Seattle-born choreographer Mariah D. Eastman has called Chicago home for the past few years, and describes her philosophy as a desire to “play with creating unusual sequences of movement with shapes that normally wouldn’t be considered to work well together.” In 2020, Eastman started the annual Holiday Dance Carol, where dancers traveled around various neighborhoods to perform in front of people’s homes, a la Christmas carolers. This weekend, a more serious subject comes into focus in Navigating the After, premiering tonight at 7:30 PM at Dovetail Studios (2853 W. Montrose) and continuing tomorrow at 7:30 PM. Based on anonymous interviews conducted with survivors of sexual assault, the piece features four dancers and aims to give shape to the many forms of recovery, “from the initial grieving process to wrestling with the identity of a survivor.” Eastman herself is a survivor, and notes that she went through the Title IX process at her alma mater, Virginia Commonwealth University, to have her assailant expelled; he was later jailed for the assaults he committed against Eastman and other women. Tickets are $15 at eventbrite.com; representatives from organizations that work with survivors, such as &Rise and Self-Reclaimed will be on hand with information and to collect donations. (KR)
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Governors State University’s Center for the Performing Arts (1 University Drive, University Park) presents the world premiere of Red Summer, a musical piece connecting the race riots of 1919 with current injustice. Written by MPAACT cofounders Shepsu Aakhu and Shawn Wallace, along with Lookingglass Theatre ensemble member Andrew White, the story centers on two soldiers—one Black, one white—returning from World War I and finding themselves in a city growing thanks to the Great Migration, but also facing the cataclysmic effects of a global pandemic, economic downturn, and racial and ethnic tensions. The show previews tonight at 7:30 PM and continues through 9/25; schedule information and tickets ($30.74-$57.24) available at govst.edu. (KR)
Reader contributor Joshua Minsoo Kim encouraged us this issue to “embrace analog” by attending the Chicago Film Society’s Celluloid Now showcase, a multi-day, multi-venue festival celebrating filmmakers who use analog filmmaking (think 8MM film and cameras) to push experimentation and go in new directions. Tonight’s program, 16mm Visions, brings short films from over 16 directors to the Constellation (3111 N. Western), starting at 7:30 PM. Fittingly, all of the films tonight were created in 16mm, and the staging at the Constellation will allow for a natural boxy projection along with space for good sound—which bodes well for Kioto Aoki’s six minute film 6018Dance, designed to be accompanied by live cello. Read more from Kim here, and learn more about the festival (and purchase advance tickets) here. (SCJ)
Tonight at the Promontory (5311 S. Lake Park West), actor Pat Whalen is hosting the 46th installment of his pop-up talk show, Good Evening with Pat Whalen. In 2016, former Reader staffer Brianna Wellen described the show as the “love child of Conan and The Daily Show: the bits are quick and silly, the coverage has a political bent, and there’s almost always a musical guest.” Of note, she said, was the show’s surprising mix of guests, and this installment certainly delivers. This performance brings to the stage hip-hop artist Brittney Carter, comedian Felonious Munk, and Governor JB Pritzker. This is an all-ages event that kicks off at 8 PM. Tickets are $15. (MC)
