Theater
**** Gay/les/bi/queer/trans content or interest . BB = Black interest. V = Latino/a.
**** Nov 26: SOST, a look at the immigrant experience through the eyes of one family, traces the story of three Ethiopian sisters as they struggle to reconcile their relationships, and the reasons why they have come to America. The Maíat Production Association of Afrikan Centered Theatre (MPAACT) is a not-for-profit theatre with a focus on new work and collaborative art, to develop, nurture and sustain Afrikan Centered Theatre. Thru Jan 4. Opening night is a MPAACT benefit.Victory Gardens Studio Thtr. 2257 N Lincoln (312) 409-6724 www.mpaact.org
**** Nov 26: Twelfth Night, or What You Will Direct from London, part of its first American tour, Shakespeare's Globe Thtr comes to Chicago Shakespeare Thtr on Navy Pier for a limited, three-week holiday engagement, "original practices" production of Shakespeare's comedy All-male ensemble play every role. Recreations of Elizabethan dress, dance and musical instruments true to Shakespeare's time. Modeled after the Elizabethan theaters in Shakespeare's own time, Chicago Shakespeare's Courtyard Thtr is the ideal setting for this period presentation. Thru Dec 14, on Navy Pier, (312) 595-5600 www.chicagoshakes.com
**** December 2003: The Gift and Other Stories About Face Thtr (773) 784.8565 x109 www.aboutfacetheatre.com
**** Dec 2: Jammin' with Pops songs by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong. Apple Tree Thtr 595 Elm Place Suite 210, Highland Park, (847) 432-4335 www.AppleTreeTheatre.com
**** Dec. 4: Sing-a-Long Wizard of Oz Sing along with the classic Oscar-winning film. Includes a master-of-ceremonies to lead comical audience participation. Costumes encouraged. Thru Dec. 14 Oriental/Ford Ctr(312) 977-1710
**** Dec. 6: Moyenda and the Golden Heart, a new twist on Cornstalks and Candlesticks, the Chocolate Chips Thtr Co's annual Kwanzaa show. A warmly satisfying musical about a young man out in the world hoping to bring the greatest prize back to his village. Kenned-King College Dunham Thtr, 6800 S Wentworth (773) 994-7400
**** Dec 10: Cookin' at the Cookery The Music and Times of Alberta Hunter from her early career in Chicago, to starring roles on Broadway and in Paris and London. After giving it all up at the age of 60 to start a new career as a nurse, Hunter makes her triumphant comeback in 1977 at Greenwich Village's The Cookery, where she shares the wild stories of her past, and belts out blues standards such as "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "Sweet Georgia Brown." Two Drama Desk Nominations. Thru Jan 11, Northlight Thtr 9501 Skokie Blvd. Tix (847) 673-6300 www.northlight.org
**** Dec 16: Hairspray Broadwayís new musical-comedy version of John Waters' cult movie, takes you back to 1962 Baltimore, as 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad sets out to dance her way onto TV's most popular show. Can a big girl with big dreams and even bigger hair change the world - and still have time to win the boy she loves? Clive Barnes of the New York Post raves "A great big fat gorgeous hit!" Thru Feb 15. Ford Ctr for the Performing Arts, (312) 977-1710
Theater Ongoing
**** VVV Anna in the Tropics the first Chicago production by acclaimed Cuban-American playwright Nilo Cruz is a lush romantic drama about Cuban-American cigar factory workers in 1920's Florida. Features Charin Alvarez (Conchita), Sandra Delgado (Marela), Ricardo Gutierrez (Cheche), Sandra Marquez (Ofelia), Dale Rivera (Juan Julian), Gustavo Mellado (Santiago) and Edie Torres (Palomo).Awarded the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Thru Nov. 30 Goodman Theatre,170 N.Dearborn thru Nov. 30 tix (312) 443-3800 or www.victorygardens.org
**** Every Night When the Sun Goes Down drama but a man retuning from prison who decide to move beyond broken dreams. Set in a seedy 1950s hotel ina black neighborhood in a midwestern city. thru Dec 29 eta Square 7558 S South Chicago Ave (773) 752-3955
**** Other Cinderella, The musical tells the familiar fairy tale with an Afocentric twist.By Jackie Taylor. Thru Dec 31. Black Ensemble Thtr Co. (773) 769-4451
**** Parallel Lives: The Kathy and Mo Show, by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy, stars out performers Bev Spangler and Lisa Samra. Awaken Performances, Viaduct Thtr, 3111 N Western Ave thru Dec 20. (773) 275-2036 www.awakenperformances.org .
**** Producers, The The musical marvel that started in Chicago makes its triumphant return to the Windy City. Written by Mel Brooks and directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, this irreverent musical comedy is the biggest Tony Award winner in Broadway history. Thru Nov 30. Broadway in Chicago, Ford Ctr for the Performing Arts, Oriental Thtr (312) 977-1710 www.broadwayinchicago.com
**** Ramona Quimby Her teacher hates her, her older sister Beezus is a pain, Aunt Bea may marry a dork and dad just lost his job! Like all of Cleary's books, this adaptation reminds us that growing up can be tough. Thru Dec 6. Chicago Playworks for Families and Young Audiences DePaul's Merle Reskin Thtr 60 E Balbo Dr
**** The Rocky Horror Show thru Nov 30 Chicago Ctr Performing Arts 777 N Green ( 312) 327-2000
**** Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, Chicago's favorite cross-dressing reindeer is back and he's more fabulous then ever!!! Live Bait Thtr 3914 N Clark St thru Jan 3 (312) 409-4357
DANCE
*** Alvin Ailey American Dance Thtr passion and emotional energy May 19-23, 2004 Auditorium Thtr 50 E Congress Parkway (312) 902-1500
*** Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago For its inaugural performance at The Joan W and Irving B. Harris Thtr for Music and Dance, will feature the world premiere of a major new work. In the Bantu language, muntu means the essence of humanity. It's what the company seeks to express in their work and to touch in their audiences. Apr 2 thru 4. Harris Thtr for Music and Dance, 205 E Randolph in Millennium Park. (312) 629-8696 or at www.musicanddancetheaterchicago.com .
*** Music and Dance Thtr Chicago, Inc. celebrates its 2003-2004 inaugural season with a showcase of Chicago performing arts companies including the theater's founding companies: Ballet Chicago, Chicago Opera Thtr, Chicago Sinfonietta, The Dance Ctr of Columbia College Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Lyric Opera Ctr for American Artists, Mexican Fine Arts Ctr Museum, Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago, Music of the Baroque, Old Town School of Folk Music and Performing Arts Chicago. Thru May 30, 2004, Harris Thtr for Music and Dance, 205 E Randolph in Millennium Park. (312) 629-8696.
Art/Photo
**** Art Institute of Chicago Meant to call attention to the collection by Chicago collectors of Spanish art even while Italian, French and Dutch masters of the early 20th century were popular. Also on view in gallery 215, Assumption of the Virgin. See gallery 156, 207, 217 and 219 for other notables. Faces, Places and Inner Spaces for young people, major woks of art from around the globe and through the centuries. Africa, China, Mexico and more. Scheduled to run thru 2006. Gauguin Drawing and Print Show 111 S Michigan. (312)443-3600.
**** DuSable Museum: Photos from 500 year-old West African Palace thru Oct 31. Starting Dec 8, Bronzeville: Black Chicago in Pictures, 1941-1943 thru Feb 29, 2004. Permanent exhibits DuSable Treasures: Selections from the Permanent Collection of Art, Harold Washington in Office , Fight To Fly: Blacks in Aviation, Africa Speaks African art often proves to be functional in intent and/or use, like stools, chairs, combs, staffs and vessels, carved to articulate particular events or occasions and comprise much of the art of Africa. Ritual masks used in unions with spirit forces or mythical characters, carved figures (many of which function as surrogate spirit-ancestors) and the deity figures. 740 E 56th Place. (773) 947-0600 x272
**** Field Museum Steppin' Up: Journeys from the Soul from Bethel New Life Cultural Arts, a multimedia exhibition with life stories and shoes of national and local leaders of civil rights, free speech, women's movements, business, labor, education, the arts and other arenas. Based the art form of the Criot Circle, the West African oral tradition of community storytelling that passes knowledge down through the generations. at the Field Museum, 1400 S Lake Shore Dr. (312) 922-9410
**** Museum of Contemporary Art One True Thing, Meditations on Black Aesthetics Best known for his monumental paintings of subjects stemming from the Civil Rights movement and his experiences as an African American, Kerry James Marshall also works in sculpture, installation photography, video and printmaking. In this exhibition, he seeks to raise confounding question about the role of the artist and the development of Black aesthetics. Thru Jan 18, 220 E Chicago Ave (312) 280-2660
**** Nicole Gallery Haitian, African-American and other ethnic art. 230 W Huron (312) 787-7716
