Mayor Rahm Emanuel News

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.

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.

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!

The Joffrey Ballet, Chicago's world-renowned ballet company that has toured to over 80 countries throughout its storied history (more than any other dance company), today hosted an international cadre of NATO dignitary spouses and other representations at its Loop home, Joffrey Tower, at 10 East Randolph Street. The special event, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State in cooperation with Blair House, included a short performance and reception, entertaining guests and sharing with them a part of Chicago's vibrant cultural and artistic community. Among the visitors was Mayor Rahm Emanuel. See below for a photo of Emanuel at the event!

The 2011-2012 school year marks Chicago Academy for the Arts' 30th anniversary year, and a year-long series of events and activities celebrating the occasion will culminate with A Taste for the Arts/30th Anniversary Gala, tonight, May 10, 2012 at the Harris Theater and Millennium Park Terrace. This evening, hosted by Rick and Deann Bayless and Donna LaPietra and Bill Kurtis, and chaired by Stephen Flach and Chris Fryson, with honorary chair Mayor Rahm Emanuel, civic committee chair Barbara Levy Kipper and arts committee chair Jim Belushi, will highlight student and alumni art and performance alongside the dazzling cuisine of Chicago's top chefs, including Rick Bayless, Sarah Grueneberg, Tony Mantuano, Stephanie Izard, Chris Jones, Richie Farina, Dale Levitski, Amanda Rockman, Heather Terhune and Takashi Yagihashi.

City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proclaimed today, April 23, Talk Like Shakespeare Day, an occasion for citizens from Chicago and across the globe to celebrate Shakespeare's 448th birthday by bringing the spoken words of Shakespeare into their daily lives. The holiday, which originated in Chicago in 2009, became a worldwide sensation garnering extensive national and international media coverage and more than one million hits to TalkLikeShakespeare.org.

City of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel has proclaimed Monday, April 23, Talk Like Shakespeare Day, an occasion for citizens from Chicago and across the globe to celebrate Shakespeare's 448th birthday by bringing the spoken words of Shakespeare into their daily lives. The holiday, which originated in Chicago in 2009, became a worldwide sensation garnering extensive national and international media coverage and more than one million hits to TalkLikeShakespeare.org.

The 2011-2012 school year marks CAA's 30th anniversary year, and a year-long series of events and activities celebrating the occasion will culminate with A Taste for the Arts/30th Anniversary Gala, May 10, 2012 at the Harris Theater and Millennium Park Terrace. This evening, hosted by Rick and Deann Bayless and Donna LaPietra and Bill Kurtis, and chaired by Stephen Flach and Chris Fryson, with honorary chair Mayor Rahm Emanuel, civic committee chair Barbara Levy Kipper and arts committee chair Jim Belushi, will highlight student and alumni art and performance alongside the dazzling cuisine of Chicago's top chefs, including Rick Bayless, Sarah Grueneberg, Tony Mantuano, Stephanie Izard, Chris Jones, Richie Farina, Dale Levitski, Amanda Rockman, Heather Terhune and Takashi Yagihashi.

Goodman Theatre's cast of Race by David Mamet took a break from rehearsal yesterday morning to join more than 200 volunteers from City Year Chicago and One Good Deed Chicago in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Together with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, actors Geoffrey Owens and Tamberla Perry, along with Director Chuck Smith and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, painted a classroom at the North Lawndale YMCA (3449 W. Arthington).

Jam-packed with comedy, musical performances and commentary, CHICAGO LIVE! returns this fall with its fifth season of headline making interviews and performances.

Jam-packed with comedy, musical performances and commentary, CHICAGO LIVE! returns this fall with its fifth season of headline making interviews and performances.