“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.”

Read 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.

Read More

stock.adobe.com

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

Read More

Southern Illinois guard Lance Jones, center, passes the ball through Loyola defenders. | AP Photos

Here are seven local players who will likely be heard from in a big way this college basketball season after glimpses of impact a year ago.

College basketball practices are in full swing and full schedules with actual games featuring rowdy student sections and packed arenas begin in a few weeks.

There were few if any fans in the stands a year ago and Covid protocols wreaked havoc with the college basketball experience. But several former Illinois prep basketball products either got their first real taste of college basketball or made positive strides in their development as players in what was a once-in-a-lifetime type of season.

Those players are set to take a significant step this season and several are primed for a breakout year. Here are seven local players who will likely be heard from in a big way this college basketball season after glimpses of impact a year ago.

Dante Maddox, Bloom (Cal-State Fullerton)

The 6-3 guard was a major contributor as a freshman. He played 24 minutes a game and averaged an impressive 11.7 points. The shooting percentage from three — he shot 43 percent from the three-point line — is another indicator the physical and athletic Maddox is set to become one of the best players in the Big West Conference.

Connor Kochera, St. Viator (William & Mary)

Without a lot of fanfare playing in the Colonial Athletic Association, Kuchera was one of the most productive college players from Illinois’ Class of 2020.

The 6-5 shooter had games of 26, 23, 30 and 20 as a freshman en route to averaging 13.4 points and 4.8 rebounds a game. He was named the CAA’s Rookie of the Year while leading all freshmen in scoring, rebounds and three-pointers, as well as three-point percentage and free-throw percentage.

Darius Burford, Bolingbrook (Elon)

An impactful freshman year for Burford included 8.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game last season. That propelled the dynamic 6-0 guard to All-Rookie Team status in the Colonial Athletic Association.

With speed to burn in a conference that doesn’t boast Burford’s type of athletic gifts, look for a significant jump that puts him in all-league conversation sooner than later.

Trey Calvin, St. Viator (Wright State)

After doubling his scoring average from his freshman year (4.8 ppg) to his sophomore year (9.7 ppg) last season — and raising his three-point shooting by seven percentage points while making 40 threes — expect the 6-0 point guard to continue to rise. He should become one of the top players in the Horizon League this season.

Jeremiah Williams, Simeon (Temple)

The tremendous versatility Williams showed as a prep player at St. Laurence and Simeon continued as a freshman in college. The Swiss Army knife filled a stat sheet in his first college season, averaging 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists as a freshman while playing nearly 33 minutes a game for the Owls.

Lance Jones, Evanston (Southern Illinois)

With two productive years under his belt, which included a third-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection as a sophomore last season, the talented 6-1 guard is headed for a big junior year.

Last year he averaged 13.4 points a game with four 20-point scoring games. He led the league in three-point field goal percentage while leading the Salukis in scoring, assists and steals.

RayJ Dennis, Oswego East (Toledo)

After two years playing in the loaded Mountain West Conference at Boise State, where he averaged 8.6 points and 2.9 assists a game this past season as a sophomore, Dennis transferred to Toledo.

The smooth 6-2 scoring lead guard will have even more opportunities with the Rockets, and there is a hole to fill in the backcourt where Marreon Jackson, who transferred from Toledo to Arizona State, scored over 18 points a game last season.

Read More

A file photo of an earlier chance to visit the Urban Stream Research Center, which has a rare public tour on Saturday. | Provided

A rare chance for the public to tour the Urban Stream Research Center leads this Go & Show; plus a weekend gathering on the backwards river, along with several activities of the season.

The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is holding a rare public tour of its Urban Stream Research Center at Blackwell Forest Preserve on Saturday, Oct. 16. As somebody who has had a couple chances to the center up close, I highly recommend it for a look at key scientific work on mussels and other aquatic life.

Tours leave every 30 minutes from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and are for all ages (under 18 with an adult). Tours are $5 per person. Register at apm.activecommunities.com/fpddc/Activity_Search/15302 or (630) 933-7248.

CHICAGO RIVER, DEEP THOUGHTS: The Backward River Festival: Reclaiming the Chicago River is this weekend. It really sounds like the kind of thing I should attend, but can’t. The two-day outdoor event, presented by the University of Illinois Chicago’s Freshwater LabThe festival, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. It features water-related activities, music, panel discussions, art, food and a community expo outside of the Eleanor Street Boathouse at Park 571, 2828 S. Eleanor St. It’s free.

Here are details:

From new parks and riverwalks to large warehouses and residential developments, many changes are taking place along the Chicago River.

What do these transformations mean for Chicago’s communities? Who bears the burden and who benefits? In Chicago, a resident’s experience with the river can often depend on where they live.

The Backward River Festival: Reclaiming the Chicago River, a two-day outdoor event presented by the University of Illinois Chicago’s Freshwater Lab, will bring together artists, environmental justice advocates, local residents and community organizers to examine these questions and reflect on the river’s current condition and future.

a two-day outdoor event presented by the University of Illinois Chicago’s Freshwater LabThe festival, scheduled Oct. 16-17 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., will feature water-related activities, music, panel discussions, art, food and a community expo outside of the Eleanor Street Boathouse at Park 571, 2828 S. Eleanor St. Admission is free and open to the public.

Family-friendly festival activities include canoeing with Friends of the Chicago River; catch and release fishing, aquatic ecosystem and urban river education with Shedd Aquarium; making seed bombs, which are native plant seeds and mushroom compost packed in clay, with Urban Rivers; a participatory mapping workshop; and panel discussions and live performances on the mainstage hosted by Ricardo Gamboa of The Hoodoisie, an online news program focused on Chicago community activism.

More information and the full schedule of festival events are available online.

The festival is an opportunity for the public, particularly residents in communities surrounding the South Branch and the Sanitary and Ship Canal, to connect to the river and each other through curated activities and engaging art installations, according to Rachel Havrelock, founder and director of The Freshwater Lab, a humanities and social science initiative focused on environmental justice and water issues in the Great Lakes region.

“Chicago waterfronts are key sites of change. For the most part, decisions on investment and development are being made outside the community, but the impacts are significant. We’re convening this festival for people to engage in these changes and have it reflect what they want in their river and their city in the future,” Havrelock said.

The festival’s name is inspired by “The Backward River,” the lab’s multimedia project featuring UIC student-created narratives, visuals, podcasts and audio vignettes that examine the history, issues, and future of the Chicago River. Many of these contributions can be experienced at the festival.

Like the festival, Havrelock said, the “The Backward River” project amplifies local social and environmental issues in creative and accessible ways.

“All Chicagoans are impacted by climate change and water issues, so the festival, in tandem with the project, is an excellent opportunity and fun approach to present and engage in culture and environmental matters with the general public. They also help to amplify the local voices that aren’t always heard from, particularly as it relates to the environment,” she said.

Support for the festival is provided by a University of Illinois Presidential Initiative Grant in the Arts and Humanities.

TROUT: Regular fall trout season opens Saturday, Oct. 16. Daily bag is five; those 16 and older need a fishing license and an inland trout stamp. Nearby sites include in Cook County (Axehead, Belleau, Busse North, Green, Horsetail, Sag Quarry East, Wolf), DuPage (Grove, Pickerel, Silver); Kankakee (Bird Park Quarry, Rock Creek); Kendall (Big Lake at Silver Springs SFWA); Lake (Sand Lake at Illinois Beach SP); McHenry (Spring Grove Hatchery Pond); Will (Lake Strini, Van Horn Woods).

Click here for the statewide release.

FALL MUSHROOMS: I plan to get out for an excursion for fall mushrooms in the Rock River area this weekend. I might be spending the night outside beforehand, we’ll see.

This is a chance for me to learn much more about mushrooms. Unlike morels in the spring, which I am confident people can ID on their own, I truly seek out advice from those with expert knowledge when it comes to fall mushrooms and strongly advice others to do the same. In the fall, I either check with people who know or literally go with people in the know.

Very good help is available from the Illinois Mycological Association on their Facebook page.

ARCHERY SEASON: Archery season is open for deer (well, and turkey, too) in Illinois. I need to get out before the rut is in full swing.

SNAGGING: Snagging for Chinook and coho–allowed only at the Lincoln Park Lagoon south of Fullerton, Waukegan North Harbor, Winnetka Power Plant or Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors)–appears to be going relatively successfully.

Read More

In this image taken from video by Taiwan’s EBC, firefighters battle a blaze at a building in Kaohsiung, in southern Taiwan on Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021. The fire engulfed a 13-story building overnight in southern Taiwan, the island’s semi-official Central News Agency reported Thursday. | AP

Neighborhood residents said the 13-story building was home to many poor, elderly and disabled people and it wasn’t clear how many of the 120 units were occupied.

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan — At least 46 people were killed and another 41 injured after a fire broke out early Thursday in a decades-old mixed commercial and residential building in the Taiwanese port city of Kaohsiung, officials said.

Neighborhood residents said the 13-story building was home to many poor, elderly and disabled people and it wasn’t clear how many of the 120 units were occupied.

Witnesses said they heard something that sounded like an explosion at about 3 a.m. when the blaze erupted in the building’s lower floors, which housed a closed movie theater, abandoned restaurants and karaoke clubs.

Lin Chie-ying said she was awoken in her home across from the fire by the sounds of ambulances and fire trucks.

“I thought our home would burn up too,” she said.

The apartment building is one of many in the Yancheng district, an older part of Kaohsiung, a city of some 2.8 million people in southwestern Taiwan.

“For the families and Yancheng, I feel incomparable pain and I blame myself deeply,” Mayor Chen Chi Mai said at a news conference, bowing in apology. “Here I want to express my deepest sorrow to all the wounded and those who died, as well as their families and all the residents.”

It took firefighters until after 7 a.m. to extinguish the blaze. Many of the upper floors appeared not to have been damaged directly.

Late in the day, the smell of smoke still lingered throughout the area and the sound of shattering glass rang. Construction workers were raised on a crane to break out the remaining glass from window frames with a crowbar to remove further hazard.

Throughout Thursday, first responders pored through the wreckage and recovered dozens of bodies. Another 14 of 55 taken initially to the hospital were confirmed dead on arrival or shortly after.

The building’s age and piles of debris blocking access to many areas complicated search and rescue efforts, officials said, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency.

It appears the fire broke out on the ground floor but it was not immediately clear exactly where and the cause was still under investigation.

The United Daily News said that investigators were focusing on a first-floor tea shop where the fire had started, and police were looking into a resident who reportedly fought with his girlfriend earlier on Wednesday. They had not ruled out arson, the newspaper said.

Fire extinguishers had been installed last month, but only three per floor because the residents could not afford to pay more, the United Daily News, a major newspaper, reported.

A 1995 fire at a nightclub in Taichung, Taiwan’s third-largest city, killed 64 people in the country’s deadliest such disaster in recent times.

Read More

A Trump supporter wraps herself in the American flag during a rally at the Michigan State Capitol, on Oct. 12, 2021, in Lansing, Michigan. | AP Photos

Fearful of being relegated to second-class status, many “Real Americans,” as they’re styled on Fox News, appear eager to embrace minority rule. So long as they’re the ones wielding power.

Driving home from the dog park, I was surprised to hear the (Dixie) Chicks’ terrific song “Wide Open Spaces” on the country oldies station. The group had been banished from country radio since 2003 after saying George W. Bush made them embarrassed to be Texans.

Now that Bush has made Donald Trump’s unofficial Enemies List, the Chicks are evidently forgiven after 18 years. Meanwhile, most of my friends in Texas are embarrassed, but not because of Dubya, the make-believe rancher who’s given up brush-clearing to paint portraits of lap dogs and his own feet.

And more power to him, as the only Republican presidential candidate since 1988 to win an actual national majority. That was in 2004, with Bush still popular due to his ultimately disastrous invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. (I was myself removed from a college teaching job after a series of columns arguing that the Bush administration’s case for attacking Saddam Hussein was transparently fraudulent.)

But I digress. Never mind that Bush was the worst president in living memory, dragging the country into futile wars on false premises and presiding over the 2008 banking crisis. Before the roof fell in, he did achieve an actual majority.

And a big part of what’s going on in the United States today is that no Republican candidate — very much including Trump — has much chance of winning a national majority in the foreseeable future. This appears to have made an awful lot of Americans — particularly undereducated white ones, to be perfectly blunt — scared half to death.

Seemingly fearful of being relegated to second-class status, many “Real Americans,” as they’re styled on Fox News, appear eager to embrace minority rule. So long as they’re the ones wielding power, that is.

Tucker Carlson tells them that Democrats are scheming to “replace” them with aggrieved and undeserving voters of different races. Because they’re gullible and prone to apocalyptic thinking — “the rapture” was all the rage in evangelical circles not long ago — one result has been a succession of what can only be described as “moral panics” over largely imaginary threats such as “Sharia law,” “cancel culture” and “Critical Race Theory.” Since 2010, for example, several states have found it necessary to ban Islamic religious courts from exercising legal authority.

As if.

Those states are Alabama, Arizona, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Dakota and Tennessee. Notice anything else about them?

Even the stuffiest Republican thinkers can get all worked up over the follies of campus leftists, of which there’s never any shortage. The Washington Post’s George Will wrote a stern column recently about a fracas involving a professor of management at UCLA, who unwisely engaged a student who worried that having to take a final exam would injure “the mental and physical health of our Black classmates” traumatized by George Floyd’s murder.

The professor replied with mild sarcasm, asking how he was supposed to identify Black students in an online course. Also, what about multiracial students, of which UCLA has many? For this, the poor dope got suspended from teaching, banned from campus and denounced by spineless administrators. (He’s been reinstated and has filed a lawsuit.)

Well, he should have known better. Although I’m prone to bickering and sarcasm myself, I’m also familiar with humorless campus leftists. My wife and I were once admonished by professorial guests for owning a Merle Haggard album. We thought “Okie from Muskogee” was funny; they thought it a fascist outrage. (Haggard himself was surprised so few got the joke.)

And speaking of “cancel culture,” public school teachers and administrators nationwide are being harassed and run out of their jobs for the largely imaginary crime of teaching “Critical Race Theory.”

In Grapevine, Texas, a Black high school principal got fired for the sin of writing a letter to colleagues expressing the anodyne view that “education is the key to stomping out ignorance, hate and systemic racism.” (Also for having posted a Facebook photo, 10 years ago, of himself kissing his white wife.) In Queen Anne’s County, Maryland, a highly successful Black school superintendent was hounded from the district for expressing polite concerns about racial injustice.

Activists calling themselves “conservative” are besieging school boards across the country, basically arguing that history lessons about slavery and Jim Crow teach white children to be ashamed of their race and country. At Boise State University, they have proposed eliminating whole academic departments — Global Studies, Sociology and History — to combat left-wing dogma.

In other news, Trumpist Republicans are working systematically to rig the electoral system to bring their champion back to power regardless of voters’ wishes. Never mind that Trump lost the popular vote to Joe Biden by more than 7 million, and lost the Electoral College 306 to 232. With GOP state legislators counting the votes, an identical outcome in 2024 would make Trump a big, big winner.

At least that’s the plan.

Gene Lyons is a columnist for the Arkansas Times.

Send letters to [email protected].

Read More

Before we completely thrust ourselves into Packers week, we hav to at least continue appreciating the Chicago Bears’ recent success. At 3-2, the Bears have now won two straight games and look to make a statement on Sunday against their biggest rival. Their last two wins have come in more unorthodox fashion, if we’re being […] Chicago Bears Stats: Unique numbers prove Bears among the elite – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & MoreRead More

Maine South’s Chris Petrucci (9) holds off Warren’s Benjamin McLaughlin (4). | Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

A look at this weekend’s five best games.

Prospect at No. 14 Hersey, 7 p.m. Friday

With just two weeks left in the regular season, conference races are sorting themselves out. One is the Mid-Suburban East, where the winner here clinches a share of the title. Prospect (6-1, 3-0) has one of the league’s best defenders in end/linebacker Ben Sahakian and a productive junior quarterback in junior Frank Covey, who threw for 216 yards last week against Elk Grove. Hersey (7-0, 3-0) has had only one close game all season, a 31-24 victory over Palatine in Week 2. The Huskies have been dominant despite losing their best player, senior running back/receiver Ben Clawson, with a broken right ankle in Week 3. Quarterback Jimmy Makuh has stepped up to help keep the offense rolling along.

Evanston at No. 6 Maine South, 7 p.m. Friday

This is another game where the winner earns a share of a conference title. Maine South (7-1, 3-0) has ruled the Central Suburban South this century with 21 straight league titles and counting. The Hawks’ calling card has been a defense whose signature effort was holding fellow Class 8A state hopeful Warren without an offensive score in a 10-2 win. Northwestern-bound tight end Chris Petrucci, quarterback Rowan Keefe and running back Mike Sajenko also are capable playmakers on offense. Evanston (5-2, 3-0) had some hiccups en route to a 1-2 start but has been rolling since North Carolina-bound linebacker Sebastian Cheeks returned to the lineup after an injury layoff. The Wildkits’ next big-time recruit will be junior lineman Gabe Roseb, a 6-7, 340-pounder with a 6-11 wingspan.

No. 17 Lincoln-Way East at No. 15 Lockport, 6:30 p.m. Friday

Lockport (7-0, 3-0 Southwest Suburban Blue) has lost 16 straight in this series since a 38-14 win in 2004. But the Porters are having a breakout season. Lockport has four shutouts and has allowed just 33 points all season with a defensive line anchored by the Eastern Illinois-bound Silzer twins, Cody and Cole, and defending state wrestling champ Andrew Blackburn-Forest. Quarterback Hayden Timosciek, an imposing presence at 6-7 and 232 pounds, has passed for 1,382 yards and 14 touchdowns with no interceptions. Lincoln-Way East (5-2, 2-1) is younger than usual, but remains one of the state’s premier programs. Quarterback Brennan Stolarek threw for 198 yards and three touchdowns last week against Homewood-Flossmoor, with one of the scores going to Central Michigan recruit Jack Tremblay.

Oswego East at Oswego, 7 p.m. Friday

With losses to still-unbeaten Neuqua Valley and Batavia before a forfeit win over Joliet Central, Oswego (5-2, 3-0 Southwest Prairie West) didn’t get its first victory on the field till Week 4. But the Panthers have been rolling since and have one of the state’s top juniors in 6-6 tight end Deakon Tonielli, whose seven offers include Tennessee and Michigan. Tonielli stepped in at quarterback in last week’s win over West Aurora when the Panthers’ top two QBs were sidelined but should be back in his usua; spot this week. Oswego East (6-1, 2-1) won for the first time in this series during the pandemic spring season. Junior quarterback Tre Jones has an Arizona State offer.

Young at Taft, 7:30 p.m. Friday

Taft (5-2, 3-1 Illini Land of Lincoln) is one of the Public League’s elite programs, with a signature win this season over Morgan Park and two of the city’s top players in senior linebacker/running back Ryan Porebski and junior lineman Grzegorz Krupa. Young (6-1, 3-1) has come a long way since low numbers forced the suspension of the program in 2017 and its subsequent reboot in the lower-level Chicago division a year later. Now the Dolphins are in one of the top CPS conferences and have qualified for the IHSA playoffs for the first time since 2015. Senior quarterback Pat McHale is one of the city’s top players.

Read More

Workers assemble a tractor at John Deere’s Waterloo, Iowa assembly plant in April 2019. | Zach Boyden-Holmes/Telegraph Herald via AP

The strike is the first major walkout at the agricultural machinery giant in more than three decades.

MOLINE, Ill. — More than 10,000 Deere & Co. workers went on strike Thursday, the first major walkout at the agricultural machinery giant in more than three decades.

The union had said its members would walk off the job if no deal has been reached by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday. The vast majority of the union rejected a contract offer earlier this week that would have delivered 5% raises to some workers and 6% raises to others at the Illinois company known for its green tractors.

Under the agreement that the workers rejected, a top scale Deere production worker would make just over $30 per hour, rising to $31.84 after five years, according to a summary of the proposal.

“The almost one million UAW retirees and active members stand in solidarity with the striking UAW members at John Deere,” UAW President Ray Curry said.

Brad Morris, vice president of labor relations for Deere, said in a statement that the company is “committed to a favorable outcome for our employees, our communities and everyone involved.” He said Deere wants an agreement that would improve the economic position of all employees.

“We will keep working day and night to understand our employees’ priorities and resolve this strike, while also keeping our operations running for the benefit of all those we serve,” Morris said.

Thirty-five years have passed since the last major Deere strike, but workers were emboldened to demand more this year after working long hours throughout the pandemic and because companies are facing worker shortages.

“Our members at John Deere strike for the ability to earn a decent living, retire with dignity and establish fair work rules,” said Chuck Browning, vice president and director of the UAW’s Agricultural Implement Department. “We stay committed to bargaining until our members’ goals are achieved.”

A handful of workers began forming a picket line outside the company’s plant in Milan, a town in western Illinois near the Iowa border, about 15 minutes after strike deadline.

The union dropped off a metal barrel and firewood to keep workers warm in preparation for a demonstration that is expected to continues for 24 hours a day, the Quad-City Times reported. At several other Deere plants workers planned to begin picketing Thursday morning when the first shift would normally arrive.

Chris Laursen, who works as a painter at Deere, told the Des Moines Register before the strike that it could make a significant difference.

“The whole nation’s going to be watching us,” Laursen said to the newspaper. “If we take a stand here for ourselves, our families, for basic human prosperity, it’s going to make a difference for the whole manufacturing industry. Let’s do it. Let’s not be intimidated.”

Earlier this year, another group of UAW-represented workers went on strike at a Volvo Trucks plant in Virginia and wound up with better pay and lower-cost health benefits after rejecting three tentative contract offers.

The contracts under negotiation covered 14 Deere plants across the United States, including seven in Iowa, four in Illinois and one each in Kansas, Colorado and Georgia.

The contract talks at the Moline, Illinois-based company were unfolding as Deere is expecting to report record profits between $5.7 billion and $5.9 billion this year. The company has been reporting strong sales of its agricultural and construction equipment this year.

The Deere production plants are important contributors to the economy, so local officials hope any strike will be short-lived.

“We definitely want to see our economy stabilize and grow after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Moline Mayor Sangeetha Rayapati said to the Quad-City Times. “Hopefully, these parties can come to a resolution soon.”

Read More