Port Clinton art fair exhibitor. (Jodie Jacobs photo)
End summer with two excellent art shows that are worth a drive to the northern suburbs the next two weekends.
Mark Aug. 26-27 on the calendar for the 2023 Port Clinton Art Festival – Amdur Productions. Annually attracting collectors and art show lovers for 40 years and ranked among the best shows in the country, it runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., downtown Highland Park, IL
What to expect: 240 artists showcasing paintings, sculpture, glass, fabric, metal, wood art, jewelry, ceramics and photography. In addition, there are art demo stations, a Kid Zone that includes spin art, drawing and sand sculpture. Of course, there are food booths and live music.
Labor Day Weekend is the smaller, about 120 exhibitors but really good, juried Deer Path Art League’s 68th Art Fair on the Square. Located in the historic downtown of Lake Forest, it runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept 3-4. For more information visit About the Show | Deer Path Art League.
Spread out the blanket, bring a chair or find a good viewing spot at Nay Pier, the US Air Force’s Thunderbirds are performing this weekend over North Avenue Beach. The Chicago Air and Water Show Chicago Air and Water Show is officially Aug. 19 and 20, 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in 2023. But people in the know like to go down there on Friday when they practice because the crowd, which has numbered over one million, is smaller.
What to expect: Incredible maneuvers by the Thunderbirds’ F-16 Fighting Falcon, other military planes including the US Army’s Golden Knights, such popular private air-show pilots as Susan Dacy in “Big Red.
How you know: It’s all narrated by Herb Hunter who has been the “Voice of the Air and Water Show” for more than three decades.
Goodman Theatre tops Jeff Equity nominations (Photo courtesy of Goodman Theatre)
Jeff Awards for equity productions have been announced for the 2022-2023 theater season. Equity nominations cover 35 companies. Theater goers know there are more production companies in the very theater-rich Chicago area so for the non-equity productions’ nominations announced in March.visit Jeff Nonequity. .
The 2022-2023 Equity Jeff nominees are for excellence in 32 categories for productions appearing from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, They were chosen from 88 Jeff Recommended productions. The winners of the Equity Jeff Awards which is now recognizing its The 55th anniversary, is Oct. 2, 2023, at Drury Lane, Oakbrook, IL.
So many really good productions, the choices are tough.
Goodman Theatre leads the Equity group with 32 nominations in nine productions including two co-produced. Paramount Theatre came in next with 18 nominations followed by Mercury Theater Chicago with 15 and Marriott Theatre, Drury Lane Productions and Teatro Vista tied at 13.
For the complete list with categories visit the Equity and News and Events sections at www.jeffawards.org.
The Washington Senators in Marriott Theatre’s Damn Yankees (Photo by Liz Lauren)
To better understand the awards nominations, it is important to note that there is a Play and a Musical category and that productions are divided into size such as Midsize and Large.
See the play and musical categories (ensembles’ plays and musicals is another category)
Production – Play
“Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express” – Drury Lane Productions
“The Cherry Orchard” – Goodman Theatre
“A Christmas Carol” – Goodman Theatre
“Clyde’s” – Goodman Theatre in association with Center Theatre Group
“The Comedy of Errors” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“Dear Jack, Dear Louise” – Northlight Theatre
“Swing State” – Goodman Theatre
“Toni Stone” – Goodman Theatre
Production – Play – Midsize
“And Neither Have I Wings to Fly” – First Folio Theatre “Clue” – Mercury Theater Chicago “The Dream King” – Teatro Vista “Fences” – American Blues Theater “Is God Is” – A Red Orchid Theatre “Motherhouse” – Rivendell Theatre Ensemble “The October Storm” – Raven Theatre “Right to Be Forgotten” – Raven Theatre
Production – Musical – Large
“Cabaret” – Porchlight Music Theatre
“A Chorus Line” – Drury Lane Productions
“Damn Yankees” – Marriott Theatre
“Fun Home” – Paramount Theatre
“The Gospel at Colonus” – Court Theatre
“Hello, Dolly!” – Marriott Theatre
“Into the Woods” – Paramount Theatre
“The Notebook” – Chicago Shakespeare Theater
“Once” – Writers Theatre
“The Sound of Music” – Paramount Theatre
“The Who’s Tommy” – Goodman Theatre
Production – Musical – Midsize
“Big River” – Mercury Theater Chicago
“London Road” – Shattered Globe Theatre
“Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” – Mercury Theater Chicago
The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts’ Center Theatre is the perfect space for Music Theater Works’ The Producers.
Unlike the company’s “Camelot” which was crammed into the small theater, it has the space for Producers director Walter Stearns,’ choreographer Darryl K. Clark’s’ and scenic designer Jonathan Berg-Einhorn’s interpretations of Mel Brooks Tony Award winning musical comedy. They need the space for their terrific dancers and talented cast.
With the excellent singer-actor Thomas M. Shea in the lead as Max Bialystock and David Geinosky as the nerdy accountant-turned producer sidekick, the show rollicks from a scheme to make millions with aBroadway flop to their unintentional, probably disastrous, success as a hit. Kelsey MacDonald as their Swedish bomb/secretary/receptionist Ulla, is a bonus.
The show, which would likely not appeal to conservative theater goers, is what anyone who attends should expect from Mel Brooks who rejoices in off-color dialogue, surprising topis and action. So blame him and co-book writer Thomas Meehan. The funny, rousing, music and lyrics are also by Brooks.
The Producers is a fun break in the theater season.
DETAILS: The Producers is at The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts” Center Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, IL through Aug. 20, 2023. Running time:2 hours, 30 minutes with one intermission. For tickets and other information visitMusicTheaterWorks.com or call Music Theater Works Box Office: (847) 673-6300.
MG It’s hard to believe but Labor Day, that official end-of-summer day, is just a few weeks away but there are still places to go and things to do on the summer bucket list.
The problem is some experiences will disappear at or shortly after Labor Day, Sept. 4, 2023.
Among them think butterfly and beach experiences.
Before they shut for the fall, try to get over to Brookfield Zoo in southwest suburban Brookfield or the Chicago Botanic Garden in northeast suburban Glencoe.
They both are located in suburban destinations that are open year-round but the butterflies like warm weather so these exhibitions close shortly.
Imagine strolling through screened in spaces where zebra longwings, swallowtails, monarchs,painted ladies and other species are flitting past and landing on shrubs in a safe outdoor space.
This colorful, picture-perfect experience is happening at Brookfield Zoo just to Sept 8 and at Chicago Botanic Garden to Labor Day.
It may merely seem that swimming and filling the pail with lake water to build a giant sandcastle will las for at least another month but most Chicago-area beach towns will be sending their lifeguards back to school or wherever and swimming without them is not allowed.
The Chicago Park District site explains that “Swimming is permitted in designated swim areas at the beaches when lifeguards are on duty from 11 am – 7 pm daily. Swimming anywhere else along the lakefront is strictly prohibited and dangerous.”
The site notes that Chicago has 26 miles of free lake front and the beach season runs from the Friday before Memorial Day through Labor Day. Other Lake Michigan towns are likely to have similar lifeguard rules but different price points and admission rules.
Nothing wrong with “Lolla” but if you’d rather detour this weekend away from Lollapalooza’s half-million people filled Grant Park, there are a few alternatives. They range from family friendly to something for youngsters, oldsters and “Grateful Dead” fans.
Anyone who appreciates Marvel’s art and characters should head to “Marvelocity, the Art of Alex Ross.” It fills the walls at the Elmhurst Art Musem after drawing fans further north at the Dunn Museum in Northwest suburban Libertyville. The museum is at 150 Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst. *(see related Marvelocity note)
Those folks who appreciate West Town’s restaurants and craft beer scene plus understand its “Dancing in the Streets name and dates of Aug. 4-6, will appreciate the an annual West Town Chamber festival. People in the know understand Aug. 4-6. Think the “Days Between” that celebrate Jerry Garcia. His b-day was Aug. 1 and he died Aug. 9.
Those music lovers who like to relax on a blanket in a tree and sculpture-filled park while listening to Mozart, Rachmaninoff or Beethoven, should head to Ravina Festival in north suburban Highland Park this weekend. Hear Mozart’s The Magic Flute with Marin Alsop and the CSO. Also featured this weekend are the music of Beethoven and Rachmaninoff with Marin Alsop, Yunchan Lim, and the CSO. Ravinia is at the southeast end of Highland Park and accessible by train.
