Arts & Entertainment
From West African Music to Campy Drama, Here Are 5 Arts and Culture Picks for the Weekend
Red Clay Dance Company. (Michelle Reid Photography)
Between Easter, Passover and 4/20, there will be a lot of foodstuffs consumed this weekend. But bread alone won’t sustain you, so make a meal for your mind in Chicago’s cultural kitchen. Below are five picks, the specials of the week from our giant, ever-changing menu.
“Act Well Your Part” – Jane Addams Hull-House Museum
Fact: Social reformer Jane Addams played a key role in the development of theater in Chicago — and ultimately even set the stage for the birth of improv. Here’s an exhibition (and related festival) that explores the impact of Hull House since the 1890s. Check the museum calendar for performances, workshops and chats about this fascinating, civic-minded history of theater. Ongoing
Thanks to our sponsors:
“Prayer for the French Republic” – Northlight Theatre, Skokie
A standout cast of Chicago stage veterans brings to life the story of a family. It’s 1944, and a Jewish couple in Paris awaits news of missing relatives. In the 21st century, their descendants consider the effects of a hatred that spans generations. Currently in previews, this Chicago-area premiere tells of multiple histories encountering the legacy of antisemitism. Through May 11
“Africa Out West” – Kehrein Center for the Arts
The Old Town School of Folk Music presents West African music performed by a pair of ensembles — namely, Farafina Kan and Bala Fanga. Expect drums, dancers and plenty of balafon, a xylophone with resonators made from gourds. Also with a local youth djembe orchestra and a DJ. It’s a free concert, part of the Old Town School’s Future Folk Festival. April 20
A scene from “Scary Town.” (Rick Aguilar Studios)
“Scary Town” – Hell in a Handbag Productions, The Clutch
Billed as “an adult children’s play,” this endearing show mixes snappy jokes, campy drama and real emotion. Bunnies and critters tell the personal story of creator David Cerda, who grew up in an Indiana steel town in a knotty family tree. Hard-drinking puppets join the human cast in the first show at Hell in a Handbag’s cozy space, The Clutch, near Welles Park. Through May 11
Red Clay Dance Company – The Dance Center of Columbia College
Artistry meets athleticism as this contemporary company showcases dynamic dancers in a return to Columbia College. For their sweet 16th season, they present “16” with works by Bebe Miller and founder Vershawn Sanders-Ward. Along with the talent on stage, the Dance Center hosts an archive documenting Red Clay’s partnership with the Chicago Dance History Project. April 17-19
Marc Vitali is the JCS Fund of the DuPage Foundation Arts Correspondent.