W. Washington News

Chicago early-music ensemble Third Coast Baroque will mark its pandemic-delayed return to full-scale mainstage productions with 'Lucifera: Illuminating the Darkness,' a new project conceived and headlined by mesmerizing mezzo-soprano Vivica Genaux, with the period-instrument Third Coast Baroque Orchestra, led by its Argentina-born, Vienna-based music director Rubén Dubrovsky conducting from the colascione, a lute-like instrument rarely seen in North America.

Friday is going to be freaky this week at the Liberty Union Musical Theater! Disney’s Freaky Friday the Musical will be performed Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 at 7pm, and Sunday, March 20 at 2pm at the Liberty Union High School Auditorium, 500 W Washington St., Baltimore, OH.

The Indianapolis Repertory Theatre is heating up these cold snowy days with a sci-fi classic. Fahrenheit 451 is on stage until Feb. 20 on the OneAmerica MainStage. One would hope that this play would become irrelevant in our world, but unfortunately, it’s more important than ever.

In partnership with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts and Concert Theater Works, Music of the Baroque presents the Midwest premiere of “The Chevalier,” a new concert theater work written and directed by Bill Barclay.

Music of the Baroque continues its 2021-2022 season with five glorious concert programs February-May 2022.

Have we ever needed a return to this cozy tradition more? The familiar landscape of fake snow and glowing lanterns welcomes new and old audiences to the Indiana Repertory Theatre's A Christmas Carol. There are many new elements in the production this year giving it a fresh feel, full of hope and promise.

Actor, activist and Tony Award-winner Karen Olivo has been added to the line-up of Collaboraction's 6th annual Peacebook Festival on Saturday, October 2 at the Kehrein Center for the Arts in Chicago's Austin community.

Matilda at Liberty Union will be performed this weekend, August 6 at 7pm and August 7 at 2pm and 7pm at the Liberty Union High School Auditorium, 500 W Washington St., Baltimore, OH.

Third Coast Baroque, Chicago's newest early music ensemble, will showcase selected arias from Antonio Vivaldi's 1727 Orlando furioso, RV 728, his rarely performed, three-act dramatic opera about romance, jealousy, and magic, in its April season-finale concerts, 'Welcome Back, Vivaldi: Revisiting Forgotten Treasures.'

Silk Road Rising and International Voices Project announce the World Premiere of Twice, Thrice, Frice, written by Fouad Teymour and directed by Patrizia Acerra. The production will run from October 1 to November 10, 2019 at Silk Road Rising located at 77 W. Washington St., Lower Level, Chicago, IL, 60602. The Press Opening is Sunday, October 13, 2019 at 4:00pm.

Fulfilling a 25-year dream of becoming the cultural cornerstone and social forum for the entire west-side community of Austin, Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School will unveil both its new Kehrein Center for the Arts and Sistema Ravinia Auditorium, at 5618 W. Washington Blvd., on Wednesday, May 22. Planning on the $4.5 million projects began in 2013, and ground was broken in April 2018.

ENSEMBLE THEATRE continues its 39th season-THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT- with a WORLD PREMIERE!

Third Coast Baroque will conclude its 2018-19 season with the Chicago premiere of Handel's first oratorio - The Triumph of Time and Disenchantment, HWV 46a - on Friday, April 12, 2019, at 7:30 pm at First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple. Artistic director Ruben Dubrovsky also will lead 'Chicago's most accomplished period instrumentalists and singers' (Chicago Tribune) in the work's North Shore premiere Saturday, April 13, 2019, at 7:30 pm at Galvin Recital Hall in Evanston, Illinois.

Lovers of theatre can usually remember their first introductions to the stage. Whether it's a school performance or a professional one, those earliest shows leave an impression. The Indiana Repertory Theatre's current offering, Elephant & Piggie's 'We Are in a Play!', is a delightful way to make theatre accessible for kids as young as 3. The show begins with listening rules for kids, who are on the floor in storytime seating. The relaxed style takes away the intimidation that some people can associate with professional theatre.

On Thursday, April 4, two days after Chicago's municipal election run-off, the 2019 CHF Presents Spring series will kickoff with one of Chicago's most powerful women, Valerie Jarrett. Jarrett will reflect on her longtime friendship with the Obama family, her time in public service from LaSalle Street to Pennsylvania Avenue, and what she plans to do next. Jarrett's event will be held at KAM Isaiah Israel Temple in Hyde Park.

Real life isn't easily split into two categories, comedy and drama. It's a mixture of joy and grief, often at the same time. Every Brilliant Thing captures that perfectly. The one-man show tells the story of an unnamed man whose mother tried to commit suicide multiple times. In an effort to show her all the things she has to live for, he begins a lifelong list of brilliant things when he's only 7 years old.  

Adapted from the classic adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne, published in 1873, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employed French valet Passepartout attempt to circumnavigate the world in 80 days on a £20,000 wager: New friends, strange acquaintances, and careful planning could be the only way...Though this was only possible if nothing would hinder his success? Did we mention that there is a warrant out for his arrest?

Education and race: there aren't too many issues that are more divisive in our country at the moment. The Indiana Repertory Theatre's current Upperstage production, Pipeline, tackles them both. The 90 minute play keeps a frantic pace as Nya, a public school teacher, finds out her teenage son has gotten into a fight at his private school.