John Park News

COCA (Center of Creative Arts) will host a reception and Artists' Talk Friday, May 14 at 6pm for their exhibit Building Community. Artist and COCA instructor John Parker curates an exhibit featuring the work of COCA faculty members in a wide range of visual arts forms including painting, illustration, collage, sculpture, photography and digital media. Artists include Ilene Berman, Abigail Birhanu, Chris Martinez, Sara Moss, Maria Ojascastro, Katrina Shannon, and Stephanie Summerlin. The exhibit runs through July 16.

Four members of the remaining "American Idol" hopefuls had to be sent home tonight, and the results shows only grow more emotional each week. The evening began with the top twenty contestants singing the Black Eyed Pea's hit I've Got a Feeling and the song was just, well, awkward. This is not the type of song that lends itself to a group performance and the "Idol" staff showed us exactly why that's the case. The harmonies were odd, the rapping by many of the contestants didn't fit, and the song just sounded odd. Katie Stevens was the standout, as she seemed to actually be enjoying herself and was having fun with the song. (Perhaps this is more the type of song she should be choosing on a weekly basis?)

"Idol" surprised viewers tonight, sending the gentlemen on to perform instead of the previously scheduled women. At the top of the episode, Ryan Seacrest explained that fan favorite Crystal Bowersox was taken to the hospital and was recommended to not perform by her doctors. "Idol" producers, as well as the guys themselves, were accommodating and decided to go tonight and allow Bowersox the night to rest.

After last night's disappointing performance from the women, America, as well as the judges, was hoping from a step up from gentlemen. And, while they did have a better overall showing than the women, it was another disappointing night from the "Idol" contestants. Several of the performers were good, but none seemed to up the ante and knock their song out of the park.

After learning the first seven of the Top 24 last night, tonight's episode left audiences in anticipation, waiting to see if their favorite singers would be selected through to the next round. Some of the choices seemed obvious (i.e. Andrew Garcia), while others left audiences wondering if they would receive good news or leave the judging room in tears.

On Wednesday, AMERICAN IDOL revealed the remaining 17 semifinalists in the season's top 24 contenders. (Spoiler Warning: Do not read ahead if you don't want to know yet who the top 24 are.)

In an 'American Idol' first, seven of the Top 24 contestants were revealed on tonight's episode. After featuring snippets of many contestants' performances, 'Idol' split the hopefuls into three groups, sending one-third of the contestants home before the final judging. Then, each remaining contestant sat down with the judges to learn whether they would be singing in front of America or ending their journey in Hollywood. Some performances worked, others fell surprisingly flat, but the big news from tonight's 'Idol' is who made it through Hollywood.

Tonight episode of 'American Idol' brought the always-entertaining group auditions. The remaining contestants form groups of three to five people, choose from a select list of songs, and choreograph the number to perform in front of the judges. Group auditions always provide for an excellent episode, as it is the only time in the show when contestants are forced to depend on others in their performance.

The first round of Hollywood auditions on 'American Idol' brought the welcome addition of Ellen DeGeneres to the judging panel. Ellen replaced Paula Abdul, after Paula was not hired back for 'Idol's' ninth season. Ellen was a refreshing change to panel, being brutally honest to the contestants, as well as providing several amusing comments about the performances.

After two very successful audition dates in Boston and Atlanta, 'American Idol' made its way to the Windy City. With the largest attendances as yet, 'Idol' came to Chicago with high expectations. 5-time Grammy winner Shania Twain served as guest judge for the 12,000 hopefuls and Chicago looked to be a promising stop on the long road to Hollywood.

Goodman Theatre launches its new 2009/2010 Season with tap dancing, acrobatics, tumbling, guitar- and ukulele-playing in an original take on the rarely-produced Marx Brothers classic musical Animal Crackers, written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, with music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby

Goodman Theatre launches its new 2009/2010 Season with tap dancing, acrobatics, tumbling, guitar- and ukulele-playing in an original take on the rarely-produced Marx Brothers classic musical Animal Crackers, written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, with music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby

Goodman Theatre launches its new 2009/2010 Season with tap dancing, acrobatics, tumbling, guitar- and ukulele-playing in an original take on the rarely-produced Marx Brothers classic musical Animal Crackers, written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, with music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby

The festival will include performances by the faculty and students, as well as seminars by faculty members including Jed Bernstein and Dave Clemmons. Workshops taking place during the project will also be featured including directors such as Frank Wildhorn, David Loud and Christopher D'Amboise.