Chicago 1979 - Articles Page 15

Eighteen talented, dedicated Chicago kids ages 9 to 18, all students in Merit School of Music's Suzuki-Alegre Strings program, have returned from a once-in-a-lifetime experience, representing Chicago and the U.S. at the 16th Suzuki Method World Convention in Matsumoto, Japan. Scroll down for photos from the trip!

Chicago's Merit School of Music has announced it has been selected as a 2013 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award (NAHYP) Finalist by the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and its partner agencies, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

With her unassuming modesty and intelligence, Meredith Dalglish is no ordinary artist from Portland Oregon. She was an original contributor to Judy Chicago's 1979 feminist installation work 'Dinner Party' now on permanent display at the Brooklyn Museum, New York. Dalglish, an exhibitor in Parallax 'Art' Fair at The Prince George Ballroom in New York 11-12 May, said of her contribution to Chicago's famous work: "I volunteered for 7 months to help Judy get this monumental installation finished. It was my job to take her image based on her fine drawing and translate it into clay to celebrate the life and work of Georgia O'Keeffe." Aware of the problems of art history and appreciating the issues that Parallax raises, she added, "Part of the intention of the 'Dinner Party' was to rewrite art history so that women are made visible and equally important to the male dominated art world. Judy did what you suggest: she created her own community. I have always been involved with early female imagery, such as that in my large scale permanent ceramic installation entitled 'Aphrodite's Dream' at the downtown Atlanta Hilton, Atlanta, GA. created in time for the Olympics held there in 1997. Triangles are a repeated theme in my work, that will also be represented at the upcoming Parallax Art Fair, as this is a healing, spiritual and feminine image.'

Theatre for a New Audience, whose vision is based on its core commitment to ideas, to language, and to artists and audiences, has scheduled the first three of its new Open Books Series of free lectures beginning Today, April 25, at 6:00pm with Kenneth Gross, author of Puppet: An Essay on Uncanny Life (University of Chicago Press, 2011), and continuing with Penelope Niven, author of Thornton Wilder: A Life (Harper, 2012) Tuesday, May 21,at 5:00pm and Jonathan Kalb, author of Great Lengths: Seven Works of Marathon Theater (University of Michigan Press, 2011), Today, May 30, at 6:00pm.

Theatre for a New Audience, whose vision is based on its core commitment to ideas, to language, and to artists and audiences, has scheduled the first three of its new Open Books Series of free lectures beginning Thursday, April 25, at 6:00pm with Kenneth Gross, author of Puppet: An Essay on Uncanny Life (University of Chicago Press, 2011), and continuing with Penelope Niven, author of Thornton Wilder: A Life (Harper, 2012) Tuesday, May 21,at 5:00pm and Jonathan Kalb, author of Great Lengths: Seven Works of Marathon Theater (University of Michigan Press, 2011), Thursday, May 30, at 6:00pm.

Perhaps you saw him on Broadway in Wicked where he's spent the past five years playing the Wizard, or prior to that as the lovable Mr. Cellophane in the long running Broadway show Chicago opposite stars such as Melanie Griffith and Brooke Shields. Celebrating his 43rd year as a professional actor, PJ Benjamin will now be appearing at The Public Theatre, Lewiston/Auburn's Professional Theatre as Ralph Bellini, the charming lovestruck star of the heartwarming romantic comedy The Last Romance. Other Broadway shows in Mr. Benjamin's history include: Pippin; Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies; the Tony Award winning play Torch Song Trilogy; Charlie in the musical Charlie and Algernon (Los Angles critics award), The Pajama Game directed by George Abbott; Wind in the Willows; Ain't Broadway Grand and Sarava. He may also be familiar to younger audiences as the voice of Sergeant Dodo Bird in the animated film, Ice Age.

A special tribute concert to Stephen Sondheim, including 17 premieres of commissioned works inspired by his songs, will be taking place at "Music in the Loft" in Chicago's historic Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Avenue, Suite 801, on April 7, 2013 at 3:00 pm. Pianist Anthony de Mare will be premiering/performing some of the 36-piece "LIAISONS Project" featuring Sondheim-inspired pieces by composers ranging from Nico Muhly and Steve Reich to Duncan Sheik and Jason Robert Brown.

The Akron Civic Theatre will present Verb Ballets', Honoring Poll, tonight, March 8, 2013, at 8pm with intimate cabaret seating on stage at the historic theatre. The program will highlight the late choreographer Heinz Poll and his legacy through works created for the Ohio Ballet and features a new work by former Ohio Ballet dancer and ballet master, Richard Dickinson (Ohio Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Boston Ballet).

The Akron Civic Theatre will present Verb Ballets', Honoring Poll, on Friday, March 8, 2013, at 8pm with intimate cabaret seating on stage at the historic theatre. The program will highlight the late choreographer Heinz Poll and his legacy through works created for the Ohio Ballet and features a new work by former Ohio Ballet dancer and ballet master, Richard Dickinson (Ohio Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Boston Ballet).

Westport Country Playhouse's next Script in Hand playreading will be the romantic comedy, 'Beau Jest' by James Sherman, a former actor/writer for Chicago's Second City, on one-night-only, Monday, March 18, 7 p.m. Director is Anne Keefe, Playhouse artistic advisor. Casting will be announced soon.

Multi-platinum Grammy-nominated Island Records group Fall Out Boy finally puts an end to years of rumors and speculation, with the official announcement today from their hometown of Chicago that the band has returned and will globally launch their new single - 'My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)'- today at iTunes

On November 5, 1901, Walter Elias Disney was born to Flora and Elias Disney in Chicago, Illinois. Since that day, Disney has brought his magic to millions and millions of people all over the world. Below, watch the opening moments from a 1979 broadcast of 'The Wonderful World of Disney', a beloved Sunday evening family staple for decades.

Eighteen talented Chicago youngsters, all students in Merit School of Music's Suzuki-Alegre Strings program, will pack their suitcases and string instruments for the trip of a lifetime to Matsumoto, Japan, where they will represent Chicago at the 16th Suzuki Method World Convention, March 27-31, 2013.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award, kicks off its holiday season with William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Director Ethan McSweeny (Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice) takes a fresh approach to this well-loved play filled with magic and wonder. The production runs at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from tonight, November 15-December 30, 2012.

The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble's Student Outreach Program, THE ODDS, and the Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy present the world premiere of a multi-disciplinary performance piece that takes as its subject the biographical life of Andy Warhol and the intersection of the counterculture, art world, and social and cultural shifts in the 60s through the 1980s. Tina Kronis and Leslie Ferreira direct Untitled Warhol Project for eight performances only from tonight, November 8 through November 18 at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles. The production will be remounted at Los Angeles City College for four performances, November 29 through December 1.

The Odyssey Theatre Ensemble's Student Outreach Program, THE ODDS, and the Los Angeles City College Theatre Academy present the world premiere of a multi-disciplinary performance piece that takes as its subject the biographical life of Andy Warhol and the intersection of the counterculture, art world, and social and cultural shifts in the 60s through the 1980s. Tina Kronis and Leslie Ferreira direct Untitled Warhol Project for eight performances only from November 8 through November 18 at the Odyssey Theatre in West Los Angeles. The production will be remounted at Los Angeles City College for four performances, November 29 through December 1.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award®, kicks off its holiday season with William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Director Ethan McSweeny (Much Ado About Nothing, The Merchant of Venice) takes a fresh approach to this well-loved play filled with magic and wonder. The production runs at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from November 15-December 30, 2012.

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, announced today that Gianna Rolandi will retire as director of The Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center on April 15, 2013, following the annual "Rising Stars in Concert" performance April 13. Rolandi has held that position since May 2006, and served as director of vocal studies for the Ryan Opera Center for the previous four years, following a distinguished international career as a coloratura soprano. Rolandi will continue her association with the Ryan Opera Center as vocal consultant, a new position.

Shoshana Bean joins the cast of 'A Magical Night On Broadway' at The Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage tonight, September 8 at 8:00 pm. 'A Magical Night On Broadway" is a fully-staged and costumed tribute to the American musical theatre starring stage, film and television personality JoAnne Worley and featuring music from some of Broadway's most celebrated musicals including "Chicago," "Wicked," "Hairspray," "A Chorus Line," "The Lion King" and more. Joining Worley are Bean and Broadway and television star Rex Smith, Tony-nominated actress Jonelle Allen, Terron Brooks and Carol Channing's American Glee Club - a young song and dance group representing America's public schools, along with a few surprise guests. The show is directed by David Green with musical direction by Stephen Smith.

Shoshana Bean joins the cast of 'A Magical Night On Broadway' at The Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage on Saturday, September 8 at 8:00 pm. 'A Magical Night On Broadway" is a fully-staged and costumed tribute to the American musical theatre starring stage, film and television personality JoAnne Worley and featuring music from some of Broadway's most celebrated musicals including "Chicago," "Wicked," "Hairspray," "A Chorus Line," "The Lion King" and more. Joining Worley are Bean and Broadway and television star Rex Smith, Tony-nominated actress Jonelle Allen, Terron Brooks and Carol Channing's American Glee Club - a young song and dance group representing America's public schools, along with a few surprise guests. The show is directed by David Green with musical direction by Stephen Smith.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces the full cast for Neil Simon's The Odd Couple, directed by Artistic Director BJ Jones. The comedy will play at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie, from November 2-December 9, 2012. The Press Opening is Friday, November 9, at 7:30 pm.

Founded in 1979 by its artistic director Jeffrey Horowitz, Theatre for a New Audience is a modern classical theatre that produces Shakespeare alongside other major authors in a dialogue that spans centuries. Its 33rd season, the last before moving to its first home adjacent to BAM in the new Downtown Brooklyn Cultural District, features boldly diverse works from William Shakespeare, Franz Kafka in a theatrical adaptation by Colin Teevan, Samuel Beckett and Wallace Shawn. In a co-production with The Public Theater, Mr. Shawn's plays will be part of The Wallace Shaw-Andre Gregory Project.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, announces that the company's acclaimed World Premiere production of The Outgoing Tide, by Bruce Graham and directed by BJ Jones, will be presented in association with Galway Arts Festival in Galway, Ireland, today, July 17 - July 21, 2012. Cast members John Mahoney, Rondi Reed and Thomas J. Cox, are set to reprise the roles they originated in the Northlight production.

Pride Films and Plays continues its very fun summer with one repeating event and a Chicago premiere. PFP's second annual Women's Work Weekend will feature enhanced staged readings of new lesbian plays and screenplays by women writers from across the country. And that will be closely followed by Mariah MacCarthy's delightful comedy spoofing all things gender-centric: The All-American Genderf*ck Cabaret, directed by Tara Branham.

From adultery on a dart team to Chicago White Sox players on trial for throwing the World Series, the July offerings on 'Reel 13' - including 'Heartlands,' 'The Hustler,' 'Eight Men Out' and 'Rocky II' -- show that, whatever the game, good sportsmanship doesn't always prevail.