Rahm Emanuel News

On the heels of its successful July 23 'Community Day' event, Goodman Theatre adds a second dedicated 'Community Day' performance of The Jungle Book on August 13 at 7:30pm to which all guests are invited free of charge.

Goodman Theatre continues its partnership with Chicago Public Library by presenting Stage Chemistry lessons at select branches, as part of each location's ongoing programming. These sessions are a part of Mayor Rahm Emanuel's "Summer of Learning" (through August 10), which encourages young people to participate in activities focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM). The Stage Chemistry lessons focus on the physics of lighting in the Goodman's production of The Jungle Book (now through August 18).

THE GREAT FOOD TRUCK RACE kicks off season four with a brand-new cast of food truck hopefuls, who hit the road for the longest route in series history.

Tickets for the 7th annual Chicago Dancing Festival, the 'Free-to-All' Festival at venues across downtown Chicago, become available to the general public next week, beginning today, July 16 at noon. During the Festival's five-day run there are five completely free performance showcases, though tickets for indoor events must be reserved in advance. Co-produced by internationally renowned choreographer and native Chicagoan Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke, the 2013 Chicago Dancing Festival features top ballet, modern, ethnic and rhythmic dance companies from Chicago and across the country, set to take place August 20 - 24.

Second City comes back to DC and does what it does best!

Tickets for the 7th annual Chicago Dancing Festival, the "Free-to-All" Festival at venues across downtown Chicago, become available to the general public next week, beginning Tuesday, July 16 at noon. During the Festival's five-day run there are five completely free performance showcases, though tickets for indoor events must be reserved in advance. Co-produced by internationally renowned choreographer and native Chicagoan Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke, the 2013 Chicago Dancing Festival features top ballet, modern, ethnic and rhythmic dance companies from Chicago and across the country, set to take place August 20 - 24.

Ten-time GRAMMY Award winner Chaka Khan will be honored for her stellar 40-year career in music and entertainment in the place where it all beganChicago, Illinois.

Starting June 15 th, Qatar Airways stepped up frequency on the Chicago - Doha route to daily flights ahead of the peak summer travel season.

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, one of the world's premier contemporary dance companies, together with event Co-Chairs Meg Siegler Callahan, Elizabeth Yntema Ferguson, Sara Albrecht and Jane Strauss, hosted the 35th Anniversary Spotlight Ball on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park and the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park. The event was a major success for the organization, raising more than $1.1 million for Hubbard Street's educational, community and artistic programming.

The Chicago Dancing Festival has announced the programming schedule for its seventh season. Co-produced by internationally renowned choreographer and native Chicagoan Lar Lubovitch and highly esteemed Chicago dancer Jay Franke, this 'Free-to-All' Festival is set to take place August 20 - 24, featuring top ballet, modern, ethnic and rhythmic dance companies from Chicago and across the country.

ArtPlace America announces today the award of a $250,000 grant to Redmoon, the large-scale spectacle and public art group, for the Great Chicago Fire Festival, a new festival that will culminate in a procession of illuminated floating fiberglass sculptures as well as a fire spectacle on the main branch of the Chicago River. The Great Chicago Fire Festival was chosen from over 1,200 applications as an exceptional example of creative placemaking.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today the expanded Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program as part of the City's "Night Out in the Parks" initiative.Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST), the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and leaders of Chicago's corporate community partner to expand the Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks program, after its inaugural success in 2012. The citywide tour of The Comedy of Errors travels to neighborhood parks across Chicago, FREE FOR ALL, July 25-August 25, 2013. From Humboldt Park to Garfield and Loyola Park to South Shore, this summer's Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks will break down barriers to arts participation and give Chicagoans direct access to their City's cultural resources by bringing 27 free Shakespeare performances into 18 different neighborhood parks.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) produces a summer program annually featuring a festival of plays-from family musicals to international guest artists to classic and re-imagined productions of Shakespeare's canon-attracting Chicagoans and tourists alike. Over nine million people come to Navy Pier each year, the majority in the summer months, and Chicago Shakespeare is the premier theatrical attraction at the Midwest's most visited site.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced last week a plan to partner with Redmoon, the large-scale spectacle and public art group, to create a new festival that will culminate in a procession of illuminated floating fiberglass sculptures as well as a fire spectacle on the main branch of the Chicago River. The inaugural Great Chicago Fire Festival, presented by Redmoon in partnership with the City of Chicago, will take place in October 2014.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, his wife Amy Rule and their three children attended Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Sunday matinee of Othello: The Remix, the hip hop, tragi-comic adaptation of Shakespeare's play, commissioned by Chicago Shakespeare. The City's 'first family' stayed to congratulate the Q Brothers and the acting company after the performance-a homecoming after the work's world premiere in London at Shakespeare's Globe and subsequent tour to Germany and Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Check out a photo of Emanuel with the cast below!

Arts Alliance Illinois will host its inaugural benefit luncheon, Voices of a Creative State, Friday, May 17, 2013 at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave. The luncheon will feature a presentation by world-renowned cellist and Chicago Symphony Orchestra Judson and Joyce Green Creative Consultant Yo-Yo Ma about the powerful role that the arts can and should play in the civic life of Illinois.

EXPO CHICAGO, The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, in conjunction with Choose Chicago and Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), announces EXPO ART WEEK Sept. 16 - 22, 2013.

In this week's 'Meet the Press' PRESS Pass conversation, Chuck Todd sat down with outgoing Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to hear more on his 40 year career including what advice he would give incoming White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough on how to handle his new job.

Chicago Mayor and President Obama's former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel discussed his new plan targeting assault weapons in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in an interview with co-hosts Charlie Rose and Norah O'Donnell that was broadcast live today Dec. 18, 2012, on CBS THIS MORNING on the CBS Television Network (7:00 AM - 9:00 AM). Check out his interview below!