2008 Chicago Official Visitors Guide - (Page 13) Theater Chicago proves that Broadway is alive and well in the Windy City with an impressive array of openrun shows, including the smash hit Wicked (pg. 14) at the Ford Center for Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre; the Tony Award-winning story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons in Jersey Boys (pg. 14) at the LaSalle Bank Theatre; and the “heavenly” musical comedy Altar Boyz (pg. 14) at Drury Lane Water Tower Place about a Christian boy band on the last night of their tour. But not all of Chicago’s great shows will be around forever. Catch Ain’t Misbehavin’ — The New Fats Waller Musical Show (pg. 16) at the Goodman Theatre in April and May for a playful tribute to the music of Fats Waller. Or, experience the always-exciting Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (pg. 18) in April when they produce a revival of the haunting story, The Road of the Phoebe Snow. Finally, experience the ultimate in acrobatics, humor and inventive storytelling when Cirque du Soleil presents Kooza (pg. 20) at the United Center Parking Lot beginning June 26. Sporting Events Springtime means one thing in Chicago: baseball! The Chicago White Sox (pg. 16) will take the field for their 2008 season in April, bringing excitement for every baseball fan. And the Chicago Cubs (pg. 16) will provide the unparalleled experience of catching a game at Wrigley Field, the oldest ballpark in the National League and a must-stop for any baseball fan. Really, the only question now is, are you a Cubbies fan or a Sox fan? Arts and Culture Chicago celebrates its history and culture throughout the spring and early summer with an incredible lineup of events and festivals. The Southside Irish Parade and Chicago’s Downtown St. Patrick’s Day Parade (pg. 16) will give everyone a touch of the blarney with bands, floats, big balloons and plenty of Irish cheer to go around. The city celebrates its dedication to the arts with Art Chicago and Artropolis (pg. 18) in April: a weekend of international contemporary art, antiques and dozens of citywide events. Celebrating a different kind of beauty, Tulip Days on The Magnificent Mile (pg. 18) take place April 16–May 31 with hundreds of thousands of vibrant tulips in bloom along the Magnificent Mile. Spring also means the return of Architecture Boat Cruise Season and the Great Chicago Places and Spaces Architecture Festival (pg. 20) May 17–18. And as cool spring breezes give way to balmy summer nights, the city erupts in a tuneful chorus with the Chicago Gospel Music Festival, the Chicago Blues Festival, the Grant Park Music Festival and performances at Charter One Pavilion (pg. 20) all summer long. Exhibitions/Events Chicago’s museums present an exciting variety of exhibitions this spring and summer. The Chicago Children’s Museum will present “How People Make Things” (pg. 14) through May 11, an interactive experience based on Mister Rogers’ Factory Video Tours that explores the ideas, processes and technology that go into making all kinds of objects. The Art Institute of Chicago will explore the iconic paintings of Edward Hopper (pg. 16) in an exhibit of 90 watercolors, oil paintings and prints. The Field Museum takes visitors to other realms with “Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids” (pg. 16), exploring how these fantastic beasts came into our mythology and how they impact our culture. And for a true Chicago experience, the Chicago Cultural Center Yates Gallery presents “Tony Fitzpatrick: The Wonder — Portraits of a Remembered City” (pg. 20) exploring the collage of Chicago history and memory as presented by this accomplished Chicago artist. For a personalized tour contact the Chicago Greeter Program: 312-744-8000, www.chicagogreeter.com ¶ 13 pg http://www.chicagogreeter.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.