Sinopsis:
Atrapadas bajo arresto domiciliario, la novelista María Celia y su hermana Sofía escuchan rumores sobre la partida de los rusos de Cuba en 1991. Mientras esperan noticias del esposo exiliado de María Celia y sueñan con la libertad, su pequeño mundo se ve sacudido por la llegada de un romántico afinador de pianos y un carismático oficial militar obsesionado con los escritos de María Celia.
Nilo Cruz (Anna in the Tropics) teje una auténtica historia de opresión, espíritu humano y destinos entrelazados en un mundo de cambiante política global.
Synopsis:
Trapped under house arrest, novelist Maria Celia and her sister Sofia can still hear the rumors of the Russians’ departure from Cuba in 1991. While awaiting news from Maria Celia’s exiled husband and dreaming of their freedom, the two sisters find their small world unexpectedly shaken by the arrival of a romantic young piano tuner and a charismatic military officer infatuated with Maria Celia’s writing.
Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz (Anna in the Tropics) weaves an authentic tale of oppression, human spirit, and intertwining fates in a world of shifting global politics.
Writers Theatre ofrece una funcion Subtítulada en Español de Two Sisters and a Piano el 20 de Marzo a las 7:30PM.
Para obtener botelos para esta presentación especial usa el código WTOC2526 para conseguir boletos de $30.00! *SI TIENE ALGUN PROBLEMA CON EL CODIGO AL FINALIZAR LA COMPRA, POR FAVOR CONTACTENOS POR EMAIL A BOXOFFICE@WRITERSTHEATRE.ORG O POR TELEFONO 847-242-6000*
Trapped under house arrest, novelist Maria Celia and her sister Sofia can still hear the rumors of the Russians’ departure from Cuba in 1991. While awaiting news from Maria Celia’s exiled husband and dreaming of their freedom, the two sisters find their small world unexpectedly shaken by the arrival of a romantic young piano tuner and a charismatic military officer infatuated with Maria Celia’s writing.
Pulitzer Prize-winner Nilo Cruz (Anna in the Tropics) weaves an authentic tale of oppression, human spirit, and intertwining fates in a world of shifting global politics.
Accessibility: Open Captions
https://www.writerstheatre.org/events/two-sisters-and-a-piano
Use code WTOC2526 to access $30.00 tickets.
*If you experience any issues with this code, please contact the box office directly at 847-242-6000 or via email at boxoffice@writerstheatre.org
Now in its 21st edition, CineYouth is Cinema/Chicago’s annual film festival celebrating filmmakers 22 and younger from around the world. Since 2005, CineYouth has provided a platform for emerging talent to share their work, connect with fellow filmmakers, and learn from industry professionals.
Held annually in Chicago at FACETS, the festival features in-theater and online screenings, hands-on workshops, live Q&As, and more.
Best of all, all CineYouth events are FREE and open to the public!
WHITE ROOSTER
World Premiere
Written and Directed by Matthew C. Yee
WHITE ROOSTER is a darkly funny tale of love, loss and the strange things we inherit. After a family tragedy, Min is pulled into a world of restless spirits, old curses and mysterious traditions. Her fiancé won’t stay dead, her sister won’t stay buried and a rooster won’t be ignored. Blending spooky folklore with offbeat humor, White Rooster is a haunting tale of grief, family and the messiness of moving on.
March 11, 2026
We want everyone to enjoy live theatre, and our pay what you can performances are an opportunity to make it easier for all to see our shows. We ask you please pay a minimum of $5 – and if you are able to pay more, we appreciate your donation to help us continue these performances. Visit the link below to secure your pay what you can tickets. All tickets will have a seat assigned and will be available at will call on March 11. Contact the box office for any seating requests.
https://purchase.lookingglasstheatre.org/ChooseSeats/55001
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible, Assistive Listening Devices
Website: https://lookingglasstheatre.org/event/white-rooster/
WHITE ROOSTER
World Premiere
Written and Directed by Matthew C. Yee
WHITE ROOSTER is a darkly funny tale of love, loss and the strange things we inherit. After a family tragedy, Min is pulled into a world of restless spirits, old curses and mysterious traditions. Her fiancé won’t stay dead, her sister won’t stay buried and a rooster won’t be ignored. Blending spooky folklore with offbeat humor, White Rooster is a haunting tale of grief, family and the messiness of moving on.
Show runs March 5 – April 12, 2026
Open Captioning on April 3rd performance. Unlock $35 tickets for our Open Captioning line of sight seating by using the code CAPTION online, over the phone, or via email.
Visit Lookingglasstheatre.org/accessibility for more!
Accessibility: Open Captioning, Wheelchair Accessible, Assistive Listening Devices
Website: https://lookingglasstheatre.org/event/white-rooster/
The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free monthly in-person reading series and generative writing workshop. Our February featured readers are Jalen Eutsey and Michelle Peñaloza.
Each event takes place at Haymarket House (800 W. Buena) and includes a brief open mic followed by two featured poets. Pre-registration is free and recommended. The open mic includes five readers drawn lottery-style from a hat that goes out at 7:15. The reading starts promptly at 7:30. Each open mic poet reads one poem or for three minutes, whichever comes first.
FEBRUARY FEATURES:
Michelle Peñaloza is the author of “All The Words I Can Remember Are Poems,” winner of the 2024 Lexi Rudnitsky Editor’s Choice Award and the James Laughlin Award from the Academy of American Poets (Persea Books, 2025). Her debut, “Former Possessions of the Spanish Empire,” won the 2018 Hillary Gravendyk National Poetry Prize. The proud daughter of Filipino immigrants, Michelle was born in the suburbs of Detroit, MI and raised in Nashville, TN. She now lives in Covelo, CA.
Jalen Eutsey is a writer from Miami, Florida. A recipient of the Wallace Stegner Fellowship from Stanford University, his poems have appeared in Best New Poets, The Yale Review, Poetry Northwest, and The Hopkins Review. His chapbook, “Bubble Gum Stadium,” was published by Button Poetry.
EVENT DETAILS FOR February 18:
The workshop (registration required) begins promptly at 6 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m.
Doors open and open mic lottery registration starts at 7 p.m. — the open mic begins promptly at 7:30, followed by our amazing featured readers.
Reading registration is free; the workshop is a sliding scale with a suggested donation of $10.
Register for the workshop here (required, and sells out quickly):
https://BHWorkshopFeb2026.eventbrite.com
And RSVP for the reading here (recommended):
https://Feb2026BlueHour.eventbrite.com
View the livestream here:
https://www.youtube.com/@chicagopoetrycenter/streams
ABOUT THE READING:
The Blue Hour reading features readings by two poets from Chicago and beyond, preceded by a five person lottery-style open mic and followed by community gathering time.
Please let us know if you have any specific accessibility questions; if you use a wheelchair, please contact curator@poetrycenter.org to coordinate use of the ramp.
Accessibility: Professional ASL interpretation is provided for the open mic and featured reading portion of the event. Haymarket House is fully ADA-compliant and wheelchair accessible.
Website: https://www.poetrycenter.org/event/blue-hour-jalen-eutsey-michelle-penaloza/
Play For All invites children and families with disabilities and Museum members to come and experience CCM’s inclusive, multisensory exhibits and programs. Special activities include hand-cycling, wheelchair racing, roller sled hockey, soccer, Boccia, amputee soccer, yoga and a See & Touch Prosthetics display.
The museum opens at 10 am for Play for All guests to enjoy an exclusive hour of play, before opening to the general public at 11 am. The first 250 children and families with disabilities who register will receive FREE admission! Pre-registration is required for free admission. Guests can come and go all day.
Accessibility: Quiet Spaces, Wheelchair Accessible
Website: https://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/play-for-all
The Bi Wives Club is a comedy showcase for all outsiders who hide in plain sight. The show is a playful, intimate, and reliably hilarious fan favorite. Audiences praise the humor, atmosphere, and the show’s sense of community and connection. It’s both one of the funniest & most energizing shows in town. At this performance on February 1st at 7pm, ASL Interpretation will be provided, use code ASLCLUB to access discounted $10 tickets.
Doors open at 6pm with a one hour happy hour before our show begins at 7pm. Dorothy remains open after the event until 11pm.
Dorothy is 21+ and requires physical or mobile ID for all to enter. Dorothy is also ADA accessible with elevator access on Campbell Ave. If you are a guest who requires elevator access, please wait by the black door on Campell Ave with our logo in the window and call our staff to assist: 773-770-3799
Please note: refund requests are only available until 24h before the event (1/31, 7pm). No other refund requests will be honored.
Accessibility: ASL Interpretation
Website: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-bi-wives-club-a-comedy-showcase-tickets-1979633455957
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ABOUT THE COMEDIANS
DEANNA ORTIZ was voted Best Standup in The Chicago Reader 3 years in a row, and named one of Time Out’s Comics To Watch in 2025, Deanna Ortiz is the host of the podcast ‘Crushes!’, ‘Crime For Bed’ on Hatch+, and The Drunk Cooking Show on Instagram. She has worked as a contributing writer for NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, and her standup has been featured in Vulture, WGN News, FOX Good Day Chicago, and TimeOut Chicago.
“GABBY” GABE SKLAN is a comedian, clown, and award-winning playwright who performs and produces comedy and variety shows all across the city. Their work prioritizes cultivating presence of mind and treating subject matter with all due respect (even when that’s none).
AMBA WALKA is a multi-platform journalist, producer, comedian, and founder of The Crib Comedy Playspace a production house and incubator for Chicago comedic talent to perform, connect and create. Follow her across social platforms @AmbaWalka.
ANNA LUCERO is the bi girlfriend of a British man (not posh British, more like a retired soccer hooligan) and makes her money as a hairstylist. She previously produced The Gogo Show at The Lincoln Loft for 12 years & often performs with Las Locas. You can see when she’s performing next on her ig: @annalu312.
The comedian producers of the Bi Wives Club are three bi wives (not to each other) who perform, celebrate, and promote joke-dense authentic comedy. KRIS LANTZY is a queer comic and hot mom tackling alllll ‘the issues’ through her playful comedic lens, like what to do when everyone thinks your wife is your sister? CHRISTEN MANVILLE has an unmatched ability to inhabit discordant perspectives with ease. She is the ideal date for an X-rated experimental puppet show or your grandmother’s 80th birthday party. KAYLA MCCAFFREY is an actor, comedian, and improvisor as well as a newlywed wife, inner child nurturer, and vegan dog mom. Kayla jumps between her too-many roles with ease and throws her whole heart into everything she does.
Play For All invites children and families with disabilities and Museum members to come and experience CCM’s inclusive, multisensory exhibits and programs. The museum opens at 10 am for Play for All guests to enjoy an exclusive hour of play, before opening to the general public at 11 am. The first 250 children and families with disabilities who register will receive FREE admission! Pre-registration is required for free admission. Guests can come and go all day.
Accessibility: Quiet Spaces, Wheelchair Accessible
Website: https://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/play-for-all
Calm Waters is an exclusive event for guests with disabilities and Veterans to explore Shedd Aquarium’s exhibits and experiences in a comfortable and accepting environment. Family members and companions are welcome.
Modifications for this event will include limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration.
Modifications for Calm Waters Include:
Limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration
A low-sensory animal spotlight with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation
An animal encounter opportunity
Accessibility: Sensory Friendly, Low Lighting, ASL Interpretation
Website: https://www.sheddaquarium.org/plan-a-visit/accessibility/calm-waters
Calm Waters is an exclusive event for guests with disabilities and Veterans to explore Shedd Aquarium’s exhibits and experiences in a comfortable and accepting environment. Family members and companions are welcome.
Modifications for this event will include limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration.
Modifications for Calm Waters Include:
Limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration
A low-sensory animal spotlight with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation
An animal encounter opportunity
Accessibility: Sensory Friendly, Low Lighting, ASL Interpretation
Website: https://www.sheddaquarium.org/plan-a-visit/accessibility/calm-waters
WHITE ROOSTER
World Premiere
Written and Directed by Matthew C. Yee
WHITE ROOSTER is a darkly funny tale of love, loss and the strange things we inherit. After a family tragedy, Min is pulled into a world of restless spirits, old curses and mysterious traditions. Her fiancé won’t stay dead, her sister won’t stay buried and a rooster won’t be ignored. Blending spooky folklore with offbeat humor, White Rooster is a haunting tale of grief, family and the messiness of moving on.
March 5 – April 12, 2026
Masks are required for all patrons, staff, volunteers, and crew for the March 3rd performance.
Visit Lookingglasstheatre.org/accessibility for more!
deCRIPtion is a program done in partnership between Bodies of Work and Access Living that offers monthly poetry and storytelling workshops built by and with disability in mind both in-person and virtually.
Clock Stammer: A Tactile-Acoustic Poetry Workshop (in-person)
“Feel the poem, hear time as it crips- tactile and acoustic storytelling for every bodymind.”
What does time feel like when it slows down, speeds up, or moves in unexpected ways? Clock Stammer is a hands-on poetry workshop where we use touch, sound, and everyday materials to explore how our bodies and minds experience time differently, shaped by our disability, mental health, or daily life in general. Together, we’ll make tactile “clocks” or mosaics that map our moods, energy, and daily rhythms. Using simple materials like fabric, foil, or string, we’ll create and share poetic pieces that can be touched, heard, and felt. Open to everyone; no prior art or poetry experience needed.
In addition to kinds of access listed in our event tags, deCRIPtion trains and works with Access Doulas and fosters a space of interdependence. If you need assistance writing, reading, speaking, or with other aspects of a workshop, there will be someone who will do their best to assist you. During the registration process, please let us know what other access needs or barriers you have and we will do our best to ensure you are able to come be fully in community with us. We routinely create image descriptions, larger font materials, or other access tools when requested with enough notice and where appropriate to the workshop.
Registration and more information at the link below:
Join us for an evening of fresh works by Synapse Arts and Unfolding Disability Futures at the beautifully rehabbed and fully accessible Clarendon Community Center Park gallery!
Doors and installation open 6pm
Performances 6:30-7:30pm
Two projects will be shown on this shared evening, stemming from U.D.F. and Synapse Arts’ inclusive dance partnership.
Damon’s heartfelt performance project In Andrea’s Shoes is a dance-theater tribute to her lifelong friend, told through Damon’s perspective and created in collaboration with the Halverson family.
Dancers from Unfolding Disability Futures will perform improvisational scores curated by Sydney Erlikh, drawn from her work abroad. These scores focus on community and collaboration, and invite the audience to consider what moving together offers to the self and to others.
Coexisting with the special performance on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Damon is creating a textile installation that invites anyone to contribute a message to or about Andrea Grace Halverson, or to express thoughts on loss and connection. Reflecting on friendship and remembrance, this art piece will be on display at Clarendon Park. The installation is free and open to all in person, with the option to contribute online.
In addition to the in-person program, this event will be live-streamed by the Chicago Dance History Project. A ticket is required to access the live-streamed performances from 6:30 to 7:30 PM (CDT) — reserve yours now to witness this moving tribute and powerful artistic dialogue.
The performance is all ages appropriate – there is no swearing, nudity, or scary moments. Themes around death are referenced abstractly and with love.
The livestream video will be available for on-demand viewing soon after the December 9 event. Everyone who purchases a ticket for the livestream will receive the link to the video recording at no additional cost.
FAQ’s are available at this link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/176LFs7AeAV9UeQWpgjlx0CG36ZAgAq88HZcr7kIMKEw/edit?usp=sharing
All tax-deductible donations go toward our inclusive dance programming, co-taught and co-presented by Synapse Arts and Unfolding Disability Futures.
Join us at the Nature Museum for a sensory friendly morning event for guests with disabilities and Veterans to explore our exhibits and experiences in a relaxed and accepting environment with their family members and companions.
Exclusive access for registrants 9:00am – 10:00am. Free tickets include museum admission for the day. Exhibits and experiences modified to be low sensory until noon.
Modifications for our Sensory Friendly Morning include:
Limited capacity with advanced registration
Exhibits modified for lower light and sound stimuli
Sensory friendly critter connections & first flight butterfly release
Accessibility supports available year-round:
Sensory kits
Quiet room for sensory breaks
And more
Accessibility: Sensory Friendly
https://tickets.naturemuseum.org/events/2373ee15-add0-fe29-d3bc-ae36ed2b0d9a
Open Caption performance of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
Just in time for the holiday season, Shakespeare’s wittiest rom-com is “as merry as the day is long!”
Beatrice is living it up as a fiercely independent woman who answers to no man. Benedick is an avowed bachelor with no plans to settle down. But when these stubborn singles finally meet their match under the sultry Sicilian sun, who can resist romance? Linguistic fireworks and a hilarious battle of wits dazzle in the original “enemies-to-lovers” rom-com. Staged by famed director Selina Cadell, you’ll be transported on holiday to the warm embrace of the Italian countryside with an exceptionally talented ensemble cast in CST’s Courtyard Theater, considered one of the finest spaces to experience Shakespeare’s stories live in performance. This is Shakespeare at his very best.
Access Pay What You Can tickets starting at $39. Use code: MUCHCAPTION
Email access@chicagoshakes.com for more information.
Accessibility: Open Captions
https://www.chicagoshakes.com/productions/2526-much-ado-about-nothing/
The Neo-Futurists are bringing The Infinite Wrench to United Church of Rogers Park. At The Infinite Wrench, you’ll see thirty plays in sixty minutes written and performed by The Neo-Futurist Ensemble. Each play offers something different, be it funny, profound, elegant, disgusting, topical, irreverent, terrifying, or musical; all are original, truthful and tackle the here-and-now, inspired by the lived experiences of the performers. With new plays every week, The Infinite Wrench is The Neo-Futurists’ ongoing and ever-changing attempt to shift the conventions of live performance and speak to this unreached or unmoved by traditional theater.
The United Church of Rogers Park is ADA-Accessible. All tickets are Pay-What-You-Can.
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible
https://neofuturists.org/events/tiw-at-united-church-of-rogers-park/
UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY
World Premiere
Written by Kevin Douglas
Directed by Devon DeMayo
Hilarity (and tragedy) ensue in the World Premiere of UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY when Val, a vampire, is in a new relationship with a mortal, Dom, each having different ideas about where their relationship should go. Rose, Val’s progeny, wants Val to consider leaving the country, and on top of that, Val’s estranged brother has returned, coincidentally, as a serial killer terrorizes the streets of Chicago. UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY explores love, codependency, unwavering convictions and vampires.
June 4 – July 12, 2026
Open Captions on July 1, 2026
Unlock $35 tickets using the code CAPTION online, over the phone, or in-person. Visit Lookingglasstheatre.org/accessibility or contact us for more!
Accessibility: Open Captions
https://lookingglasstheatre.org/event/untitled-vampire-play/
UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY
World Premiere
Written by Kevin Douglas
Directed by Devon DeMayo
Hilarity (and tragedy) ensue in the World Premiere of UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY when Val, a vampire, is in a new relationship with a mortal, Dom, each having different ideas about where their relationship should go. Rose, Val’s progeny, wants Val to consider leaving the country, and on top of that, Val’s estranged brother has returned, coincidentally, as a serial killer terrorizes the streets of Chicago. UNTITLED VAMPIRE PLAY explores love, codependency, unwavering convictions and vampires.
June 4 – July 12, 2026, accessible performance July 9, 2026.
Unlock $35 tickets using the code AUDIO online, over the phone, or in-person.
The Touch Tour will begin at 1PM and curtain is at 2PM. Visit Lookingglasstheatre.org/accessibility or contact us for more!
Accessibility: Touch tour, Audio Description, Assistive Listening Devices, Wheelchair accessible, and All Gender restrooms.
https://lookingglasstheatre.org/event/untitled-vampire-play/
At Best of The Infinite Wrench, The Neo-Futurists will choose thirty of our favorite plays of the year and remount them for one last hurrah. Join the entire Neo-Futurist Ensemble as they take the stage together, turning back the clock in the name of experimental performance art and nostalgia. This performance will have ASL interpretation.
Accessibility: ASL interpreted.
https://neofuturists.org/events/best-of-the-infinite-wrench/
The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free monthly in-person reading series and generative writing workshop. Our November featured readers are Iain Haley Pollock & Keetje Kuipers.
Each event takes place at Haymarket House (800 W. Buena) and includes a brief open mic followed by two featured poets. Pre-registration is free and recommended. The open mic includes five readers drawn lottery-style from a hat that goes out at 7:15. The reading starts promptly at 7:30. Each open mic poet reads one poem or for three minutes, whichever comes first.
The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free monthly in-person reading series and generative writing workshop. Our November featured readers are Iain Haley Pollock and Keetje Kuipers.
Each event takes place at Haymarket House (800 W. Buena) and includes a brief open mic followed by two featured poets. Pre-registration is free and recommended. The open mic includes five readers drawn lottery-style from a hat that goes out at 7:15. The reading starts promptly at 7:30. Each open mic poet reads one poem or for three minutes, whichever comes first.
EVENT DETAILS FOR November 19:
– Workshop (registration required) begins promptly at 6 p.m., ends at 7 p.m.
– Performance space doors open and open mic sign-up begins at 7 p.m.
– Reading (registration recommended but not required) begins at 7:30, followed by community gathering time.
– Reading registration is free; the workshop is sliding scale with a suggested donation of $10.
About the Reading:
The Blue Hour reading features readings by two poets from Chicago and beyond, preceded by a five person lottery-style open mic and followed by community gathering time.
About the Workshop:
The Blue Hour generative writing workshop is suitable for writers and poetry fans of all levels. We will discuss a poem together, then Marty will guide the group through individual writing on an exploratory prompt that draws on themes from the poem.
About the Space:
Accessibility, Health, & Safety:
– All restrooms at Haymarket House are gender-neutral, including single-user and stalled restrooms.
– Each event includes ASL interpretation. Haymarket House is ADA compliant and fully wheelchair-accessible; email curator@poetrycenter.org to ensure ramp access and with any other accessibility needs.
– Masks are strongly encouraged for all indoor events, and the space is equipped with a professional air filtration system.
Play For All invites children and families with disabilities and Museum members to come and experience CCM’s inclusive, multisensory exhibits and programs. The museum opens at 10 am for Play for All guests to enjoy an exclusive hour of play, before opening to the general public at 11 am. The first 250 children and families with disabilities who register will receive FREE admission! Pre-registration is required for free admission. Guests can come and go all day.
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible, quiet spaces.
ASL-INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE!
$30.00 TICKETS AVAILABLE USE PROMO CODE: WTASL2526
If you experience any issues with this promo code, please reach out to the box office at 847-242-6000 or email them at BOM@WritersTheatre.org.
Facing exile at home, Orlando, Duke Senior, his daughter Rosalind and niece Celia seek safety and refuge in the Forest of Arden. Lost amidst the trees, these wounded souls end up finding a community of acceptance and transformational love, where all are welcomed and embraced. Featuring an original folk-pop score by Shaina Taub (the Tony Award-winning composer of Suffs), this musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic is an immersive dream-like tale of faithful friends, feuding families and chance encounters.
Accessibility: ASL interpreted, wheelchair accessible, and assisted listening devices.
The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free, public monthly in-person reading series and generative writing workshop. Our October featured readers are Rhoni Blankenhorn & Alicia Wright.
Each event takes place at Haymarket House (800 W. Buena) and includes a brief open mic followed by two featured poets. Pre-registration is free and recommended. The open mic includes five readers drawn lottery-style from a hat that goes out at 7:15. The reading starts promptly at 7:30. Each open mic poet reads one poem or for three minutes whichever comes first.
EVENT DETAILS FOR OCTOBER 15th:
The workshop (registration required) begins promptly at 6 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m.
Doors open and open mic lottery registration starts at 7 p.m. — the open mic begins promptly at 7:30, followed by our amazing featured readers.
Reading registration is free; the workshop is a sliding scale with a suggested donation of $10.
Register for the workshop here (required, and sells out quickly):
https://BHWorkshopOct2025.eventbrite.com
And RSVP for the reading here (recommended):
https://Oct2025BlueHour.eventbrite.com
View the livestream here:
https://www.youtube.com/@chicagopoetrycenter/streams
ABOUT THE READING:
The Blue Hour reading features readings by two poets from Chicago and beyond preceded by a five person lottery-style open mic and followed by community gathering time.
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP:
The Blue Hour generative writing workshop is suitable for writers and poetry fans of all levels. We will discuss a poem together then Marty will guide the group through individual writing on an exploratory prompt that draws on themes from the poem.
ABOUT THE SPACE:
Accessibility Health & Safety:
– All restrooms at Haymarket House are gender-neutral including single-user and stalled restrooms.
– Each event includes ASL interpretation. Haymarket House is ADA compliant and fully wheelchair-accessible; email curator@poetrycenter.org to ensure ramp access and with any other accessibility needs.
– Masks are currently strongly encouraged for all indoor events and the space is equipped with a professional air filtration system.
OCTOBER FEATURES:
Rhoni Blankenhorn is a Filipina American writer. Her poems can be found in The Slowdown, Asian American Writers’ Workshop’s The Margins, Narrative, and elsewhere. She is the recipient of fellowships and scholarships from Bread Loaf, Saltonstall, and the Sewanee Writers’ Conference. Rhoni’s poetry debut, Rooms for Dead and the Not Yet, won the Trio Award, and was published with Trio House Press (July, 2025).
Alicia Wright is the author of “You’re Called By The Same Sound” (Thirdhand Books, 2025) and the forthcoming essay chapbook “A Coin, A Moth, A Literary Journal” from DoubleCoss Press. Her poetry appears in Kenyon Review, Chicago Review, and The Paris Review, among others. She is the editor of Annulet and publisher of Annulet Editions. She lives in Iowa City, where she works as Managing Editor of The Iowa Review.
ABOUT THE HOST:
Marty McConnell is a poet educator and healer based in Chicago. She is the author of when they say you can’t go home again what they mean is you were never there winner of the 2017 Michael Waters Poetry Prize; her first full-length collection wine for a shotgun received the Silver Medal in the Independent Publishers Awards and was a finalist for both the Audre Lorde Award and a Lambda Literary Award. Her first nonfiction book Gathering Voices: Creating a Community-Based Poetry Workshop is available through YesYes Books. She is the co-creator and co-editor of underbelly a web site focused on the art and magic of poetry revision. An MFA graduate of Sarah Lawrence College her work has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies including Best American Poetry Southern Humanities Review Gulf Coast and Indiana Review.
To learn more about the series and history go here ( https://www.poetrycenter.org/reading-series/)
Accessibility: ASL Interpreted, gender-neutral bathrooms, wheelchair accessible.
Play For All invites children and families with disabilities and Museum members to come and experience CCM’s inclusive, multisensory exhibits and programs. The museum opens at 10 am for Play for All guests to enjoy an exclusive hour of play, before opening to the general public at 11 am. The first 250 children and families with disabilities who register will receive FREE admission! Pre-registration is required for free admission. Guests can come and go all day.
Accessibility: wheelchair accessible, quiet spaces.
Abby Paj Tries to Stay Alive is a solo show written and performed by Neo-Futurist Ensemble Member, Abby Pajakowski.
The doomsday clock ticks 89 seconds to midnight and the world seems to already be ending each day. Some stockpile beans, some stockpile guns, and some bury themselves underground to wait for it to all blow over. Meanwhile, Abby Paj avoids the doctor, stays in bed, and writes “make a go-bag” on every to-do list for a year and a half. Join Abby as they dive into apocalypses, preparation, depression, and maybe doing a bunch of push-ups with a backpack on. Watch as they try to stay alive in any – no, every way possible.
ASL INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE! $30.00 TICKETS AVAILABLE USE PROMO CODE: WTASL2526
Performance on Saturday, August 30 at 2pm.
If you experience any issues with this promo code, please reach out to the box office at 847-242-6000 or email them at BOM@WritersTheatre.org.
Having safely escaped Russia during the 1917 revolution, beloved composer and pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff performed all over the world before eventually making his home in sunny Beverly Hills. Privately longing for the Russia that he knew and loved as a young man, a figure from his past continues to haunt him—Tsar Nicholas II. Hershey Felder’s newest musical play will feature the virtuoso actor/pianist in the role of Rachmaninoff alongside British-Italian actor Jonathan Silvestri in the role of Nicholas II. Featuring the composer’s most beloved works, Rachmaninoff and the Tsar promises to be another mystical musical journey in the inimitable Hershey Felder style that audiences have come to know and love.
Accessibility: ASL interpreted.
https://www.writerstheatre.org/events/hershey-felders-rachmaninoff-and-the-tsar-
OPEN CAPTION PERFORMANCE! $30.00 TICKETS AVAILABLE USE PROMO CODE: WTOC2526
Performance on Thursday, Saturday 04 at 7:30pm.
If you experience any issues with this promo code, please reach out to the box office at 847-242-6000 or email them at BOM@WritersTheatre.org.
Having safely escaped Russia during the 1917 revolution, beloved composer and pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff performed all over the world before eventually making his home in sunny Beverly Hills. Privately longing for the Russia that he knew and loved as a young man, a figure from his past continues to haunt him—Tsar Nicholas II. Hershey Felder’s newest musical play will feature the virtuoso actor/pianist in the role of Rachmaninoff alongside British-Italian actor Jonathan Silvestri in the role of Nicholas II. Featuring the composer’s most beloved works, Rachmaninoff and the Tsar promises to be another mystical musical journey in the inimitable Hershey Felder style that audiences have come to know and love.
Accessibility: Open captioning.
https://www.writerstheatre.org/events/hershey-felders-rachmaninoff-and-the-tsar-
A Gathering: Artists Design the Future & Community Of The Arts share the journey to accessible, inclusive ETOD work-live development in South Shore.
Imagine how art and culture build community, wealth and wellness and generate dynamic entrepreneurial zones.
Sisters in Cinema Media Arts Center is a fully accessible venue hosting ADtF for this conversation. Inclusivity and accessibility impact our work to center an arts and culture ecosystem in South Shore.
This gathering celebrates Disability Pride Month, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and innovation in arts and ownership.
Accessibility: ASL Interpreted, wheelchair accessible, all gender restrooms.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-gathering-tickets-1493522860079?aff=oddtdtcreator
Join us for a moderated community conversation exploring how artists of South Asia and the diaspora navigate careers at the intersection of art and disability. This event invites participants into a community-building experience that highlights the resilience of artists with disabilities working in creative fields that are often not designed with accessibility in mind. Together, we will engage in critical reflection and discuss how humanities-based institutions can lead the way in fostering more inclusive and accessible spaces.
The conversation will be moderated by Anand Venkatkrishnan, an intellectual historian of South Asian religion and author of Love in the Time of Scholarship: The Bhāgavata Purāṇa in Indian Intellectual History.
Featured speakers include:
Pooja Pittie, a Chicago-based visual artist living with a progressive form of muscular dystrophy, whose work explores the tension between a slowing body and an active, curious mind.
Grishma Shah, a self-taught painter and public health professional whose experience with a physical disability inspires her art and advocacy for disability as a valued identity.
Priya Rama, an Ohio-based artist who channels chronic migraines into vivid, expressive work, encouraging creativity as a response to chronic pain and stress.
ASL interpretation and online participation options will be available. Please RSVP to receive a zoom link morning of the event. Mask-wearing is strongly encouraged in person.
This program is supported by a Healing IL grant from the Field Foundation and Illinois Humanities.
OPEN CAPTION PERFORMANCE on THURSDAY, JULY 10 at 7:30PM! $30.00 tickets with code WTOC2425. *If you are experiencing any issues with applying the promo code, please reach out to the box office at 847-242-6000*
Dhaba Canteen has been a stalwart institution on Chicago’s Devon Avenue since the ‘80s, serving up delicious Sindhi food with the power to transport diners back to the halcyon days of undivided India. Times are changing, however. With the bank threatening foreclosure and Chef Neeraj’s health in decline, the restaurant may soon be cooking up its last meal—unless sous chef Rita can convince her father to let her take over the kitchen. Rich with culinary tradition and dramatic twists, Dhaba on Devon Avenue serves up a searing Chicago-set story of family, legacy, and survival at all costs.
THE NEO-FUTURISTS’ ANNUAL PRIDE TRADITION RETURNS! JOIN US FOR 30 GLOW’D-UP, SWEAT-SOAKED, LIPSTICK-SMEARED, GENDER EUPHORIC™, GAY-PANIC-INDUCING PLAYS IN 60 MINUTES – ALL IN THE NAME OF QUEER COMMUNITY! This performance is a special benefit show wherein 100% of proceeds will be donated. Masks required, ASL-interpreted.
Award-winning author and longtime climate and human rights activist Rebecca Solnit joins Chicago Humanities to explore how our actions can shape the future and the liberating possibilities of embracing uncertainty. In her latest collection of essays, No Straight Road Takes You There, Solnit dissects topics like climate change, feminism, democracy, hope, and power, and urges us to heed the stories we tell or have been told, and the ways those stories can be, or should be changed. She asks us to embrace unpredictability, slowness, and imperfection in the politics of how to change the world.
ACCESSIBILITY: Assistive Listening Devices, Open Captions, Quiet Spaces, Wheelchair Accessible
Play For All invites children and families with disabilities and Museum members to come experience CCM’s inclusive, multisensory exhibits and programs. The museum opens at 10 am for Play for All guests to enjoy an exclusive hour of play, before opening to the general public at 11 am. The first 250 children and families with disabilities who register will receive FREE admission! Pre-registration is required for free admission. Guests came come and go all day.
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible, Quiet Spaces
https://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/accessibility-and-inclusion#pfa
Join us at the Nature Museum for a sensory friendly morning event for guests with disabilities and Veterans to explore our exhibits and experiences in a relaxed and accepting environment with their family members and companions.
Exclusive access for registrants 9:00am – 10:00am. Free tickets include museum admission for the day. Exhibits and experiences modified to be low sensory until noon.
Modifications for our Sensory Friendly Morning include:
Limited capacity with advanced registration
Exhibits modified for lower light and sound stimuli
Sensory friendly critter connections & first flight butterfly release
Accessibility supports available year-round:
Sensory kits
Quiet room for sensory breaks
And more
Join us at the Nature Museum for a sensory friendly morning event for guests with disabilities and Veterans to explore our exhibits and experiences in a relaxed and accepting environment with their family members and companions.
Exclusive access for registrants 9:00am – 10:00am. Free tickets include museum admission for the day. Exhibits and experiences modified to be low sensory until noon.
Modifications for our Sensory Friendly Morning include:
Limited capacity with advanced registration
Exhibits modified for lower light and sound stimuli
Sensory friendly critter connections & first flight butterfly release
Accessibility supports available year-round:
Sensory kits
Quiet room for sensory breaks
And more
Beeping eggs are back this year! A fun audio and tactile alternative, these beeping eggs ensure that children who are blind or have low vision can join in on the traditional egg hunt experience. Beeping eggs will be available in the Green Zone during the 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. time slots.
Learn more about accessibility at Lincoln Park Zoo: https://www.lpzoo.org/visit/accessibility/
Egg Hunts at Your Zoo
Saturday, April 19, 7:45–11:45 a.m.
$20 Members/$25 Non-members, Egg Hunts for Ages 1–8
Tickets are going fast for Spring Egg-Stravaganza, but there’s still time to secure your child’s egg hunt spot! Join us on April 19 to create new memories with your little ones.
All tickets include:
• 🌷 Chats with zoo experts to learn more about what spring means at the zoo
• 🎠 Free rides on the Endangered Species Carousel and Lionel Train Adventure
• 🐇 Outdoor activities and games
• 📸 Photos with the Easter Bunny
• 🎶 Live DJ spinning kid-friendly music
Egg hunt tickets (for children ages 1–8) are timed-entry, so you won’t have to wait in line to enter your egg hunt zone. That means you’ll have even more time to have fun with spring-themed activities on the South Lawn and visit your favorite animals at the zoo.
In Hands Up! Forgiveness, seasoned performers bring profound and deeply moving stories to life. Storytellers with and without disabilities share real-life experiences that reveal the transformative power of compassion, wisdom, and kindness in the face of pain and betrayal. These stories illuminate the difficult choices people make to let go of hurt, reminding us that forgiveness is a choice, not an obligation. It is sometimes less about absolving others and more about healing for oneself. The show will incorporate the uplifting and transformative djembe drumming performed by Victoria Boateng. In addition, the theme will be explored through the movement, music, and expressions evoked by the dances of ReinventAbility. This show invites us to see forgiveness not as an act of weakness, but as a courageous, self-nurturing choice that teaches us about the depths of empathy and strength we carry within.
In Hands Up! Forgiveness, seasoned performers bring profound and deeply moving stories to life. Storytellers with and without disabilities share real-life experiences that reveal the transformative power of compassion, wisdom, and kindness in the face of pain and betrayal. These stories illuminate the difficult choices people make to let go of hurt, reminding us that forgiveness is a choice, not an obligation. It is sometimes less about absolving others and more about healing for oneself. The show will incorporate the uplifting and transformative djembe drumming performed by Victoria Boateng. In addition, the theme will be explored through the movement, music, and expressions evoked by the dances of ReinventAbility. This show invites us to see forgiveness not as an act of weakness, but as a courageous, self-nurturing choice that teaches us about the depths of empathy and strength we carry within.
DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) is dedicated to being an accessible, inclusive environment for children to thrive through extraordinary learning experiences. Adaptive Play Time provides a modified environment for families with disabilities and/or those who may need a calmer experience to enjoy the Museum.
At DCM, kids are inspired to be curious, creative, and full of wonder. Designed for children ages 0-10 years, the Museum invites families to explore hands-on exhibits where learning happens through play.
Imagine building towering structures with giant blocks, experimenting with gravity, discovering the properties of air and water, and so much more. From babies crawling through soft play spaces to young inventors problem-solving in engineering exhibits, there’s something to captivate and engage every age.
Plan your visit: dupagechildrens.org/adaptive-play-time/
DuPage Children’s Museum (DCM) is dedicated to being an accessible, inclusive environment for children to thrive through extraordinary learning experiences. Adaptive Play Time provides a modified environment for families with disabilities and/or those who may need a calmer experience to enjoy the Museum.
At DCM, kids are inspired to be curious, creative, and full of wonder. Designed for children ages 0-10 years, the Museum invites families to explore hands-on exhibits where learning happens through play.
Imagine building towering structures with giant blocks, experimenting with gravity, discovering the properties of air and water, and so much more. From babies crawling through soft play spaces to young inventors problem-solving in engineering exhibits, there’s something to captivate and engage every age.
Plan your visit: dupagechildrens.org/adaptive-play-time/
How to Be Cool is a solo show, written and performed by Neo-Futurist Ensemble Member Neil Bhandari
Bouncing and shape-shifting from monologue and dance to live music and cultural anthropology, exploring themes of insecurity, idolization, identity-making and self-mythologizing- all in the impossible pursuit of COOL under the artificially-muscled arm and flimsy-yet-ever-imposing specter of American masculinity.
Accessibility: ASL interpretation
Join us at the Nature Museum for a low sensory morning event for guests with disabilities and Veterans to explore our exhibits and experiences in a relaxed and accepting environment with their family members and companions.
Exclusive access for registrants 9:00am – 10:00am. Free tickets include museum admission for the day. Exhibits and experiences modified to be low sensory until noon.
Modifications for our Low Sensory Morning include:
Limited capacity with advanced registration
Exhibits modified for lower light and sound stimuli
Sensory friendly critter connections & first flight butterfly release
Accessibility supports available year-round:
Sensory kits
Quiet room for sensory breaks
And more
ASL Performance!!
Use code: WTASL2425 for $30.00 tickets!
If you experience any difficulties with redeeming this promo code, please contact the box office directly at 847-242-6000 or at boxoffice@writerstheatre.org.
Iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo was a woman who lived boldly, loved wildly, and painted prolifically in order to see herself and the world around her more clearly. Witness this extraordinary figure come to life onstage through playwright and performer Vanessa Severo, who brings breathtaking physicality and raw honesty to this stunningly creative production. With music and movement, Vanessa cracks open a powerful portal between herself and Frida, uncovering insights into the painter’s physical limitations, complex love life, addictions, and, of course, the beauty in her art.
Open Caption Performance!!
Use code: WTOC2425 for $30.00 tickets!
If you experience any difficulties with redeeming this promo code, please contact the box office directly at 847-242-6000 or at boxoffice@writerstheatre.org.
Iconic Mexican painter Frida Kahlo was a woman who lived boldly, loved wildly, and painted prolifically in order to see herself and the world around her more clearly. Witness this extraordinary figure come to life onstage through playwright and performer Vanessa Severo, who brings breathtaking physicality and raw honesty to this stunningly creative production. With music and movement, Vanessa cracks open a powerful portal between herself and Frida, uncovering insights into the painter’s physical limitations, complex love life, addictions, and, of course, the beauty in her art.
Somewhere in La Mancha there lived a man who read so many books that his brains dried up…Saddle up with Lookingglass as we go tiltingly, acrobatically into the dreamy madness of Don Quijote and his impossible folly-filled quest to bring good-deed doing back into the world— whether the world wants it or not!
Four Athenians run away to the forest in the name of love (reciprocated and otherwise) and unknowingly find themselves in the crossfires of a war between the king and queen of the fairies. In the midst of this conflict, local workers are attempting (poorly) to rehearse a play to celebrate the upcoming nuptial of Duke Theseus to Queen Hippolyta. All the while, the mischievous Puck is guiding events and creating chaos for fairies and mortals alike.
ASL Performance!!
Use promo code: WTASL2425 for $30.00 tickets! If you run into any problems with this promo code, please call the box office at 847-242-6000 or send an email at boxoffice@writerstheatre.org.
THIS PERFORMANCE IS GENERAL ADMISSION!
“1. Ice Cream. 2. Water fights. 3. Staying up past your bedtime and being allowed to watch TV.” This is how a six-year-old child begins a list of all the things that make life wonderful. They’re making the list for their mother, who suffers from depression. As life goes on, and the challenges faced morph from childhood to adulthood, the list continues to grow and take on a life of its own. By shining a hilarious and compassionate light on life’s small abundant joys, this big-hearted play—told in gentle collaboration with the audience—is a loving tribute to resilience and the lengths we will go to for those we love.
Four Athenians run away to the forest in the name of love (reciprocated and otherwise). They find themselves in the midst of a war between Titania and Oberon, the king and queen of the fairies, over a changeling boy in Titania’s charge. In the midst of this conflict, local workers are attempting (poorly) to rehearse a play to celebrate the upcoming nuptial of Duke Theseus to Queen Hippolyta. All the while, the mischievous Puck is guiding events and creating chaos for fae and mortals alike. Come see this magical Shakespeare’s comedy, with a Babes With Blades twist!
Accessibility: Open Captions
https://babeswithblades.org/fall-2024-bwbtc-a-midsummer-nights-dream/
Experience the magic of the Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato — named as “the most potent female singer of her generation” by The New Yorker and “one of the most delightful artists of our time” by Gramophone — as she joins forces with the dynamic four-piece a cappella group Kings Return and the brilliant pianist Craig Terry in KINGS ReJOYCE! This special festive program promises a delightful blend of sacred and popular repertoire, celebrating the unique way music can bring us home for the holidays and transporting listeners to a world of joy and wonder.
Don’t miss this unforgettable collaboration of world-class talent as DiDonato, Kings Return, and Terry bring the true spirit of the season to life.
Accessibility: ASL Interpreted
https://www.harristheaterchicago.org/performance/kings-rejoyce
Calm Waters is an exclusive event for guests with disabilities and Veterans to explore Shedd Aquarium’s exhibits and experiences in a comfortable and accepting environment. Modifications for this event will include limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration.
Modifications for Calm Waters Include:
Limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration
A sensory friendly app
A low-sensory animal spotlight with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation
An animal encounter opportunity
Complimentary 4D Experiences during the event
Family members and companions are welcome.
https://www.sheddaquarium.org/plan-a-visit/accessibility/calm-waters
For FREE tickets, us promo code SEAL2024 at checkout.
Join us for a night of still sounds and static lights at ZooLights.
This ticket is for the zoo’s sensory-friendly visit option on Wednesday, December 4, from 4:30 to 9 p.m.
During this special night, all blinking or moving lights will remain static or turned off, while the music will be turned down or off. Nightly capacity is limited to foster a safe and enjoyable guest experience, meaning there’s more space to enjoy the beautiful lights with your family and friends!
All ticket sales support the zoo’s world-class animal care, global conservation, and innovative learning programs.
Lincoln Park Zoo works to minimize barriers and ensure that everyone can fully experience the zoo. We are dedicated to ensuring zoo programs, spaces, and facilities are accessible to all. Please visit lpzoo.org/accessibility for more information.
For FREE tickets, us promo code SEAL2024 at checkout.
https://tickets.lpzoo.org/events/01920b38-2249-dd1a-38f9-ca9050081886
Accessibility: Sensory-Friendly
Halloween Creepy Crawlies is a family friendly dance production that explores the mysteries of Halloween through a lost ghost’s search for her haunted home. On her way, she is helped by Ballerina Witches, Jazzy Vampires, Modern-Dancing Mummies and even a Jack O’ Lantern named Jake! Join us on October 12 + 13 at Dovetail Studios for this Halloween adventure!
This project is partially supported by an Individual Artists Program grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and is a part of the Dovetail Studios 16×2 performance program. It is presented in an ADA compliant venue.
This production was created by Mariah Eastman, artistic director of Darvin Dances, a Chicago based modern/contemporary dance company. Along with six professional dancers, there are two young dancers from the Chicago community participating in this production (dancers are based at Dovetail Studios and Dance on Broadway). The choreography was created by Mariah Eastman with Alicia Wilson choreographing for the young dancers. Illustrations were created by Nat Thomas (https://natthomas.work/work) with lighting design by Richard Norwood.
Accessibility includes: wheelchair accessibility, all gender restrooms, and digital documents available.
ASL performance of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 at Writers Theatre!
$30.00 Tickets! Promo Code: ASLNatasha
(Please enter code before selecting seat. If you run into any issues please give the box office a call at 847-242-6000)
“There’s a war going on somewhere out there, and Andrey isn’t here.” Young and impulsive, Natasha Rostova arrives in Moscow to await the return of her fiancé from the front lines. But when she falls under the spell of the roguish Anatole, family friend Pierre must push through his existential crisis to help Natasha pick up the pieces of her shattered reputation. Based on a scandalous slice of Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel War and Peace, this innovative musical spectacle took Broadway by storm with its “electropop opera” score, earning 12 Tony Award nominations. Katie Spelman and Matt Deitchman, the inspired creative team behind WT’s hit production of Once, reunite to bring this modern spin on a literary classic to Chicago for the first time.
Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com
Accessibility: open captions, ASL interpretation, assistive listening devices
https://www.writerstheatre.org/natasha-pierre-and-the-great-comet-of-1812
The New York Times bestselling author and adored comedian Randy Rainbow has a few things on his mind that he wants to talk about in his newest essay collection, Low-Hanging Fruit. As a savvy social commentator who is keenly attuned to the public discourse, Randy’s unfailing intuition tells him that the perspective everyone in America is clamoring for is that of a privileged white male complaining about a bunch of stuff. So join Chicago Humanities as Randy tackles the most pressing issues facing the U.S., from dancing TikTok grandmas to Elon Musk, the GOP, and Donald Jessica Trump.
Accessibility includes wheelchair accessibility, open captioning and assistive listening devices.
The Curator Presents, a solo show by Madeline Esterhammer-Fic, is a one-woman play that explores the feelings of isolation, fear, and hope experienced during the height of COVID. Madeline will be playing the Curator, a character who works at the fictional World COVID Museum of Chicago. By providing a platform for discussion and incorporating humor into the narrative, the play seeks to offer a space for healing and reflection on the challenges faced during the pandemic.
Accessibility includes ASL Interpretation.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-curator-presents-tickets-984271441377?aff=oddtdtcreator
Spend the day with us at UIC Forum! Check out the event link to see the full festival lineup. Please note that ticket prices and accessibility offerings vary by event; visit our event pages or call our box office for specific details.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/?sort=venue&view=day&fromDate=2024-10-05
The Neo-Futurists present an ADA-Accessible and ASL-interpreted performance of The Infinite Wrench in partnership with Free Street Theater at Pulaski Park.
At THE INFINITE WRENCH you’ll see thirty original plays in sixty minutes, written and performed by The Neo-Futurist Ensemble.Each play offers something different, be it funny, profound, elegant, disgusting, topical, irreverent, terrifying, or a song; all are truthful and tackle the here-and-now, inspired by the lived experiences of the performers. With new plays every week, THE INFINITE WRENCH is The Neo-Futurists’ ongoing and ever-changing attempt to shift the conventions of live performance and speak to those unreached or unmoved by traditional theater.
The Infinite Wrench will be preceded by a performance from the Free Street Youth Ensemble. Free Street will present a short excerpt from one of their recent works. Since 1969, Free Street Theater has been at the forefront of creating inclusive & accessible theatre in Chicago. Free Street is a femme-led arts and culture organization that centers original performance work by Black, Brown, and Immigrant communities; queer artists; youth artists; and work that is committed to the thriving and well-being of people on the South and West Sides of the city. We believe in the theater as a space to uplift joy and justice, especially racial, economic, and environmental justice in Chicago.
Tickets to this performance are pay-what-you-can. Please reserve them in advance. Masks are required.
Accessibility: ASL Interpreter
Join us for an extraordinary fusion of art and narrative in a unique storytelling event, on Saturday, August 31 (2-4 pm) at South Asia Institute.
Eight dynamic South Asian American artists from the highly acclaimed group exhibition, Are Shadow Bodies Electric?, a section of the groundbreaking exhibition, What is Seen and Unseen: Mapping South Asian American Art in Chicago series, will candidly share details of their personal artistic journeys.
This is a unique opportunity to hear them recount their experiences of creating art while navigating the complexities of their intersectional identities, and to celebrate the achievements of the diverse group who have contributed to shaping the South Asian American art landscape in Chicago. The program will be led by Jitesh Jaggi, a Chicago based Moth award-winning storyteller.
Featured artists:
Tara Asgar, Sabba S. Elahi, Brendan Fernandes, Amay Kataria, Shaurya Kumar, Tulika Ladsariya, Udita Upadhyaya, and Kunal Sen
This event and the exhibition ” What is Seen and Unseen” is part of Art Design Chicago, a citywide collaboration initiated by the Terra Foundation for American Art that highlights the city’s artistic heritage and creative communities.
Synapse Arts turns 20! The Birthday Bash is a celebration of Synapse Arts in a welcoming, festival-type environment.
All attendees will get a cupcake and have access to our open events: performances, dance films screenings, games.
But when you donate at the level of your choice, you can add some additional flair to your Birthday Bash experience, including a Interactive Museum tour, pre-registration for dance classes, and more!
Please see accessibility features available at the event:
– Sensory considerations
– ASL events
– Front desk people trained on welcoming service animals
– Spaces accessible for wheelchair users and people with mobility assistance devices
– Rest area (with Maggie Bridger, a sick and disabled dance artist, scholar, and access worker interested in re-imagining pain through the dancemaking process)
– All gender restrooms
– Masks available and encouraged but unable to require due to park
For additional assistance, questions, or to request specific accommodations, please contact info@synapsearts.com or text 947-2CREATE (947-227-3283).
Orientation video with captions: https://vimeo.com/984444567
Birthday Bash – Access and Location Information, also known as “wayfinding”: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qaBNxVdcxQ6lv4MqhQGTsBgXLvW4ASyXqLqgrGm-HJY/
Accessibility includes sensory considerations, ASL events, wheelchair accessible, rest area, all gender restrooms, and sighted guide.
Vocalist Michelle Coltrane, daughter of Alice Coltrane, and harpist Brandee Younger come together for An Oral History of Alice Coltrane. Part conversation, part performance, the event features oral histories and biographical stories of Alice Coltrane interwoven with performances and demonstrations from Brandee Younger, bringing the stories to life.
Through creative works and masterful performances, Alice Coltrane’s pioneering practice has changed the music world. She grew up playing music in her Baptist church, and by the 1950s established herself as a proficient bebop pianist in the Detroit scene. She met John Coltrane in 1963 and was his primary musical collaborator until his death in 1967. Prolific in her creation, Alice’s innovative style incorporated both gospel and jazz, leading to iconic works like Journey in Satchidananda (one of Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest albums). Once a profound musician, beloved spiritual leader, and pragmatic businesswoman, Alice Coltrane is now remembered as deeply giving human, known for her emphasis on charity work, education, and spiritual guidance.
MCA Music Talks pair powerhouse musicians with artists, activists, writers, and thinkers to take on big ideas in art and culture. These intimate evenings of performance and conversation reveal art world anecdotes, shared ideas, and creative inspirations.
This program is organized by Laura Paige Kyber, Assistant Curator of Performance, in partnership with The John & Alice Coltrane Home.
English CART Captioning and ASL are provided.
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/music-talk-an-oral-history-of-alice-coltrane/
Vocalist Michelle Coltrane, daughter of Alice Coltrane, and harpist Brandee Younger come together for An Oral History of Alice Coltrane. Part conversation, part performance, the event features oral histories and biographical stories of Alice Coltrane interwoven with performances and demonstrations from Brandee Younger, bringing the stories to life.
Through creative works and masterful performances, Alice Coltrane’s pioneering practice has changed the music world. She grew up playing music in her Baptist church, and by the 1950s established herself as a proficient bebop pianist in the Detroit scene. She met John Coltrane in 1963 and was his primary musical collaborator until his death in 1967. Prolific in her creation, Alice’s innovative style incorporated both gospel and jazz, leading to iconic works like Journey in Satchidananda (one of Rolling Stone’s 500 greatest albums). Once a profound musician, beloved spiritual leader, and pragmatic businesswoman, Alice Coltrane is now remembered as deeply giving human, known for her emphasis on charity work, education, and spiritual guidance.
MCA Music Talks pair powerhouse musicians with artists, activists, writers, and thinkers to take on big ideas in art and culture. These intimate evenings of performance and conversation reveal art world anecdotes, shared ideas, and creative inspirations.
This program is organized by Laura Paige Kyber, Assistant Curator of Performance, in partnership with The John & Alice Coltrane Home.
English CART Captioning and ASL are provided.
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/music-talk-an-oral-history-of-alice-coltrane/
Summer Tuesdays come alive on the MCA terrace with free concerts highlighting artists from Chicago’s internationally renowned music community. Enjoy live music while relaxing on the lawn with your own picnic, or savor snacks and drinks available for purchase. Then head inside to catch the MCA’s summer exhibitions—we’re open late on Tuesdays and free for Illinois residents.
This Tuesday enjoy the soulful sounds of Rudy de Anda, whose romantic bilingual songs are the perfect company for a summer night.
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/tuesdays-on-the-terrace-rudy-de-anda/
This event is wheelchair accessible.
Summer Tuesdays come alive on the MCA terrace with free concerts highlighting artists from Chicago’s internationally renowned music community. Enjoy live music while relaxing on the lawn with your own picnic, or savor snacks and drinks available for purchase. Then head inside to catch the MCA’s summer exhibitions—we’re open late on Tuesdays and free for Illinois residents.
After a two-year hiatus, beloved Chicago vocalist Maggie Brown returns to the MCA Terrace with her seasoned quintet.
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/tuesdays-on-the-terrace-maggie-brown/
Summer Tuesdays come alive on the MCA terrace with free concerts highlighting artists from Chicago’s internationally renowned music community. Enjoy live music while relaxing on the lawn with your own picnic, or savor snacks and drinks available for purchase. Then head inside to catch the MCA’s summer exhibitions—we’re open late on Tuesdays and free for Illinois residents.
In conjunction with the Guatemalan Consulate, this Tuesday we will be joined by Jorge Morataya-Marimba, whose band will grace the MCA stage to serenade us with the sounds of the Guatemalan national instrument: marimba.
Lineup:
Jorge Morataya
Zuleika Díaz
Carlos Ortiz
Ángel de Leon
Please note that this event will be taking place inside the Edlis Neeson Theater and seating will be limited.
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/tuesdays-on-the-terrace-jorge-morataya-marimba/
Join us for 30 glow’d-up, sweat-soaked, lipstick-smeared, gender euphoric™, gay-panic-inducing plays in 60 minutes – all in the name of Queer Community.
100% of proceeds from this show will be donated to Families in Palestine. The performance is ASL-interpreted and will be followed by mask-optional DRAG BINGO and shmoozing.
Performance begins at 7:00 pm. Absolutely NO LATE SEATING.
When purchasing a ticket in advance for THE INFINITE WRENCH: 30 Queer Plays in 60 Straight Minutes you are guaranteeing your seat for the performance and avoiding the need to wait in line outside before our doors open 30 minutes prior to performance. Please note that seating in our Theater is General Admission and if you want the first choice of seat you still need to arrive early, especially given our limited capacity & social distancing measures.
All sales are final. We do not offer refunds, but will exchange tickets for a future performance if you are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms or feeling unwell in any way. Please contact BoxOffice@Neofuturists.org for exchanges.
By purchasing this ticket you are agreeing to all terms and conditions listed in our Health & Safety protocols page which are available at https://neofuturists.org/health-safety/. This includes:
https://theneofuturists.my.salesforce-sites.com/ticket/#/instances/a0FUn000003bG8vMAE
“The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love, we begin to move toward freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others. That action is the testimony of love as the practice of freedom.”
—bell hooks
Liberation is defined as the act of being freed from imprisonment, slavery, or some type of captivity. Love and liberation are two things that go hand in hand. One cannot exist without the other. There are different kinds of love: self, familial, platonic, romantic, community, cultural–– the bounds are limitless. How has love acted as a liberating force in your life? Contributing youth artist are asked to consider the theme of “Love and Liberation” broadly and to interpret this prompt creatively in their submissions.
ASL and CART captioning are provided.
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/21minus-love-and-liberation/
Love is a universal language; it transcends identity and culture. Love is more than a feeling; it is a tough invitation that encourages sacrifice and commitment. Love is a never-ending journey that is always beginning. But what is love in the absence of compassion and wonder?
#OTVTonight, your favorite intersectional Late Show, returns to MCA Chicago for an intimate evening filled with care and admiration for the stories that help us to cultivate a bond that is strong enough to heal, prepare, and transform unstable foundations.
Join us in the Edlis Neeson Theater for the premiere of handpicked titles inviting us to open a window into love, interspersed with artist interviews, live DJ sets, pop-up performances and more — all hosted by OTV’s Co-Founder and Executive Diva, Elijah McKinnon. Remember, the future of television is intersectional. If you don’t believe it, let OTV show you.
For live updates on #OTVTonight: A Window Into Love, visit bit.ly/otvtonight.
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/otvtonight-a-window-into-love/
Join us to celebrate the last Family Day of the season!
Sueños Music Festival will be raffling two pairs of tickets for the Sueños Music Festival event.
Join us as we bring together incredible local artists for a day of workshops and interactive experiences.
Salvador Andrade will be leading a collaborative workshop using found objects that draw inspiration from Mexican textiles.
Mr. Pintamuro, known for his captivating artwork that merges Aztec and Mayan storytelling with Japanese anime, will share his expertise and creativity with families.
Printmaker Atlan Arceo will guide participants of all ages through a workshop on various print techniques for all ages.
The Mexican Consulate of Chicago is collaborating with us to share two stories from Home is Somewhere Else, directed by Carlos Hagerman and Jorge Villalobos, which is a unique and timely animated documentary that tells stories of immigrant youth, exploring each character’s inner world alongside their colorful hopes, and dreams for a better future.
Don’t miss our family workshop, Tell Me About Your Wings, to learn more about the traditional techniques of indigenous cultures in Mexico, such as the Wixárika, in commemoration of Jorge Marín’s sculpture Wings of Mexico.
Last but not least, Borderless Magazine will be conducting family interviews for all ages to highlight stories that will be published in the near future!
Designed and led by Chicago artists, Family Day is a monthly program that allows families and youth to connect and engage with contemporary art through activities and performances for all-ages. Enjoy FREE admission while taking part in workshops, open studio sessions, gallery tours, performances, and more.
Activities are facilitated in English and Spanish with ASL interpretation provided.
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/family-day-migration-stories/
In celebration of the opening of Virginia Jaramillo: Principle of Equivalence, join us for a roundtable conversation on Jaramillo’s profound commitment to abstraction with the exhibition’s originating curator, Erin Dziedzic, Catherine Morris, Sackler Senior Curator for the Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum, and Iris Colburn, MCA Curatorial Associate.
Please note that Courtney Martin is no longer able to participate.
English and Spanish CART captioning and American Sign Language (ASL) will be provided.
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/talk-roundtable-virginia-jaramillo/
Days after the February 1848 revolution, Fryderyk Chopin is teaching a piano lesson in Paris. Set in the Polish pianist-composer’s intimate salon, Chopin shares with his students secrets about the piano and secrets about himself—as well as playing some of his most beautiful and enduring compositions. In a tour de force performance, virtuoso actor/pianist Hershey Felder brings to life the romantic story and music of the man once called the “Poet of the Piano.”
https://www.writerstheatre.org/hershey-felder-s-chopin-in-paris
In partnership with former Technical Director Glenn B. Rust’s Graduate Thesis Project, Keep it Going presents an afternoon of new works that you can watch in the theatre or from the comfort of your own home!
Beginning the afternoon we will have Interrobang by Resident Playwright Arlene Malinowski followed by the final performance of Access Fellow Deb Stein’s HAND, Foot, HAND. Following the performances there will be a thirty-minute talkback and an afterparty!
Keep it Going is designed to highlight technologies and practices that allow for more accessible theatre.
-You can join us at the Russ Tutterow Theatre to see the performances in person or virtually at https://www.youtube.com/@chicagodramatists6747
-Live captions will be provided for both in-person and virtual audiences.
-Additional seating will be available both in the house and on the stage including wheelchair accessible seating.
-The event will be a relaxed performance. House lights will remain at half. Audience members are welcome to exit and reenter the space at any point for any reason. We will asked phones be silenced, but texting is allowed. Audience reaction is also encouraged. If something stirs a response out of you, or if you need to ask a question of the folks you’ve come with, feel free!
-Scent & Allergen Free Space
-Masking Recommended
The in-person performance is Pay What You Will with all payments made going to support the Access Fellowship. The Chicago Dramatists Access Fellowship for Deaf & Disabled Artists is in honor of Charles and Dorothy Malinowski, who were revered storytellers in the Deaf Community. Fellows receive two free classes, one free Script Lab, and more!
The virtual performance is completely free!
Whether you’ll be joining us at the Russ Tutterow Theatre or logging in on our YouTube channel to join the talkback in the chat, we cannot wait to see you there!
Accessibility: All-Gender Restrooms, Captioning, Sensory Friendly, and Wheelchair Accessible.
https://chicagodramatists.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/chicagodramatists/event.jsp?event=2064&
Love is a universal language; it transcends identity and culture. Love is more than a feeling; it is a tough invitation that encourages sacrifice and commitment. Love is a never-ending journey that is always beginning. But what is love in the absence of compassion and wonder?
#OTVTonight, your favorite intersectional Late Show, returns to MCA Chicago for an intimate evening filled with care and admiration for the stories that help us to cultivate a bond that is strong enough to heal, prepare, and transform unstable foundations.
Join us in the Edlis Neeson Theater for the premiere of handpicked titles inviting us to open a window into love, interspersed with artist interviews, live DJ sets, pop-up performances and more — all hosted by OTV’s Co-Founder and Executive Diva, Elijah McKinnon. Remember, the future of television is intersectional. If you don’t believe it, let OTV show you.
For live updates on #OTVTonight: A Window Into Love, visit bit.ly/otvtonight.
Accessibility: Sensory Friendly, ASL, English and Spanish captions, quiet spaces
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/otvtonight-a-window-into-love/
Sensory-Friendly Morning is a free program for all people who benefit from visiting the MCA without large crowds and other sensitive environmental elements. This includes visitors with sensory sensitivities, disabilities, autism, PTSD, dementia, and more. On these mornings, lighting at the museum is dimmed, sounds from artworks and environmental noise is kept at a minimum, a quiet space is available to visitors for breaks, and a Chicago-based artist facilitates a sensory-friendly art-making experience.
Sensory-Friendly Morning aims to be a welcoming space to experience contemporary art in a judgment-free environment.
Days after the February 1848 revolution, Fryderyk Chopin is teaching a piano lesson in Paris. Set in the Polish pianist-composer’s intimate salon, Chopin shares with his students secrets about the piano and secrets about himself—as well as playing some of his most beautiful and enduring compositions. In a tour de force performance, virtuoso actor/pianist Hershey Felder brings to life the romantic story and music of the man once called the “Poet of the Piano.”
Accessibility
Opened Captioning available on Thursday, April 25th, 2024. Assistive listening devices, wheelchair accessible, and ASL interpretation available upon request. For information about scheduling an ASL Interpreter for your performance, contact boxoffice@writerstheatre.org or 847-242-6000. We ask for at least 2 weeks prior to scheduled performances in order to prepare ASL interpreters.
https://www.writerstheatre.org/hershey-felder-s-chopin-in-paris
Trap Door Theatre’s 30th Anniversary Season closes with Olwen Wymark’s splendid dramatization of Zola’s Nana: a story of sexual and financial greed in nineteenth-century Parisian society, depicting the rise and tragic downfall of a young courtesan.
Managing Director Nicole Wiesner and Resident Choreographer Miguel Long team up again to direct this reimagination, first produced at Trap Door in 2002.
This Friday, May 3rd performance includes open captioning.
Accessibility: Open Captions, Captioning, and All-Gender Restrooms
Chicago Children’s Museum’s Play for All initiative creates a community where play and learning connect for visitors of all abilities. Play for All invites children and families with disabilities to come and experience CCM’s inclusive, multisensory exhibits and programs.
The museum will open at 10 a.m. for pre-registered children and families with disabilities and CCM members before opening to the public at 11 a.m. The first 250 children and families with disabilities who register will receive FREE admission! Pre-registration is required for free admission.
Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible, Accessible & All-Gender Restrooms, Sound-reducing Headphones, Open Captions, Assistive Listening Devices, Quiet Spaces.
Sensory-Friendly Morning is a free program for all people who benefit from visiting the MCA without large crowds and other sensitive environmental elements. This includes visitors with sensory sensitivities, disabilities, autism, PTSD, dementia, and more. On these mornings, lighting at the museum is dimmed, sounds from artworks and environmental noise is kept at a minimum, a quiet space is available to visitors for breaks, and a Chicago-based artist facilitates a sensory-friendly art-making experience.
Sensory-Friendly Morning aims to be a welcoming space to experience contemporary art in a judgment-free environment.
Accessibility: sensory-friendly
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/sensory-friendly-morning-8/
Tellin’ Tales Theatre’s Hands Up! Body delves into the impact of body demands and perceptions in our daily lives. Body dissatisfaction, changes in physical ability, and aging are just some of the topics explored. Each story examines the vulnerability, challenges, and wisdom built from the writer’s experience. Our bodies look and work exactly as they are supposed to, each with its own unique beauty. Video clips from Momenta, a dance company inclusive of artists with disabilities will be included in the performance. This performance is co-sponsored by Northeastern Illinois University and the Disability Cultural Center. Learn more and order tickets at: https://tellintales.org/
Accessibility: ASL interpretation
In a small Israeli desert town where every day feels the same, a lost bus arrives carrying an Egyptian Police Band. With no hotel and no buses until morning, the musicians are taken in for the night by the locals. Under the spell of the desert sky, these misplaced musicians bring everyone together in the way that only music can. Winner of 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, The Band’s Visit is a beautifully intimate show, perfectly suited for the Nichols Theatre, about the unifying power of music.
Accessibility: open captions, assistive listening devices
Lincoln Park Zoo is excited to share our first ever Beeping Egg Hunt with you!
Saturday, March 30
$25 (Best for ages 1-12)
50% OFF ($12.50) ticket with promo code BEEPINGEGGS
For Beeping Egg Hunt tickets, select 8am or 9am in the Green Zone. Follow the link below.
https://tickets.lpzoo.org/events/f7c3a3ea-2aaf-3f29-7f05-39cdbdd0a91d?utm_source=EventsEmail.2.6.24&utm_medium=Email%20&utm_campaign=Spring%20Egg-Stravaganza&utm_id=Spring%20Egg-Stravaganza
Get ready to hop into springtime fun at the zoo with our family favorite event, Spring Egg-Stravaganza!
Create lasting memories with your little ones as they embark on an “egg”-citing exploration throughout the zoo. Choose from one of six egg-hunting zones with varied levels of difficulty, accessibility, and terrain types. Each zone features age and ability recommendations along with different potential animal sightings to ensure fun for all ages.
Your ticket includes:
Egg hunts with up to 12 candy- and/or toy-stuffed eggs per child
Photo opportunities with spring characters and a costumed bunny character
Free rides on the Endangered Species Carousel and Lionel Train Adventure
A kid-friendly DJ on the South Lawn to keep kids dancing
A giant bubble activity
Animal chats, fun springtime learnings, and craft areas
Outdoor activities and games
Parents and non-egg-hunters must also purchase a ticket to enjoy all the other “egg”-cellent festivities throughout the morning.
https://tickets.lpzoo.org/events/f7c3a3ea-2aaf-3f29-7f05-39cdbdd0a91d?utm_source=EventsEmail.2.6.24&utm_medium=Email%20&utm_campaign=Spring%20Egg-Stravaganza&utm_id=Spring%20Egg-Stravaganza
Please email access@lpzoo.org with questions.
The Tellin’ Tales Theatre’s Improv Team
“What’s Yours Like” is inspired by a theme developed by the audience at the start of each show. Then, improvisers with and without disabilities leap into action and develop humorous and unpredictable narratives in real time. This time stand-up comics with and without disabilities open for us! Sponsored by Bodies of Work.
Accessibility: ASL interpretation
“What’s Yours Like” is inspired by a theme developed by the audience at the start of each show. Then, improvisers with and without disabilities leap into action and develop humorous and unpredictable narratives in real time. This time stand-up comics with and without disabilities open for us! Sponsored by Bodies of Work.
Accessibility: audio description
About the Event
In MOBY DICK; or, The Whale, award-winning filmmaker and visual artist Wu Tsang embarks upon a feature-length, silent-film telling of Herman Melville’s great American novel. The film features original orchestral music composed by Caroline Shaw and Andrew Yee with Asma Maroof, which is performed live by the Chicago Sinfonietta.
This adaptation, written by Sophia Al Maria and directed by Tsang, follows the white whale above and below the surface of the water, developing a visual cosmology that resists the exploration and exploitation of the earth under imperial colonialism. Tsang’s approach pairs the classic story of the whaler’s ”floating factory” with the beginnings of the film industry. MOBY DICK; or, The Whale was shot entirely on a soundstage combining silent-era filmmaking techniques with Virtual Production, a virtual reality game engine projecting surreal ocean environments.
The narrative is interwoven with extracts by the Sub-Sub-Librarian, a character played by acclaimed poet Fred Moten, and tackles the novel’s subterranean currents, encountering the resistance of the ship’s hydrarchy, or organizational structure, and collectives of “mariners, renegades, and castaways,” as described by historian C.L.R. James. Exploring overlapping histories of industrialism, extractivism, colonialism, ecological and spiritual crisis, the film creates a multilayered surreal filmic adaptation of the 1851 novel.
The MCA’s presentation of MOBY DICK; or, The Whale is organized by Nolan Jimbo, Assistant Curator.
Accessibility: audio description, CART captioning
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/live-arts-moby-dick-or-the-whale/
Calling ALL champions to Chicago Children’s Museum! Participate in event activities, including roller sled hockey, handcycling, wheelchair racing, bocce, Judo, group exercises, and See & Touch Prosthetics display. All of our inclusive, multisensory museum exhibits and programs will also be available during Play For All.
The first 500 children and families with disabilities who register will receive free admission.
The museum opens at 10 am for Play For All guests and members exclusively and at 11 am to the general public.
Accessibility: assistive listening devices, quiet spaces, wheelchair accessible
In January, artists A. Martinez and Gaby Martinez take over the MCA with their collaborative quilt making inspired by Faith Ringgold. Additionally, musician Ben LaMar Gay performs for families to interact with his music, and KIDO Chicago, the award-winning kids boutique in the South Loop, has a pop-up at the museum.
Designed and led by Chicago artists, Family Day is a monthly program that allows families and youth to connect and engage with contemporary art through activities and performances for all-ages. Enjoy FREE admission while taking part in workshops, open studio sessions, gallery tours, performances, and more.
Activities are facilitated in English and Spanish with ASL interpretation provided.
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/family-day-quilts-and-stories/
Pocket Con, Chicago’s only comics convention for children and youth, is coming to Family Day at the MCA! Meet creators, attend workshops and panels, play teen-created video games, and try out costuming and art in a space that celebrates and welcomes diversity.
Designed and led by Chicago artists, Family Day is a monthly program that allows families and youth to connect and engage with contemporary art through activities and performances for all ages. Enjoy FREE admission while taking part in workshops, open studio sessions, gallery tours, performances, and more.
Activities are facilitated in English and Spanish with ASL interpretation provided.
About Pocket Con
Pocket Con was established with the goal of promoting literacy and creativity in young people, increasing visibility for artists and writers of color, and facilitating networking and mentorship opportunities. It is intended to be a celebration of diversity in creativity that presents no economic barriers to anyone. Pocket Con features the works of artists and writers of color, women, and LGBTQ+ creators, with a special focus on characters and creators of color.
Accessibility: ASL interpreted
Sensory-Friendly Night at ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ
Wednesday, December 6
4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Admission is $7 (or free with promo code SensoryFriendly23)
All ages
Lincoln Park Zoo is offering Sensory-Friendly ZooLights, in which guests with disabilities, sensitivities, autism, dementia, or chronic illness as well as members of the Deaf community can experience the zoo grounds, animal buildings, and holiday lights in a comfortable and inclusive environment.
Sensory-Friendly ZooLights is for all people who benefit from visiting the zoo without crowds and other sensitive environmental elements. Modifications include limited capacity, static light displays, muted attractions, and music at low volume.
During Sensory-Friendly ZooLights, the Gift Shop and food and beverage locations will be open around Main Mall with all of ZooLights’ regular offerings. The AT&T Endangered Species Carousel and Lionel Train Adventure will operate with music and noises muted. Not all animal buildings may be open, and as always, animals have the option to go to their indoor or outdoor habitats.
CLICK HERE to purchase ZooLights tickets. Use promo code SensoryFriendly23 at checkout for your complimentary tickets while supplies last.
View the zoo’s accessibility map and accessibility page to help plan your visit. For more information on ZooLights, visit lpzoo.org/zoolights.
Lincoln Park Zoo is certified Sensory Inclusive by KultureCity. Please download the free KultureCity app with Lincoln Park Zoo’s social narrative either on iOS or Android.
FAQs
Where can I enter?
You can enter from:
East Gate, located in the zoo parking lot at Cannon Dr., and Fullerton Ave.
West Gate, located at Webster Ave., and Stockton Dr.
Fisher Bridge Gate, located between the zoo’s parking lot and Stockton Dr., on the bridge over Nature Boardwalk.
Is parking available?
Paid parking is available at the zoo’s parking lot located at Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive (2300 N. Cannon Drive). The zoo is also accessible by train via the Armitage and Fullerton stations and by bus via the 22, 36, 151, and 156 routes.
What if it rains?
All Lincoln Park Zoo events take place rain or shine. Animal buildings will be open and the carousel is covered.
What can’t I bring to Sensory-Friendly ZooLights?
There is no smoking at Lincoln Park Zoo for the health of the animals in our care. See our Code of Conduct here.
Pets are not allowed at the zoo, but licensed service animals are welcome.
If you have questions, please email access@lpzoo.org.
It’s just another (omg, wtf, lmfao) day at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. When a White House PR nightmare spins into a legit sh*tshow, seven brilliant and beleaguered women must risk life, liberty, and the pursuit of sanity to keep the commander-in-chief out of trouble. POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass Are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive is a bawdy and irreverent look at sex, politics and the women in charge of the man in charge of the free world. Who knew that global crisis is always just a four-letter word away.
Free Dance Day brings together people of all ages and experience levels to enjoy a day filled with dance classes, performances, and festivities, all for free!
This annual open-house style event is a chance to try out dance classes in a relaxed, communal setting. Visit Synapse’s home studio as an Arts Partner in Residence with the Chicago Park District to try out a free movement class, bring kids to try ballet and hip hop classes, and see the Synapse Performance Troupe perform.
Come for Free Dance Day, then stay for the free Boo! Bash presented by Loyola Park, which includes a DJ dance party, crafts, snacks, and a Halloween-y photo booth.
Schedule and registration details available at www.synapsearts.com.
Accessibility: ASL interpreter, large print programs, quiet spaces
Experience Red: A Crayon’s Story like you never have before! This storybook video features Deaf American Sign Language master signer Crom Saunders signing the words to the animated book, with music and sound effects bringing the story to life. Then we’ll watch and play along with fun interactive games conducted by students and teachers from the Indiana School for the Deaf.
Crom will visit in person and play theater games with the kids after the video. This event will have a live interpreter.
Best for kids in preschool and elementary school and their family and friends.
More information at https://oakpark.librarycalendar.com/event/asl-storybook-red-crayons-story
Eurydice is a play about newlywed and newly dead Eurydice arrives in the underworld without memories or language where she struggles to recover her humanity with the aid of the father she lost years ago. When Orpheus arrives to rescue her, Eurydice must choose between staying with her father or escaping with her husband—between life and death. Pulitzer & Tony nominated North Shore native Sarah Ruhl infuses the ancient myth with humor, poetry, hope & sneaky surprises as this classic heroine finds her voice.
Run time: 1 hour and 20 minutes, no intermission
Accessibility: Assistive Listening Devices, Open Captions, Digital Document, Wheelchair Accessible
https://www.writerstheatre.org/eurydice
On Sunday, September 24 from 8-10am, Lincoln Park Zoo is offering Sensory-Friendly Morning hours for guests with disabilities, chronic illness, or Deaf to experience the zoo grounds and animal buildings in a comfortable and inclusive environment. Modifications include limited capacity and muted attractions. This is a free event, but it does require advanced registration.
Sensory-Friendly Morning is a free program for all people who benefit from visiting the zoo without crowds and other sensitive environmental elements. This includes guests with sensory sensitivities, disabilities, autism, PTSD, and dementia to name a few.
During Sensory-Friendly Morning, Gift Shop will be open at 8am and Landmark Café will sell beverages starting at 8:30am. AT&T Endangered Species Carousel and Lionel Train Adventure will operate with music and noises muted. Not all animal buildings may be open, and some animals may not be in their public viewing spaces.
At 10am, the zoo will be open to the public and begin typical operations.
View the zoo’s accessibility map HERE and accessibility page HERE to help plan your visit.
Lincoln Park Zoo is certified Sensory Inclusive by KultureCity. Please download the free KultureCity app with Lincoln Park Zoo social story. iOS Android
Guests may only enter at West Gate and East Gate, and they need to present their registration email to zoo ushers.
Paid parking is available at the zoo’s parking lot located at Fullerton Parkway and Cannon Drive (2300 N. Cannon Drive). The zoo is also accessible by train via the Armitage and Fullerton stations and by bus via the 22, 36, 151, and 156 routes.
All Lincoln Park Zoo events take place rain or shine. We have some wonderful animal buildings you can still enjoy if it rains, and the carousel is covered.
There is no smoking at Lincoln Park Zoo for the health of the animals in our care.
Pets are not allowed at the zoo, but licensed service animals are welcome.
For any questions, please email access@lpzoo.org.
Accessibility: sensory friendly
https://sensory-friendly-morning-at-Lincoln-Park-Zoo.eventbrite.com
Blown fuses, real and metaphorical, punctuate the action with flashes of pent up energy in this acclaimed play. The diminutive heroine frequently plunges the dilapidated house she shares with her alcoholic mother into darkness by playing her dead father’s records at a volume matched only by the soulful power of her vocal impressions. Little Voice has a hidden talent: she can emulate every chanteuse from Judy Garland to Edith Piaf. She hides in her room, crooning and dreaming of love, while her disheveled mother mistakes a seedy agent’s interest as affection rather than enthusiasm for the gold mine buried in her daughter’s throat. This is an engaging fairy tale of despair, love and finally hope as LV finds a voice of her own.
This performance includes captioning.
All gender, accessible restrooms are available on site.
Blown fuses, real and metaphorical, punctuate the action with flashes of pent up energy in this acclaimed play. The diminutive heroine frequently plunges the dilapidated house she shares with her alcoholic mother into darkness by playing her dead father’s records at a volume matched only by the soulful power of her vocal impressions. Little Voice has a hidden talent: she can emulate every chanteuse from Judy Garland to Edith Piaf. She hides in her room, crooning and dreaming of love, while her disheveled mother mistakes a seedy agent’s interest as affection rather than enthusiasm for the gold mine buried in her daughter’s throat. This is an engaging fairy tale of despair, love and finally hope as LV finds a voice of her own.
This performance includes captioning, audio description and a touch tour (tentatively scheduled for 2pm.)
All gender, accessible restrooms are available on site.
Blown fuses, real and metaphorical, punctuate the action with flashes of pent up energy in this acclaimed play. The diminutive heroine frequently plunges the dilapidated house she shares with her alcoholic mother into darkness by playing her dead father’s records at a volume matched only by the soulful power of her vocal impressions. Little Voice has a hidden talent: she can emulate every chanteuse from Judy Garland to Edith Piaf. She hides in her room, crooning and dreaming of love, while her disheveled mother mistakes a seedy agent’s interest as affection rather than enthusiasm for the gold mine buried in her daughter’s throat. This is an engaging fairy tale of despair, love and finally hope as LV finds a voice of her own.
This is a sensory-friendly performance.
All gender, accessible restrooms are available on site.
Sensory-Friendly Morning is a free program for all people who benefit from visiting the MCA without large crowds and other sensitive environmental elements. This includes visitors with sensory sensitivities, disabilities, autism, PTSD, dementia, and more. On these mornings, lighting at the museum is dimmed, sounds from artworks and environmental noise is kept at a minimum, and a quiet space is available to visitors for breaks. During Sensory-Friendly Mornings, preregistered individuals and their families can visit the museum to explore exhibitions at their own pace, and join a Chicago-based artist for a sensory-friendly art-making experience. The museum is closed to the general public until 11:30 am; at that time, the lights and artworks return to usual operations.
Sensory-Friendly Morning aims to be a welcoming space to experience contemporary art in a judgment-free environment.
Accessibility: sensory-friendly, ASL interpreted, captioning, low lighting, quiet room, Spanish captioning, wheelchair accessible
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/sensory-friendly-morning-6/
Join us on June 24, 2023, from 10 a.m.–9 p.m. for the inaugural Bronzeville outdoor vendor market and bazaar that will take place on 33rd Boulevard between Michigan Avenue and State Street. Shop among the area’s finest merchants, makers, and artists. Dance to the music provided by Greater Bronzeville musicians and vocalists. Bring the entire family—there is something for everyone including a bouncy house where you will supervise your kids!
The Wildflower Music Festival stage will feature Chicago’s most well-loved and popular musical artists. Senabella Gill, also known as the Bronzeville Diva, will host the events on the Wildflower stage. Gill is a renowned, multi-awarded jazz vocalist, music activist, youth mentor, and founder of The Chicago Living Legacy Awards. The Office of Community Affairs and has partnered with the Cultural Access Collaborative to make this event accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing. The equipment is being loaned by Cultural Access Collaborative with special thanks to the Chicago Academy of Sciences and the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
https://www.iit.edu/events/bronzeville-vendor-fair-and-wildflower-music-festival
Headlining acts for the Bronzeville Vendor Fair and Wildflower Music Festival include:
Mae Koen
Mae Koen
Mae Koen’s specific harmonic talents took her on the road with Aretha Franklin from 1997 to 2004 and again in 2013 to 2017. Koen appeared with Franklin at her last Chicago performance at Ravinia in September 2017. She has also appeared with Frankin on several television shows including those hosted by David Letterman and Jay Leno in addition to The View, Good Morning America, and the Rosie O’Donnell Show. On the televised limited VH1 series Diva’s Live, you can see Koen not only singing with Franklin, but also offering up support vocals for Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, and Carole King. Franklin has even made special mention of Koen being among her favorite background singers in her 1999 memoir From These Roots. Locally, Koen is constantly sought after to offer her expertise in background and lead vocals on many local projects. You can see Koen with the MAC 180 Band, the Leland Project, the Steeley Dan tribute band Bad Sneakers, Chicago-based jazz vocal quartet Vocal Poynt, and a host of other various and diverse acts.
Band members include June “Obie Copeland on bass, Brady Williams on drums, and Theodis Rogers on keyboard.
Performance time: 12:30–1:20 p.m.
Tony “TOCA” Carpenter—Toca Live!
Tony Carpenter
Tony Carpenter is an urban percussionist who began his percussive journey in the early 1970’s when he began exploring the traditional rhythms of West Africa and performed with African dance troupes such as Julian Swains’ Inner-City Dancers and Najwa Dance Troop. Carpenter has played with many masters congueros including, Mongo Santamaria, Armando Peraza, Alex Acuna, and Giovanni Hidalgo. His performances include playing R&B, gospel, and jazz. The melodious tones of his unit, “TOCA LIVE,” is a sound that is memorable. He has combined rhythms with his favorite jazz classics, which he calls cultural jazz. Carpenter has performed with many great artists of all genres, such as Leroy Hudson, Tyron Davis, The Emotions, Jerry “The Ice Man” Butler, Ramsey Lewis, The Soul Children of Chicago, Kim Stratton, Malachi Thompson, and currently tours nationally with a-list performers.
Band members include Toca on conga percussions, Malcolm Banks on drums, Roger Harris on keys, James Perkins on sax, Kelvin Djembe Olu on dunn dun Uche’ on Shakara percussion.
Performance time: 1:50–2:45 p.m.
The Alan Burroughs and The AB Band
Alan Burroughs
Alan Burroughs is a native of Chicago and has been in the music industry for more than 20 years. He has followed a path that embraces jazz, rock, blues, and a myriad of other musical styles. He has traveled nationally and has shared the stages with artists such as Miles Davis, Art Porter, Phillip Bailey, KoKo Taylor, The Dells, and countless others. Burroughs is currently in the studio recording his second album.
Band Members include Alan Burroughs on lead guitar.
Performance time: 3–3:50 p.m.
D’Erania and Jahari Stampley
Jahari Stampley and D’Erania Stampley
D’Erania Stampley and Jahari Stampley are aptly entitled as a “mother -son duo.” These two are Internationally renowned, Grammy-awarded musicians who play with the most sought out and favored jazz musicians on local and international stages. The two are delighted to join the Wildflower Music Festival stage. Jahari, being the multi-talented musical phenom he is, will be using his musical super powers playing piano, keys, electronic drums, while mom D’Erania will play with him on sax and upright bass. This mother-and-son duet will be a phenomenal addition that is an unforgettably electric, soul-stirring performance!
Band members include D’Erania on upright bass and sax and Jahari on keys and electronic drums.
Performance time: 4:10–5:15 p.m.
Mario Abney and The Abney Effect
Mario Abney
Mario Abney is a singer, songwriter, master trumpeter, and bandleader originally from New Orleans. Last year, Mario Abney & The Abney Effect were featured on Good Morning America for Mardi Gras and became a regular on the HBO series Tremé. He developed his chops in Chicago at Fred Anderson’s legendary Velvet Lounge. Abney has been compared to the genius of Miles Davis and the leadership and insight of Art Blakely. He fuses the art of jazz music with the soul, spirituality, and freedom of New Orleans.
The Abney Effect was established in 2010 and has since produced amazing concerts at well-known establishments all over the country and overseas. The Abney Effect is currently featured at Andy’s Jazz Club every Tuesday night and has upcoming or past performances at Untitled Supper Club, Adorn Bar & Restaurant (Four Seasons),Shedd Aquarium, and private events.
The Abney Effects’ longevity, notoriety, talent, and energy has created a lot of buzz, evidenced by their prominent online presence, concert attendance, and album sales.
Band members include Abney on trumpet, Micah Collier on bass, Frank Morrison on drums, and Josh Atkin on sax.
Performance time: 5:30– 6:35 p.m.
The Frank Russell Band
Frank Russell
Chicago bass guitarist Frank Russell was the recent recipient of the prestigious 2020 Jeff Award for Best Original Music In A Play, in collaboration with the legendary Ladysmith Black Mambazo. To date, Russell is the only bass guitarist to grace the cover of Chicago Jazz Magazine. He has performed with Ramsey Lewis, Wallace Roney, Freddie Hubbard, Alphonse Mouzon, Ken Chaney, Henry Johnson, Robert Irving III, and many more.
Joining Russell on the Wildflower stage will be his star-studded lineup consisting of Irving III on keys, Corey Wilkes on trumpet, Marco Villarreal on lead guitar, Steve “Kwame” Cobbs on drums, and featuring international vocalist Yvonne Gage.
Performance time: 7–8:45 p.m.
Lyric Opera is prototyping an innovative new experience for audiences who are deaf or hard of hearing called the SoundShirt, built by CuteCircuit. While the orchestra and artists perform on stage, microphones capture the sound. Computer software transforms the sounds into touch data, and the data is broadcast wirelessly to the SoundShirts. SoundShirt wearers experience the feeling of music rendered on their upper body through haptic actuation in real-time in a fully immersive way.
We’re prototyping the experience during our summer musical, West Side Story, and inviting a few outside guests who are hard of hearing and deaf to participate and experience it. There will be a follow-up survey seeking feedback. Seats and shirt sizes are limited, and tickets are free.
For questions, please write to [bdunn@lyricopera.org](mailto:bdunn@lyricopera.org).
https://www.lyricopera.org/shows/upcoming/2022-23/west-side-story/
Please join us for a communal dialog with award-winning artist Barak adé Soleil and members of the local Black and Brown neurodiverse and disabled community who are part of adé Soleil’s newly commissioned work SHIFT.
SHIFT, a multidisciplinary project for the MCA’s Frictions series, has two components:
An installation located on the first floor of the MCA during the performance’s run, intentionally next to a spiraling staircase that goes up to the museum’s fourth floor. Barak is creating a film that will be installed and projected onto a diamond-like platform. In this dreamlike video installation, bodies both at rest and as they shift are visible onscreen at life-size and larger-than-life scale. The presence of Black neurodiverse and disabled bodies is amplified from many angles, infiltrating the architecture of the museum’s iconic public stairwell. Whereas these bodies might otherwise be violently misinterpreted as either lazy or near death, adé Soleil offers rest—and the intimacy of everyday gestures—as forms of political resistance for Black people.
A gathering on Saturday, May 6, where members of the Disability community will join adé Soleil in a “promenade” throughout the museum’s public areas; at times they will ascend the staircases and take up space to make visible and apparent the power of community presence. The use of the word promenade is intentional, drawing from its definition: “to take a leisurely public walk, ride, [wheel] or drive so as to meet or be seen by others.”
SHIFT is curated by Tara Aisha Willis, Curator of Performance & Public Practice at the MCA.
Access Information
ASL interpretation, CART captioning, and live audio description are provided. AD devices are available at the museum, and audience members may also use their personal devices to access the audio description through a URL provided on-site.
This event has relaxed viewing protocols and sensory-friendly lighting.
ASL provided.Audio description available.Haptic elements used.
https://visit.mcachicago.org/events/talk-barak-ade-soleil-with-shift-performers/