Join Mary - "Up Close"....
The one and only Mary Tyler Moore will be interviewed by journalist Bill Kurtis for a "Conversation in the Arts: Up Close with..." on Tuesday, April 14, at The Film Row Cinema Theater of Columbia College Chicago, 1104 S. Wabash Ave. After the interview has concluded, Moore will answer questions from the audience.
One of television's most popular actresses, known for her legendary comedy on the shows "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," and "The Dick Van Dyke Show," and many TV movies and mini-series, Ms. Moore has seven Emmy Awards.
A ticket to "Up Close" is $35 and can be purchased by calling (866) 468-3401 or visiting ticketweb.com.
This is the final program in this inaugural season series of "Conversations," which included "Up Close with..." Lauren Bacall and Ben Vereen. The second season of "Conversations" will begin on Nov. 17 with Julie Andrews.
About Face presents...
The Chicago Premiere of Richard Greenberg’s Tony Award-winning play, "Take Me Out," has opened in previews at Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., and has its opening night on Saturday, April 2.
Directed by About Face Theatre Artistic Director and co-founder Eric Rosen and featuring About Face co-founder Kyle Hall, "Take Me Out" follows a superstar, charismatic and successful baseball player into the locker room where he announces he is "out of the closet." Following are events that are funny and sad — and that cause events that could undermine the best-loved team in baseball.
To purchase a ticket, call Audience Services at Steppenwolf Theatre at (312) 335-1650 or go on-line to steppenwolf.org. An individual preview ticket is $25 until opening night. During the regular run a ticket ranges in price between $35-$40.
Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre is located in the Steppenwolf Theatre Complex on the third floor. Elevators are available on the south end of the theater.
A.A. American Dance returns...
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to Chicago and presents three Chicago Premieres when it begins performances Thursday, April 7, at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Pkwy., and continues through Sunday, April 10.
Included in the repertoire are the Chicago premieres of Ailey Artistic Director Judith Jamison’s collaboration with choreographers Rennie Harris and Robert Battle entitled "Love Stories." Additional Chicago premieres include David Parsons’ "Shining Star" and Donald Byrd’s "Burlesque." Other highlights of the program are the revival of Alvin Ailey’s "Hidden Rites," Ulysses Dove’s "Vespers," and the dance company’s signature dance "Revelations."
The immensely popular dance troupe was founded in 1958 by Alvin Ailey who was an electrifying dancer. After his death, Judith Jamison took the reins and her artistic leadership has followed the Ailey legacy.
Young professionals will be getting together on opening night (April 7) for cocktails, a signature drink called "Shining Startinis" and hors d’oeuvres at the Theatre. For the "Special Opening Night Party," the young professionals will be arriving around 6 p.m. to sip, eat, mix and mingle. A ticket to the pre-show party ($48) includes a box seat for the performance. Remember, party at 6 and curtain at 7:30 p.m. and you don’t have to leave the theater. To purchase a ticket for the Pre-Show party (including the box seat), call (312) 922-2110, ext. 357.
For more information on show times or program information, and to purchase a ticket ($26-$72), stop by the Auditorium Theatre Box Office at 50 E. Congress Pkwy., call (312) 902-1500 or visit auditoriumtheatre.org.
Third Annual Wine Tasting....
Steppenwolf Theatre company presents another benefit (this one’s not sold out-yet) on Friday, April 1. It’s the Steppenwolf Auxiliary Council’s Third Annual Wine Tasting and this year it's held at the new River East Art Center, 435 E. Illinois St.
This Young Professional Event draws a great group of people who not only love wine and adore Steppenwolf Theatre, but they also will love the dinner created by Jewell Catering with lots of food stations. They will most probably devour the dessert (a chocolate fondue fountain).
The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. when an expected 400 guests will show up at the Art Center ready to sample the extensive flavors and expertise of Kafka Wine Co. The Kafka sommeliers teamed with Jewell Catering to create a menu based on five wine themes.
This year’s Wine Tasting celebrates the World Premiere Production of Bruce Norris’ "The Pain and the Itch" at Steppenwolf Theatre, which is directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro. Both Norris and Shapiro are serving as co-chairs of the fund-raiser.
Besides the wine, dinner, and dessert, a live drawing with some great prizes will be held. But that’s not all. There’s dancing too, provided by DJ Plez and Maggie Speaks.
Last year’s event raised more than $35,000 for Steppenwolf Theatre which doubled the amount raised the first year. It was also a sell-out. A ticket will cost $150 and can be purchased on-line at steppenwolf.org. Besides the regular priced ticket, a few VIP tickets are still available at $500 each. The VIP ticket includes two tickets to the Wine Tasting, a private champagne reception at 6:30 p.m., plus a goody bag quite different from the one a guest would receive with a $150 ticket. It’s up to you.
For more information about the VIP ticket, contact Colette Gregory at (312) 654-5672 or cgregory@steppenwolf.org. The $150 ticket can be purchased on-line at steppenwolf.org.
Hubbard Street gala, more...
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago's (HSDC), the critically acclaimed hometown dance company, opens its "Superstar Season" on Wednesday, March 30, with two world premieres and three Chicago premieres, plus many special events going on during its three-week performance schedule at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph Dr.
Okay, now onto the show! As promised in the last "Talk" Column March 23, here are some more of the Program highlights, additional special events and a few suggestions about what to see.
First, try to see a few of the five new dances. Within the three different programs (A, B, and C), there are two world premieres and three Chicago premieres.
Program A "Cosmic Rhythms" (March 30-April 3) features four dances. The World Premiere of Nacho Duato’s "Gnawa" incorporates the spirituality and rhythms of the Mediterranean; the Chicago Premiere of Lucas Crandall’s "Gimme" presents two lovers as they playfully tease, taunt and dance to the rustic score of the Norwegian Group Blå Bergens Borduner. Two other dances are included in the night’s show. Running time is approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes.
Are you a student who can produce a "real student ID"? If so, then Sunday, April 3, is your night. "Student Night" is only one night and the only night to save 50 percent per ticket ($13 to $37.50)
To get one, stop by the Harris Theater box office at 205 E. Randolph Dr. (in Millennium Park) between 3 and 7 p.m. (not before 3 p.m.) on April 3 only. The dances in Program A will be featured.
In addition to the performance, students purchasing a ticket with an ID will each get 15 percent off to Giordano's, 135 E. Lake St., to use between 3 and 7 p.m. with a valid HSDC ticket.
Regular priced tickets for April 3 will also be available for non-students (unless the show is sold-out). For ticket information and how to purchase a ticket, keep reading.
On Wednesday, April 6, through Sunday, April 10, HSDC presents Program B: "Starry Nights." The performances include the world premiere of "Love Stories," by Lar Lubovitch, which is set to five classic love songs by Kurt Elling; and the Chicago premiere of Ohad Naharin’s "Tabula Rasa," a haunting piece expressing the beauty of human relationships performed by 10 dancers to the music of Arvo Pärt. Eleven dancers will celebrate Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti in "counter/part" by HSDC Artistic Director Jim Vincent. Also on the program is "SF/LB," a piece for 15 dancers set to the music of Leonard Bernstein’s "Prelude, Fugue and Riffs," that underscores the unity and conformity of today’s society. Running time for program B is approximately 1 hour 48 minutes.
The "Superstar Season" continues on Friday, April 8, with Hubbard Street’s 2005 Gala "The Magic of Romance." Chicago’s A-list guests will arrive at the Harris Theater at 6:30 p.m. in luxurious attire. Every lady will be dressed as a "First Lady," wearing designer gowns, and the men too will be elegant and groomed, donning their black tie outfits. (Guys always look good in a tux!)
The program includes "Love Stories," by Lar Lubovitch, which features five classic love songs by Kurt Elling. "Gnawa" by Nacho Duato is a spiritual piece with rhythms from the Mediterranean. The third premiere is "Gimme" by Lucas Crandall, a playful duo. Also on the program is "SF/LB" by Daniel Ezralow, a work for 15 dancers that is set to Leonard Bernstein’s "Prelude, Fugue and Riffs" and makes a statement about unity and conformity of today’s society.
When the performance concludes, guests will depart the Harris Theater for a short ride to The Fairmont Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Dr., where they will can enjoy the cocktail reception, and then an elegant, sumptuous dinner. During the reception and dinner, guests will bid on items offered in a silent auction that will feature a flight in a fully restored World War II Trainer, a T-6 Texan; trips to La Paz and Lake Titicaca in Bolivia, Cusco and Machu Picchu in Peru, and to New York City to see HSDC perform at the Joyce Theater; and the highly anticipated and creative HSDC dancer-sponsored auction prizes. After dinner, there’s dessert and dancing to the music of the Gentlemen of Leisure.
Purchased your ticket yet? Better hurry as time is running out. Join the expected 1,000 guests and have an evening of "Magic and Romance."
For additional information or to purchase a ticket ($500-$1,000 per individual), phone (312) 850-0844. Performance only tickets may be tough to get for that particular night.To purchase a ticket to any of the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago performances, parties or special events or for additional information about show times, parking, public transportation or whatever: Phone (800) 882-4275; go to the Hubbard Street Dance Chicago web-site at hubbardstreetdance.com. Go to tickets.com or stop by the Box Office at the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Dr. Please check performance times prior to purchasing a ticket.
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