June 2024 – Chicago Theater and Arts

‘Beehive’ brings a dizzying decade to Marriott Theatre

“Beehive: The 60s Musical” ( Photo by Liz Lauren)

Five Stars

With all the great music venues in Chicago who would have predicted that one of the best pop concerts this summer would be at Marriott Theatre in suburban Lincolnshire.

Happening under the guise of one feminine hair style fad, “Beehive: The 60’s musical,” celebrates the multi-culture and frequent social changes of a tumultuous decade.

And it does so with terrific vocalizations and instrumentals.

The show stars six exceptional singers: Emma Grace Bailey (Marriott Theatre: The Music Man; Metropolis PAC: A Christmas Carol); Grace Bobber (Marriott Theatre: The Sound of Music, Paramount Theatre: Into the Woods); Lucy Godinez (Marriott Theatre: Big Fish, American Repertory Theatre: Real Women Have Curves); Miciah Lathan (Marriott Theatre debut; Black Ensemble Theatre: The Other Cinderella; Leah Morrow (Marriott Theatre: Madagascar; TV: Somebody Somewhere, neXt ); and Aisha Sougou (Marriott Theatre: Beautiful, University of North Carolina School of the Arts: Crow’s Nest).

Understudies are Bridget Adams-King, Clare Kennedy, Tiyanna Gentry, and Savannah Sinclair.

The band is onstage led by keyboardist Celia Villacres. Musicians include Karli Bunn, Stephanie Chow, Kellin Hanas, Camila Mennitte, and Lauren Pierce.

Created by Larry Gallagher, “Beehive” is basically a covers musical that includes such songs as “Walking in the Rain” (Mann/Spector/Weil) and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” (Goffin/King) and “performances” of such stars as Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Tina Turner and Janis Joplin.

“The 1960’s was a decade known as one of, if not THE decade, that experienced the biggest shifts in music, fashion, culture and social evolution and revolution.” said director/choreographer Deidre Goodwin. “Beehive” is a love letter to the music of the 1960’s. It became a generation’s soundtrack for first loves, heartbreak, social awareness and growing up,” added Goodwin.

A packed house, Wednesday, appreciated the messages and music.

If not for the announced need to keep aisles clear for performer costume changes, the opening day crowd Wednesday, would have been dancing, shouting, clapping, and singing along those pathways instead of just shouting, applauding and rising from their seats.

Unlike “1776” which comes mid-August and “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” for December, Marriott Theatre has deviated from its usual fine but tried-and- survived musical show schedule to bring us this over-the-top pop concert.

Thank you, Marriott Theatre.

Details: “Beehive” is at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, now through Aug. 11, 2024. Run time is 120 minutes with no intermission. For tickets and more information call (847) 634-0200 or visit www.MarriottTheatre.com.

Jodie Jacobs

For more shows visit Theatre in Chicago

An artistic journey through Black history

Five performers in black leggings, T-shirts, and kente cloth dance in a line. The actor second from left plays a djembe.

“1619: The Journey of a People” at Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre, Evanston. (Photos by Basil Clunie)

Recommended

“1619: The Journey of a People” by Ted Williams III is an entertaining and informative chronology highlighting essential events in the progression of the African American experience.

It uses music, dance and spoken word to craft an historical narrative that begins with the arrival of twenty slaves who landed on the North American continent roughly 150 years prior to our nation’s founding and continues through the most recent Black Lives Matter movement.

The performances are outstanding beginning with an all-cast stylized African dance routine. It’s punctuated with cries and whip sounds accompanied by the evocative complex drum beat of percussionist/actor Ozivell Eckford that sets the tone for the first part of the journey.

Interweaving traditional, pop, gospel, soul, hip-hop and rap, the musical styles change with each historic period represented.

The gospel-like version of the “Star Spangled Banner” performed by Simbryt Whittington Dortch was rousing and soulful as was her memorable heartfelt version of “Steal Away.”

Williams and Marchello Lee’s duet of “Booker T or W.E.B.” was a fast-paced explanation of the two men’s points-of-view on the actions needed toward progress.

“I Thought We Were Free” led by Shannon Stiles with backup vocals by Vanessa Love and Lucy Maura continued an energetic gospel vibe.

Lee’s choreography was expertly executed by dancers Love and Maura, the highlight of which was the visually stunning butterfly number featuring LED accented costumes by Cynthia Walls.

Action takes place in front of a 180-degree mixed media mural by Sholo Beverly reminiscent of graffiti art, blending a mélange of colorful muted images imbued with hidden messages.

The background is mostly in shades of blue, punctuated by areas of shocking red and white. Above that is a suspended array of sepia-colored broadsides and newspaper headlines proclaiming various momentous occurrences in African American history.

This production is jam packed with important information about individuals and events that shaped the history of black people in America, cleverly presented as a kind of Cliff’s Notes version of what you need to know to pass your high school black studies class.

It is not surprising that the author, Ted Williams III who also appears on stage, is himself a Poli-Sci teacher at City Colleges of Chicago.

As a theatrical production there may be more interesting ways to tell this story. Williams alludes to Alex Haley’s Roots, possibly the gold standard of black history presented in a creative context.

Indeed, this is not really a story at all but rather a multi-arts recital or cabaret show with a message. So, in this sense” 1619″ is not strictly theater but more of a performance arts review.

Ultimately, the result is a kind of pre-test fever dream full of fragmented pieces of information, names, places and events that will make you feel a need to pay attention to and take a lesson from.

However, that is not a bad thing. In fact, it is a very enjoyable, thought- provoking, ninety minutes or so that will have some of us “more chronologically experienced” members of the audience appreciating the number of events that have taken place within our own lifetime.

I really wanted to jump to my feet and join-in on “We Shall Overcome” to relive some of the excitement of the promise of potential unity that song evoked back-in-the-day.

I was happy to see a number of young people in the audience who will hopefully take away a snapshot of the bigger picture of the African American journey that might encourage them to want to know more and delve deeper into the causes and effects that have brought us to this particular moment in time.

Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre specializes in African American and African Diaspora-centered storytelling. The Noyes Cultural Art Center stage and theater is a perfect sized comfortable venue for this production.

DETAILS: “1619 the Journey of a People, ” is at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre Noyce Cultural Art Center Center, 927 Noyes Ave., Evanston through June 30, 2024. For more information call 847-866-5914 or visit fjtheatre.com

Reno Lovison

For more shows visit Theatre in Chicago

The Tony Awards

Marking 77 years of recognizing exceptional excellence on Broadway, the Antoinette Perry Awards (“Tony”®Awards) were announced at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, New York City, June 16, 2024.

Hosted by Ariana DeBose, the show started out with Leading Actor in a Pla, won by Jeremy Strong in “An Enemy of the People.” Originally written by Ibsen, it is an impressive story about a person who would not go along with the people in power who promote an incorrect local history. It was impressively done in Chicago.

The following are the award winners:

Award	Winner
Best Musical	The Outsiders
Best Play	Stereophonic
Best Revival of a Musical	Merrily We Roll Along
Best Revival of a Play	Appropriate
Leading Actor in a Musical	Jonathan Groff (Merrily We Roll Along)
Leading Actress in a Musical	Maleah Joi Moon (Hell’s Kitchen)
Leading Actor in a Play	Jeremy Strong (An Enemy of the People)
Leading Actress in a Play	Sarah Paulson (Appropriate)
Featured Actor in a Musical	Daniel Radcliffe (Merrily We Roll Along)
Featured Actress in a Musical	Kecia Lewis (Hell’s Kitchen)
Featured Actor in a Play	Will Brill (Stereophonic)
Featured Actress in a Play	Kara Young (Purlie Victorious)
Best Direction of a Musical	Danya Taymor (The Outsiders)
Best Direction of a Play	Daniel Aukin (Stereophonic)
Best Book of a Musical	Shaina Taub (Suffs)
Best Original Score Written for the Theatre	Suffs (Shaina Taub)
Best Scenic Design of a Musical	Tom Scutt (Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club)
Best Scenic Design of a Play	David Zinn (Stereophonic)
Best Choreography	Justin Peck (Illinoise)

To understand the award process and who were competing visit 2024 TONY AWARD® NOMINATIONS | The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards®

Jodie Jacobs

Around Town Now and Coming

Timelapse of Corpse Flower Bloom

Video of Corpse Flower courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden

Now while the “Corpse Plant is open and the odor happens

Go over to the Chicago Botanic Garden on Lake Cook Road just east of US 41 (Edens Expressway) but park in the first lot you come to because “Stinky Spike” is in the Plant Science Center on your right opposite that parking lot (just after the admission booth you pass where you pay for parking if not a member).

The Science Center daily hours for members are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for nonmembers.

Spike is a huge flower now in full bloom and smelling like really bad, decayed food. The odor is to attract pollinators. The odor is strong while the bloom lasts from 24 to 26 hours.

“At 7 feet 6 inches, Spike is our tallest corpse flower ever. Another corpse flower, Sumatra, had a gorgeous bloom June 7 and is powering down, ” said Botanic Garden officials. Both are in the Plant Science Center.

Also known as titan arum, the corpse flower comes from Sumatra rainforests and have been at the Chicago Botanic Garden since 2003. Both Spike and Sumatra are on display.

Watch on webcam at Titan Arum | Chicago Botanic Garden

Coming Illuminarium

An out-of-this-world, multi-sensory experience opens at Navy Pier Friday, June 28, in the 32,000 square-foot space that was the Crystal Gardens.

What: Experience one of two features: WILD: A Safari Experience or SPACE: A Journey to the Moon and Beyond. Both features use cutting-edge cinematic production and virtual reality.

Experiences will typically be 45 to 60 minutes. Tickets begin at $34.99 for adults and $24.99 for children, plus taxes and fees.

Jodie Jacobs

Grant Park Music Festival ages well

Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park hosts music and dance performances. (J Jacobs photo) — Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park hosts Grant Park Music Festival and other music and dance performances. (J Jacobs photo)

Grant Park Music Festival now and then

NOW

Sit on the grass or bring a chair or reserve a seat to hear great classical music interspersed with special programs. It’s summer as celebrated downtown Chicago at the Pritzker Pavilion. The Blues Fest was just here but now a summer-long music festival starts.

Grant Park Music Festival opens tonight, June 12, 2024, with the Dvorak Cello Concerto played by Alban Gerhardt and continues this week with Christian Tetzlaff playing Edward Elgar’s Violin Concerto. At the podium is Carlos Kalmar who has been conduction the Grant Park Orchestra since 2000.

And so goes the Grant Park Music Festival in 2024 with free tickets for those who don’t mind sitting further back of the Pritzker Pavilion or with a low price, often $27, for reserve seats closer up. Visit GPMF Schedule, orgpmf.org or call (312) 742-7647 for more information.

(Common is performing July 20 so tickets are higher. Visit Common :: Grant Park Music Festival.

THEN

Summer concerts started in Grant Park in the 1930s and became a tradition in 1935. By 1944 the Chicago Park District started the Grant Park Orchestra to be led by Conductor Nikolai Malko. He was followed by such renowned conductors as Irwin Hoffman, Leonard Slatkin, David Zinman, Zdenek Macal and Hugh Wolff.

The Grant Park Chorus was formed in 1962 by Thomas Peck and then led by Michael Cullen and guest conductors. Christopher Bell took over in 2002.

In 1962, the Grant Park Chorus was established under the direction of Thomas Peck. It was subsequently led by Michael Cullen (1994–97) and a series of guest conductors until the appointment of current Chorus Director Christopher Bell in 2002.

As to location, the Grant Park Music Festival was in the bandshell at the south end of Grant Park then moved in 1978 to the Petrillo Bandshell named for former musicians’ union president James C. Petrillo who joined with then mayor Anton Cermak to start a music festival in Grant Park.

When Millennium Park opened in 2004 with Jay Pritzker Pavilion designed by architect Frank Gehry, it became home to the Grant Park Music Festival and other music performances and festivals.

Best US chefs and restaurants named by James Beard Foundation

James Beard Awards and Events

The James Beard Awards for Best chefs and Restaurants announced in Chicago, June 10, 2024

Best Chefs by region

Best Chef: California: Ajime Sato, Sozai, Clawson Milord Maynard Llera, Kuya Lord, Los Angeles, CA

Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH): Hajime Sato, Sozai, Clawson, MI

Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA): Harley Peet, Bas Rouge, Easton, MD

Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI): Christina Nguyen, Hai Hai, Minneapolis, MN

Best Chef: Mountain (CO, ID, MT, UT, WY): Matt Vawter, Rootstalk, Breckenridge, CO

Best Chef: New York State: Charlie Mitchell, Clover Hill, Brooklyn, NY

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT): David Standridge, The Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic, CT

Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific (AK, HI, OR, WA): Gregory Gourdet, kann, Portland, OR

Best Chef: South (AL, AR, FL, LA, MS, PR): Valerie Chang, Maty’s, Miami, FL

Best Chef: Southeast (GA, KY, NC, SC, TN, WV): Paul Smith, 1010 Bridge, Charleston, WV

Best Chef: Southwest (AZ, NM, NV, OK): Rene Andrade, Bacanora, Phoenix, AZ

Best Chef: Texas: Ana Liz Pulido, Ana Liz Taqueria, Mission, TX

The Following awards are for Outstanding Chefs, Restaurants and contributions

Outstanding Chef: Michael Rafidi, Albi, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Restaurant: Langbaan, Portland, OR

Best New Restaurant: Dakar NOLA, New Orleans, LA

Outstanding Restauranteur: Erika Whitaker and Kelly Whitaker, ID EST (The Wolf’s Tailor, BRUTØ, Basta, and others), Boulder, CO

Emerging Chef: Masako Morishita, Perry’s, Washington, D.C.

Outstanding Bakery: ZU Bakery, Portland, ME

Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Atsuko Fujimoto, Norimoto Bakery, Portland, ME

Outstanding Hospitality: Lula Cafe, Chicago, IL

Outstanding Wine and Beverages Program: Lula Drake Wine Parlour, Columbia, SC

Outstanding Bar: Jewel of the South, New Orleans, LA

Watch theChef/restaurant awards livestream Chef awards that were on June 10. 2024 James Beard Awards Presented by Capital One Restaurant and Chef Awards (youtube.com)

Art Fest season is here

Art Fair in Chicago suburb (J Jacobs photo)

When the weather in the Chicago area turns balmy (and lately, flowing,) it’s as if Mary Poppins has her finer to the wind saying time to see what the artists have been doing all winter. The art events are a chance to see some historic neighborhoods, parks and special places in Chicago and its suburbs. So, starting this weekend, here are three art fairs to put on the calendar for June. They all feature paintings, photography, pottery plus jewelry and handmade items.

Old Town Art Fair

When: June 8, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and June 9, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Where: Old Town Triangle District with North Gate at Lincoln Ave and Lincoln Park West and Main Gate Lincoln and Wisconsin. (1763 N. North Park Ave.)

What: More than 200 artists. For directions see GETTING HERE – 2024 Old Town Art Fair – Chicago . The fair is a fundraiser for Old Town and area non profits with $12 as a suggested donation.

(Photo courtesy of Amdur Productions)

Gold Coast Art Fair (but not on Chicago’s Gold Coast)

When: Celebrating 66 years the fair is June 15-16 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Where: In Grant Park’s Butler Field at South Lake Shore Drive and East Monroe Street.

Cost: $10 ahead, $15 day of

What: About 250 artists

Other Info. Getting there scroll down to event details for parking andCTA info

Naperville Fine Art and Artisan Fair

When: June 29-30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

Where: Naper Settlement, 523 Webster St., Naperville

What: 120 artists

‘English’ at the Goodman speaks eloquently about language and identity

Pej Vahdat, Sahar Bibiyan and Roxanna Hopen Radja in “English” at Goodman Theatre. (Photo by Liz Lauren)

Highly recommended

When you cannot adequately express yourself with the nuance and clarity of a native speaker, people do not realize that you are actually smart, funny, and kind. Instead, they only hear your imperfect pronunciation and limited vocabulary. You may be assumed to be inferior with little or nothing to offer.

Whether this is one hundred percent true or not, these are some of the fears that plague four adult students and their teacher studying for an English language proficiency exam in Iran.

Witty, insightful, cleverly written and produced, “English” is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Sanaz Toossi, directed by Hamid Dehghani and performed brilliantly at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.

Roya (Sahar Bibiyan) is a youngish grandmother whose son is living in Canada. He wants her to be able to speak English with her granddaughter before she can rejoin the family.

Elam (Nikki Massoud) is a medical student whose insecurity about how people might perceive her heavy accented speech is stifling her progress.

Goli (Shadee Vossoughi) at eighteen is the youngest in the class, basically taking the whole experience in stride and doing her best to achieve her dream of passing the English exam that might be her ticket to a temporary work permit (green card) in America.

Instructor, Marjan (Roxanna Hope Radja) who had spent nine years living in Manchester, England, fears she is losing her proficiency advantage since returning to Iran. She spends much of her time leading the class through amusing word games while insisting that students speak only in English when in class and not lapse into Farsi when frustrated.

Omid (Pej Vahdat), the only male in the class, is the most proficient speaker. He draws ire from Elam and added attention from Marjan who is happy to have someone to speak with.

Pej Vahdat (Omid), left, and Iranian teacher Roxanna Hope Radja, (Marjan) in Goodman Theatre’s “English” by Sanaz Toossi. (Photo by Liz Lauren)

The set design by Courtney O’Neill immediately supports the voyeuristic experience, with the audience literally providing the third wall of the classroom as though we are peeking through a one-way glass. The window on the back wall provides a tantalizing glimpse of the outside world.

We all likely have some experience with immigrants who have learned English as a second language. Most of us have immense respect for their accomplishment and abilities.

Toosi takes this one step further by bringing us into the inner thinking of the members of this class. The show helps us to not only experience the frustrating process of learning a new language but also asks us to consider that language is not simply a matter of exchanging one word for another because your mother tongue is deeply related to your culture, personal identity and sense of self.

Feeling like you are not fully capable of expressing your deepest thoughts and emotions with utmost clarity is like navigating the world with one hand tied behind your back. Additionally, it may make some people feel as if they are rejecting their culture while others who achieve the elusive goal of total proficiency might feel a euphoric sense of accomplishment and pride at being able to straddle two worlds, indeed two ways of thinking.

Details: “English” is at The Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, Chicago, IL through June 16, 2024. Runtime is about 1 hour and 45 minutes with no intermission. For tickets and information visit goodmantheatre.org or call the box office (312) 443-3800 (noon to 5 PM).

Reviewer: Reno Lovison is a Chicago video marketing professional and volunteer ESL tutor.

For more shows visit Theatre in Chicago