DIRECTED BY CHUCK SMITH
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR AND MUSIC DIRECTOR HARRY J. LENNIX
“The more music you got in the world, the fuller it is.”
Ma Rainey’s band is waiting. It’s 1927 Chicago, and “The Mother of the Blues” takes her time getting ready to record. Tensions and temperatures rise as the musicians recount tales of rage, joy, betrayal and faith in astonishing stories and a heart-stopping climax. Chicago legends Chuck Smith and Harry J. Lennix reunite for the play that smashed box office records in its 1997 Goodman premiere for this major revival of “a genuine American masterpiece” (Chicago Reader).
Accessibility: ASL Interpretation
Website: https://www.goodmantheatre.org/show/ma-raineys-black-bottom/
The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free monthly in-person reading series and generative writing workshop. Our April featured readers are Diego Baez and Samyak Shertok.
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 April 15:
* 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.
* Register for the workshop: https://BHWorkshopApril2026.eventbrite.com
* Get your ticket for the reading: https://April2026BlueHour.eventbrite.com
* Livestream is available here. (Register for livestream reminders: https://April2026livestream.eventbrite.com)
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.
APRIL FEATURES:
Diego Báez is a writer, educator, and abolitionist. He is the author of Yaguareté White (Univ. Arizona, 2024), a finalist for The Georgia Poetry Prize and a semi-finalist for the Berkshire Prize for Poetry. A recipient of fellowships from CantoMundo, the Surge Institute, the Poetry Foundation Incubator for Community-Engaged Poets, and DreamYard’s Rad(ical) Poetry Consortium, Diego’s poems have previously appeared or are forthcoming in Freeman’s, Poetry Northwest, and Latino Poetry: A New Anthology. Book reviews have appeared at Booklist, Harriet, Letras Latinas Blog 2, and The Boston Globe. Essays and other non-fiction have been published in The Georgia Review, Spoon River Poetry Review, and Los Angeles Review of Books. Diego lives in Chicago and teaches poetry, English composition, and first-year seminars at the City Colleges, where he is an Assistant Professor of Multidisciplinary Studies.
Samyak Shertok’s debut collection, “No Rhododendron,” was selected by Kimiko Hahn for the 2024 AWP Donald Hall Prize for Poetry and is forthcoming from the University of Pittsburgh Press (Pitt Poetry Series) in 2025. His poems appear in The Cincinnati Review, The Gettysburg Review, The Iowa Review, The Kenyon Review, POETRY, Shenandoah, Best New Poets, and elsewhere. His honors include the Robert and Adele Schiff Award for Poetry, the Gulf Coast Prize in Poetry, and the Auburn Witness Poetry Prize. Originally from Nepal, he was the inaugural Hughes Fellow in Poetry at Southern Methodist University and teaches creative writing at Hendrix College.
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.
Accessibility: ASL Interpretation, Wheelchair Accessible
Website: https://www.poetrycenter.org/blue-hour-2025-2026-season/
Celebrate spring with the Bi Wives Club on April 5th! The show features a stacked lineup of Chicago’s funniest comics! Not bi? No problem. Nobody’s wife? Even better.
The Bi Wives Club is a comedy showcase for all outsiders who hide in plain sight. Playful, intimate, and hilarious—audiences praise the show’s atmosphere, community, and humor. It’s both one of the funniest and most energizing shows in town.
ACCESSIBILITY NOTE: this show will include ASL interpretation! Use Promo Code: ASLCLUB
Join us on April 5th as we welcome comics Brigid Broderick, Jess Martinez, Queeny, Georgia Moore and the Bi Wives themselves: Kris Lantzy, Kayla McCaffery & Christen Manville.
Tickets are $12 in advance and $17 at the door.
Doors open at 6pm with a one-hour happy hour before the show at 7pm. Dorothy remains open after the event until 11pm.
Dorothy is 21+ and requires physical or mobile ID for entry. Dorothy is ADA accessible with elevator access on Campbell Ave. If you are a guest who requires elevator access, please wait by the black door on Campbell Ave with the Dorothy logo in the window and call staff to assist at 773-770-3799.
Please note: refund requests are only available until 24h before the event (4/4, 7pm). No other refund requests will be honored.
Follow the Bi Wives Club on Instagram at @theBiWivesClub to see full performer bios and future show announcements.
ABOUT THE COMEDIANS
BRIGID BRODERICK is a very young gay comedian from Chicago. Her absurd stream of consciousness musical comedy and characters explore the inner lives of tiny animals, southern cheerleaders, and also gay guys. It’s kind of likeeeee what if a girl was actually a clownish mouse? What then? Ya know? A pillar of the community, you can catch her performing at Color Club, Cafe Mustache, Dorothy, Empty Bottle, Sleeping Village, and mostly anyplace that has a light up old style sign outside. She hopes to one day become a contestant on Traitors or a wife.
JESS MARTINEZ (she/they) is a Chicago-based writer, comedian, and actor who enjoys making audiences laugh as she genuinely tries to make sense of the world around her. She fell in love with comedy when she discovered Comedy Central specials in the early 2000s. Comedians like Mitch Hedberg, Mike Birbiglia, and Maria Bamford made such a lasting impression that she eventually found herself on stage in 2017. Her meticulous approach to projects on and off the stage led her to shape prominent productions like The Moth StorySLAM Chicago, Las Locas Comedy, and the Latina Comedy Festival. Jess is now a Tía at Tus Tías Productions, a cast member of the Ratas de dos Patas comedy collective, and owner of Bright Noodle Studios.
QUEENY is a Chicago based comedian and producer. He/she/they/it can best be described as an irreverent observer and is also the producer of the Windy City Comedy Fest.
GEORGIA MOORE is a young up and coming Chicago comedian!! You can catch her on Prime Time every Saturday at the Lincoln Lodge!!
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 and 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.
The Chicago Poetry Center presents BLUE HOUR, a free monthly in-person reading series and generative writing workshop. Our March featured readers are April Gibson and Mira Cameron.
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 March 18:
* 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.
* Register for the workshop here: https://BHWorkshopMarch2026.eventbrite.com
* Get your ticket for the reading here: https://March2026BlueHour.eventbrite.com
* Livestream is available here: https://March2026livestream.eventbrite.com
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.
MARCH FEATURES:
April Gibson is a poet, writer, and professor whose work has appeared in The Kenyon Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, Rhino, Prairie Schooner and elsewhere. Her poetry collection, “The Span of a Small Forever” (Amistad/HarperCollins, 2024) was shortlisted for a Chicago Review of Books Award and first runner-up for Chicago Reader’s Best of Chicago. April is a recipient of The Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award, and she has received grants, fellowships, or residencies from the Poetry Foundation, Tin House, Callaloo, Vermont Studio Center, the National Endowment for the Humanities and others. April is an Assistant Professor of English at Malcolm X College.
Mira Cameron is a girl helping create, maybe anarchy, or a phantasia, or a group of trans people holding hands. She is playing in warm dirt and trying to feed as many as she can, or otherwise, editing the poetry section of Imposter.
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.
Accessibility: ASL Interpretation, Wheelchair Accessible
Disability Justice Grounded Birthwork – Starting Friday March 20th, 2026, 12 – 2:30pm CST via Zoom
is a:
12 week series (10 weeks of content; 2 weeks of community building) on the intersections of Disability Justice and Reproductive Justice. We will immerse ourselves in the origins of eugenics and how it has shaped the medical industrial complex and policing we see today. Then we will ground in how the MIC and policing have shaped and sustain the current ableist and hostile state of reproductive care and anti-bodily autonomy. We will take considerable time centering the most and multi marginalized folks navigating these systems and communities. We will round this experience out with how to do this work mindfully, equitably and sustainably, while centering care.
This is for: All birthworkers, doulas, birthkeepers and folks who do reproductive care and support. Abortion, Birth, Fertility, Grief & Loss, Postpartum and more. While this series is centered on the full spectrum of birth and reproductive care workers, it is also open to parents and caregivers and I encourage you to sign up!
We have 4 AMAZING queer and trans Black covid cautious Birth and Reproductive care workers as community facilitators
We got ASL, CART (live transcription) and Captions
We have 30, Thirty!?, yes THIRTY full scholarships for:
– Black and Indigenous Disabled Birthworkers and/or Parents
– Disabled, DEAF/Hard of Hearing, and/or Blind/Low Vision folks/careworkers
– Just email me: rise@riotousroots.com
What’s the line up you ask?
Week 1: Grounding: Disability Justice, Reproductive Justice, Disability, Ableism and Access!
Week 2: Interrupting Ableism and AntiBlackness: Internally and Intuitionally
Week 3: Impacts of Environmental and Global Injustice on Reproductive Health
Week 4: Protecting Disabled, Chronically Ill and Neurodivergent Pregnant People: Lateral Advocacy, Harm Reduction and Carceral Systems
Week 5: Centering Survivorhood
Week 6: Break/Integration Week
Week 7: Reclaiming Grief
Week 8: Respecting Black, Indigenous and Ancestral Cultural Practices
Week 9: Postpartum is Forever and PMADS Suck!
Week 10 : Centering Parents and Caregivers A-Z: Community is Liberation
Week 11: Sustaining in Community: Self Solidarity, Accountability, Humility and Interpersonal Connection
Week 12: Closing/Community
I’m so excited to be in this 3rd year! This is still the only Birthwork course that is completely centered in Disability Justice. Not a module or brief mention. I truly believe Disability Justice is the grounded for all other justice movements!
Will you consider joining? Sharing especially with those you think would be interested? Hyping me up?
Again, the link is here below:
https://riotous-roots-site-e183.thinkific.com/courses/copy-of-disability-justice-grounded-birthwork-spring-2026
Hope to hear from you <3
~ Rise
Accessibility: ASL Interpretation, CART (live transcription), and Captioning
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/
Hubbard Street returns to our Chicago home at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance to present a thrilling Winter Series program of works that probe the depths of human experience, choreographed by some of the most prolific voices in contemporary dance.
Like “an exuberant burst of fresh air” (The Boston Globe), Amy Hall Garner’s effervescent full company piece ‘As the Wind Blows’ (2022) returns to Chicago on the heels of Garner’s recent New York City Ballet and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater commissions. New to the repertoire, the high-energy ‘Touch & Agree’ by Juel D. Lane explores the nuances of modern relationships over a soundtrack featuring Sam Cooke, James Blake, H.E.R., and Byrell the Great. The sweeping ‘Gnawa’ by Nacho Duato closes the program, a beloved full company work originally created for Hubbard Street in 2005 that Dance Magazine called an “almost religious experience.”
The Sunday, March 1, 2pm matinee performance of Winter Series includes the following accessibility services:
– American Sign Language interpretation (Interpreter located Stage Right/House Left)
– Audio Description
Use promo code ACCESS for $22 tickets (plus handling fee) in any seat in the house! Limit 9 tickets per order. Discount applied at checkout.
Accessibility: ASL Interpretation, Audio Description
Hands Up! Don’t Go There brings together seasoned performers with and without disabilities to share profound and deeply moving personal stories. The performance explores topics people often avoid—experiences that are difficult, uncomfortable, or rarely discussed, yet essential to name and confront. Through Tellin’ Tales’ unique platform, artists from diverse backgrounds engage in writing, story development, and live performance to illuminate these often-silenced narratives.
Accessibility: ASL Interpretation
Website: https://tellintales.org/
August Strindberg’s Miss Julie is a confrontation of class, gender, and desire at the turn of the twentieth century that’s as relevant today as when it was first written.
Miss Julie wants to abandon her upper-class, aristocratic life and escape the expectations that trap her. Jean, her servant, wants to climb the social ladder and rise through the ranks of society. Over the course of a wine-soaked evening, the two jockey for position, using sex, status, and strategy to collide and combust.
Associate Artistic Director Gabrielle Randle-Bent (A Raisin in the Sun) directs one of Strindberg’s most celebrated works, interrogating the limitations of politics and position, and the tension between who we are and who we want to be.
Touch Tour: Saturday, February 28 at 12:30 pm
Audio Description and ASL Interpretation: Saturday, February 28 at 2:00 pm
Accessibility: Touch Tour, Audio Description, ASL Interpretation
Website: https://www.courttheatre.org/season-tickets/2025-2026-season/miss-julie/
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
———————-
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.
In this fun murder-mystery play, based on the popular board game and movie of the same name, a mysterious dinner party in 1954 Washington, D.C. turns into a swift-moving whodunit investigation. Scandal, secret passages, and slapstick comedy collide as weapons drop, fingers point, and bodies pile up. As suspense builds and betrayal abounds, motives are unmasked. Clue will be directed by BTG newcomer Anna Rachel Troy (Chicago), with Assistant Direction by Lewis R. Jones (Riverside). This fan-favorite farce for all ages is being produced by Tanya Harasym (Oak Lawn) and Kenneth J. Krajniak (Orland Park).
Enjoy our $50 Dinner and a Show package via our partnership with Jenny’s Steak and Banquets to celebrate Valentine’s Day Weekend!
For more information on group rates, call our Box Office at 773-BTG-TIXS (773-284-8497).
Looking for ASL seating for opening night? Please email us at tickets@beverlytheatreguild.org or leave a message for the box office with your online order number.
TICKETS:
Adults:$25, Active U.S. Military/Seniors/BTG Members: $23. Student and group rates also available! Prices listed do NOT include a $2 online processing fee per ticket. Don’t wait to secure your tickets as we may sell out! Visit beverlytheatreguild.org/btg-tickets today! 🌐
Accessibility: ASL Interpretation
Website: beverlytheatreguild.org/btg-tickets
Warwickshire, 1582. Agnes Hathaway, a natural healer, meets the Latin tutor, William Shakespeare. Drawn together by powerful but hidden impulses, they create a life together and make a family. When the plague steals 11-year-old Hamnet from his loving parents, they must each confront their loss alone. And yet, out of the greatest suffering, something of extraordinary wonder is born. Experience the US premiere of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s stage adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s best-selling novel, adapted by award-winning playwright Lolita Chakrabarti (Hymn, Life of Pi, Red Velvet), and directed by Erica Whyman. Pulling back a curtain on the story of the greatest writer in the English language and the woman who was the constant presence and purpose of his life, Hamnet is a love letter to passion, birth, grief, and the magic of nature.
Use code SIGNHAMNET to choose your price point, starting at $39.
Accessibility: ASL Interpretation
Website: https://www.chicagoshakes.com/productions/2526-hamnet/
Artistic Director Edward Hall stages CST’s first-ever 75-minute adaptation of Shakespeare’s timeless classic. Reeling from grief, the young Prince of Denmark navigates the loss of his father, his mother’s betrayal, and relationships torn apart—offering a chance for young audiences to see themselves reflected through a 400-year-old story. In addition to welcoming 20,000 students to weekday matinees, this captivating production will offer performances on Saturdays for the public. Plus, every performance includes a post-show conversation with the cast to give you an insider’s perspective into bringing the story to the stage!
For Open Captioning – Use code CAPTIONHAMLET for the best view of the captions. You will be able to choose your ticket price for adult tickets and student (18 and under) tickets.
For ASL Interpretation- Use code ASLHAMLET for the best view of the ASL interpreters. You will be able to choose your ticket price for adult tickets and student (18 and under) tickets.
Accessibility: ASL Interpretation, Open Captions
Website: https://www.chicagoshakes.com/productions/2526-short-shakespeare-hamlet/
“I have heard from a reliable source that no Dominican male has ever died a virgin. I shall be the first.”
Oscar knows that a nerdy Dominican college freshman isn’t anyone’s idea of a romantic hero. But with the encouragement of Yunior, his new roommate, he is determined to give love another chance. As Oscar sets out from New Jersey to Santo Domingo to prove his undeniable hope, can he shake the dark “fukú” that has haunted his family for generations? Junot Díaz’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel comes to vivid life in this world-premiere English stage adaption—a celebration of risk and the power of perseverance against all odds.
Use code SIGN for $44 ($35 ticket plus $9 handling fee)
Accessibility: ASL Interpretation
Website: https://www.goodmantheatre.org/show/the-brief-wondrous-life-of-oscar-wao/
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
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.
The 1920s Romantic Comedy Soars to New Life.
From Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg comes a sparkling contemporary adaptation of Philip Barry’s classic play that inspired the beloved 1930s film starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. In the wealthy world of the Upper East Side Setons, matters of the heart are a family affair. Enter a romantic prospect from a decidedly different background—and privilege, class and personal fulfillment are thrown into sharp relief. Robert Falls directs this fresh new take on the eternal question: work to live or live to work?
Use code SIGN for $44 ($35 ticket plus $9 handling fee)
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/
For 50+ years, Godspell has charmed audiences with music, improv, and pop-rock hits like “Day by Day.”
In a café, a fractured community discovers the power of love and forgiveness.
Production Sponsor: Whirled Peas Foundation
In Partnership with Curt’s Café
North Theatre at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie
October 23 – November 16
Book by John Michael Tebelak
Lyrics and Music by Stephen Schwartz
Directed by Matthew Silar
Choreographed by Amanda Hope
Music Directed by Justin Kono
Running time: Two hours and 10 minutes (including intermission)
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.
Join us for a FREE docent-led tour with ASL interpretation designed to ensure everyone can fully enjoy and engage with our exhibitions. This special tour will provide deeper insights into the art and stories on view, while making the experience accessible to our Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.
by William Shakespeare
Adapted and Directed by Marti Lyons
Nov 14, 2025 — Dec 14, 2025
Welcome to a tale of deception, disguise, and desire.
The richest man in town has two daughters and one big problem: he refuses to marry the youngest, Bianca, until the eldest, Katherina, is married first. Much to her family’s dismay, Katherina repeatedly – and violently – rejects the men interested in her and her wealth, and refuses to sacrifice her independence. When a mysterious gentleman enters the mix, suddenly Kate sees that surrender is no sacrifice. Perhaps there is strength in submission.
Artistic Director of Remy Bumppo Theatre Company Marti Lyons (Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner) turns William Shakespeare’s classic inside out, with a fresh interpretation focused on feminine desire. This is not your standard Shrew.
Please Note: This adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew engages with mature themes—including desire, sexuality, and power dynamics.
Accessible Performances:
ASL Interpretation: Saturday, December 6 at 2:00pm
Touch Tour: Sunday, December 7 at 12:30pm
Audio Description and Open Captioning: Sunday, December 7 at 2:00pm
Gazelle Screening
DIRECTED BY Nadir Sarıbacak, Samy Pioneer
COUNTRIES U.S., Turkey RUN TIME 103 minutes
SYNOPSIS
In this tense, timely, and poignant drama, Yakup, a beloved music teacher and Turkish dissident, has fled his country for fear of political persecution and is seeking asylum in the U.S. While working in the kitchen of a New York City restaurant, he struggles desperately to find a way to bring his wife and daughter into the country to live with him. Finding legal immigration channels a dead end, he reluctantly engages with a dodgy smuggler, a decision that only intensifies his concern for his family’s safety, sending the kindly Yakup into a downward spiral.
First-time feature filmmakers Nadir Sarıbacak (known for his role in Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s Winter Sleep) and Samy Pioneer deftly capture the details of Turkish American and migrant life in the big city, while also expressively conveying their protagonist’s troubled state of mind. Gazelle isn’t just an urgent tale about our immigration crisis—it’s a touching story about displacement and its deep psychological and physical toll.
GENRES Drama, Family Affairs, Social Commentary
LANGUAGE English, Turkish with subtitles
RENTAL FAMILY SCREENING AND AWARDS EVENT
DIRECTED BY HIKARI
COUNTRIES U.S., Japan RUN TIME 103 minutes
SYNOPSIS
Set in modern-day Tokyo, Rental Family follows an American actor (Brendan Fraser) who struggles to find purpose until he lands an unusual gig: working for a Japanese “rental family” agency, playing stand-in roles for strangers. As he immerses himself in his clients’ worlds, he begins to form genuine bonds that blur the lines between performance and reality. Confronting the moral complexities of his work, he rediscovers purpose, belonging, and the quiet beauty of human connection.
GENRES Comedy, Drama, Family Affairs
LANGUAGE English, Japanese
*Open Captions For Spoken Elements of the Program (Intro/Q&A/Award/Etc.)
AWARDS EVENT
At this screening, director HIKARI will receive the Festival’s Spotlight Award.
HIKARI is an award-winning writer, director, and producer whose debut feature, 37 Seconds, premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival and won accolades globally. She’s directed episodes of the Emmy-winning series Beef, as well as Tokyo Vice and acclaimed shorts like Tsuyako.
FRANKENSTEIN SCREENING
DIRECTED BY Guillermo del Toro
COUNTRIES U.S. RUN TIME 149 minutes
SYNOPSIS
Victor Frankenstein, a brilliant but egotistical scientist, brings a creature to life in a monstrous experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation. A retelling of the classic novel about what it means to be human, to crave love, and seek understanding.
GENRES Drama, Fantasy, Literary Adaptation
LANGUAGE English
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.
Daniel’s Music Foundation proudly presents the 6th Annual Danny Awards, an annual, global award show that recognizes the incredible contributions of artists with disabilities to the world of music.
Enjoy powerful performances by the top ten award recipients, selected by a panel of judges comprised of musicians and industry professionals. Talented vocalists, instrumentalists, bands and solo artists from across the country and around the globe will take the stage to share their musical gifts and extraordinary stories with the world. For those unable to attend in person, the event will also be live streamed on October 25th, from 4-6 PM ET. We hope to see you there!
Live stream registration available here.
Accessibility: ASL Interpreted, live captioning, Braille programs, audio description, wheelchair accessible
Following a sold-out run at Chicago Shakespeare Theater this spring, A.B.L.E.—Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations is thrilled to bring their acclaimed adaptation of Frankenstein back to life this fall at Theater Wit for a strictly limited engagement.
Music journalist Roberta Walton (Ryan Foley) has journeyed to derelict punk club The Arctic to cover its demise, but instead finds a disoriented Victor Frankenstein (Marissa Bloodgood and Andrew Kosnik) and a much more interesting story! The neurodiverse ensemble – composed of 9 actors with varying disabilities and a team of facilitators – play multiple characters as they bring Frankenstein and his Creature’s memories to life. This original adaptation blends music, movement, and scenes devised by the group into a provocative and personal exploration of ambition, isolation, and the balance between the head and the heart.
Schedule
Friday October 24th at 7pm
Saturday October 25 at 1pm (Audio Described)
Sunday October 26 at 1pm (ASL Interpreted)
Running time
Approximately 90mins no intermission
Sensory and Content Advisory
Frankenstein includes scenes that depict bullying, threats of violence, and death. The show design incorporates projected animations, some low pulsing light, and loud music. To learn more about what to expect at the show, please refer to our Sensory Advisory Guide.
Accessibility at Frankenstein
All performances are open captioned
All performances are relaxed – you can leave the theatre at any time if you need a break and sensory support tools will be available.
Wheelchair Access
Masks are required for all attendees out of consideration for our immunocompromised community members
The performance on Saturday October 25 will be audio described
The performance on Sunday October 26th will be dual-ASL interpreted
Ticket Tiers:
All tickets are general admission.
A.B.L.E. is committed to removing barriers, and that includes ensuring our work is financially accessible for everyone who wants to attend. Pick the pricing tier that works for you:
$15 – I am ABLE to connect – this level represents ABLE’s commitment to making the arts accessible for all.
$30 – I am ABLE to contribute – this level helps offset crucial production costs like props, costumes, and rehearsal space.
$45 – I am ABLE to create – this level represents the true cost of A.B.L.E.’s programming, and helps to provide access to the arts for those in need.
Cast and Crew:
Co-Directed by: Lawrence Kern & Katie Yohe
The Ensemble: Colleen Altman, Marissa Bloodgood, Rachel Buchanan, Benjamin Collins, Ryan Foley, Erin Harvey, Paige Henderson, Andrew Kosnik, Matthew LaChapelle, Kate McDuffie, Jenna Rapisarda, Haley Schroeck, and Zachary Wandel
Stage Manager: Grecia Bahena
Lighting Design: Billy Murphy
Projection Design: Brock Alter & Alex Sokol
Original Sound Design: Nicholas Pope & Katie Yohe
Makeup Design: MK Papadatos
Prop Supervisor: Anna Katharine Mantz
Audio Description (on October 25th): Jason Harrington
ASL Interpreters (on October 26th): Sabrina Cienfuegos and Mark Motyka
Director of ASL: Peter Wujcik
Key Art Photographer: Joe Mazza/Brave Lux
Production Photography: Vashon Jordan, Jr.
Frankenstein was originally co-produced in partnership with the staff at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
A.B.L.E.’s 2025-2026 Season is partially supported by The Andrew E. Barrer Trust on behalf of The Chicago Lighthouse, The Chicago Community Trust, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, FunFund, Fs Foundation, The Illinois Arts Council, The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, and generous individuals like you!
Accessibility: ASL Interpreted, wheelchair accessible, and open captions.
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.
Art/Access Lab: Open Lab provides artists in the disability community an affinity space for artists to share emerging projects, test ideas, and gain perspective on their work through community exchange.
Attendees are invited to support the creative process by first experiencing emerging projects that are in the development phase, then participating in a moderated conversation that delves into that work. Guided by the needs of the artist, this conversation may explore the themes presented in the work, invite the audience to ask questions and share critique, or the artist may ask questions to the audience regarding their experience of the work.
*Hybrid Event* Attend in person or via Zoom
Doors at 1:30pm
Event starts at 2:00pm
Event ends at 4:00pm
Accessibility: ASL interpreted, open captions, sensory friendly, virtual or in-person.
https://highconceptlabs.org/events/art-access-lab-october-2025
Our future feels uncertain, yet we are resoundingly called to what matters most: You and me. Us. Humanity, itself. At TEDxChicago 2025, we believe the most powerful force shaping tomorrow is our collective agency, imagination, desire for connection and laughter, dignity, and generosity. This year, our speakers and artists arrive on Chicago’s stage to share their ideas, showcasing their fierce commitment to unify science, technology, and sustainability with the essential principles of compassion, justice, and care. This is our love letter to Chicago.
Join us at TEDxChicago 2025: The Future is Human. Grab your tickets now at TEDxChicago.com
Accessibility
TEDxChicago will have ASL interpreters throughout the experience. Additionally, the Harris Theater offers a range of spaces for wheelchair access. Please notify us of your accessibility accommodations in ticket registration.
The TEDxChicago Experience
Join us on Friday, September 26th at the Harris Theater for the TEDxGlobal Idea Search session, featuring talks selected by TED, and two TEDxChicago sessions featuring talks from nine amazing Chicagoans, a number of incredible performances, opportunities to engage and connect over delicious food and beverage from local artisans and chefs, and become part of this massive celebration of ideas about our shared future.
Included in Every TEDxChicago Ticket
A ticket is all inclusive to the TEDxChicago experience: Including the TEDx Global Idea Search session (you must indicate that you plan to join us for this session), and both stage sessions and all break experiences. You’ll enjoy:
Snacks from a variety local food artisans
Hosted beer and wine and other beverages,
9 TEDxChicago talks
3 live performances from the TEDxChicago Stage
10 TEDx Global Idea Search Talks
and many opportunities to engage local art and fellow Chicagoans.
If you’d like to pre-order a subsidized lunch during the TEDx Global Idea Search session, you will be able to purchase an add-on with your ticket.
Additionally, a premium ticket option is available that includes premium access seating, as well as exciting and exclusive Patron opportunities. You can learn more about the TEDxChicago Patron program at TEDxChicago.com/Patron.
Schedule
Your ticket includes all sessions. Attendees are highly encouraged to attend the TEDxGlobal Idea Search Session in addition to the TEDxChicago: The Future is Human sessions.
11:30 AM: Registration
12:30 PM: Session 1: TEDx Global Idea Search
2:00 PM: Intermission & Late Registration
3:00 PM: Session 2: TEDxChicago The Future is Human
5:00 PM: Happy Hour!
6:00 PM: Session 3: TEDxChicago The Future is Human
7:30 PM: Event Concludes
Please see the current list of speakers, performers, and more details at TEDxChicago.com
Accessibility: ASL interpreted, wheelchair accessible.
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.
Join Steven Pinker, world-renowned cognitive scientist, Harvard professor, and one of Time’s “100 Most Influential People in the World Today,” for a fascinating exploration of human psychology. In a lecture followed by a conversation with UChicago linguist and cognitive scientist Chris Kennedy, Pinker unravels how we think about what others are thinking about what we’re thinking — a cyclical process that creates “common knowledge” and profoundly shapes our social, political, and economic lives. Discover how this hidden force explains life’s most puzzling phenomena: why financial bubbles burst overnight, how revolutions emerge from nowhere, what drives diplomatic theater, and why complete honesty would make life unbearable.
Harvard professor and poetry expert Stephanie Burt joins us to explain the artistry — and the celebrity — of Taylor Swift. Through heartfelt critical appreciation, Burt analyzes Swift, her body of work, and the community that her art has fostered. Drawing from her 2024 Harvard course, Taylor Swift and Her World, as well as from her years as a Swiftie, Burt examines Swift’s particular form of genius — not the destructive genius of tortured poets, but the collaborative and joyful genius of an artist who has mastered her craft. Tracing a path through the Eras, Burt’s newest work, Taylor’s Version, shows what Swift has created, how it works, and why her songs will endure.
The last 10 years have been eventful, to say the least. And who better to reflect on our times than cultural critic and bestselling author Roxane Gay? Gay joins us to discuss how politics, culture, and of course, feminism, have transformed since the release of the iconic text that is Bad Feminist. Bringing her quick wit and razor-sharp criticism, Gay breaks down how the culture we consume becomes who we are, and provides us with some hope for the next 10 years.
Get ready for high-energy fun as Disney’s five-time Academy Award®-winning film comes to life on the big screen! Meet Mary Poppins (Julie Andrews), a magical English nanny who flies out of the breezy London skies and into the home of two mischievous children and the hearts of their family. With the help of a carefree chimney sweep Bert (Dick Van Dyke), the spirited nanny turns chores into games and every day into a “Jolly Holiday.” Featuring favorites like “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” and the unforgettable “Super-cali-fragil-istic-expi-ali-docious” – you’ll hear the Sherman Brothers’ complete score performed live in all of its splendor.
Princeton University President and legal scholar Christopher L. Eisgruber joins us in conversation to challenge the common assumptions about free speech on college campuses. He argues that most American colleges are largely getting free speech right, with students engaging in active and open debate on difficult and controversial topics. But the real crisis lies in how the condition of university life reflects the polarization of American society and the loss of constructive dialogue across different swathes of the population. In his new book Terms of Respect, Eisgruber draws on his experience as both a constitutional law expert and university leader to offer insight into headline-making campus controversies, and reveals the inside story behind events that have captured national attention. He argues that colleges can help restore civil discourse by understanding that free speech is inherently tied to respect, diversity, and democratic engagement. You won’t want to miss this timely conversation on the national conversation about the future of civil debate.
Along with the Chicago River, sway and dance with the wind, light, and grasses, finding symbiotic nature within and around yourself in a city!! Asian Body Therapist Jennifer O”Hara and award-winning dancer/choreographer Ayako Kato will guide you to sense our physicality with the way of nature! This is a part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks program and will take place at River Esplanade Park between 10 am – 12 pm on Sat, August 23, 2025. We gather at the large water fountain (upon registration, you will receive more detailed info). For more information about the event and free registration, please visit Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/noitp-art-of-being-move-with-waterways-river-esplanade-park-ver-3-2-tickets-1360601398409?aff=oddtdtcreator
Ayako Kato URL: www.ayakokatodance.com
“I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
Rediscover a Dickens’ classic with an adaptation that “makes you believe kindness can win” (Chicago Tribune). Follow Ebenezer Scrooge, a businessman whose disdain for the holidays is transformed on Christmas Eve. Malkia Stampley takes the reins as director, with Christopher Donahue returning as Scrooge after a “historical standout” performance in his 2024 debut (WGNRadio.com). Featuring a “first-rate cast and marvelous staging” (Chicago Sun-Times), this tale remains “the best Christmas story ever told” (Time Out Chicago).
By Zayd Ayers Dohrn
Music and Lyrics by Tom Morello
Directed by Steve H. Broadnax III
October 4 – November 9, 2025
Put your hands on the wheel of history.
When soldier and aspiring musician Hampton Weems comes home from Afghanistan, he finds the South Side of Chicago is also occupied territory—and he’s accidentally joined the resistance. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave and The Nightwatchman) Tom Morello brings a ground-breaking new punk/metal/hip-hop musical to our intimate Owen Theatre about a young artist finding his voice, why violence is as American as cherry pie, and how young radicals—across generations—are still motivated by love.
Theodore Ward’s Big White Fog is the big shoulders on which A Raisin in the Sun stands. First completed in 1938, funded by the Federal Theatre Project, and influenced by the South Side Writers Group that cultivated such iconic talents as Richard Wright and Margaret Walker, Big White Fog drove American realism forward by contending with discontent.
The United States is on the cusp of the Great Depression and, like many, the Mason family is struggling. Between the precarious economy and racial violence on Chicago’s segregated South Side, something’s got to give. As different generations strive to secure the Mason family’s future, catastrophic decisions are made, leading to a heartbreaking twist and a blistering condemnation of America’s Big White Fog.
Resident Artist and the nation’s preeminent director of August Wilson Ron OJ Parson (East Texas Hot Links) opens the 2025/26 season with this rich portrayal of Black life on Chicago’s South Side.
Performance:
Touch Tour: Saturday, October 4 at 12:30pm
Audio Description and ASL Interpretation: Saturday, October 4 at 2:00pm
Accessibility: Touch tour, ASL interpreted, and audio description.
https://www.courttheatre.org/season-tickets/2025-2026-season/big-white-fog/
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-
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
Sundance-award winning documentary LIFE AFTER, directed by Reid Davenport, is coming to Chicago’s Gene Siskel Film Center on July 27 at 3:00PM!
The screening, in partnership with FWD-Doc, is followed by a talkback with Reid Davenport and Keidra Chaney of the Disability Culture Lab, moderated by FWD-Doc’s executive director Cassidy Dimon. If you can’t attend the in-person event, you can catch the film virtually in the days following.
From Multitude Films, LIFE AFTER is a gripping personal investigation that exposes the tangled web of moral dilemmas and profit motives surrounding assisted dying. Director Reid Davenport asks a probing question, why is it acceptable to give disabled people the means to die, before supporting them in the chance to live?
Find tickets and more at lifeafterfilm.com/screenings.
Accessibility: Open Captions, Audio Description, and Q&A ASL interpreter provided. See venue website for more accessibility information.
Integrated dance for people with and without disabilities, led by renowned educator Douglas Scott (Atlanta, GA).
Friday, July 25 – $30: check-in 3:30, 4:00 – 6:30 pm Community Workshop on Integrated Dance at the University of Illinois Chicago (1640 Roosevelt Rd, Chicago, IL) A workshop introducing Integrated Dance fundamentals for dancers, choreographers, and teachers. ASL and CART are provided.
Saturday, July 26 through Tuesday, July 29 – $120-300: Integrated Dance Intensive at Loyola Park (1230 W Greenleaf Ave, Chicago, IL). Teaching the Full Radius method of Integrated dance for performers and directors.
*Saturday, July 26: check-in 11:30 am, 12:00 – 4:30 pm.
*Sunday, July 27: 11:30 am – 4:30 pm.
*Monday, July 28 & Tuesday, July 29: 4:30 – 8:30 pm.
Wednesday, July 30 – $100: check-in 8:30 am, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Teacher Training on Integrated Dance at The Dance Center of Columbia College (1306 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL). An accredited teacher training for Integrated Dance education techniques. CPDUs: Educators can register for 6 continuing education credits for the teacher training at the event.
Co-presented by Unfolding Disability Futures and Synapse Arts.
Additional accommodations, including ASL and Captioning, can be requested by contacting info@synapsearts.com.
Accessibility: ASL interpreting and live captioning with CART
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/full-radius-midwest-dance-training-series
“You gotta start living your life right now. Because someday you’ll wake up and it’s over.”
Pete’s TV and Video has served Chicagoland for 40+ years, its plucky owner famous for his legendary commercials and customer care. But it’s a new era, and Pete’s last store location is struggling while Sam—his daughter and family business heir apparent—has different dreams. Starring Chicago’s Francis Guinan (The Cherry Orchard) and Emmy Award-nominee Jenna Fischer (The Office), this stunning new play asks what happens when we stop looking after our aging parents and start looking after ourselves?
ASL INTERPRETATION NIGHT: JUNE 20, 2025
American Blues Theater presents
GOLDEN LEAF RAGTIME BLUES
CHICAGO PREMIERE
by Artistic Affiliate Charles Smith
directed by Ensemble member Chuck Smith
The team of the critically-acclaimed The Reclamation of Madison Hemings now brings an “Abbott & Costello” meets “Modern Family” Chicago premiere.
Pompey is an aging white vaudevillian; Jet is a Black teenager. Thrown together by circumstances beyond their control, they show us how basic needs and emotions transcend barriers of race, religion, and age. Don’t miss Ensemble member and veteran TV star Dennis Cockrum’s (“Shameless”) return to American Blues Theater.
7:30pm
June 20, 2025
Address:
5627 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago IL 60659
Use code ACCESS for $29.50 tickets (all fees included).
Chicagoland DPOCC, UIC Disability Cultural Center, and Center on Racial and Disability Justice Hosts 5th Annual Accessible Juneteenth
For immediate release
2025 Accessible Juneteenth
Wednesday, June 18th, 2025
4 to 7:30 PM CDT
UIC Quad (near the UIC Student Center East Building)
750 S. Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60607
Join the UIC Disability Cultural Center, the Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition (supported by UIC’s Institute on Disability and Human Development), and the Center for Racial and Disability Justice at Northwestern University for the fifth Accessible Juneteenth, where we celebrate the Black disability community! We want to make Juneteenth a fun and accessible experience for all, including disabled people in the African Diaspora. We will have the following at the event:
Food
Performances
Open MicExhibitors
Family-friendly, Non-alcoholic Event
About Accessible Juneteenth 2025
This year, DJ Matt returns to bless us with music fit for our Accessible Juneteenth celebration.
We’ll kick the evening of performances off with Victoria Boateng’s djembe, and Accessible Juneteenth MC Donna will be BACK hosting an Open Mic where you can share your talents in singing, spoken word, playing instruments, and more! Pinqy Ring and J Bambii will headline the performances this year.
Sign up for the open mic now! Sign-ups for spots in person will be limited.Link to sign up for Open Mic: https://forms.gle/vSsJML6wQnXL8CXa8
We are excited to share food from Cook It Mama Café (sandwiches & salads with vegan & gluten-free options).
We’ll have tables where you can meet people from Black-owned and disability-owned/friendly organizations and businesses. If you’re a Black and/or disability-owned/friendly business and organization, and you would like to be an exhibitor, sign up at: https://forms.gle/ECokkvxpo9qqu1UZ9
We are also looking for volunteers to help run many aspects of Accessible Juneteenth; if you’re interested, sign up at: https://forms.gle/rv8thrYGcSxunYcX9
Access Information
ASL and captioning will be provided for the Open Mic and showcase portion. We’ll have tents for shade, and the nearby Latino Cultural Center will be available for a quiet, cool-off space! For the care of immunocompromised people in our community, please wear a mask indoors. We’ll have extras on hand! Accessibility requests, questions, or event inquiries can be sent to dcc@uic.edu
What to Expect
4:30pm Welcome and Announcements
5:00pm Open Mic & Showcase
Throughout: Food! Exhibitors! And more
Getting there
Accessible Juneteenth will be located along the north side of the UIC Quad (behind UIC Student Center East); 750 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL
From Halsted Street, enter Student Center East, and go to the back campus-facing doors. Continue straight between Lecture Centers C and D to the Quad.
From Harrison Street (near Blue Line west entrances), cross Harrison to the east of the tall white dorm with the Starbucks in it, and continue down the main sidewalk through campus. Go between Lecture Center A and B to enter the Quad.
From Taylor Street, go straight through the covered corridor through the Science and Engineering Labs, and continue straight. Go between Lecture Center E and D to the Quad.
From Taylor and Morgan, follow the path from the corner into campus, and veer slightly left to approach the Lecture Centers. Go between Lecture Center E and F to enter the Quad.
Go to a visual map with these access routes
The best address for scheduling pick-ups or drop-offs is Student Center East, a wheelchair-accessible building at 750 S Halsted St.
TRANSIT
Two blocks away from the West exit of the UIC/Halsted Blue Line train station.
The 7-Harrison and 60-Blue Island/26th CTA buses pick up on Harrison, in front of the Behavioral Sciences Building.
VISITOR PARKING LOTS
Halsted and Taylor Lot
Harrison Street Parking Structure (1100 West Harrison Street)
This event is brought to you by: Chicagoland Disabled People of Color Coalition, The Institute on Disability and Human Development, UIC Disability Cultural Center, and Center for Racial and Disability Justice (Northwestern University)
Contact UIC Disability Cultural Center for more information or if you have any questions about the event: dcc@uic.edu.
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.
Ever heard of this show “Hamilton”?
Shamilton is just like that, but (ahem) better! Expect the same level of hip hop, incredible songs, moving storytelling, stunning choreography and powerhouse singing… except made up on the spot.
The New York Times called Shamilton “One of the top 5 comedy shows to catch”.
Comedy supergroup Baby Wants Candy presents “Shamilton!”, the Hamilton-inspired hip hop improvised musical created in 2016 in LA and playing to sold out crowds all over the place, including the Kennedy Center in DC, a national touring company and weekly sold out shows in New York and LA.
Join the Shamilton cast as they improvise an epic musical based on a historical figure or celebrity of your choosing…including Genghis Khan, Kim Kardashian, Mr. Rogers, or even basketball playing superdog Air Bud. You decide!
It’s the show Lin-Manuel Miranda calls, “cease and desist!”
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.
Join HCL, UDF, and Bri Beck for a facilitated community conversation surrounding the nuanced challenges of cross disability access in personal, professional, and communal spaces.
As disabled people, we often navigate the complexities of self-disclosure, accessibility, and supporting one another—especially when our access needs conflict. How do we balance personal well-being with community care? How can we acknowledge and navigate these tensions while fostering inclusivity?
Facilitated by Bri Beck, a licensed clinical professional counselor, this workshop invites participants into a thoughtful discussion on the realities of conflicting access needs. Together, we will explore expectations, boundaries, and the emotional complexities that arise when our needs don’t align. Through guided conversations and small-group discussions, we’ll reflect on real-life scenarios, share strategies, and consider how to create more inclusive spaces without sacrificing individual support.
All are welcome to join this important dialogue on the nuances of accessibility, interdependence, and the challenges of building truly inclusive communities.
ACCESSIBILITY: ASL Interpreted, Open Captions, Sensory Friendly, Wheelchair Accessible
A New Adaptation by Mickle Maher
Based on the graphic novel by Jason Lutes
Directed by Charles Newell
Development and Dramaturgy by David J. Levin
Berlin is an unforgettable mosaic of intersecting narratives set amidst the decline of Weimar Germany. This original commission brings Jason Lutes’s exhilarating and acclaimed graphic novel to life.
Fascism is taking hold; revolutionaries are organizing; creatives are trying to capture the ineffable nature of their changing city; and – as everything falls apart – everyone is faced with a choice: abandon Berlin or fight to survive.
May 10, 2025 at 2:00pm (ASL-Interpreted and Audio Description Performance). Touch Tour at 12:00 PM
Food planning shouldn’t be hard. New York Times Cooking editor in chief Emily Weinstein and food writer Melissa Clark join us to help you take the stress out of cooking and chat about all things food. They’ll share quick and easy recipes, tips, and tricks for busy people who still want something good to eat. Their newest book Easy Weeknight Dinners, features 100 favorite dishes that you can make in as little as 10 minutes. Whether you’re seeking a standout meal for one, crowd-pleasers for picky kids, or something special for company, Weinstein and Clark have got you covered.
ACCESSIBILITY: ASL Interpreted, Assisted Listening Devices, Open Captions
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/melissa-clark-emily-weinstein/
A.B.L.E.—Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations—a Chicago-based nonprofit that creates theatre and film for, with, and by individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), is thrilled to return to Chicago Shakespeare Theater with a punk-inspired re-telling of Frankenstein.
The neurodiverse ensemble will transform The Upstairs Studio into a run-down punk club called The Arctic, and trade off playing multiple characters as they bring Frankenstein and the Creature’s stories to life. The production blends music, movement, and scenes devised by the group into a powerful exploration of ambition, isolation, and the balance between the head and the heart. How far would YOU go to chase a dream?
Run Time: Approximately 90 minutes with no intermission
Content Warning: Frankenstein contains scenes depicting bullying, threats of violence, and death. The production design includes recorded music and animated projection.
ACCESSIBILITY: ASL Interpreted, Masks Required, Open Captions, Sensory Friendly, Wheelchair Accessible
CONTACT: Marty McConnell, Blue Hour curator, marty@poetrycenter.org
The Chicago Poetry Center invites you to this year’s final three editions of Blue Hour, voted “Chicago’s best reading series 2025” by the Chicago Reader! Blue Hour is a free monthly in-person reading series paired with a generative writing workshop.
The next Blue Hour will take place on Wednesday, April 16. The writing workshop will run from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by the open mic and featured readers from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Our features for the night are Ayokunle Falomo and Viola Lee.
Ayokunle Falomo is Nigerian, American, and the author of “Autobiomythography of” (Alice James Books, 2024), “AFRICANAMERICAN’T” (FlowerSong Press, 2022), two self-published collections and “African, American” (New Delta Review, 2019; selected by Selah Saterstrom as the winner of New Delta Review’s 8th annual chapbook contest). He is the recipient of fellowships from Vermont Studio Center, MacDowell, and the University of Michigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program, where he obtained his MFA in Creative Writing—Poetry.
Viola Lee graduated from NYU with an MFA in Poetry. Her book “Lightening after the Echo” was published by Another New Calligraphy. She has published poems in literary journals throughout the US, including Barrow Street, Bellevue Literary Review, and Another Chicago Magazine. Her poems were finalists in the Pleiades Prufer Poetry Prize and the 2022 Mississippi Review Poetry Prize. Her manuscript “The Only Home” was a finalist in the 2023 Switchback Books’ Gatewood Prize, Semi-finalist in the 2023 Perugia Press Poetry Prize and finalist in the 2024 X.J. Kennedy Poetry Prize.
Registration for the April edition of the Blue Hour reading is available https://AprilBlueHour.eventbrite.com.
Registration for the April edition of the workshop is available https://april25-bluehour-workshop.eventbrite.com.
The workshop and reading both take place at Haymarket House located at 800 W. Buena in Chicago. The reading includes a brief open mic followed by two featured poets. Pre-registration is free and recommended.
May’s featured poets will be Nadia Alexis and Keith S. Wilson. Information about the series, including upcoming features and the history of the series, can be obtained here.
ACCESSIBILITY: ASL Interpreted, Wheelchair Accessible
Twenty years since its Broadway musical debut, The Color Purple is reborn in Lili-Anne Brown’s revelatory production—“perfection on every level!” (Chicago Sun-Times).
It’s a celebration of life, hope and the healing power of love! The musical stage adaptation of Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning novel is a heart-rending, yet ultimately joyous, story of a young woman’s perilous journey of personal awakening in the American South. Come ready to shout in church, stomp at the juke joint, laugh and cry with unforgettable “come-to-glory gospel hymns, down-and-dirty bump-and-grinds, jazz that stutters, dips and dives, and gorgeous alto arias” (Chicago Sun-Times).
What happened since Chicago closed 50 public schools in 2013? Join us for a screening and panel discussion on the documentary Beyond Closure, created by Borderless Studio and On the Real Film, which retraces the history of the largest mass school closures in U.S. history, highlighting the intertwined issues of inequity, racism, and injustice. Through the voices of community members leading the repurposing of three closed schools, this film reflects on community impact, their setbacks, and wins towards redevelopment. Join us as we dig into the work of Creative Grounds, the initiative focused on the community and urban role of Chicago’s school grounds, and ask the question: How might art, design, and architecture create a more inclusive process for repurposing these schools?
A “brilliantly imagined drama” (Wall Street Journal) for anyone whose computer has asked them to prove that they’re a human. Which is to say, everyone.
At the Museum of Late Human Antiquities, the curators are fiercely committed to bringing a lost civilization to life again: What were humans really like? What did they wear, what did they eat, how did they die out? By casting us into the far future, Jordan Harrison’s “compelling” and “beautifully drawn” (New York Times) new play gives us an uncanny view of the present moment, as we straddle the analog world that was and the post-human world to come.
A Co-Production with Playwrights Horizons and Vineyard Theatre
Accessibility: ASL
Join Museum Hue for a free virtual town hall as we usher in our 10th year anniversary. We will share our strategic plan, ongoing projects, and unveil HueCultures Northeast—the first phase of a national research initiative to amplify, map, and connect culturally-specific institutions led by Black, Indigenous, Latino/x, Asian, and all People of Color. Building on the success of HueArts New York City and New York State, this project highlights an additional 150 cultural institutions in the Northeastern United States that play a vital role in preserving and celebrating our history.
This town hall is an opportunity for arts professionals, cultural workers, researchers, and arts advocates to come together, learn, and be part of a larger movement toward equity in the cultural sector. In addition to an exclusive first look at new research findings and insights, we’ll raise awareness of museums and cultural centers shaping the region, and share thoughts with others invested in this work. Stephanie Johnson-Cunningham, Executive Director of Museum Hue, will lead the discussion and will be joined by guest speakers.
RSVP today and join us in this important conversation!
This event will be ASL interpreted on Zoom for participants from the Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and ASL communities. After registering via Eventbrite, please also email us to let us know if you plan to use ASL interpretation (so we can make sure you’ll be in the same breakout room as the interpreter) or have other accessibility requests: info@museumhue.com
Accessibility: ASL
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/museum-hue-virtual-town-hall-tickets-1269729217269?aff=oddtdtcreator
New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award winner, Tony Award nominee for Best Play, and the first play written by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway, Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun is a stunning portrayal of a family’s fight for dignity and the right to dream.
As the Youngers await their recently deceased patriarch’s life insurance check, they allow themselves to imagine a bigger life – a life with room to breathe – until those plans are thrown into jeopardy. Hansberry’s language rings as wise and prescient as ever in her moving answer to Langston Hughes’s question, What happens to a dream deferred?
Staged sixty years after Lorraine Hansberry’s passing, Senior Artistic Producer Gabrielle Randle-Bent (Antigone) brings Hansberry’s masterpiece home to Chicago’s vibrant South Side and Court’s stage for the very first time.
Approximate Running Time: 2 hours 50 minutes, including one intermission
Accessibility: ASL Interpreted
Discover, Learn, and Explore: Free Docent-Led Tours at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture!
Docent-led Tour + ASL Interpreter
Time: 11:30 AM | Meet in the Gift Shop
Join us for a FREE docent-led tour and uncover the fascinating history and architecture of our historic building. Dive deeper into our current exhibitions, including:
Puerto Rican Equations by Juan Sánchez – A powerful exploration Puerto Rican politics, identity and justice through thought-provoking art.
️ Hidden Treasures – A collection of remarkable works from Boricua artists in Florida that are part of a collective called “Keepers of the Heritage.”
NEW EXHIBIT: Archivos Vivos by Adrían Viajero Romero– Román’s work explores identity, memory, and migration rooted in his Puerto Rican heritage through an interdisciplinary practice that spans drawing, painting, sculpture, and socially engaged art. By incorporating reclaimed materials and culturally significant symbols, he highlights the resilience and pride of Puerto Rican communities while critically addressing the social, political, and historical challenges they face.
Accessibility: ASL interpreter
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. Includes Talk Back after the show.
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.
It’s not only hell that breaks loose in this ground-breaking, form-defying, laugh-out-loud new drama from Pulitzer-Prize finalist playwright Zora Howard.
Retta and Reggie are enjoying their usual evening on the porch when a longtime neighbor is pulled over by the police just before turning into his driveway. Everything goes as expected—until the unexpected happens. Tensions escalate, and eventually erupt, transporting us to a startling conclusion in Ms. Howard’s powerful new work. Lileana Blain-Cruz, a “master of curating chaos” (The New York Times), directs.
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
Tellin’ Tales Theatre takes its mission “to shatter barriers between the disabled and non-disabled worlds through the transformative power of personal story” to the world of improv. “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. The end result matches the spontaneity and unpredictability of life, making each show a unique experience. “Mine is shriveled.” “Mine vibrates.” “Mine hangs to the left.”… “What’s yours like?”
Accessibility: ASL interpretation
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.
Accessibility & 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
Complimentary 4D Experiences during the event
Family members and companions are welcome.
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. Modifications for this event will include limited capacity and streamlined entry with advance registration.
Accessibility & 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
Complimentary 4D Experiences during the event
Family members and companions are welcome.
https://www.sheddaquarium.org/plan-a-visit/accessibility/calm-waters
KLII exorcizes the ghost of King Leopold II, the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908, in a mytho-biographical performance by theater-maker Kaneza Schaal. By exploring the invisible historic roots of society’s demons—racism, misogyny, and misinformation—Schaal searches for ways of handling these everyday threats in the present.
Designed and co-directed by Christopher Myers, KLII draws on Mark Twain’s King Leopold’s Soliloquy published in 1905, a fictional monologue written after Twain’s visit to Congo Free State, and Patrice Lumumba’s 1960 independence speech in Congo. Working with East African musicians and African American opera singers, the hybrid, operatic, and intensifying sound design takes inspiration from La Muette de Portici, the opera that played a role in Belgium’s 1830 revolution. Together, both the visual and sound design combine to consider the residue of colonialism in our everyday lives.
A reclamation of history and canon, Schaal and Myers propose an exorcism in theater, starring one of the villains of the 19th century whose actions resonate through the present day. KLII explores the nature of evil and what is required to unroot legacies of catastrophic events.
Designed for children under 12 and their grown-ups, MCA Family Days invite our youngest visitors to be the museum’s artists, thinkers, and collaborators. Witness an artist’s first creation. Experience inspiration spark from play and wonder. Do something nearly unheard of in a contemporary art museum—sit on comfy pillows and eat free snacks. Every second Saturday, joyfully disregard the boundaries between adult and child, artist and visitor, museum and studio, teacher and learner.
Admission is free to Family Day attendees. ASL interpretation is provided.
Designed for children under 12 and their grown-ups, MCA Family Days invite our youngest visitors to be the museum’s artists, thinkers, and collaborators. Witness an artist’s first creation. Experience inspiration spark from play and wonder. Do something nearly unheard of in a contemporary art museum—sit on comfy pillows and eat free snacks. Every second Saturday, joyfully disregard the boundaries between adult and child, artist and visitor, museum and studio, teacher and learner.
Admission is free to Family Day attendees. ASL interpretation is provided.
Artist and composer Elisa Harkins (Cherokee/Muscogee) created Wampum / ᎠᏕᎳ ᏗᎦᎫᏗ as an expression of Indigenous Futurism, blending electronic dance music with Indigenous languages to revitalize and celebrate them through live performance. Presented in partnership with the Center for Native Futures, this innovative performance features Harkins singing in a combination of Cherokee, English, and Muscogee (Creek). Back-up dancers move rhythmically to electronic dance tracks inspired by Indigenous music. Both dreamy and intense, the evening fuses tradition with the contemporary to transform how pop music looks and sounds.
The evening begins with a short opening set by interdisciplinary singer/songwriter Kalyn Fay (Cherokee/Muscogee). Known for her “quintessentially Oklahoma” sound driven by folk, rock, and country, Fay’s music explores her relationship with place, home, her home-state and its values, people, and the land.
Accessibility: To request additional accessibility services like ASL interpretation or audio description, please contact us via email at Accessibility@mcachicago.org or call 312-397-4076.
Designed for children under 12 and their grown-ups, MCA Family Days invite our youngest visitors to be the museum’s artists, thinkers, and collaborators. Witness an artist’s first creation. Experience inspiration spark from play and wonder. Do something nearly unheard of in a contemporary art museum—sit on comfy pillows and eat free snacks. Every second Saturday, joyfully disregard the boundaries between adult and child, artist and visitor, museum and studio, teacher and learner.
Admission is free to Family Day attendees. ASL interpretation is provided.
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.
Stage and screen stars Helen Hunt (Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe Awards), Robert Sean Leonard (Tony Award) and Ian Barford (Tony Award nominee) form the “eternal triangle” in Susan V. Booth’s major revival of Pinter’s famed masterwork.
Emma, Robert and Jerry have history. As her marriage to Robert comes to an end, Emma reconnects with Jerry, her former lover—and her husband’s best friend—as the action unspools backward in time in an inventive retelling by the Nobel Prize-winning playwright. At once utterly domestic and dangerous, uncovering hidden truths and revealing how little we know about those we think we know so much about, it’s an “elegy about time and memory (where) the greatest dramatic weight lies in what’s unspoken” (New York Times).
Touch Tour: 12:30pm
Performance: 2pm
Accessibility: Audio Description, Touch Tour
Stage and screen stars Helen Hunt (Oscar, Emmy, Golden Globe Awards), Robert Sean Leonard (Tony Award) and Ian Barford (Tony Award nominee) form the “eternal triangle” in Susan V. Booth’s major revival of Pinter’s famed masterwork.
Emma, Robert and Jerry have history. As her marriage to Robert comes to an end, Emma reconnects with Jerry, her former lover—and her husband’s best friend—as the action unspools backward in time in an inventive retelling by the Nobel Prize-winning playwright. At once utterly domestic and dangerous, uncovering hidden truths and revealing how little we know about those we think we know so much about, it’s an “elegy about time and memory (where) the greatest dramatic weight lies in what’s unspoken” (New York Times).
Accessibility: ASL interpretation
A boisterous Southern cookout sets the scene for a Black, queer discovery of self and resilience in this Pulitzer Prize-winning, five-time Tony nominated “uproarious reimagining of Hamlet” (The New Yorker).
“This is what I was raised in: pig guts and bad choices.” As Juicy grapples with his identity and his family at a backyard barbecue, his father’s ghost shows up asking for revenge—on Juicy’s uncle, who has married his widowed mom—bringing his quest for joy and liberation to a screeching halt. James Ijames has reinvented Shakespeare’s masterpiece, creating what the New York Times hails as “a hilarious yet profound tragedy, smothered in comedy,” where the only death is the patriarchy. Tyrone Phillips, Founding Artistic Director of Chicago’s famed Definition Theatre, directs.
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!
ASL interpreted.
The “perfect Chicago holiday tradition” (Chicago Parent).
Rediscover the magic of Dickens’ classic with a fresh, heartwarming adaptation that “makes you believe kindness can win” (Chicago Tribune). Follow Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy businessman whose disdain for the holidays is transformed on a fateful Christmas Eve. Directed by Jessica Thebus and featuring a “first-rate cast and marvelous staging” (Chicago Sun-Times), this beloved tale remains “the best Christmas story ever told” (Time Out Chicago).
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.
Join us for an evening that brings the soul of Chicago’s neighborhoods to the big screen! Experience the powerful stories of our community through the lens of three talented Chicago residents from the 2023-24 Community Storytellers program:
Alexie Young
Take 290 (15:53; North Lawndale, Westside)
Directed by Sanicole
Written by George Ellzey Jr.
A defeated artist from the Westside of Chicago finds inspiration in the common ground she discovers through a spontaneous interaction with an art curator from the Southside.
Laura Sáenz
Artista (11:23; Little Village)
Directed by Juan Linares
Written by Christian Mejia
An immigrant child uncovers a world of magic and possibility through the arts at their school.
Brian Herrera
Ask A Punk (15:28; Little Village)
Directed by Kevin Contento
Written by Teri Carson
A non-binary queer teen cultivates community, individuality, and resilience through the subculture of the DIY punk scene in Little Village.
From the spirited journey of an artist finding connection in the city, to the magical exploration of a young immigrant’s discovery of art, and the vibrant resilience within the DIY punk scene, these shorts illuminate the unique experiences and voices that shape our communities.
This event not only showcases these compelling narratives but also fosters a sense of belonging and community connection. Join us for a moderated conversation following the screening, featuring all three Storytellers and key members from their film’s respective casts and crews, including:
Sanicole Young (Director, Take 290)
Dayeliz Richardson (Lead Actor, Artista)
Teri Carson (Screenwriter, Ask A Punk)
Together, we’ll dive deeper into the creative process and the importance of telling stories that reflect our neighborhoods.
Please note: Registration does not guarantee entry. Seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to arrive early for prime seating and to engage with fellow attendees, as we celebrate and honor the vibrant narratives that define our community!
Accessibility: The venue entrance has push-button doors. The theater features 3 accessible seats which are paired with companion seats, if needed, and have been set aside next to each wheelchair-accessible area. CART captioning, live English audio description, and Spanish interpretation will be available. For additional accommodation requests, we encourage you to complete your registration at least 72 hours before the event to help ensure we can accommodate them.
The Teen Creative Agency (TCA) at the MCA is celebrating 13 years (and counting) of DIY publications by teens! This event showcases the original artwork, activism, and social practice of Chicago-area youth in zine form. Participate in activities organized by the TCA and find zines and merch giveaways on-site.
Admission is free to Family Day attendees. ASL interpretation.
Designed for children under 12 and their grown-ups, MCA Family Days invite our youngest visitors to be the museum’s artists, thinkers, and collaborators. Witness an artist’s first creation. Experience inspiration spark from play and wonder. Do something nearly unheard of in a contemporary art museum—sit on comfy pillows and eat free snacks. Every second Saturday, joyfully disregard the boundaries between adult and child, artist and visitor, museum and studio, teacher and learner.
Join us on opening weekend of The Living End: Painting and Other Technologies to make some art in the digital world.
Participating artists include Niema Qureshi and Norman Long.
ASL interpretation is provided at this event.
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
The legendary director of Men in Black, Get Shorty, and The Addams Family dishes out a delectable mix of insights and true tales that escalate from outrageous to unbelievable in his new memoir, Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time. From battling with studio executives and producers to bad-script-solving on set to coaxing actors into finding the right light and talking faster, Sonnenfeld will provide an entertaining masterclass in how to make commercial art in the face of constant human foible. You’ll never see Hollywood the same way again. A book signing will follow this program.
Open captions, ASL interpretation and ALDs will be provided.
https://www.chicagohumanities.org/events/attend/barry-sonnenfeld/
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
Politics of Poetics is a series of readings and workshops that highlights influential contemporary poets whose practices traverse the political through writing, teaching, and activism. This fall, poet Heid E. Erdrich reads new work and selections from her award-winning book of poetry, Little Big Bully (2020) and Curator of Ephemera at the New Museum of Archaic Media (2017). Following the reading, Erdrich is joined in conversation with artist Andrea Carlson, whose work provides the cover art for Little Big Bully, and is the current artist in our Chicago Works series.
Prior to the talk, Erdrich gives an intimate poetry workshop at the Center for Native Futures. Registration for the workshop is required; tickets are available through the Center for Native Futures.
ASL interpretation and English CART captioning are provided for the talk.
Philip Metres will read from his new book Fugitive/Refuge, an extended qasidah reflecting on exile and family histories of forced migration from global violence. Chicago poet Faisal Mohyuddin will read from his new book Elsewhere: An Elegy, a meditative and spare collection on fatherhood and grief.
Murmurs from the poets:
A toast to the migrants
the authors of movement
who write with their
feet
— Philip Metres, from Fugitive/Refuge
We have always been the displaced children of displaced children,
Tethered by distant rivers to abandoned lands, our blood’s history
lost.
— Faisal Mohyuddin, from Ghazal for the Diaspora
This event is part of the Poetry Foundation’s fall 2024 season, Murmuring Americas. All Poetry Foundation events are completely free of charge and open to the public, though advanced registration is encouraged. The performance space is ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible, and the program will feature CART captioning and ASL interpretation. For more information about accessibility at the Poetry Foundation, please visit our Accessibility Guide.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/events/1602229/fugitive-refuge
Written by Chicago poet Timothy David Rey, Zip! is a prophetic and ghostly timewarped drama about Nancy Reagan’s fervor for astrology, interlaced with a Black gay love story, set on the eve of the AIDS epidemic and the Reagan assassination attempt. The play runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.
Zip! is a 2023 semi-finalist for the Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights Conference. Further development occurred during the author’s time as a 2022 fellow in the playwriting cohort of the Lambda Literary Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQ+ Writers-Faculty Advisor, Jewelle Gomez. Zip! was given its second table-read as part of the 2021 End Of Play Program (hosted by the Dramatist Guild of America/ The 24 Hour Plays NYC).
Some of Rey’s other plays include White/House (Finalist, eta New Play Initiative, 2020), Gloria, The (Almost) Last Picture Show, and The Monologue Play: An Ongoing Work Exploring Race, Sex, Identity…And The American Myth (‘22,‘23 Changing Worlds/ Arts Work Fund Award Recipient).
Director: Roger Ellis
Cast: David Goodloe, Caren Skibell, Stephen Glaspie, Wannapa Pimtong Eubanks, Anniela Hubidoro, Saleem Hue Penny, and Donovan Session.
Production Team: Opening Graphic-Rob Riutta/ Ross Parsons, Choreography-Ayako Kato, Props-Julie Williams, Sound-Ayme Frye.
Murmurs from ZIP!:
NANCY: I tell you I’ve been honing my foresight over the past few months, ever since my husband’s inauguration, and it’s getting stronger every
day.
— Timothy David Rey, from ZIP!
This event is part of the Poetry Foundation’s fall 2024 season, Murmuring Americas. All Poetry Foundation events are completely free of charge and open to the public, though advanced registration is encouraged. The performance space is ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible, and the program will feature CART captioning and ASL interpretation. Please note, this event will not be livestreamed. For more information about accessibility at the Poetry Foundation, please visit our Accessibility Guide.
Based on the original Broadway production that ran for over thirteen years and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, and the Academy Award-winning motion picture, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. is a fantastic adaptation of the story of transformation and tolerance. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR. features some of the most popular songs ever written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice.
The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.
Accessibility: ASL interpreted
The cast and crew of Nothing On are scrambling to prepare for opening night, but despite their earnest efforts, the production is an absolute mess. Line flubs and lost props and missed cues, oh my! Can this beleaguered ensemble overcome egos and jealousies to pull the show together in time?
Onstage antics collide with offstage foibles in Steppenwolf’s production of Noises Off, the classic comedy that writes an ingenious, slapstick and zany tribute to “theatre-people” everywhere. By the end of this dizzying play-within-a-play, you won’t know stage right from left.
Noises Off will be performed in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theater.
Accessibility: ASL interpreted
https://www.steppenwolf.org/tickets–events/seasons-/2024-25/noises-off/
Three award-winning poets read from their latest collections grappling with landscapes of grief. National Book-winning Chicago poet Daniel Borzutzky’s The Murmuring Grief of the Americas exhumes the necrophilic underbelly of carceral capitalism and authoritarianism in the hemispheric Americas. Pulitzer Prize-winning language poet Rae Armantrout’s Go Figure tries to find humor and consolation in a disaster-ridden world. Pulitzer Prize-winning author Forrest Gander’s novel-poem Mojave Ghost takes grief on a memory-ridden pilgrimage home, walking 800 miles across the Mojave Desert.
Murmurs from the poets:
We ask the murmurers what they want to do with themselves now that they don’t get to live anymore. They say they want to love all the things they could not love when they were
alive.
— Daniel Borzutzy, from The Murmuring Grief of the Americas
A sentimental journey through a doomsday
scenario
— Rae Armantrout, from Go Figure
Walking the rift, they keep their voices small. Shallow vibrations scuttle along the fracture
zone.
— Forrest Ganders, from Mojave Ghost
This program is part of the Poetry Foundation’s fall 2024 season, Murmuring Americas. All Poetry Foundation events are completely free of charge and open to the public, though advanced registration is encouraged. The performance space is ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible, and the program will feature CART captioning and ASL interpretation. For more information about accessibility at the Poetry Foundation, please visit our Accessibility Guide.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/events/1597650/the-murmuring-grief-of-the-americas
Kelsey Street Press, a small press with an explosive history of publishing radical queer and trans BIPOC and women authors, celebrates its 50th anniversary. Publishing experimental feminist poetics since 1974, Kelsey Street Press has been pivotal in addressing gender disparity in publishing. Their formidable lineage includes Etel Adnan, Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, Renee Gladman, Fanny Howe, Erica Hunt, Bhanu Kapil, Myung Mi Kim, Camille Roy, and Cecilia Viçuna.
Four poets with recent or forthcoming publications from Kelsey Street Press will read at this event. Kiran Bath is the author of Instructions for Banno (2024), a debut collection which moves through ritual, ruptured diary, field notes, and family genealogy to grapple with the inherited trauma of becoming a South Asian bride (banno). Jennifer (JP) Perrine is the winner of Kelsey Street Press’s 2023 QTBIPOC Prize for Beautiful Outlaw (forthcoming in 2025). Rena Rosenwasser, a co-founder of the press, has four poetry collections published by the press across four decades: Elevators (2011), Isle (1992), Simulacra (1986), and Desert Flats (1979). Metta Sáma is the author of Swing at your own risk (2019), a formally inventive and incisive critique of anti-blackness in the US empire.
Reading 6-7:15 PM
Reception with open bar 7:15-8:30 PM
Murmurs from the poet:
America,
this land is my land this land is her land
from the Mexican border to the New England
shoreland this land is Not your land this body is
Not your body this tongue is Not your tongue this
language will cut you will peel back the
flesh
— Metta Sáma, from Swing at your own risk
The Interior is the City within the
Self
— Rena Rosenwasser, from Elevator
Omissions in language are intentional. We do not speak of = We do not recognize = It’s not possible. A negation. A mirror that shows you as
invisible.
— Kiran Bath, from Instructions for Banno
any answer I give is a half-answer
any answer arrives through the mouth of an
american
— Jennifer Perrine, from Beautiful Outlaw
This program is part of the Poetry Foundation’s fall 2024 season, Murmuring Americas. All Poetry Foundation events are completely free of charge and open to the public, though advanced registration is encouraged. The performance space is ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible, and the program will feature CART captioning and ASL interpretation. For more information about accessibility at the Poetry Foundation, please visit our Accessibility Guide.
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/events/1597497/kelsey-street-press-50th-anniversary
**ASL interpreter is for panel only**
Legal experts and science educators—along with civic engagement and free speech advocates—engage in a lively, wide-ranging discussion on the historical context of the Scopes Monkey Trial, while drawing parallels to the limitations on intellectual freedom in contemporary public classrooms.
Tickets include the discussion, drinks, light refreshments and the 7:30pm performance of Inherit the Wind.
For a $75 all-inclusive ticket, enter the code PANEL in the “Have a code?” field prior to selecting tickets.
For a $25 all-inclusive student ticket, enter the code PANELSTUDENT in the “Have a code?” field prior to selecting tickets.
ASL interpretation will be provided for the panel.
Panelists include: Blessing Bamgbade (Chicago Debates), Deidre Baumann, Glenn Branch, Kaitlyn Casimo, Henry Godinez, and Morgan Wirthlin with Jared Bellot moderating.
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 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
MILO IMAGINES THE WORLD is a musical odyssey of imagination. Through vibrant song, expressive dance, and a whole lot of imagination, this magical, musical journey takes us through the mind of a child, as he learns to see the world as it really is. A journey from house to home, this play is a real ride!
Adapted for the stage by Terry Guest
Music by Christian Albright & Christian Magby
Based on the book by Newbery-winning children’s author Matt de la Peña & illustrator Christian Robinson
Directed by Mikael Burke
MILO IMAGINES THE WORLD runs 65 minutes and is recommended for ages 6 & up.
Accessibility includes ASL interpretation and Open Captions.
https://chicagochildrenstheatre.org/event/milo-imagines-the-world/
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