Arts & Entertainment
From Esoteric VHS Screenings to Must-See Plays, Here Are This Week’s Arts and Culture Picks
Amy Morton and Namir Smallwood in “You Will Get Sick” (Credit: Sandro Miller / Steppenwolf)
If your daily life gets hazy, as if plumes of dust and wildfire smoke are clouding your vision, the best way to get clarity is to go experience some art safely indoors. Whether it’s a musical on the “Queen of Rock’n’Roll,” an esoteric screening of VHS oddities or two imaginative plays, you have a lot of stellar options to explore Chicago’s thriving cultural scene.
“You Will Get Sick” at Steppenwolf
Noah Diaz’s “You Will Get Sick” first debuted in 2022 at New York City’s off-Broadway Laura Pels, where it starred Linda Lavin and “Billions” actor Daniel K. Isaac. The New York Times praised it, saying, “Neither prosaic nor clinical, it defies all expectations for a story in which the main character receives a fatal diagnosis, telling the tale in the most lively, surreal and surprising ways imaginable.” Now, it’s in Chicago at Steppenwolf. It premieres today, runs through July 13 and stars ensemble members Cliff Chamberlain, Amy Morton and Namir Smallwood along with Jordan Arredondo and Sadieh Rifai.
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“Iraq, But Funny” at Lookingglass Theatre
Lookingglass Theatre ensemble member Atra Asdou penned a biting satire “about five generations of Assyrian women reclaiming their stories, as narrated by a British guy.” “Iraq, But Funny” premiered last week at the Mag Mile theater and runs through July 20.
“Strange and Found” at Music Box Theatre
The two hosts of “Strange and Found” at the Music Box Theatre boast a VHS collection of over 15,000 tapes. Together, they traverse their archives for the weird videos, the oddities and the fascinating for an unforgettable live screening experience. Sunday, June 8.
“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” at Cadillac Theatre
“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” ends its run at Chicago’s Cadillac Theatre on Sunday, June 8. It first hit the city in 2023, and of the initial production, WTTW News theater critic Hedy Weiss wrote, “The musical version of Tina’s life captures the essence of a woman who suffered greatly on many fronts yet persevered thanks to an indomitable spirit and immense talent.”