You don’t have to be a rabid Jane Austen fan—though I confess I am one—to love the world premiere musical “Sense and Sensibility” at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, directed by CST Artistic Director Barbara Gaines. CST commissioned the work by Tony Award-nominated composer Paul Gordon, who also provided book and lyrics as well as music. Gordon […]
Mother’s Day weekend starts on a fashionable note at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Fashion 2015 and ends with an Evanston house walk that has been around for 40 years. In between, you can enjoy a beer festival on the grass at Soldier Field, stop by the opening of Chicago Botanic Garden’s […]
The Joffrey Ballet paid homage to the grace of the human form in its program titled “New Works,” which opened April 22 at Cadillac Palace Theatre and runs through May 3. Mainly unadorned, the shapes and sinews of the dozen dancers move with such complexity and in such configurations as to leave us breathless. There […]
Chicago author Allison Pataki cannot be slowed down. Regarded as a “force in historical fiction,” this New York Times best-selling author published her first two novels within a year of each other, and has already begun to tackle her next, highly anticipated project, a sequel to “The Accidental Empress.” Marrying history and fiction in an […]
Hello, May! This is a big month for Chicago, the host city for both the James Beard Awards (Monday, May 4) and the 2015 NFL Draft (this weekend!). If you don’t have tickets for the actual draft, catch all the action, as well as concerts, autograph signings and other activities, at the free fan festival in […]
Attention TV and movie fans: Cast members of some of today’s most popular programs are coming to Chicago this weekend, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to ask your burning questions. Plus, a New York Times best-selling author and comedian is making her way to the North Shore this weekend, and bookworms will also love […]
Putting together a new musical is a big deal. It isn’t easy finding the right combination of words, melodies, characters and spectacle that will win over audiences. But three new musicals are hitting local stages in May, and hopes are high that they’ll leave us humming as we walk out the doors. “Sense and Sensibility“ […]
It’s been 24 years since The Marriott Theatre staged “Anything Goes,” the biggest musical comedy of the 1930s, and the revived production is a feat of fabulous choreography, beloved Cole Porter songs, and eccentric, entertaining characters. “Anything Goes” represented common “escapist entertainment” of the time, or entertainment that allowed the public to escape from the harsh […]
A recent survey by BetterDoctor had Chicago low on its list of most physically active cities in America. Not surprisingly, cities in California and Colorado have us beat—sub-zero winter temps aren’t exactly conducive to getting out and exercising. Instead of whining about our temperamental weather, kick it up a notch with a vacation that emphasizes […]
Rain or shine, don’t let the weather decide your weekend plans. Instead, get out and enjoy the newest musical at Lyric Opera of Chicago. You can also shop ‘til you drop at a fair perfect for music fans or travel to France while staying in Winnetka. If you love sweets, don’t miss a festival all about […]
