The stages of Chicago’s theaters are once again lighting up after more than a year of darkness with a slew of new performances that capture Chicago's creative spirit, including the North American tours of “Come From Away,” “Hadestown,” “Moulin Rouge! The Musical,” “SIX,” “To Kill a Mockingbird” and more.
The Steppenwolf Theatre Company, which recently reopened with a new $54 million arts and education center (including a theatre-in-the-round) will welcome the world-premiere of “King James,” an intimate exploration of the place that sports and athletes (like “King” LeBron James) occupy in our emotional lives and relationships. Good to know: Chicago Theatre Week will return from February 17-27, 2022, with live performances for $30 or less. And, in partnership with the local dance community, Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events Commissioner Erin Harkey have recently announced the designation of 2022 as the “Year of Chicago Dance,” a yearlong collaborative initiative which will activate Chicago’s dance industry to address critical issues facing dancers and showcase dance performances, social dancing, and special events for the public in dozens of venues throughout the city.
At the Art Institute of Chicago, an exhibit on “Life and Afterlife in Ancient Egypt” will be followed by the first major retrospective of French artist Paul Cézanne to be exhibited in the U.S. in over 25 years. The Museum of Contemporary Art will present the first career-spanning retrospective of the internationally renowned Chicagoan Nick Cave in an exhibition titled “NICK CAVE: FOROTHERMORE,” while the immersive arts venue Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago will house “Frida: Immersive Dream,” an exploration of the Mexico-born artist’s work with 500,000 cubic feet of large-scale projections animating Kahlo’s oeuvre, accompanied by a musical score.
In Other News
With COVID-19 protocols and social distancing in place, hybrid and live events will return to the city with the Chicago Auto Show—the largest auto show in North America—returning to McCormick Place in late February. Chicago Restaurant Week will be held soon after, in late March/early April, celebrating the city’s culinary scene with prix fixe lunch and dinner menus (ranging for $25 to $55) available via dine-in or takeout/delivery options. Lastly, EXPO Chicago, the international exhibition of contemporary and modern art, will return to Navy Pier in early April.
Visit www.choosechicago.com for more information.
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