The centerpiece of “The Dr. Seuss Experience” is an interconnected maze composed of hundreds of balloons (inspired by “Oh the Places You’ll Go!”). | Kilburn Live

Looking for something to do with your family? Check out our highlights of current events and activities for kids.

Welcome to our highlights of events and entertainment in Chicago for kids and families to enjoy. Bookmark this page and check back for updates on the latest activities.

Open House Chicago

Eric Allix Rogers
Boxville in Bronzeville, part of Open House Chicago.

When: Throughout October

Where: Throughout Chicago and suburbs

What: The Chicago Architecture Center’s annual celebration of the city’s architecture is one of the largest events of its kind. It features self-guided outdoor tours throughout October and indoor tours (Oct. 16-17), with more than 200 buildings in city neighborhoods and the suburbs open to the public. Open House is always free and there’s a new mobile app with 30 self-guided neighborhood trail tours where you can discover historical landmarks and architectural gems.

More information: For more details on Open House and updated information regarding COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit openhousechicago.org

‘The Dr. Seuss Experience’

When: Beginning Oct. 8

Where: Water Tower Place (in the former Macy’s), 835 N. Michigan

What: Children and adults alike will enjoy this fun dive into the work of the popular author. The 25,000-square-foot immersive experience is a multi-sensory trip through nine Seuss books including “The Cat in the Hat,” “Horton Hears a Who!,” “The Lorax” and “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Plus, there’s an interconnected maze filled with hundreds of balloons. Tickets: $23+.

More information: For tickets and updated information regarding the event’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit experienceseuss.com.

Highwood Pumpkin Fest and Skeleton Invasion

Courtesy Highwood Pumpkin Fest
Kids test their skills at the annual Highwood Pumpkin Fest and Skeleton Invasion.

When: Oct. 8-10

Where: Throughout Highwood with the main area in Events Park, 111 North Ave.

What: The annual event includes carving stations, pumpkin pie eating and costume contests, carnival rides, food, music and more.

More information: For a list of events and information regarding the event’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit highwoodpumpkinfest.com.

At the zoo …

Brookfield Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo! features a creepy carousel, a corn maze, giant inflatables (a spider, Frankenstein, a pumpkin wizard, scarecrow and more), the Tombstone Graveyard featuring headstones with spirited puns and more. Fall events take place weekends Oct. 9-24 at Brookfield Zoo, 8400 W. 31st, Brookfield. Admission: $17.95-19.95. For a list of events and information regarding the zoo’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit czs.org

Lincoln Park Zoo’s Fall Fest begins Oct. 8 and continues through the month. There’s a pumpkin patch, pumpkin carvers, animal chats, music, photo-ops, face painting, carousel rides and much more. Admission is free; some events are ticketed. For a list of events and information regarding the zoo’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit lpzoo.org.

Statesville Haunted Prison

Provided
Statesville Haunted Prison

When: To Oct. 31

Where: 17250 S. Weber, Lockport

What: Halloween chills and thrills await in the final year of this spooky site. Rated one of the top 10 haunted attractions in the nation by The Scare Factor and featuring 30 rooms of horrifying creatures and convicts, it’s not for the weak of heart. Hours: 7-10 p.m. Thursday and Sunday; 7-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets: $30, $45.

More information: For updated information regarding the event’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit statesvillehauntedprison.com.

Forge Fear Month

When: Oct. 2-30

Where: 1001 Main Street, Lemont

What: The adventure park The Forge: Lemont Quarries presents fall-themed events including the Forge Fall Fest (Oct. 2), Zombie Apocalypse Laser Tag (Fridays-Sundays Oct. 2-31), a screening of “The Nightmare Before Christmas (Oct. 23), “The Tale of Talcott’s Stone — A Guided Adventure Game” (Oct. 29-30) and Fireside Ghost Stories with Orion Couling (Oct. 29-30). The park is open from 3:30-8 p.m. Thursday-Friday and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Admission to the park is free; prices for activities vary.

More information: For updated information regarding the park’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit forgeparks.com.

WPB Art Quest

Photo by Garrett Karp
“Butterfly Effect,” a mural by Ali Six

When: Ongoing

Where: Wicker Park, Bucktown

What: The WPB Art Quest offers free self-guided tours of Wicker Park and Bucktown, including sculptures, galleries and murals. Among the murals is a new creation by street artist Ali Six titled “Butterfly Effect,” which is a tribute to Olga Maria Calderon, who was killed a year ago in a stabbing at a nearby Walgreens. From Sept. 15-Oct. 15, registration is optional; anyone who purchases a $45 ticket will receive a limited-edition t-shirt featuring Ali Six’s new mural. A portion of the proceeds will go to charity.

More information: A map of murals and public art is available at wickerparkbucktown.com/muralspublicwork

Haunted houses

13th Floor
The spirits of the underworld emerge in “Spirit of Halloween.”

When: Sept. 10-Nov. 13

Where: 5050 River Rd, Schiller Park

What: The haunted house season kicks off with two all-new shows from 13th Floor Chicago. “Bad Blood” revolves around an ancient feud between vampires and werewolves, and in “Spirit of Halloween,” a witch casts a spell to summon the spirits of the underworld. Tickets: $19.99+.

More information: For vaccination and/or mask policies, visit 13thfloorchicago.com.

Chicago Fireboat Tours

Courtesy Chicago Fireboat Tours
Chicago Fireboat Tours offer great views of Chicago’s waterways.

When: Ongoing

Where: DuSable Harbors, 111 N. Lake Shore Dr.

What: Built in 1936, the Fred A. Busse was the largest, diesel-powered fireboat in the world at the time and served the Chicago Fire Department from 1937-1981. The current owners renovated the retired fireboat, which is now in its second season cruising Chicago waterways. Tickets: $35-$40, $19.50 ages 4-12.

More information: fireboattours.com

‘Par Excellence Redux’

When: “The Back Nine” (Oct. 13-Jan. 2)

Where: Tee off at the Elmhurst Art Museum, 150 S. Cottage Hill, Elmhurst

What: A fun exhibit features a fully playable 18-hole mini-golf course created by more than 20 artists, designers and architects from Chicago and beyond. The family-friendly course pays homage to the School of the Art Institute’s wildly popular 1988 exhibition “Par Excellence.” Course themes range from social justice to the occult and include a fortune-telling hole that has the power to dramatically change scores as well as a hole that challenges players with an optical illusion. Admission is $5-$10 (online timed reservations); children 4 and under free.

More information: elmhurstartmuseum.org

Chicago Children’s Museum

Where: Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand

When: Ongoing

What: Fun and learning are on the agenda at the popular family gathering spot, offering a wide variety of exhibits aimed at improving children’s lives by creating a community where play and learning connect. Babies and toddlers can enjoy “Treehouse Trails” and “Kids Town” while “Tinker Lab” and “Dinosaur Expedition” will enthrall older children. Admission: $19.

More information: chicagochildrensmuseum.org.

‘Hello Helios: The warming suns of Chicago’s Greektown’

Courtesy Greektown Chicago
Detail view of James Mesple’s Sun and Moon Image featured in the “Hello Helios” exhibit in Greektown

When: Through spring 2022

Where: Halsted from Monroe to Van Buren

What: Welcome summer with a new outdoor exhibit celebrating the start of summer with 24 artworks inspired by the sun and related mythologies from Greek, Aztec, Yoruba, Japanese and Native American cultures.

More information: greektownchicago.org

Kayak for Conservation

Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd Aquarium’s popular “Kayak for Conservation” program.

When: Ongoing

Where: Kayak Chicago: 1220 W LeMoyne,

What: Get close to nature via the Shedd Aquarium’s popular Kayak for Conservation program, which features a variety of socially distant kayaking experiences on the Chicago River. Participants learn about the river’s environmental history and discover wildlife living in its ecosystem. Sessions are open to all levels of kayakers (including newbies) and are led by Shedd’s wildlife conservation experts. The cost is pay-what-you-can ranging from $20-$100 per participant, with a recommended $40, the base cost of the program.

More information: sheddaquarium.org/kayak

‘Take Flight’

Museum of Science and Industry
The Boeing 747 at “Take Flight.”

When: Permanent

Where: Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr.

What: The MSI’s Boeing 747 reopens with a reimagined exhibit that explores modern aviation and the science of flight. The plane’s interior has been restored and new interactive elements have been added. Tickets: $12.95, $21.95.

More information: msichicago.org

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An installation by Monika Wulfers at the Neon and Light Museum. | Provided

Chicago is home to some of the world’s greatest museums. Use our guide to find events and activities happening at the city’s many galleries and exhibits.

Welcome to our highlights of events and entertainment in Chicago at our city’s best museums and galleries. Bookmark this page and check back for updates on the latest activities.

‘The Chicago Reader at 50: A Half Century of Revolutionary Storytelling’

Chicago Reader
The first edition of the Chicago Reader from 1971

When: Oct. 6-Jan. 21

Where: Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton

What: It’s time to celebrate a milestone anniversary for The Chicago Reader with a new exhibit looking at the newspaper’s founding and evolution as print journalism faced the challenges of today. The exhibit features a multimedia display of stories, photographs, cartoons and more. Admission is free.

More information: For updated information regarding the museum’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit newberry.org

‘Chicago Ukrainians in the 1950s’

Ukrainian National Museum
A photo by Petro Oleksijenko

When: To Nov. 30

Where: Ukrainian National Museum, 2249 W. Superior

What: A new exhibition features 40 photos by Ukrainian-American photographer Petro Oleksijenko. The photos showcase the Ukrainian people, their rallies, holidays, celebrations, businesses and everyday life. Admission: $10.

More information: For updated information regarding the museum’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit ukrainiannationalmuseum.org.

‘Last Week Tonight Masterpiece Gallery’

HBO
John Oliver displays a portrait of Wendy Williams from the “Last Week Tonight” art collection.

When: Oct. 2-26

Where: 360 N. State

What: The Museum of Broadcast Communications is one of five museums to win a national competition to display three artworks from comedian John Oliver’s HBO series. In addition, the museum also received $10,000 and the Greater Chicago Food Depository received the same. It’s Oliver’s creative way of helping smaller museums impacted by the pandemic as well as helping local food banks. Admission is free; visitors are asked to bring a donation of a canned or boxed food item.

More information: For updated information regarding the museum’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit museum.tv.

‘Who Says, Who Shows, What Counts’

(C) Fred Wilson. Image courtesy the artist and Pace Gallery
Fred Wilson’s “Untitled (Venice Biennale),” featured in “Who Says, Who Shows, What Counts.”

When: To Dec. 5

Where: 40 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston

What: Northwestern University’s Block Museum marks its 40th anniversary and the reopening of its galleries with “Who Says, Who Shows, What Counts,” an exhibit featuring 80 new acquisitions highlighting new collecting strategies and diverse narratives. Admission is free.

More information: For updated information regarding the museum’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit blockmuseum.northwestern.edu.

‘Romanticism to Ruin: Two Lost Works by Sullivan & Wright’

Ryerson & Burnham Libraries, Art Institute of Chicago
Photo by unknown photographer, Richard Nickel at the Garrick Theatre in midst of an interview with unidentified journalist, c. 1960.

When: Sept. 24-Dec. 18

Where: Wrightwood 659, 659 W. Wrightwood

What: This two-part exhibit explores long-gone architectural masterpieces: Louis H. Sullivan’s Garrick Theatre in Chicago and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Larkin Building in Buffalo, New York. Included are 3D models and digital re-creations of the original edifices; salvaged architectural ornaments and artifacts; original furniture; historical documentation of the design, construction and demise of the buildings and archival photographs taken by noted preservationist Richard Nickel. Tickets: $15, available online only.

More information: For updated information regarding the gallery’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit wrightwood659.org.

‘Thinking of You. I Mean Me. I Mean You.’

Digital image courtesy of the artist
Barbara Kruger. Untitled (Truth), 2013.

When: Sept. 19-Jan. 24

Where: Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan

What: The Art Institute presents a major solo exhibition devoted to the work of Barbara Kruger, a conceptual artist known for combining images and type that raise questions about our relationship to consumerism, society and more. The exhibit includes early work and rarely seen paste-ups of the early 1980s, which reveal her process, to her digital productions of the last two decades. Admission: $14-$25. (Also Art on the Mart is projecting a selection of Kruger’s work on the facade of the Merchandise Mart through Nov. 25.)

More information: For updated information regarding the museum’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit artic.edu.

‘Chicago Avant-Garde’

Sun-Times file
Dancer Katherine Dunham

When: To Dec. 30

Where: Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton

What: This interesting new exhibit puts the spotlight on five women whose lives and careers embodied a uniquely Chicago style of avant-garde creativity in 1930s-1950s: artist Gertrude Abercrombie, poet Gwendolyn Brooks, dancers Katherine Dunham and Ruth Page and curator Katharine Kuh. “All five women challenged social constraints — based on their gender, their race, or both — to subvert convention and find beauty and freedom in their art,” says curator Liesl Olson. The exhibit includes paintings, photographs, posters, dance costumes and rare video footage. Admission is free.

More information: For updated information regarding the museum’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit newberry.org.

The Neon and Light Museum

When: Through Oct. 31

Where: 325 W. Huron

What: This pop-up features an immersive exhibition of nearly 70 neon and light-based sculptures. Among the highlights are John Bannon’s 14-foot-tall neon sculpture “Breathe,” Monika Wulfer’s installation “Circle’s Edge” and an iconic neon self-portrait by John Lennon. Other artists include feminist neon artist Zoelle Nagib, pop sign artist Jason Pickleman, projected light specialist Gary Justis, abstract artist sculptor Michael Young and more. Tickets: $40+, reservations required.

More information: For vaccination and/or mask policies, visit neonandlightmuseum.com.

‘Frida Kahlo: Timeless’

(C) 2020 Banco de Mexico Diego Rivera Frida Kahlo Museums Trust, Mexico, D.F. Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

When: Through Oct. 15

Where: https://theccma.org/ticket-information

What: Though it closed Sept. 12, the not-too-miss art exhibit of the summer can still be seen on a virtual tour. Dolores Olmedo’s collection of paintings and works on paper by Kahlo were on view at the newly expanded Cleve Carney Museum of Art in Glen Ellyn. Curator Justin Witte and executive director Diana Martinez offer commentary during the virtual tour. Also featured are a multimedia timeline that offered a framework of Kahlo’s life, more than 100 photographs, a Kahlo-inspired garden and a family-friendly children’s area featuring a replica of Kahlo’s Casa Azul in Coyoacan, Mexico. Tickets: $18.

‘Dias de Muertos: A Time to Grieve & Remember’

Courtesy of the artist
George Rodriguez, “Mictlantecuhtli Offering,” 2020, ceramic installation, is featured in the exhibit “Dias de Muertos: A Time to Grieve & Remember.”

When: Sept. 10-Dec. 12

Where: 1852 W. 19th

What: This year’s Day of the Dead exhibition at the National Museum of Mexican Art pays tribute to and remembers the many individuals from Mexico and the U.S. who have died from COVID-19. An annual time-honored tradition in Mexico, the Day of the Dead offers a way to join together to grieve and celebrate the lives of loved ones. The exhibit is a way to contemplate this moment via artworks and installations by artists from both sides of the border. Among those creating installations are Sandra Cisneros, Hector Duarte, Alejandro Garcia Nelo, Enrique Garcia and the Yollacalli Arts Center. These colorful displays sit alongside artwork by a long list of Mexican and Mexican American artists. Admission is free.

More information: For vaccination and/or mask policies, visit nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org.

‘American Epidemic: Guns in the United States’

Provided
“Untitled (Death by Gun),” by Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1990)

When: Sept. 10-Feb. 20

Where: 600 S. Michigan

What: The Museum of Contemporary Photography presents an exhibit that brings together work by nine artists who examine the past three decades of gun culture in the United States. Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Carolyn Drake, Zora J Murff, Stephen Foster, Renee Stout, Hank Willis Thomas, Kambui Olujimi, Nancy Floyd and Andres Gonzalez use photography to approach the topic from a wide range of perspectives. “We hope this exhibition lays bare the persistent epidemic of gun violence in this country,” said Karen Irvine, MoCP chief curator and deputy director. “These artists point us towards nuanced ways of reckoning with this tragic — and uniquely American — plight.” Admission is free.

More information: For vaccination and/or mask policies, visit mocp.org.

Future Fossils: SUM

Courtesy of the artist
A “Future Fossils: SUM” piece by Lan Tuazon

When: Sept. 7-Nov. 13

Where: 5020 S. Cornell

What: This is the final sculpture installation in Lan Tuazon’s decade-long trilogy of work that visualizes the lifespan of our material goods. The Chicago artist calls her process “documentary sculpture.” Common packaged goods, tchotchkes and household items are accumulated, dissected and layered to give an accounting of the unseen byproduct of consumption. Tuazon offers visitors an encounter with a future house — one constructed solely with recovered materials — built to scale and exhibited from inside the two-story gallery at the Hyde Park Art Center. Admission is free.

More information: For vaccination and/or mask policies, visit hydeparkart.org.

‘Bani Abidi: The Man Who Talked Until He Disappeared’

Courtesy of Kiran Nadar Museum of Art
Bani Abidi’s watercolor “The Man Who Talked Until He Disappeared.”

When: To June 5

Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago

What: Two decades of the work of multidisciplinary Pakistani artist Bani Abidi are brought together for this exhibition. Informed by her upbringing in Karachi and experiences in cities including Chicago, where she studied at the School of the Art Institute, Abidi, a master storyteller, uses video, photography, sound and installation to uncover the influence of cultural and political power struggles on everyday life. Admission: $15.

More information: For vaccination and/or mask policies, visit mcachicago.org.

‘Chicago Works: Caroline Kent’

Nathan Keay, (C) MCA Chicago
The Museum of Contemporary Art presents “Chicago Works: Caroline Kent,” the first solo museum exhibition of work by the multidisciplinary Chicago-based artist.

When: To April 3

Where: 220 E. Chicago

What: The Museum of Contemporary Art presents the first solo museum exhibition of work by the multidisciplinary Chicago-based artist. In this site-specific installation, Kent explores the abbreviated forms of communication that develop in intimate relationships such as those between sisters. Inspired by the experience of communicating with her own twin, she transfers her visual language to painting, sculpture and installation. Admission: $15.

More information: mcachicago.org

‘The Art of Banksy’

The Art of Banksy
Banksy’s “Flower Thrower”

When: To Oct. 31

Where: 360 N. State

What: The identity of the artist known as Banksy has for years been the art world’s most intriguing mystery. But while we don’t know the man, we do know the art. The English-based street artist has created some of the most iconic images of the past few decades. A new exhibit brings more than 80 of these original works to Chicago. World-famous pieces from private collections including “Flower Thrower,” “Rude Copper” and “Girl with Balloon” will sit alongside other works rarely seen by the general public. As the artist-provocateur Banksy says: “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” Tickets: $40, $30 for 16 and younger.

More information: banksyexhibit.com

‘Helmut Jahn: Life + Architecture’

Chicago Architecture Center
“Helmut Jahn – Life + Architecture”

When: To Oct. 31

Where: 111 E. Wacker

What: Chicago Architecture Center presents a new exhibit honoring the late Chicago architect, which highlights his designs ranging from signature early projects like the Michigan City Public Library (1977) and the James R. Thompson Center (1985) to the Sony Center in Berlin (2000) and the Pritzker Military Archives Center, currently under construction in Somers, Wisconsin. Photography, models and sketches illuminate each project and explore the collaborative design and engineering process, while personal imagery, video and recollections by those who knew and worked with Jahn underscore his flair for the dramatic and zest for life. Admission is $15.

More information: architecture.org

‘Mimi Cherono Ng’ok: Closer to the Earth, Closer to My Own Body’

(C) Mimi Cherono Ng’ok
“Untitled” by Mimi Cherono Ng’ok

When: To Feb. 7

Where: Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan

What: This new exhibit features the work of a photographer who travels extensively across the tropical climates on a mission to understand how natural environments, botanical cultures and human subjects coexist and evolve together. In this solo exhibit, she presents photographs and a film in which she tracked flowers and floral imagery across varied contexts and a range of hidden associations. Admission: $14-$22.

More information: artic.edu

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

When: Ongoing

Where: 2430 N. Cannon Dr.

What: The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, where children of all ages can connect to nature and science, reopened July 8. Exhibits include “Without a Trace,” selections of photographs by Zbigniew Bzdak; “Patterns in Nature: A Bridge between Art and the Natural World,” mixed media work by artist Katherine Lampert; “Judy Istock Butterfly Haven,” “Birds of Chicago” and many more. Admission: $6-$9, children under 3 free.

More information: naturemuseum.org

‘Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40’

Courtesy the artist and David Zwirner and Regen Projects, Los Angeles (C) Toba Khedoori.
Toba Khedoori’s “Untitled” at the Smart Museum of Art.

“Toward Common Cause — Art, Social Change and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40” is a multi-museum venture organized by the Smart Museum of Art that explores the current sociopolitical moment, challenging questions of inclusion, exclusion, ownership and rights of access. In its gallery, the Smart Museum features works by Mark Bradford, Mel Chin, Nicole Eisenman, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Jeffrey Gibson, Toba Khedoori, Inigo Manglano-Ovalle, Julie Mehretu, Fazal Sheikh and Xu Bing. From July 15-Dec. 19 at Smart Museum, University of Chicago, 5550 S. Greenwood. Admission is free. Visit smartmuseum.uchciago.edu; for a list of participating museums visit towardcommoncause.org.

Stony Island Arts Bank’s contribution is “Towards Common Cause.” The group show features work by Carrie Mae Weems, Kerry James Marshall, Gary Hill, Whitfield Lovell, Trevor Paglen, Deborah Willis, Dawoud Bey, Fred Wilson and Nicole Eisenman. From July 18-Dec. 19 at Stony Island Arts Bank, 6760 S. Stony Island. Admission is free. Visit rebuild-foundation.org.
The reopened DuSable Museum of African American History, 740 E. 56th Pl., participates with an exhibit of “Presenting Negro Scenes Drawn Upon My Passage through the South and Reconfigured for the Benefit of Enlightened Audiences Wherever Such May Be Found, By Myself, Missus K.E.B Walker, Colored,” a signature black silhouette installation from the artist Kara Walker. Admission: $3-$10 (Sundays free), children under 5 free. Visit: dusablemuseum.org.

Hyde Park Art Center

Provided/Courtesy of the artist
Mel Chin’s Fundred Dollar Bill Project

When: July 25-Oct. 24

Where: 5020 S. Cornell

What: Mel Chin’s Fundred Dollar Bill Project as well as works by LaToya Ruby Frazier and Fazal Sheikh are on display at the Hyde Park museum as part of “Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40.” Chin’s 13-year-project, here titled “Chicago Fundred Initiative: A Bill for IL,” invites people to create their own “Fundred,” a form of currency that affirms the right of each maker to equal protection against lead contamination; Frazier’s film “Flint is Family” uses her photographs and voiceover by Flint, Michigan, resident Shea Cobb to understand the Flint water crisis; Sheikh’s landscape photography examines the connection between desertification, colonialism, and the displacement of Bedouin communities from ancestral lands in Israel’s Negev desert. Admission is free.

More information: hydeparkart.org

Weinberg/Newton Gallery

Wendy Ewald Collection
“My Friends are Picking Flowers,” by Salvador Gomez Jiminez

When: To Dec. 18

Where: 688 N. Milwaukee

What: As part of the Smart Museum’s ongoing initiative “Toward Common Cause: Art, Social Change and the MacArthur Fellows Program at 40,” the gallery presents work by Wendy Ewald and Amalia Mesa-Bains, whose projects focus on Latinx migration in Chicago. Ewald’s exhibit includes photographs and writings from a workshop where young students expressed their dreams and concerns about contemporary migration as well as photographs and a film made in Chiapas, Mexico, in 1991. Mesa-Bains offers an installation that is a personal and historical meditation on migration through the lens of her own family. Admission is free.

More information: For updated information regarding the gallery’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit weinbergnewtongallery.com.

National Museum of Mexican Art

National Museum of Mexican Art Permanent Collection, gift of Chaz and Christina Bojorquez
“We the People” by Chaz Bojorquez

When: Ongoing

Where: National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th street

What: After being closed for 15 months, the museum has reopened with a handful of exhibits. “Spotlight on Chaz Bojorquez and Enrique Alferez” features the museum’s newest acquisition, “We the People,” a painting by Bojorquez, and Alferez’s iconic bronze sculpture “La Soldadera.” Plus “Adlateres and the Unexpected Journey: Works by Carmen Chami” features paintings inspired by Mexican Baroque painting and figurative style. Admission is free.

More information: nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org

‘Toward Common Cause’

(C) Njideka Akunyili Crosby
“Mother and Child,” Njideka Akunyili Crosby (2016). Courtesy the artist, Victoria Miro and David Zwirner.

When: To Nov. 21

Where: National Public Housing Museum, 625 N. Kingsbury, and at the Minnie Riperton Apartments, 4250 S. Princeton

What: The National Public Housing Museum partners with the Chicago Housing Authority to display artwork by MacArthur Fellow Njideka Akunyili Crosby as part of “Toward Common Cause,” a multi-site exhibition organized by the Smart Museum of Art at the University of Chicago in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the MacArthur Fellows Program. Crosby uses acrylic, colored pencil and photo collages to create her distinctive portraits of African American life. “I almost want people to feel like the door is open and they’re walking by a scene into someone else’s life,” she says, “because that really is what I’m doing… mining my life to tell a story that is global but really wanting people to feel like they’re getting a glimpse into my world.” Crosby’s artwork installation is displayed on 70-foot banners on the sides of two buildings.

More information: nphm.org

‘Drawn to Combat: Bill Mauldin & the Art of War’

Copyright the Pritzker Military Museum & Library
Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Bill Mauldin

When: Through spring 2022

Where: 104 S. Michigan

What: Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Bill Mauldin, who studied at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and was a cartoonist for the Chicago Sun-Times, is the subject of a retrospective at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. “Drawn to Combat” covers Mauldin’s career as a wartime cartoonist focusing on soldiers’ experiences and as a political cartoonist. The exhibit draws from more than 5,000 cartoons and objects donated to the museum by the Mauldin family. Tickets: $8, $10, children under 12 free.

More information: pritzkermilitary.org

‘Vivian Maier: In Color’

Gift of Jeffrey Goldstein/(C) The Estate of Vivian Maier
Vivian Maier, “Three Highland Park firemen,” Highland Park, August 1964, inkjet print.

When: To May 8, 2023

Where: Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark

What: Much has been heralded about street photographer Vivian Maier’s black-and-white photographs in exhibits, books and films. Now this multimedia exhibit features 65 color images made during her time as a suburban Chicago nanny from the 1950s to 1970s, many of which have never been seen before. Maier, who died in 2009, was a bit of a character and always had a Roloflex camera around her neck as she walked the streets snapping images of women, children, the old, the poor, the abstract. While her motives remain elusive, her photographs continue to speak volumes. Tickets: $17, $19.

More information: chicagohistory.org

Polish Museum of America

Courtesy Polish Museum of America
The Paderewki Collection at Polish Museum of America.

When: Ongoing

Where: 984 N. Milwaukee

What: The museum, since 1935 a repository for a wide variety of materials pertaining to Poland and the Polish-American community, has reopened after being shuttered for more than a year. Among the many permanent exhibits are “Polish Chicago 1850-1939,” “Folk Art Collection” and “The Paderewski Collection,” which documents the life of Polish pianist and composer Ignacy Jan Paderewski. Tickets: $6-$10.

More information: polishmuseumofamerica.org

The Hartwell Memorial Window

The Art Institute of Chicago
The Hartwell Memorial Window bears a design attributed to Agnes F. Northrop of Tiffany Studios.

When: Permanent

Where: Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan

What: A magnificent stained glass window made by Tiffany Studios in 1917 is now on permanent display at the Art Institute. The Hartwell Memorial Window, attributed to Agnes F. Northrop, Tiffany’s leading landscape window designer, was originally commissioned for a church as the gift of Mary L. Hartwell in memory of her husband Frederick W. Hartwell. It consists of 48 different panels, and is a scenic view of Mount Chocorua, a peak in New Hampshire’s White Mountains. The window, located near the museum’s entrance, is one of the most ambitious landscape window projects produced by Tiffany. Museum admission: $14-$25.

More information: artic.edu

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

Friends of the Chicago River
Gears that open the bridge.

When: Ongoing

Where: 99 Chicago Riverwalk

What: This five-story museum celebrates the Chicago River and its world-famous movable bridges. Visitors explore a historic bridgehouse, watch the massive gears of a moving bridge and learn about the history of the Chicago River. Plus from the top floor, there’s a 360-degree view of the city and river. Find the museum at 99 Chicago Riverwalk. Admission: $5, $6; children 5 and under free.

More information: bridgehousemuseum.org

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A construction crane collapsed in Edgewater Beach Oct. 6, 2021. | Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Red and Purple Line trains were running but not stopping at the nearby Bryn Mawr station because of the collapse, but normal train service resumed by 9 p.m., the CTA said.

Purple and Red Line service was delayed Wednesday afternoon in Edgewater Beach on the North Side after a large construction crane collapsed.

A crane operated by a private contractor toppled over in the 1100 block of West Bryn Mawr Avenue, knocking down power lines and crushing part of a vehicle, Chicago Fire District Chief John Gies told reporters at the scene.

A nearby building was partially evacuated out of precaution, but no injuries have been reported, Gies said, adding that the crane operator was not hurt.

Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times
A construction crane collapsed in Edgewater Beach Oct. 6, 2021

Gies said it wasn’t immediately clear what caused the crane to collapse, and the cleanup process might take some time. Occupants of the evacuated building won’t be able to return until the crane is cleared, he said.

“It’s gonna take a while to rectify the crane because it’s a big piece of equipment that’s got to be taken apart,” Gies said.

Power has been shut off near the area, leaving some homes and businesses without electricity.

Red and Purple Line trains were running but not stopping at the nearby Bryn Mawr station because of the collapse, but normal train service resumed by 9 p.m., the CTA said.

Conor Sullivan, who lives in the building that was evacuated, was working at home when he heard a large boom and felt his apartment shake.

He looked out his window and saw the overturned crane. Sirens and fire department crews then flooded the construction site minutes later, he said.

Sullivan said he and other occupants of the building were offered to be put up at a hotel if the area isn’t cleared soon.

Sullivan said that though he’s “really happy that they’re fixing up the Red Line,” the crane collapse might make him “a little more worried” about all of the construction.

Chicago Fire Department
A construction crane collapsed in Edgewater Beach Oct. 6, 2021.

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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.

Ile

Getty Images
iLe attends the 62nd Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on Jan. 26, 2020 in Los Angeles, California.

WHAT: Puerto Rican singer Ileana Mercedes Cabra Joglar who goes by iLe was just 16 when she joined her brothers in the popular hip-hop group Calle 13. In the past few years, the now 32-year-old singer has branched out into a solo project that has garnered Latin Grammy Awards and a devoted following. Her songs tackle issues facing her homeland and its people.

WHEN: At 8 p.m. Oct. 8

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

TICKETS: $40.

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

Robert Finley

Alysse Gafjken Photo
Robert Finley

WHAT: Robert Finley tours behind his new album, “Sharecropper’s Son” produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach. The autobiographical songs tell his life’s story and are rooted in the classic sounds of southern soul, country and R&B. After a chance meeting six years ago, Finley, now 67 and residing in Bernice, Louisiana, found himself recording in Nashville and on his way to rising star status augmented by his amazing songs, expressive vocal style and magnetic personality.

WHEN: At 8 p.m. Oct. 11

WHERE: City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph

TICKETS: $18-$32.

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

Northbrook Symphony

Courtesy Northbrook Symphony
Robert Finley

The Northbrook Symphony opens its 42nd season with Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons,” featuring violinist Robert Chen, Chicago Symphony Orchestra concertmaster and the new artistic creative partner at Northbrook. Mina Zikri conducts. At 4 p.m. Oct. 10 at Sheely Center for the Performing Arts, 2300 Shermer, Northbrook. There is a pre-concert lecture prior to each concert at 2:45 p.m. Tickets: $50-$150. For tickets and updated information regarding the venue’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit northbrooksymphony.org.

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

(C) Todd Rosenberg Photography
Maestro Riccardo Muti conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2017.

WHAT: Ricardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra reunite for their first concerts since February 2020 with a series of three performances in a fall residency. The opening program (Sept. 23-25) features music by Joseph Bologne-Chevalier de Saint-George and Florence Price as well as Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 3 (Eroica).” Violinist Leonidas Kavakos joins Muti and the orchestra for Brahms “Violin Concerto in D Major” plus the orchestra performs “Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7 (Sept. 30-Oct. 2). The final fall program (Oct. 7-9) features the CSO’s first performance of Missy Mazzoli’s 2006 work “These Worlds in Us” plus pieces by Anatoly Liadov and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

WHERE: CSO at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan.

TICKETS: $38-$260.

VISIT: For updated information regarding the CSO’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit cso.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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A general view of Guaranteed Rate Field during the observation of the singing of the national anthem before the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers on August 24, 2019, in Chicago. | Quinn Harris/Getty Images

The feds say Bruce Lee made $868,369 by selling 34,876 fraudulently obtained tickets during the 2016 through 2019 baseball seasons. The tickets had a market value of between $1 million and $1.2 million, authorities said.

A federal jury swiftly convicted a man Wednesday who swindled the White Sox out of roughly $1 million with the help of two ticket sellers who worked for the South Side baseball team.

A January 2020 indictment charged ticket broker Bruce Lee with wire fraud and money laundering, and the jury found Lee guilty of several counts of wire fraud. The verdict came after less than two hours of deliberation at the end of a four-day trial at Chicago’s federal courthouse.

It also came the day before the first playoff game between the Sox and the Houston Astros.

The trial at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse involved the betrayal of the Sox by a decades-long employee, a secret recording at a pizza place near Sox park and a brazen plan to take advantage of the South Siders’ complimentary and discount ticket programs.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider repeatedly told jurors “the White Sox got nothing” out of the arrangement between Lee and the longtime Sox ticket seller. But Lee’s attorney, Nishay Sanan, said any crime against the Sox took place inside the ticket booth. He said Lee legitimately thought he’d paid for the thousands of tickets he later sold on StubHub.

“We believe the jury got it wrong and that they didn’t look at the evidence that the government presented,” Sanan said in a statement after the verdict. “The evidence presented by the government was bleak at best. Mr. Lee will continue to fight this conviction.”

The White Sox also released a statement in which the team said it is “very pleased by the determination of the jury in this case. We are glad that the person who orchestrated the theft and profited the most has been held accountable.”

The scam first came to light in October 2019 with an FBI affidavit about the suspicious ticket sales, especially surrounding the August 2018 debut of pitcher Michael Kopech. A few months later, prosecutors accused Lee of making $868,369 by selling 34,876 fraudulently obtained tickets during the 2016 through 2019 baseball seasons.

The tickets had a market value of between $1 million and $1.2 million, authorities said.

The Sox’s data analytics team flagged Lee as a StubHub seller who had “sold more White Sox tickets than anyone else by a substantial margin,” and the team approached the FBI in October 2018. The analytics team also thought Lee might have had inside help.

A separate affidavit described an interview with a Sox employee who told the feds he and Lee had realized in 2017 that a “bad weather” ticket program for fans had “opened the door” for tickets to be printed “without the White Sox knowledge or consent” using the computer code “Rain17.”

“I printed more Sox tickets free of charge with the Rain17 code for Bruce Lee than any other code,” the employee told the FBI.

Two former ticket sellers for the Sox, James Costello and William O’Neil, later admitted their roles in the scheme. They acknowledged they generated thousands of complimentary and discount tickets — without required vouchers — and gave them to Lee in exchange for cash.

Costello used other employees’ ID codes to avoid detection, and he eventually recruited O’Neil to help with the scheme. Costello pleaded guilty to wire fraud and O’Neil pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

Sanan told jurors Lee had paid a “tip” to Costello, but he argued Costello made the decision to keep the cash on his own.

“Whatever money Bruce Lee thought he was paying for those tickets, Costello put in his pocket,” Sanan said.

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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.

‘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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