors as the world comes close to nuclear war. Leading the cast are Cameron Feagin as JFK and Kat Evans as Attorney General Robert Kennedy; Pastor directs.

WHEN: Sept. 10-Oct. 24

WHERE: City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr

TICKETS: $32. For vaccination and/or mask policies, visit citylit.org.

‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’

WHAT: Citadel Theatre presents Neil Simon’s “Brighton Beach Memoirs,” a comedy about a teen who must cope with the mundane existence of his life in Brooklyn.

WHEN: Sept. 15-Oct. 17

WHERE: Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan, Lake Forest

TICKETS: $20-$45. For vaccination and/or mask policies, visit citadeltheatre.org.

‘Kinky Boots’

Thomas J. King
Michael Wordly makes his Paramount Theatre debut as Lola in “Kinky Boots.”

What: Live performances return for a new season at the Paramount Theatre with Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s high-kicking “Kinky Boots.” This first regional production of the Broadway musical, directed by Trent Stork, stars Devin DeSantis as Charlie, the shoemaker attempting to save his failing shoe factory, and Michael Wordly as Lola, the fierce drag queen who shows him the way.

When: Aug. 18-Oct. 17

Where: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena, Aurora

Tickets: $36-$74

For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit paramountaurora.com.

Theatre Y

WHAT: Theatre Y’s ambitious new adventure “You Are Here: The Emerald Camino Project” is a return of its urban pilgrimages, this time through Daniel Burnham’s Emerald Necklace — the boulevard system that links the public parks on Chicago’s West and South sides. The immersive 12-part walking experience was created with artists, community leaders and organizations across a dozen communities. “This is a joyful post-pandemic experience that connects Chicago’s diverse communities through the intersection of conversation and art,” says Theatre Y’s artistic director, Melissa Lorraine. If you are walking through the neighborhood in which you live, admission is free; all other participants are Theatre Y Members or encouraged to become members (for as little as $5/month).

WHEN: Aug. 21-Sept. 26 For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies as well as dates and times for each walk, visit theatre-y.com.

Blue Man Group

Caroline Talbot Photography
Blue Man Group

What: Those crazy characters in blue return for more goofy fun. The show, which encourages audiences to reconnect with their inner child, is a combination of art, music, comedy and technology.

When: Ongoing

Where: Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted.

Tickets: $49-$89

For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit blueman.com.

Teatro ZinZanni

Michael Doucet
The artistry and the excitement of Teatro ZinZanni returns to Chicago starting July 8. Pictured: Lea Hinz.

What: The immersive, whirlwind theater experience that is Teatro ZinZanni has reopened featuring a new show with a cast of comedians, aerialists, acrobats, singers, dancers and a gourmet meal, it brings comedy, music and cirque back after a long pandemic hiatus. Included among the performers are powerhouse vocalists Storm Marrero and Cunio, aerial acts Lea Hinz and Duo 19, veteran comedians Frank Ferrante and Joe DePaul and acrobatic dancers Mickael and Vita.

When: Ongoing

Where: Spiegeltent ZaZou on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel, 32 W. Randolph

Tickets: $119-$189; limited show only tickets $69. Visit zinzanni.com/chicago.

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“Fast-forward six or seven years, you’ve got Jason Benetti,” White Sox TV analyst Steve Stone said of Mike Monaco, who filled in for Benetti on four Sox broadcasts in August. | NBC Sports Chicago

The Massachusetts native will call White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks games within months of each other. You don’t have to be from here to appreciate that.

Mike Monaco was beginning a rare week without any games to broadcast. He would be in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the next week calling the Little League World Series for ESPN. But the week of Aug. 9 was open.

Around lunch time that day, Monaco received a text message from a phone number he didn’t recognize. But it wasn’t long before he realized that his open week was over – and he was more than happy about it.

The text was from the White Sox. It said TV play-by-play voice Jason Benetti had tested positive for COVID-19, and the team was asking Monaco if he could fill in on some NBC Sports Chicago broadcasts that week – starting that night.

Welcome to Chicago sports media, Mike.

“Obviously, it was unfortunate because it came under the circumstances of Jason getting COVID,” Monaco said. “Thankfully, he’s better now. I certainly would never draw it up that way. But it was very fortunate to be asked.”

Monaco, 28, isn’t just some pretty face off the street. He called minor-league baseball for seven years. He was the voice of Western Michigan basketball for four seasons. He came to Chicago about four years ago to work for the Big Ten Network, and now he’s a full-timer at ESPN. His biggest gig is filling in for Red Sox play-by-play voice Dave O’Brien on NESN, a dream job for the Cohasset, Massachusetts, native.

But Monaco is starting to make a name for himself here. He called four White Sox games that week, filled in for Adam Amin on the Bulls’ preseason game last Friday and is among the fill-ins for Blackhawks voice Pat Foley this season.

“Fast-forward six or seven years, you’ve got Jason Benetti,” Sox TV analyst Steve Stone said. “Mike is going to be outstanding. He does a lot of different sports. He’s very good at each one. He will get better. If you were in the stock market, you’d like to buy Mike Monaco futures.”

Monaco has a great voice and smooth delivery. He comes prepared with a wealth of information but doesn’t force it all into the broadcast. And his self-deprecating nature was evident on the Sox broadcasts.

“I think that television is the analyst’s medium and they are the star,” Monaco said. “No one needs to hear my opinions on White Sox players. People want to hear what Steve has to say. So figure out what he thinks is important and try to set him up the best you can.”

Provided
Mike Monaco, with Red Sox analysts Dennis Eckersley and Jerry Remy in 2019, is the backup to play-by-play voice Dave O’Brien on NESN.

Monaco has been set up for success with the help of veteran voices. As a sophomore at Notre Dame, Monaco saw that Amin was on campus to call a men’s basketball game for ESPN. Having called games that were streamed on the athletic department’s website, Monaco reached out to Amin on Twitter to see if they could talk shop for a bit before the game.

“He’s cramming, trying to get ready for a big game, and he took the time to answer all my rudimentary questions about broadcasting,” Monaco said. “Whenever he would come back to campus, I would try to pick his brain. There was a time he came back to broadcast Notre Dame softball for ESPN, and he let me shadow him in this tiny broadcast booth.”

“You could tell right away he was very sharp with the questions that he asked, what he was curious about,” said Amin, who has continued to help by providing feedback on Monaco’s broadcasts. “He was very polished right away. He was like me in the sense that he needed someone to tell him that the things you’re doing are the things that have worked for a lot of us who are lucky enough to move up.”

One of Monaco’s minor-league baseball stops was with the Cubs’ High-A affiliate in South Bend, Indiana, in 2015. Len Kasper, then the Cubs’ TV voice, and the WGN crew occasionally would have an affiliate produce a segment about a prospect to appear on “Leadoff Man.” Monaco’s segment on then-Cubs farmhand Gleyber Torres aired, Kasper shared it on social media and Benetti reached out to Monaco.

“There’s a lot of really good people in the industry who want to help,” Monaco said. “I certainly feel the effects of that all the time and am very grateful for it.”

Just as he’s grateful for the opportunity to call Sox, Bulls and Hawks games within months of each other. You don’t have to be from Chicago to appreciate that.

“I recognize it’s crazy and that I’m crazy fortunate because I have learned pretty quickly how incredible the sports fans are here,” Monaco said. “And how incredible they are toward their teams but also toward their announcers. Which is pretty cool.”

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A man was shot Oct. 12, 2021, in West Rogers Park. | Sun-Times file

The 38-year-old was outside Tuesday in the 6500 block of North Washtenaw Avenue when someone opened fire, striking him in the head, Chicago police said.

A person was released from custody after a Tuesday morning shooting in West Rogers Park that left a man critically wounded.

The 38-year-old was outside about 8:40 a.m. in the 6500 block of North Washtenaw Avenue when someone opened fire, striking him in the head, Chicago police said.

He was taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was in critical condition, police said.

The alleged attacker was taken into custody, but was later released without being charged, police said Thursday morning.

A police spokeswoman said the investigation was ongoing.

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For fans of any genre, live music isn’t hard to come by in Chicago. Check out our highlights for concerts, festivals and live performances in and around the city.

Welcome to our highlights for concerts, festivals and live music in Chicago. From free shows at Millennium Park to large festivals like Ravinia and Lollapalooza, and intimate shows at small local venues, our guide has all the latest music entertainment. Bookmark this page and check back for updates on concerts and events.

Logan Center Bluesfest

Bill Steber
Bobby Rush, Photo by Bill Steber

WHAT: The Logan Center Bluesfest features intimate concerts, conversations and special events. Headliners include Shemekia Copeland, Ronnie Baker Brooks with guests Lurrie Bell, Steve Bell and Demetria Taylor (Oct. 15); Bobby Rush with Jontavious Willis (Oct. 16) and Avery R. Young with Melody Angel (Oct. 17. Other programs include book signings, interviews and panel discussions.

WHEN: From Oct. 15-17 at Logan Center for the Arts, University of Chicago, 915 E. 60th

TICKETS: for the headliners are $5, $10; all other events are free plus all performances and programs are streamed free.

VISIT: logancenterblues.org

Chicago Children’s Choir

Photo by Kype Flubacker
Chicago Children’s Choir 2019 Red Jacket Optional concert 2, photo by Kype Flubacker

WHAT: Chicago Children’s Choir begins its 65th season with the annual Red Jacket Optional fundraiser. The musical portion of the event will be livestreamed free and features performances by Grammy Award-winner Kurt Elling, singer-songwriter Natalie Bergman, Eurovision’s Vasil Garvanliev, opera singer Jonathan Green, plus choir ensembles and the premiere of “Still Here,” composed by the choir’s composer-in-residence W. Mitchell Owens III.

WHEN: Livestreams at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 16

VISIT Visit rjo.ccchoir.org/watch

Rachel Sage

Photo by Tom Moore
Rachel Sage

WHAT: Singer-songwriter Rachel Sage performs songs from her new project, “Poetica,” an adventurous fusion of poetry with jazz, classical and Americana elements. She’ll also offer selections from her extensive repertoire of 14 albums. She’ll be accompanied by violinist Kelly Halloran. Also on bill: The Long Farewells.

WHEN: At 8 p.m. Oct. 14

WHERE: Uncommon Ground Lakeview, 3800 N. Clark

TICKETS: $10.

VISIT: uncommonground.com.

Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra

Ned Rissky
Stilian Kirov conducts the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra at Ozinga Chapel.

WHAT: Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra begins its 44th season with a program featuring Florence Price’s “String Quartet in G Major,” Eric Ewazen’s “Down a River of Time” and dancers from the Joffrey Academy of Dance performing a piece by choreographer Yoshihisa Arai set to Aaron Copeland’s “Appalachian Spring.”

WHEN: At 5:30 p.m. Oct. 16

WHERE: Ozinga Chapel, Trinity Christian College, 6601 W. College, Palos Heights

TICKETS: Tickets: $27

VISIT: ipomusic.org

‘Songs for Nobodies’

Photo by Michael Brosilow
Bethany Thomas in “Songs for Nobodies.”

WHAT: “Songs for Nobodies” is Joanna Murray-Smith’s one-woman tour-de-force that celebrates the iconic work of Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday, Edith Piaf and Maria Callas. Bethany Thomas stars in the story of the unexpected encounters between these divas and the ordinary women whose lives they changed. Rob Lindley directs.

WHEN: From Sept. 23-Oct. 31

WHERE: Northlight Theatre at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie.

TICKETS: $30-$89

VISIT: For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit northlight.org.

World Music Wednesday

Amy Young Photo
Bomba con Buya

WHAT: The Old Town School of Folk Music’s weekly showcase of world music and dance, returns beginning Sept. 1 with Jazz a la Mexicana, a concert featuring traditional and folkloric Mexican music mixed with jazz. A celebration of Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center’s 50th anniversary follows on Sept. 8 with performances of Puerto Rican bomba music by Bomba con Buya and Mancha E’ Platano. The current roster of concerts runs through Dec. 1.

WHERE: Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln

Admission is free, a $10 suggested donation is appreciated. For updated information regarding the venue’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit oldtownschool.org.

Courtesy Origin Records
Chris Foreman

Chris Foreman at the Green Mill

What: The Green Mill has reopened and that means the return of Chris Foreman, a Friday night fixture at the popular jazz club. Foreman, a jazz organist blind since birth, is a master on the Hammond B3 and regarded as Chicago’s best. His playing is a blend of blues-gospel and jazz honed in his professional experience, which has included work with Hank Crawford, Albert Collins, Bernard Purdie, The Deep Blue Organ Trio and The Mighty Blue Kings.

When: 5-7:30 p.m. Fridays

Where: The Green Mill, 4802 N. Broadway

Cost: No cover charge

Visit greenmilljazz.com

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