THEATRE
**** = Gay/les/bi/queer/trans content or interest
VVVV= Latino/a interest
Theatre and Performance:
Previews and Opening Nights
**** Dec 16: Hairspray, Broadway's 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, Oriental Thtr (312) 977-1710 www.broadwayinchicago.com
Theater Ongoing
VVVV **** 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
VVV Marisol by Jose Rivera, directed by Henry Godinez. The guardian angels of New York have been called back to heaven to join the revolution against an old and dying God. Marisol, a young woman from the Bronx is left alone on the streets journeying into this new war zone. The Thtr School, DePaul Uni, Merle Reskin Thtr, 60 E Balbo Dr. theatreschool.depaul.edu (312) 922-1999
**** Parallel Lives: The Kathy and Mo Show, by Mo Gaffney and Kathy Najimy , stars out performers Bev Spangler and Lisa Samra portraying a variety of characters in a series of satiric feminist sketches: angels designing males and females; a drunken couple at a cowboy bar; male sports buddies discussing menstruation; and two 60-something New Yorkers at a feminist coffeehouse. 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
**** Straight Up with a Twist The world is a cruel place when you're a straight guy with good taste and a great eye for color. The Lakeshore Thtr, 3175 N Broadway (312) 932-9950
**** Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind 30 plays in 60 minutes is the goal of this long-running troupe, with new material each week. Doors open 30 minutes before show, open run; The Neo-Futurarium 5153 N Ashland (773) 275-5255; www.neofuturists.org
DANCE
Alvin Ailey American Dance Thtr passion and emotional energy May 19-23, 2004 Auditorium Thtr 50 E Congress Parkway (312) 902-1500
Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago Spring Concerts, the culmination of the company's 41st season, will feature the premiere of a new work among others. Gus Giordano has brought American Jazz to audiences across the country and around the world with a repertoire including the works of Ron DeJesus, Randy Duncan, Gus Giordano, Nan Giordano, Jon Lehrer, Mia Michaels, David Robertson and Margo Sappington. Apr 10 and 11, Harris Thtr for Music and Dance, 205 E Randolph in Millennium Park. (312) 629-8696.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago High-energy, athletic and artistically bold, one of the most innovative forces in contemporary dance. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, HSDC is recognized worldwide for its exuberant and eclectic repertory, which incorporates diverse influences from ballet to American musical theatre to cutting-edge choreography. Four premieres Mar 9, 2004 thru Mar 28. Harris Thtr for Music and Dance, 205 E Randolph in Millennium Park. (312) 629-8696
Mordine & Co. Dance Thtr One Night Stands will present an innovative dance installment, both highly structured choreographed movement and improvised dance that reacts to the moment in the open spaces and architectural forms in which the dance will bepresented. Dec 5 The Hot House 31 East Balbo 312 654-9540 www.mordine.org
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. Itís 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 or at www.musicanddancetheaterchicago.com .
Art/Photo
VVVV **** Aldo Castillo Gallery Marcos Raya The Unreal World. Raya was born in 1948 in Irapuato, Mexico, and moved to Chicago in 1964. His paintings, collages and installations bring together old and new works in a variety of media that explores the sociological impact of technological change, with an idiosyncratic hybrid of Mexican folklore and American pop culture, influenced by Dada and Surrealism, infused with elements of Chicago-style pop-expressionism and Rascuachismo. His work is permanently at the Museum of Contemporary Art, The Smart Museum of Art, University of Chicago, Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum of Chicago and The Menil Collection in Houston. Thru Jan 31. 233 W. Huron St. (312) 337-2536
VVVV 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.
VVVV Connexio CafÈ Sophomoric Paintngs with texture and juxtaposing colors by Erik R. Sosa thru Feb. 12. 1140 W. Wilson
VVVV GalerÌa Tinta Roja, Institute of Puerto Rican Arts/ Culture present Puerto Rico and Colombia: Caribbean Connection, a multi-media arts exhibit, on the Caribbean Sea as agent for artistic, cultural exchange among similar but diverse countries by extending this exchange to the community of Chicago. Five Colombian and five Puerto Rican artists in Chicago, showcase work in a variety of mediums: Natalia Castro, AndrÈs Duque, Lisandra Cruz, Alberto Gonzalez, Javier Lara, Kata MejÌa, Raul Ortiz, Edra Soto, Brenda Torres and Luis Fernando Uribe. GalerÌa Tinta Roja, 2701 West Division St 773.384.4767 www.iprac.org
**** Gallery Bonfiglio The Lady Show a multi-media art show by Dan Crowley thru Dec 6 5408 N Clark (773) 989-7840
**** Gerber/ Hart Library Art in the Meantime the colorful, moving, and funny drawings of MK Czerwiec thru November 1127 W. Granville ( 3 doors west of the RedLine Stop) and the phone number is 773-381-8030
VVVV Havana Gallery The gallery features art by contemporary artists living in Cuba, a variety of styles, including portraiture, abstraction, Surrealism and landscape. Havana Gallery is able to promote Cuban art in the United States thanks to a recent Supreme Court decision that allows cultural exchange between the U.S. and Cuba and allowing generation of much-needed funds for artists on the island. 1139 W Webster Ave. (773) 549-2492
VVVV Mexican Fine Arts Ctr Reflections of the Soul This yearís exhibition is dedicated to three of Mexico's most prolific artists: Manuel Alvarez Bravo (1902-2002, Alferdo Zalce (1908-2003) JosÈ Ch·vez Morado(1909-2002) thru Dec 14. 1852 West 19th St1852 W 19th St (312) 738-1503 www.mfacmcicago.org
**** Old Town Art Center Rincones Sharon White Recent Photographs Dec 5 thru Jan 2 1763 North Park Ae (312) 337-1938
**** Stargaze Samantha Hamilton's new work an artist who appreciates the beauty of women, sharing images of women using modern technology in a unique way. 5419 N. Clark St. www.stargazechicago.com
