Lyric Opera offers shows for everybody...
 Welcome to #aao2014 , we’re glad to see you in Chicago!
The theme of this year’s annual meeting is “ENGAGE!,” and we hope you’ll take full advantage of these four days to do just that – engage with your fellow professionals and with the many available educational opportunities. Sure, the well-known Tchaikovsky score is in place and the story runs along the same lines as the original, but that’s pretty much where the familiarity ends for the magnificent new production of the venerable Swan Lake from the renowned Joffrey Ballet.
Fully re-imagined to combine classical elements with a decidedly modern vision, this new conception from choreographer Christopher Wheeldon breathes stunning new life into one of ballet’s greatest love stories, in the process showcasing some of the best dancers in the world. Swan Lake is on stage this week at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress. Performances are Wednesday through Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2pm and 7:30pm and Sunday at 2pm. Tickets ($32-$170) are available at 312.341.2310 or auditoriumtheatre.org. There’s nothing better about visiting a city and feeling like you experienced something that simply wouldn’t – couldn’t – have happened anywhere else in the world. Opportunities like that may be few and far between, but this weekend’s inaugural Great Chicago Fire Festival is likely to fit the bill.
After a months-long series of events throughout Chicago aiming to celebrate the city’s spirit of resilience and renewal, the Festival wraps up on Saturday, October 4 with a number of exciting happenings, including: River Bazaar: Music and color highlight 15 diverse Chicago neighborhoods (3pm). Grand Spectacle: The city’s innovative theater troupe Redmoon transforms the Chicago River with the help of 400 performers and plenty of flames (8pm). Fireworks: A dazzling display caps off an amazing evening. The Great Chicago Fire Festival is FREE, and takes place along the Chicago River. Visit chicagofirefestival.com, or call 312.744.3315 for more information. The calendar may say it’s only September, but that’s no reason to wait for the 29th Annual Berghoff Oktoberfest, a three-day celebration of German food, drink and culture right in the heart of the Loop at the John C. Kluczynski Federal Plaza (230 S. Dearborn).
This annual “taste of Bavaria” benefits the city’s Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, and features nightly entertainment from some of Chicago’s favorite party bands beginning at 5pm, along with plenty of beer, wine and, of course, bratwurst and other great German delicacies. Berghoff Oktoberfest runs tomorrow through Friday, with FREE admission daily from 11am to 9pm. Call 312.427.3170 for more information. And don’t forget – just down the street, the Oktoberfest celebration continues with specials all month long at the legendary Berghoff Restaurant (17 W. Adams)! 
Want to see current menus from virtually every downtown restaurant?
Download the KEY Chicago Mobile App! https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/key-chicago-guide/id762780605?mt=8 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wehaakc Brigadoon, is a classic musical that seems to inspire more memories than it does modern-day productions, Lerner and Loewe’s 1947 tale of love, fate and a magical Scottish village that
appears from the mist but once a year seems ripe for the type of revival that many a dusty old title has received on Broadway in recent years. But theater lovers in Chicago don’t have to wait to see if that happens – thanks to director Rachel Rockwell and her talented cast, the bagpipes are calling and memorable tunes like “Almost Like Being in Love” are ringing out all summer long in the Loop Theater District. Due to popular demand, performances have been extended through August 10 at Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn, 312.443.3800). Tickets ($25-$97, subject to change) are available at 312.443.3800 or goodmantheatre.org/Brigadoon. The Sound of Music is back! The world’s most beloved musical of all time returns to Chicago for a limited engagement at the Lyric Opera House this month. The story you loved as a child is better than ever in a star-studded live performance. After young Maria leaves the convent to become a governess for the Von Trapp children, she embarks on a wild journey of self-discovery, generosity, and love. The musical is based on true events and also tells the tale of the Von Trapp family struggling to escape Austria on the precipice of World War II. Seasoned veteran of the stage Billy Zane (Titanic, Chicago) stars as Captain Von Trapp, and Broadway icon Jenn Gambatese leads as Maria. Considering the smashing success this musical has had around the world in the last 50 years, this fresh installment is sure to be a hit.
Sing along with Maria and the children at the Lyric Opera House (20 N. Upper Wacker) Through May 25. Tickets start at $29. For information or to purchase tickets call 312.332.2244 or visit lyricopera.org The Tony Award-winning Broadway musical smash Peter and the Starcatcher, a grown up’s prequel to Peter Pan, is the innovative and imaginative musical play based on the best selling novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. A company of a dozen actors play more than a hundred unforgettable characters, all on a journey to answer the century old question: How did Peter Pan become The Boy Who Never Grew Up? This epic origin story of popular culture’s most enduring and beloved character proves that your imagination is the most captivating place in the world.
Peter and the Starcatcher is on stage at Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre (18 W. Monroe) through April 13. Tickets range from $18–$85. Performance times are Tues. & Fri. at 7:30pm Wed., Thur. & Sun. at 2pm & 7:30pm; and Sat., 2pm & 8pm. For tickets, call the Broadway In Chicago ticket line at 800.775.2000 or visit BroadwayInChicago.com For thousands of years, China was known as the Divine Land. But under 60 years of communist rule, authentic Chinese culture, including traditional arts, have been almost lost. That is why you cannot see a performance like Shen Yun in China today.
Shen Yun is the first company to present classical Chinese dance to the world on a large scale. Based in New York, it has taken the globe by storm, performing in over 100 cities. Through dance and music, Shen Yun brings to life ancient myths, legends, and historical stories. Bi–lingual emcees introduce each act in both Chinese and English. Find out why artists and theatergoers around the world are calling Shen Yun “breathtaking,” “mesmerizing,” “a miracle,” and “inspiring.” From April 2-5, Shen Yun returns to Chicago with 4 performances at the Civic Opera House (20 N. Wacker). Tickets ($63–$203) are available at 800.515.3468 or by visiting ShenYun.com |
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