A federal judge handed a one-year prison sentence Tuesday to a man caught downtown during the May 2020 riots with a hammer and a loaded gun he was not legally allowed to have.
Though prosecutors said they had no evidence Brandon Pegues caused any of the damage downtown, they said his crime was also symbolic of the gun problem plaguing Chicago.
And in handing down the sentence, U.S. District Judge Virginia Kendall said people who decided to loot and riot in late May 2020 discredited peaceful protestersbecause “uninformed individuals would clump them together.”
Before the judge sentenced him, Pegues told the judge “I take full responsibility for my actions.” He said he has started a landscaping business and said “I would like you to take into account everything I am and not just the person who made an awful decision.”
But the judge also pointed to allegations of domestic battery that surfaced against Pegues earlier this year, telling him, “The aggressive and violent abuse of women is never tolerated in our society.”
Pegues pleaded guilty in March to illegal possession of a firearm. Chicago police said they spotted him a little after 12:30 a.m. May 31, 2020, in the 800 block of South Financial Place, where they arrived “in response to mass crowds and multiple reported ongoing crimes, including criminal damage to property,” court records show.
Officers said they saw four men running south on South Financial, and some were carrying hammers. When officers saw Pegues, they said he looked at them, adjusted his waistband, and fled. Police said they ran after him, and Pegues eventually stumbled and fell.
Police said they saw a gun fall to the ground, and they said they saw Pegues push what turned out to be a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol under a nearby vehicle. Prosecutors said Pegues was also carrying a hammer and $2,200 cash when he was arrested.
The feds filed charges against Pegues on June 1, 2020. Pegues had previously been convicted of residential burglary, a felony, in January 2010, court records show.
In another case connected to the rioting, U.S. District Judge John Blakey last March gave more than three years in prison to D Angelo D. Chester. Police spotted Chester at 78th Street and South Kingston Avenue at 9:24 p.m. on June 3 — 24 minutes after the 9 p.m. curfew Mayor Lori Lightfoot set as a result of the rioting. Chester also pleaded guilty to illegal possession of a firearm. Blakey cited Chester’s lengthy criminal history in handing down the sentence.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JUNE 18: Marc-Andre Fleury #29 of the Vegas Golden Knights warms up prior to Game Three of the Stanley Cup Semifinals of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on June 18, 2021 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
Marc-Andre Fleury is one of the nicest human beings in the history of the National Hockey League. He is also one of the greatest goalies in the history of the NHL as well. He is a three-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins and has had a tremendous amount of success with the Vegas Golden Knights as well. In 2020-21, he was so good that he won the Vezina Trophy and now he is on his way to the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Hawks sent a Minor League player named Mikael Hakkarainen to the Golden Knights to get Fleury back. If you are wondering why Vegas would do this, it is a fair question. They want to move on from Fleury so they can commit to Robin Lehner full-time and create more cap room for other areas. It is hard to win in the NHL with two goalies making that much money.
For that reason, it is smart for the Hawks to take on Fleury for one year. In 2020-21, his Vezina Trophy was earned thanks to his 26-10-0 record, 1.98 goals against average, and .928 save percentage. Splitting time with Kevin Lankinen will give the Hawks one of the best goalie duos in the entire league. Marc-Andre Fleury is incredibly good against high danger chances which is something the Blackhawks have struggled with lately.
Fleury is going to carry a cap hit of 7 million for the 2021-22 season and then he is an unrestricted free agent. He may decide to resign, go somewhere else, or retire. Either way, the Hawks made a great move here adding a top-five goalie for basically nothing. They just made it where the upcoming season should be a competitive year for them. With the addition of the Jones brothers on defense, Jonathan Toews’ return, and Fleury in the mix, this should be a good team.
The Chicago Blackhawks just landed an all-time great NHL goaltender via trade.
Marc-Andre Fleury deserves more recognition than he already gets. He is literally one of the greatest goalies in the history of the sport. Towards the end of this last season, he passed Roberto Luongo for third all-time in career NHL wins. If he plays on good teams for about two more years, he could catch Patrick Roy for second place. Catching Martin Brodeur for first is out of reach for pretty much anyone.
Stan Bowman has taken a lot of heat on the hockey side of things for the way he has done his job. Well, lately, things have been going well. Adding Seth Jones is a great move and Fleury adds an elite goalie with so much experience to the mix. It is going to be so fun seeing “the flower” in Chicago.
When opportunity knocked for college athletes, Northwestern basketball player Elyjah Williams was quick to answer.
“As soon as they came up with the NIL thing, I definitely wanted to take advantage as much as I can,” said Williams, an Evanston grad who is back in town with the Wildcats after playing four seasons for Fairleigh Dickinson.
Williams is one of many college athletes exploring ways to build their brands and make some money under the new Name, Image, Likeness rules.
He and several other former Wildkits have found a way to do that while also staying true to their roots. They are brand ambassadors for the Town Kid clothing line founded by Garrett Jones.
A 2011 Evanston grad and four-year varsity basketball player, Jones played for the 2008 team that finished third in Class 4A. He went on to play two years at New Hampshire before finishing his college career and earning a bachelor’s in sports psychology at Division II Hillsdale. He has since earned a master’s in education from North Park and is an assistant girls basketball coach at Niles West.
Along the way, Jones and a couple other former Evanston grads who went on to play college basketball — James Farr (Xavier) and Rodney Pryor (Georgetown) — came up with the idea of Town Kid.
The clothing line — which currently includes shirts, hats, hoodies and shorts, among other gear — is a tribute to what Jones and others believe is a special community.
“I always say it, I feel like Evanston is one of the most unique places,” Jones said. “The support is real and you can feel it, especially with the athletic community here, the sports teams at the high school and the sports teams at the middle schools.”
Getting the word out about Evanston isn’t always easy though.
“I remember growing up, [knowing] Chicago is right down the street,” Jones said. “They have numerous things to represent them. We’re just a city close to Chicago.”
Now Town Kid can represent Evanston, and thanks to NIL, it’s easier for Jones to spread the word. The timing couldn’t be better, as he works to build the brand.
“I didn’t want to tamper with things that got any athletes in trouble,” Jones said. “When this opportunity came about, I wanted to [invest] in people I’ve known. I’ve known all of them from middle school on.”
Right now, the list includes Williams, Lance Jones (Southern Illinois men’s basketball), Blake Peters (Princeton men’s basketball), Kayla Henning (American women’s basketball) and Quadre Nicholson (Miami of Ohio football).
Partnering with Town Kid was a no-brainer, Williams and Lance Jones said.
“That’s how we definitely see ourselves, as town kids,” Williams said. “It’s also really cool gear. I’m so happy [Garrett Jones] came up with the idea.”
Lance Jones had a definite comfort level dealing with Garrett Jones, whom he grew up watching play for the Wildkits.
That was important as Lance Jones considered dipping his toe into the NIL pool.
“In the beginning, I wasn’t sure what to expect, how the whole thing was going to be handled,” Lance Jones said. “I was taking a back seat and seeing if my opportunity came.
“Definitely, at first I was hesitant. I was worried about people I don’t know reaching out to me.”
But Garrett Jones is determined to do right both for his growing company and for the athletes who came out of Evanston like he did.
“They’re great young people that represent Evanston in a great way,” Garrett Jones said.
Town Kid has the social media and online presence one would expect in 2021. Its website is thetownkid.com and it’s on Instagram at @eltownkid.
Growing a physical presence for the brand, by getting the gear into shops in Evanston, is on Garrett Jones’ to-do list.
Williams, for one, can’t wait to see what comes next.
“I had bought some of his shorts as soon as he came out with the idea,” Williams said. “People started buying it immediately. I really think that speaks about how much people respect Garrett.”
Thursday night, the 2021 NBA Draft finally takes place and the Chicago Bulls will be waiting around for a while before the finally make a selection.
Before the trade deadline last season, the Bulls of course made a splash move to acquire former Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic. In order to secure the All Star center, the Bulls traded a pair of first-round picks, including this year’s no. 8 overall selection.
For the Bulls to get an All Star at the deadline says a lot about Vice President Arturas Karnisovas. This organization is serious about winning, and giving up that kind of draft capital proves as much.
Still, Chicago is not without a pick on Thursday night. The Bulls still have a second-round selection at no. 38 overall. The second round is anyone’s guess at just about every given pick, so it’s tough to predict what the Bulls will do. However, one position is at the forefront of everyone’s mind this offseason.
With their second-round pick, the Chicago Bulls could have plenty of options at point guard.
The Bulls have yet to find their true starting point guard, but this offseason could provide clarity. With free agents like Lonzo Ball, Spencer Dinwiddie and Derrick Rose available, Chicago is most likely going to bring one of them in to solidify the position.
Coby White was benched last year in favor of Tomas Satoransky, whom could be traded this offseason. White will stick around as a spark plug off the bench, but the Bulls still need depth there, regardless.
At pick 38, Chicago could definitely find a player who rounds out their roster and may even play meaningful minutes. This offseason is going to be all about the point guard position, so look no further than the following five point guards for the Bulls in the second round.
Jun 5, 2021; San Francisco, California, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Andrew Chafin (39) stands on the field before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Cubs kicked off what should be a busy week on Monday night as they announced that they have agreed to a trade with the Oakland Athletics that has has sent reliever Andrew Chafin to the Athletics for two prospects in outfielder Greg Deichmann and starting pitcher Daniel Palencia.
The Chafin trade on Monday is likely the first of many for the Cubs as the Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches on Friday at 3:00 pm CST. After Chafin, all eyes are now on closer Craig Kimbrel, third baseman Kris Bryant, shortstop Javier Baez, and first baseman Anthony Rizzo as Cubs’ president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer attempts to replenish the team’s farm system with prospects.
The Cubs’ return for Chafin sets them up nicely for the return that they should receive in the eventual trade of Kimbrel. Kimbrel is considered to be among the most valuable trade pieces available at the trade deadline considering his ability to close out games.
Looking at what Chafin netted the Cubs, the team received the Athletics’ No. 8 overall prospect (per Fangraphs) in Deichmann and the Athletics’ No. 12 overall prospect in Palencia. Of the two, Deichmann is the closest to being Major League ready as the 26-year old is hitting .300/.433/.452/.885 in 261 plate appearances with Athletics’ triple-A affiliate.
The Chicago Cubs trade of Andrew Chafin is an important indicator of how the Major League Baseball trade deadline will play out for the team.
There has been some drawback to Deichmann being 26 already and only in triple-A, but once you factor in the fact that he was selected in the 2017 MLB Draft and the 2020 Minor League Baseball season was cancelled, the left-handed hitting outfielder appears to be right on track. Depending on how the rest of the deadline plays out for the Cubs, there is chance that Deichmann sees some time at the Major League level with the Cubs before the end of the season.
All in all, the Chafin trade was an excellent trade for the Cubs. The Cubs’ received two organizational top-20 prospects, including one in the top-10, for a left-handed setup reliever. Standard operating logic at the Major League Baseball trade deadline is that closers have more value than setup relievers.
For the Cubs, who have the best available closer on the market in Kimbrel, it stands to reason that the Chafin deal confirms that they will be able to receive at least one organizational top-10 prospect for their current closer if not two. That is exemplified by the fact that the acquiring team of Kimbrel does hold team option to obtain the closer for the 2022 season.
If the Chafin trade on a Monday night is an indicator of what is to come for the Chicago Cubs as the week progresses, then it will be a very prosperous week.
Despite hitting a 7 year record Chicago home price appreciation still lags the nation
This morning we got the May CoreLogic Case Shiller home price indices for the top 20 metro areas that they follow. What they show is that the nation’s single family home prices rose 16.6% over the previous 12 month period. That’s an all time record for the country. The Case Shiller Chicago area index rose by 11.1%, which is the 103rd consecutive month of gains and slightly more than a 7 year record but, nevertheless, we still remain in last place.
You know who’s in first place? Phoenix with 25.9% growth! WTH. Do you know they had 34 days last year above 110 degrees? Yeah, dry heat my ass. And speaking of dry…where are they going to get their water? I think they are in like a 15 year drought.
As I’ve mentioned before this is a problem if you are planning on moving out of the area because the house you are moving into will likely cost more than the house you sell here. Sad.
But back to Chicago with all that Lake Michigan water. Check out the graph below which shows the year over year growth history. Condos are not appreciating nearly as much as single family homes – only 2.7% over the previous year.
Chicago area single family home prices have shown annual gains for 103 consecutive months
Craig J. Lazzara, Managing Director and Global Head of Index Investment Strategy at S&P DJI, remarked:
The 16.6% gain is the highest reading in more than 30 years of S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller data. As was the case last month, five cities – Charlotte, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, and Seattle – joined the National Composite in recording their all-time highest 12-month gains. Price gains in all 20 cities were in the top quartile of historical performance; in 17 cities, price gains were in top decile.
We have previously suggested that the strength in the U.S. housing market is being driven in part by reaction to the COVID pandemic, as potential buyers move from urban apartments to suburban homes. May’s data continue to be consistent with this hypothesis. This demand surge may simply represent an acceleration of purchases that would have occurred anyway over the next several years. Alternatively, there may have been a secular change in locational preferences, leading to a permanent shift in the demand curve for housing. More time and data will be required to analyze this question.
Note that Craig always requires more time and data.
Case Shiller Chicago Area Home Price Index By Month
I’ve plotted the monthly indices below going back to 1987 along with a red trend line for single family homes based on pre-bubble data. Single family home prices rose 1.8% from April while condo prices rose 1.1%.
What’s finally getting interesting in that graph is that we are getting close to those bubble peaks. Single family home prices are only off by 3.2% while condo prices are off by only 2.6%. No surprise that most of the rest of the country already surpassed those peaks. From a historical perspective single family home prices are currently below the period from December 2005 – October 2007 and condo prices are below where they were from March 2006 – December 2007.
If you compare where we are to the red trend line you’ll also see just how far off we are from where we “could have been”. That’s a 22.8% gap. On the other hand you can compare where we are from the bottom. Single family prices have jumped 58.8% and condo prices are jumped 61.2%.
The Chicago real estate market is finally getting close to catching up to bubble peak prices.
#ChicagoHomePrices #CaseShiller #HomePrices
Gary Lucido is the President of Lucid Realty, the Chicago area’s full service real estate brokerage that offers home buyer rebates and discount commissions. If you want to keep up to date on the Chicago real estate market or get an insider’s view of the seamy underbelly of the real estate industry you can Subscribe to Getting Real by Email using the form below. Please be sure to verify your email address when you receive the verification notice.
After 20 years in the corporate world and running an Internet company, Gary started Lucid Realty with his partner, Sari. The company provides full service, while discounting commissions for sellers and giving buyers rebates.
With bigger names drawing the spotlight leading up to Friday’s trade deadline, the Cubs made an early move last night with one of their lesser names, but most highly sought after pieces. Andrew Chafin was perhaps the second most desirable lefty reliever on the market behind the Twins Taylor Rogers. But with Rogers suffering a finger injury this week, it is possible Chafin jumped to the front of the line, and the A’s were ready to deal two of their top 15 prospects to snag him.
Now, the Oakland farm system is not the strongest, so it is possible COF Greg Deichmann (#8 according to FG) and RHP Daniel Palencia (#12) will not rate as highly in the Cubs improving system (especially after they receive an even greater influx of talent over the next few days), but on the surface it does appear to be a pretty good haul for Chafin.
Injuries (as well as the missed 2020 season) have slowed Deichmann’s ascent through the Oakland system since they selected him in the 2nd round of the 2017 draft. Cubs VP of scouting Dan Kantrovitz was a member of the A’s front office at the time of that selection. The former LSU star has always possessed impressive raw power (probably a 65 or 70), but I have to admit his lack of flexibility concerned me greatly prior to the draft, casting doubt in my mind as to whether he would ever be able to access his power in the pros.
That seems to have come to fruition to some degree as 11 home runs (in 301 ABs in 2019) are his career high. Injuries no doubt played a role as well. He required surgery after being hit by a pitch in 2017, broke his hamate bone in 2018, and then a shoulder injury in 2019. On the positive side though, he was apparently recovered from the shoulder injury during his stint in the AFL after the 2018 season, where he was able to show off his in game power, leading the league with 9 dingers. No other batter hit more than 4.
All that missed time apparently led him to rework his body and devote time to adding flexibility during the 2020 layoff. I’m curious to see if these improvements will alter my pre-draft assessment of his athleticism once I get the chance to watch him regularly.
Deichmann has also come back in 2021 with a more patient approach at the plate. Never more than an average walk rate guy prior to this year, his BB% has jumped to 19% in AAA, leading to a .433 OBP so far. He is also currently hitting .300, but considering he is playing in hitter’s haven Las Vegas (and sporting a .401 BABIP), I would not expect that type of output in Iowa, let alone Chicago.
Of interest is Deichmann has managed just 4 homers in 261 PAs. He is pulling the ball more this season, and it seems to be leading to a higher ground ball rate. I’ll be curious to see if the Cubs try to make a tweak to his swing, or if they would rather him stick with the more patient and higher contact rate approach he’s taken in 2021.
What the lefty swinging Deichmann has done is absolutely mash right handed pitchers to the tune of .344/.487/.517. His corresponding numbers against lefties are obviously a concern (.186/.279/.288 in 59 PAs, so still a SSS), but even if he only fills a platoon role as corner outfielder (where he rates as average with an above average arm) and pinch hitter there is likely a job for him in Chicago sometime this season and heading into 2022.
Much less is known about Daniel Palencia. Signed as an overager by Oakland as part of their 2019 IFA period, and then like all other Minor Leaguers Palencia did not get a chance to pitch in game action during 2020, so his pro debut did not come until June of this year. The now 21-year old has jumped directly into the A’s Low-A starting rotation where he’s seen mixed results through 6 starts. Of the top of my head I believe the A’s were one of the organizations the Cubs held scrimmages against during instructs last fall and again in EXST this year, so I’m guessing they got a few looks at Palencia then.
I can understand why Palencia was probably not a highly sought after IFA, as he is a short right-hander (5’11”) and is officially listed at 160 pounds. He’s apparently added considerable mass to his frame since that time, as he now tips the scales near 200 pounds. His Manager at Stockton, former big leaguer Rico Brogna, described his build and mechanics as similar to 17-year MLB reliever Rudy Seanez.
The added strength has allowed Palencia to boost his fastball into the upper-90s, apparently sitting comfortably 95+ mph. He pairs it with a curveball which has flashed an ability to miss bats according to the latest update from Fangraphs. I’m not sure if those are his only two pitches, if so then Palencia will most likely profile as a reliever in the future, but given the Cubs lack of starting pitching depth right now due to injuries I’m sure they will continue to deploy him as a starter.
I’ll be doing a deeper dive on these two once I have a chance to review more video on them.
Porter Hodge: 5 IP, 6 H 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 8 K (L, 1-2, 6.20)
Owen Caissie: 1-4, HR (3), 2 R, RBI (.359)
Reggie Preciado: 2-4, 2B, R (.387)
Austin Romine: 1-2, 2B (.500)
Injuries, Updates, and Trends
Austin Romine has begun a rehab assignment in Mesa. Out with a knee injury for most of the season, the Cubs desperately searched for a replacement at backup catcher for a few months, finally settling on former farmhand and longtime MLB veteran Robinson Chirinos earlier this month. Chirinos has performed admirably on both offense and defense, while providing a boost of energy and appreciation for the opportunity. I’ll be curious what the Cubs decide to do once Romine is healthy. They could choose to carry three catchers, depending on how much roster depth remains after the trade deadline, with Willson Contreras perhaps given more frequent breathers from behind the plate and more opportunity at 1B.
I’m very anxious to see Reggie Preciado and Owen Caissie get a shot in Myrtle Beach, as I’m sure everyone else is as well, but I do think we’ll have to wait a spell. The Cubs will likely give college draftees CF Christian Franklin, CF Parker Chavers, RF Luke Matt, SS Liam Spence, 3B B.J. Murray Jr., and C Casey Opitz opportunities in full season ball first.
Preciado in particular is blocked in Low-A by not just Ed Howard, but Kevin Made (and to a lesser extent Luis Verdugo) as well. I assume Franklin will make it to South Bend before the year is out, and given Matt only signed for a $1,000 bonus I doubt they’d let his presence block Caissie from getting a call up, but Jordan Nwogu and Yohendrick Pinango might. Any additional prospects gained from trades this week will only add to the congestion. It is possible Preciado and Caissie are in Mesa for the duration (or they only receive a late call up).
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 26: Javier Baez #9 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates with teammates after his walk off single in the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on July 26, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
The Chicago Cubs had to come back in order to even make it tied in the 9th inning on Monday night against the Cincinnati Reds. It wasn’t the best game for Kyle Hendricks on the mound but they found themselves in a position to win thanks to some clutch hitting throughout the game. When Javier Baez came up to bat in the 9th inning against his arch-rival Amir Garrett, you knew things could get chippy.
Baez and Garrett have a lot of history with one another in the league. They do not get along. In fact, the two rivals went into the plate appearance jawing at each other. With the bases loaded and only one out, Baez would have the last laugh.
It only took one offering from Garrett for Baez to end the game. He smashed it over the centerfielder’s head to give the Cubs a 6-5 win. He knew that no matter where the ball landed, the game was over. It was either a game-winning base hit, grand slam, or sacrifice fly. As he walked down to first base, he taunted Garett even more.
It was the most exciting win of the Cubs season so far. If every game ended like that, it would be the most popular sport by far. The way these two acted made it seem like a WWE match which is glorious for the game.
Javier Baez always adds some magic to the Chicago Cubs when he turns it on.
As you can see in the video, Baez has no sympathy for his opponent here. There is some bad blood and it isn’t over yet. Garrett isn’t the type of guy to just let this blow over either. The rest of this series is all of a sudden must-watch television.
This could very well be the last week that Javier Baez ever plays for the Cubs. He is an unrestricted free agent after this season and could go wherever he wants. That might cause the Cubs to move him to a contending team right now. If this is the end, he is going out with a bang. There haven’t been many players more entertaining than him in the history of the Cubs.
During this game, the firesale continued. The Cubs traded Andrew Chafin to the Oakland Athletics. He is the second big piece to be moved as the Cubs retool for the future. If Baez is a part of the movement for the Cubs, this will go down as one of his last big moments.
Broadway in Chicago is back! We at Show Me Chicago couldn’t be more excited
The 2021-2022 Broadway in Chicago season kicks off October 5. 2021, with an exciting line-up of shows including two pre-Broadways, Paradise Square and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, four direct-from-Broadway productions Disney’sFROZEN, WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME, COME FROM AWAY, MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL and the national tour launch of SIX and more.
From traditional blockbusters to new shows to Pre-Broadway premieres–this highly anticipated season has something for everyone.
And it’s even sweeter because of what we missed.
HERE ARE THE SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
RENT – 25th ANNIVERSARY FAREWELL TOUR, October 5 – 10, 2021CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.
“Rent”—the 25th Anniversary Farewell Tour. Whether you have seen this show a dozen times or never before this is definitely something you want to put on your calendar.
The Tony award and Pulitzer Prize winning show that inspired us to choose love over fear and to live without regret may be even more timely today than it was produced 25 years ago.
ALTON BROWN: LIVE! BEYOND THE EATS October 16, 2021 – Two Performances Only! CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.
Alton Brown Live 6 – Credit to David Allen
Alton Brown hits the road with a new culinary variety show. Audiences can expect more comedy, more music, more highly unusual cooking demos, and more potentially dangerous science stuff. Prepare for an evening unlike any other and if Brown calls for volunteers…think twice.
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME October 26 – November 21, 2021 Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St.
The national tour of WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME, Heidi Schreck’s Tony Award nominated Pulitzer Prize finalist play,directed by Oliver Butler, will return to Chicago this fall starring Cassie Beck (The Humans, “Shameless”)in the leading role.
The Pre-Broadway World Premiere of PARADISE SQUARE November 2 – December 5, 2021 James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.
The Company of Paradise Square at Berkeley Rep
The creators of such landmark shows as Ragtime, Spring Awakening, The Laramie Project and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical bring Paradise Square to Chicago for a strictly limited engagement, prior to Broadway. New York City. 1863. The country is divided over immigration, racial tensions, and political ideology. The chaos of the Civil War rages on in the heart of the Five Points slum. But in this neighborhood, something extraordinary is occurring. Free born Blacks and those who escaped slavery are living, working, and intermarrying with newly arrived Irish immigrants.
BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL November 2 – 7, 2021 CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.
BEAUTIFUL – THE CAROLE KING MUSICALtells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history.
Disney’s FROZEN November 19, 2021 – January 22, 2022 Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.
From the producer of The Lion King and Aladdin, FROZEN, the Tony®-nominated Best Musical, is now on tour across North America, and the critics rave, “It’s simply magical!” (LA Daily News). FROZEN features the songs from the original Oscar®-winning film, plus an expanded score with a dozen new numbers.
LESLIE ODOM, JR. THE CHRISTMAS TOURDecember 4, 2021 (One Night Only) CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St. Headshots available here.
Leslie Odom, Jr. is a multifaceted, award-winning vocalist, songwriter, author, and actor. With a career that spans all performance genres.
PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL December 14 – 19, 2021 CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.
Pretty-Woman-The-Musical-Hamburg-Production
PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL is returning to Chicago on tour! One of Hollywood’s most beloved stories of all time, PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL–a love story for the ages.
THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY February 22 – 27, 2022 CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.
Since its sell-out in London’s West End, THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY is now the world’s leading theatre show concerning Simon & Garfunkel featuring a full live band and state of the art video projection and lighting. The show includes all of their hits, such as ‘Mrs. Robinson’, ‘Cecilia’, ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, ‘Homeward Bound.’
COME FROM AWAY February 22 – March 6, 2022 Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.
The First North American Tour Company of Come from Away 2018
Broadway’s award winning COME FROM AWAY is the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night, and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.
MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL February 26 – April 24, 2022 James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.
Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mash-up extravaganza. Enter a world of splendor and romance, of eye-popping excess, of glitz, grandeur and glory–a world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment with MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL
SIX March 29 – July 3, 2022 CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.
Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the SIXwives of Henry VIII take the mic to remix five hundred years of history.
MY FAIR LADY June 28 – July 10, 2022 Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.
My Fair Lady
Lerner & Loewe’s MY FAIR LADY tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics professor who is determined to transform her into his idea of a “proper lady.” But who is really being transformed? Always a favorite.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR July 19 – 31, 2022 Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, an iconic musical phenomenon with a world-wide fan base, In celebration of its 50th Anniversary with a modern, theatrical production. The show features award-winning music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of Judas.
Pre-Broadway World Premiere of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA July 19 – August 21, 2022 James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.
Andy, an ambitious young writer in New York City, lands a job at a prestigious magazine. Trying to survive under her stylish yet terrifying boss, she finds herself caught between the dreams she thought she wanted, and the cost of what that reality in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.
TICKET INFORMATION
Individual tickets are on sale now for Disney’s FROZEN and PARADISE SQUARE. Tickets can be purchased for all shows for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710 or emailing [email protected]. Broadway In Chicago will announce its new subscription series, led by PARADISE SQUARE, in August. For further information regarding all ticket sales visit BroadwayInChicago.com.
TOKYO — No, women are not required to wear bikinis to play beach volleyball at the Olympics.
Yes, TV cameras do tend to linger on their glutes when they hold their hands behind their backs to pass signals to each other. And no, that’s not a problem for the players who believe that those who see the sport will remain fans.
“I have always felt like when you get somebody drawn in, however you get them into beach volleyball, they fall in love with the sport,” said American April Ross, a three-time Olympian. “So, hopefully that happens also.”
Beach volleyball has been one of the most popular sports at the Summer Games since it was added to the program in 1996. It has fast action, a party atmosphere and some telegenic American stars who have paraded to the podium to claim six of the 12 possible gold medals.
But there’s also no doubt that some who tune in on TV are there to ogle the women as they leap and dive across the sand in their bikinis. In 2012, the London tabloids ran photo spreads from the beach volleyball venue without a set or spike in sight; it was also the focus for then-mayor and current British prime minister Boris Johnson, who penned a guest newspaper column during the Olympics that were taking place in his city.
The attention on the bikinis intensified in Tokyo after a viral social media post misidentified a team that protested a beach handball dress code as playing beach volleyball. Beach handball, which is not an Olympic sport, requires women to wear bikinis, and the European federation fined the Norwegians for wearing shorts as a protest at a competition 5,500 miles away in Bulgaria.
In Tokyo this week, the German gymnastics team wore full-legged unitards that went down to their ankles, eschewing the traditional bikini cut that ends high on the hip. The athletes said they were trying to combat the sexualization of young women and girls in their sport, which is trying to recover from a decades-long sexual abuse scandal.
Pauline Schaefer-Betz of Germany performs her floor exercise routine during the women’s artistic gymnastic qualifications at the 2020 Summer Olympics, in Tokyo. The German gymnastics team wore full-legged unitards that went down to their ankles, eschewing the traditional bikini cut that ends high on the hip.AP
The head of broadcasting at the Tokyo Games said this week said their feeds will not highlight sexualized images of female athletes, instead focusing on “sport appeal, not sex appeal.”
But beach volleyball players embrace their gear — and to them, equipment is precisely what the bikinis are — and choose it in almost all circumstances over more conservative attire.
What are the rules?
The FIVB issued 22 pages of uniform guidelines for Tokyo, covering everything from fabric and color to names and numbers and how big manufacturers’ logos can be. Teammates also have to match.
An appendix has drawings of potential styles for women, including short sleeves and tank tops, long sleeves for modesty and long sleeves for warmth, long pants and shorts, and a one-piece bathing suit or a bikini. The men wear tank tops and board shorts, which can go over long-sleeved shirts and tights in cold weather.
There are also options for teams with religious dress codes.
“The FIVB beach volleyball uniform guidelines allow for a variety of different options,” the international federation said. “Beach volleyball welcomes all, and these uniform regulations ensure that our sport is culturally and religiously inclusive.”
There is men’s beach volleyball, too?
Although the women’s side of the sport traditionally gets more attention — including the prime-time U.S. broadcast slots — a mirror-image men’s tournament has shared the sand at every Olympics since the sport joined the Summer Games in Atlanta.
Although the men wear tank tops and swimming trunks at the Olympics and on the international tour, they may play shirtless on the AVP domestic tour. Many choose to do so.
So why bikinis?
“Beach volleyball was a sport that was developed in Hawaii and Southern California and on the beaches of Rio,” Ross said. “And you play, and it’s hot, and then you go and jump in the water.”
One-piece bathing suits won’t work, because the sand gets inside and chafes; in fact, the players say, the less material that can trap sand, the better. Ross and her partner Alix Klineman, who helped design their own uniforms, also said it’s important that the straps don’t restrict her movement or breathing.
“For us, this is what feels most comfortable,” Klineman said. “You’re not wearing more clothing in really hot weather; getting sand stuck in places is not fun. But I totally respect other people wanting to be more covered if that’s what makes them more comfortable.”
Beach volleyball matches also proceed in all kinds of weather, including the rain from the leading edge of Typhoon Nepartak that dampened the Skiokaze Park venue this week. In Beijing, the Olympic championship was played in a downpour.
“This,” said American Misty May-Treanor, who was soaking wet but with a gold medal to show for it, “is just another reason why we play in bathing suits.”
Do players ever wear something else?
Some teams did wear leggings and long sleeves under their uniforms on the cooler nights in 2012, dismaying the London tabloids, but even then most opted for the traditional board shorts and bikinis.
Four years later, after the FIVB expanded Olympic qualifying in an attempt to spread the sport to new countries, the Egyptians played in long sleeves, a loose-fitting top, full-length pant legs and hijabs to cover their heads.
“I have worn the hijab for 10 years,” said Doaa Elghobashy, a member of the first beach volleyball team from her country to compete in the Olympics.
“It doesn’t keep me away from the things I love to do,” she said. “And beach volleyball is one of them.”
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