Chicago Theater and Arts – Page 13 – What's happening on the arts scene – on stage, in museums and at fairs and festivals

Marriott show hits it out of the ballpark

Daniella Dalli and Ron E. Rains as Meg and Joe Boyde in Damn Yankees at Marriott Theatre (Photos by Liz Lauren)

Highly Recommended

The choreography and dancers in Marriott Theatre’s “Damn Yankees” were so amazing opening night (April 19, 2023) I could have sworn that Rachel Rockwell, an extraordinary director and choreographer who died in 2018, had somehow returned.

Instead, we are now lucky to have Broadway and TV choreographer/actor/dancer Tyler Hanes and film/ theater/actor/director James Vasquez taking on a Marriott production.

In their hands, “Damn Yankees,” a musical comedy from 1955, still connects with baseball fans who love their team and hate the umpires’ calls. It also brings to life the dreamers who want a chance to hit it out of the ballpark.

With a clever book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop and memorable music and lyrics (You’ve gotta have “Heart”) by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, the show’s timing is so right for baseball’s spring season when anything can happen including the Chicago Cubs’ winning streak as of opening night.

Sean Fortunato. as Applegate in Damn Yankees

And that true but improbable fact is without the help (we believe) of the show’s Faust-like character of Applegate played with perfection by long time TV, film, regional and Marriott actor Sean Fortunato.

He makes a deal with avid Washington Senators fan Joe Boyd, well portrayed by TV, Marriott and regional theater performer Ron E. Rains, to be transformed into the Senators’ savior.

Enter the new Boyd who is now young baseball phenom, Joe Hardy, brilliantly interpreted by Andrew Alstat, (Papermill, MUNY, et al), in his Marriott debut.

The kicker for Applegate and the connecting cord that makes Joe Hardy totally believable is love of Joe Boyd’s wife, Meg, played by Daniella Dalli.

Anyone who saw Marriott’s 2022 Jeff Award winning “The Sound of Music” will remember Dalli’s powerful voice as the Mother Abbess.

, Andrew Alstat as JJoe Hardy tries to back off from Lola played by Michelle Aravena. — ,Andrew Alstat as Joe Hardy tries to back off from Lola played by Michelle Aravena.

The other notable part is Lola as in the song, “Whatever Lola wants.” Brought on board by Applegate to diffuse Joe Hardy’s love for Meg, the plan backfires as Lola, played by Broadway and National Tour star Michelle Aravena, changes from sexy vamp to an understanding girl who has fallen for Hardy.

The production has a large (more than 20 members), experienced supporting cast that includes Porchlight Music Theater and Drury Lane Theatre regulars Lorenzo Rush, Jr as Van Buren, the team’s manager, and Erica Stephan as the persistent reporter, Gloria Thorpe.

The Washington Senators in Mariott theatre's Damn Yankees — The Washington Senators in Mariott Theatre’s Damn Yankees

It’s easy to get caught up in the action on stage. But audiences should pay attention to the really fine music produced by conductor/keyboardist Noah Landis and his orchestra.

In addition, costume designer Theresa Ham nailed the period and baseball uniforms.

Details: “Damn Yankees” is at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire, now through June 4, 2023. Running time: about 2 hours, 15 minutes with one intermission. For tickets and other information visit Damn Yankees | Show (marriotttheatre.com) or call (847) 634-0200.

Jodie Jacobs

For more shows visit Theatre in Chicago

Masterful ‘Cherry Orchard’ at Goodman Theatre

(L-R) Francis Guinan, Kate Fry and Christopher Donahue in Anton Chekhov’s 'The Cherry Orchard' Photos by Liz Lauren — :(L-R) Francis Guinan, Kate Fry and Christopher Donahue in Anton Chekhov’s ‘The Cherry Orchard’ Photos by Liz Lauren

Highly Recommended

Rich and masterful, “The Cherry Orchard” serves as a triumphant curtain for Robert Falls’ Goodman Theatre tenure.

If one had to choose a perfect ending for Robert Falls’ three-decade career as Artistic Director at the Goodman Theatre, his production of “The Cherry Orchard” would be it.

Anton Chekhov is Falls’ favorite playwright next to Shakespeare, and he purposely chose this play to close out his illustrious career.

“The Cherry Orchard” is Chekhov’s final play, written before his death in 1904. It deals with a failing Russian aristocracy, love, loss, and issues of class in society.

Make no mistake, “The Cherry Orchard” is billed as a comedy through witty dialogue, fall-down laughing antics, and squeaky boots.

Yet the audience is consumed with sadness throughout the production due to memories of painful loss from the generations who lived and died on that estate.

L-R) Matt DeCaro, Janet Ulrich Brooks, Kate Fry, Alejandra Escalante and Kareem Bandealy in Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard

The plot revolves around widow Madame Lubov Ranevskaya who has just returned to her crumbling estate right before its auction to pay off her debts. She is lamenting the loss of her precious cherry orchard.

Her family surrounds her in support, yet they all have issues of their own.

Chekhov’s strategic use of foreshadowing is evident in many places, letting the viewers know that something bad is about to happen.

The ending is somewhat shocking, but enriches the story and its deeper meaning.

Kate Fry as Lubov Ranyevskaya is the perfect matriarch, showcasing a variety of emotions from frivolity and joy to deep melancholy and despair as to what the future holds. She is exuberant.

Standouts also include Janet Ulrich Brooks as Carlotta, the governess who also has a few magic tricks up her sleeve, and Stephen Cefalu as perpetual student Petya Trofimov who represents the play’s moral compass of social justice.

Note the off-stage music played by the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band led by Alex Koffman, in their first collaboration with The Goodman. Their arrangements lend 19th-century authenticity and warmth to the production.

Kudos to set designer Todd Rosenthal for his exquisite settings that move about the stage in absolute precision. Ana Kuzmanic’s costumes are gorgeous, colorful when need be with themes of red, black, and ivory. Memories of these costumes will stay with you long after the show.

For more background, attend Behind the Curtain (April 22 at 4:30pm)—led by Goodman’s resident dramaturg Neena Arndt. She will lead a conversation with former Goodman artistic director Robert Falls about his fresh take on the last of Chekhov’s four major plays.

Details: The Cherry Orchard” is at Goodman Theatre through April 30, 2023 in the Albert Theatre. Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission. For tickets and more information, go to GoodmanTheatre.org/Cherry or call (312) 443-3800.

Mira Temkin

For more shows visit Theatre in Chicago

Around Town with Art

Art on theMART debuts of new season. (Photo courtesy of Art on theMART)

It’s not about a guy named Art but a broad cultural happening. COVID restrictions from 2020-2022 must be over because April 2023 has all of a sudden become Art Month in Chicago.

First, EXPO Chicago, once a big fall event centered at Navy Pier and that later moved to late Spring, is going on right now across the city’s art venues as Expo Art Week, April 10 through April 16. BTW, EXPO is a shortened version of International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art.

Secondly, Art on the Mart is premiering its new season/year Friday, April 14, after sunset.

And third but not last, the Art Institute of Chicago is showing “Salvador Dali: The Image Disappears,” a major AIC exhibition now through June 12.

ART EXPO WEEK

Working with Choose Chicago, the city’s tourism site and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events known as DCASE, EXPO Chicago’s Art Week has what it Featured Alignments with museums, galleries and hotels. See the list plus Screenings and South Side Openings + Events at After Hours events at Featured Alignments.

Art on the Mart

Actually written as Art on theMart, the display is considered the largest permanent digital art projection anywhere. It is a projection of contemporary and classical art on the 2.5 acre façade of theMART facing the Chicago River. Beginning April 14, 2023 it will feature “Funtime Unicorn: Ruby Rides through four Seasons. Beginning in May and going through the fall is Nick Cave, Ba Ba Boom.

AIC presents Salvador Dali: the Image Disappears

The Dali exhibition is the museums’ first, in depth presentation of the Spanish artist’s surrealism works and primarily features his 1930’s period. For hours and tickets information visit AIC.

Jodie Jacobs

Shedd Aquarium Earth events

Shedd Aquarium has ways to celebrate Earth Day and Month (Photo courtesy of Shedd Aquarium)

From learning more about such aquarium residents as penguins and beluga whales in Animal Spotlights and assisting in cleaning up natural areas on Teen Nature Days to restoring beaches and forest areas during Action Days, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium is definitely “on it” when it comes to a variety of Earth Day/Week/Month activities for all ages and dates.

Families (all age groups)

Visit the aquarium and attend an animal spotlight (included in general admission). It goes into the behaviors and adaptations of dolphins, belugas and sea lions. Guests leave with a greater understanding of these Shedd residents plus how to protect our blue planet for these animals and their wild counterparts. Tickets support Shedd’s efforts to care for the aquarium residents and research in wild aquatic ecosystems. For more information visit Animal Spotlights | Shedd Aquarium.

Teens

Teen Nature Days explore local beaches, waterways and forest preserves, while helping to restore and protect them. Go by bus (provided free) from the Shedd to the locations and back. Activity is free but needs an online registration. For more information visit Teen Nature Days with Shedd Aquarium | Shedd Aquarium

All age groups

Join free Shedd-led Action Days in local community habitats. Guests support animals from frogs to fish while having fun and helping to restore and protect nearby beaches, waterways, and forest preserves. There are a variety of dates at different locations. For more info and to register visit Shedd Aquarium Action Days | Shedd Aquarium

Other action

Three other ways to take action for animals this Earth Day: *reduce the use of single-use plastic

* reach out to state lawmakers to let them know you support plastic reduction and reuse efforts at the policy level

*discuss the importance of caring for our natural environments your friends and family

Shedd Aquarium 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605

Fun or calorie reducing activities that Celebrate Earth Day

Crabtree Earth Day fun. (Photo courtesy of Forest Presrves of Cook county) — Crabtree Earth Day fun. (Photo courtesy of Forest Preserves of Cook County)

Plan now to contribute some elbow grease or plant or play with planet Earth in mind during April 2023 Earth Week or April 22 Earth Day.

A couple of Lake County Forest Preserves activities are already full. But there are still activities at both the Lake and Cook County Forest Preserves plus at Brookfield Zoo.

Forest Preserves of Cook County

Participate in a Celebrate Earth Day Play,Paint and Pretend event at Crabtree Nature center, April 22 from noon to 3 p,m,. The activity is free. The Center is at 3 Stover Rd., Barrington. For more information visit Forest Preserves of Cook County/NaturePlay or call (847) 381-6592.

Lake County Forest Preserves

There are a limited number of seats left but “Planting for Pollinators,” is still open April 19 at Ryerson Nature Center, Riverwoods, 3-4 p.m. Visit Planting for registration and address. (Adults)

Get down and dirty to help the planet at “Restoration Middlefork” from 9 a.m. to noon April 22. Visit Restoration Workday. (Age 10 through adults)

Brookfield Zoo

The Brookfield Zoo is encouraging families to make a difference for wildlife and the natural world with three events at the zoo: “A Party for the Planet” recycling event, help plant a tree, and “Earth Day Run.”

The recycling event, presented by the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program, is April 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Zoo’s main parking lot at 8400 31^stSt., Brookfield. (Enter through gate on 31^st Street, just west of Golfview Avenue.) This is a chance to dispose of electronics, textiles, and used books in an environmentally-friendly way. For a complete list of acceptable recyclables, visit czs.org/PartyPlanet.

Zoo visitors can head to the South Mall at 10:30 a.m. to assist groundskeepers in planting a tree to commemorate the holiday, then spend the day seeing your favorite animals.

Earth Day Run

The annual Earth Day Fun Run, a non-competitive 2.2 miles, begins at 8 a.m. and is for all ages. The fee is $35 per person and includes admission to the Zoo. All participants receive an Earth Day Run commemorative medal and a bookmark with flower seeds to spread in your own garden at home. Proceeds from the event benefit the Chicago Zoological Society’s Animal Care and Conservation Fund that supports research and education efforts at the Zoo and around the world. For more information visit czs.org/EarthDayRun.

Jodie Jacobs

Rumors abound at a Neil Simon party

'Rumors' cast at Skokie Theatre. (Photo by MadKap Productions) — ‘Rumors’ cast at Skokie Theatre. (Photo by MadKap Productions)

Highly Recommended

The “Rumors” Are True…Skokie Theatre’s Neil Simon Farce is a Smash Hit!

In the years before social media was a “thing,” local gossip was the way to go. How else could people gauge the real social order? Who was cheating on whom? What was true and what was just a rumor?

Add in that when several people are also politically involved with something to lose if the truth gets out you’ve got real mayhem – or “Rumors,” a hilarious farce from the master of American comedy, Neil Simon.

Welcome to an upscale dinner party hosted by a wealthy New York couple who are celebrating their 10^th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, the party goes terribly wrong.

Guests arrive to discover the host has been shot, the hostess is missing, and the servants have quit.

Produced in 1988, “Rumors” still holds the same caustic bite as when it first came out. The brilliant, fast-paced dialog gives all the actors a chance to shine.

The play stars Erin Renee Baumrucker, Landon Cally, Luke Coleman, Peter Goldsmith, Julie Peterson, Maddy Shilts, Nathan Dale Short, SarahAnn Sutter, Katherine Wettermann, and Lee Wichman.

Ken and_Chris: played by Nathan Sale Short and Erin Renee Baumrucker in Rumors. (Photo by Madcap Productions) — Ken and Chris: played by Nathan Sale Short and Erin Renee Baumrucker in Rumors. (Photo by MadKap Productions)

Standouts include Peterson as Claire Ganz who recently appeared as Ethel Merman in the “Book of Merman” at Skokie Theatre. She is a bubblehead with lots of great lines that keep the audience in stitches

Cally as Lenny Ganz plays a range of emotions. In his final monologue. he makes up an entire story of what really happened to the hosts, Charley and Myra and his performance is stellar.

Kudos to Police Officer Welch, played by Shilts, as no-nonsense in law enforcement as they come.

Directed by Wayne Mell and produced by Wendy Kaplan of MadKap Productions, “Rumors” takes the audience on a hysterical romp through a case of mistaken identity, the constant opening and closing of doors, and a little bit of slapstick thrown in.

The women’s costumes, headed by custom designer Wendy Kaplan and wardrobe mistress Patti Halajian, are exquisite and elegant. How lucky, the actresses get to wear them all night long.

Details: Rumors is playing at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Avenue in Downtown Skokie through April 23. Running time: 2 and a half hours with one 15-minute intermission. For tickets, go to skokietheatre.org or call 847-677-7761. The 2023-24 season starts in June with “Hair.”

Mira Temkin

For more shows visit Theatre in Chicago

Events that move March to April

Orchids

Last opportunities to pick up orchids at the Chicago Botanic Garden: Market Place \Weekend with venders is March 25-26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Post Orchid Show Sale filled with plants from the show is March 30 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Chicago Botanic Garden Orchid show is through March 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Garden is at 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, just east of Edens Exp. For tickets and more information visit Chicago Botanic Garden Orchids Magnified. Related: Up close with orchids.

Unusual opera opportunity

A chance to see a groundbreaking multi-course opera at the Lyric opens March 24 but ends April 8. “Proximity,” a 2 and 1/4 hour production that presents three short operas together, “The Walkers, “Four Portraits” and “Night,” are at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on only four dates from March 24 to April 8, 2023. “Walkers” deals with gun violence while “Four Portraits” connects to technological impacts and “Night” looks at the natural world’s fragility. For tickets and information, call 312.827.5600 or go to lyricopera.org/proximity.

Penguins

Now is a great time to visit the Shedd Aquarium because the Rockhopper and Magellanic penguins are in their annual nest-building season. Viksit Penguins | Shedd Aquarium. Shedd Aquarium is at 1200 S. DuSable/Lake Shore Drive on Chicago’s Museum campus.

Around Town Happenings

Photo courtesy of the North Shore Center for Performing Arts. — Northlight Theater is in the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Skokie

Yes, Spring is finally here which means fine arts groups are beginning to talk about their line-up of April and May shows and events.

Northlight Theatre in Skokie presents what it calls “an old play with new music.” It’s “The Porch on Windy Hill,” conceived and directed by Sherry Lutken and co-written with fellow actors/musicians Lisa Helmi Johanson, David M. Lutken and Morgan Morse who co-star in the show.

Running April 13 through May 14, 2023, it follows a classical violinist and her boyfriend who loves folk songs from their Brooklyn home to North Carolina’s mountains where the violinist reconnects with an estranged grandfather. Along the way to discoveries, they overcome family prejudice and find bluegrass, foot-stomping roots.

Artistic Director BJ Jones called it a “story that needed o be told” because it unveiled how cultural differences and race could lead to family estrangement. “The thought that music or art would be the balm and the bridge to reconciliation convinced me that the story would touch our audience as it did me,” said Jones.

Northlight is at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts at 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie. For tickets and more information call (847) 673-6300 or visit Northlight Theatre | The Porch on Windy HIll.

Chicago a cappellaPhoto courtesy of Chicago a-cappella — Chicago a cappella
Photo courtesy of Chicago a-cappella

Also in April, Chicago a cappella is doing “American Songbook.” Put together by Artistic Director John William Trotter with music direction by Paul Langford, it features songs favored by such balladeers as Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

The performances will be in four different towns respectively: Chicago, Evanston, Naperville and Oak Park, April 22, April 23, April 28, and April 30. To find the venue and date convenient to you and get tickets go to American Songbook – Chicago a cappella.

About the first venue, Ganz Hall in the South Loop on Wabash, Executive Director Matt Greenberg said, “April 22 will be Chicago a cappella’s first concert appearance at Ganz Hall. “It’s a true gem of the golden age of Chicago architecture…, “and we’re singing music from the golden age of American popular music. It’s a perfect fit.”

Theater Wit will be asking what might happen if you told the truth and nothing but the truth, when it presents the Midwest Premiere of “The Whistleblower.

A comedy by Tony-Award winner Itamar Moses, author of “The Band’s Visit,” audiences can find an answer or two when the show runs May 5 through June 17, 2023. For tickets and information, visit theaterwit.org or call (773) 975-8150.

In addition, the 27th Annual Blues on the Fox Festival combines blues legends and rising stars on the banks of the Fox River, June 16 and 17 at Thomas J. Weisner RiverEdge Park 360 N. Broadway, downtown Aurora. For tickets and more information, visit riveredgeaurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by RiverEdge’s satellite box office, Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. More information will be included in the summer concert roundup.

Jodie Jacobs

Voices make this Carmen shine

Carmen at Lyric Opera now through April 7. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg)

3 stars

Carmen, George Bizet’s brazen break with opera traditions when it debuted in Paris in 1875, is the perfect vehicle to introduce high school students to the genre. Indeed, I saw two student groups when at the Wednesday matinee March 15.

An opera that portrays a colorful, independent female who makes her own life and lover choices and that is filled with beautiful duets, solos and powerful musical themes, Carmen changed minds from its originally negative reviews to become among the most popular operas of all time.

Few listeners, even non-opera goers could disagree that Act 1’s “Habanera” “L’amour est un oiseau rebelle “ (Love is a rebellious bird), a song with a Cuban beat explaining Carmen’s temperament, and Act 2’s “Toreador Song” sung by the bullfighter Escamillo who would become Carmen’s lover, are easily identifiable as from Carmen.

In addition, the voices are superb. Lyric’s former Ryan Opera Center star, mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges, is the sultry Carmen. Famed tenor Charles Castronovo is Don José who drops his home-town girlfriend, Micaëla, and his regiment when seduced by Carmen.

Although audiences are familiar with most of Act 1’s music, the duet of Castronovo and soprano Golda Schultz as Micaëla about a letter and kiss from his mother (“Parle-moi de ma mère!”), drew applause from those listeners who appreciated Schultz’s voice. (She was definitely appreciated in Act 3 when singing her aria, “Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante” as she gathered courage to try to pull José away).

Baritone Andrei Kymach is fine and appropriately confident as bullfighter Escamillo.

The set design nicely evoked a Spanish square and I still liked the mountains and moon I saw in an earlier Carmen at the Lyric. Of course, Bizet’s music dramatically tells the story. So why did the production feel that something was missing?

The voices were excellent, but except with Schultz, there seemed to be a gauze screen between the singers. I remember when years ago they stood still to sing their arias. Now, opera stars are expected to act their roles so I was looking for more intensity.

Maybe it was the music’s tempo. It’s not supposed to overpower the singers but it wasn’t strong enough in parts.

Or maybe Bridges, who is gorgeous, could up the sultry moves and maybe Castronovo could seem reluctant to leave Micaëla as Carmen tries to pull him in with her teasing.

I definitely recommend this Carmen because the voices are excellent but I left feeling something was missing.

Details: Carmen is at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Dr., now through April 7, 2023. It’s in French with projected English titles. Running Time: 3 hours 25 minutes with 2 intermissions. For more information call (312) 827-5600 or visit lyricopera.org/carmen.

Jodie Jacobs

For more shows visit Theatre in Chicago

Oscar Night

Oscar Nominees announced. (Photo of Oscars courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for news sites.)

Based on all the awards ceremonies that have already taken place this year “Everything Everywhere All At Once” is expected to walk off with the most awards. But tune in any way when the 956th Academy Awards are announced March 12, 2023 for movies released in 2022 to see the gowns and tuxes, hear the best songs performed and guess the other awards.

If hosting and need trivia or want to see the list of nominees or which films and people took awards from 1929 to 2023 go to Oscars/Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The years and their winners are listed in a timeline. It’s fascinating.

Frank B won Best Director for Dramatic Picture in 1929. (Phot courtesy of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)

As an example, In the 1929 Oscars Frank Borzage won Best Directing for Dramatic Picture with “7th Heaven” and “Wings” took the first Oscar ever for Best Picture.

The site also lists this year’s Dikrecting nominees as Martin Mcdonagh for “The Banshees of Inisherin,” Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (Known as the two Daniels) for “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” Steven Spielberg for “The Fabelmans,” Todd Field for “Tar” and Ruben Östlund for “Triangle of Sadness.”

No matter who wins what film makers are hoping for is full recovery at theaters so audiences are back after the Pandemic.

Jodie Jacobs