Page 168 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Chicago

166  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

Performing Arts, Film, and theaters, which put on
Sports performances ranging from
cutting-edge drama and
Broadway musicals to puppetry.
When it comes to entertainment, Chicago is second to none.
The Chicago Symphony and the Lyric Opera are both world- Summer Performances
class, while Steppenwolf Theater grew from its beginnings
in a basement to become one of the leading theater troupes The Chicago String Quartet
in the country. Chicago also has its share of art film houses. performs frequently at the
DePaul University Concert Hall.
Many events take place at the city’s thousand-odd parks and You’ll also find them on summer
playgrounds. Ravinia Festival, in Highland Park, showcases evenings performing in
music and dance throughout the summer. Spectator sports, Millennium Park.
especially baseball, are also enormously popular in Chicago, In the summer, Chicago’s
the numerous teams providing year-round entertainment. performing arts scene moves
to the idyllic Highland Park,
25 miles (40 km) north of the
Music Theater
city, for the internationally
The guiding light of classical Chicago has a vibrant theater celebrated Ravinia Festival.
music in Chicago is the Chicago scene. Goodman Theatre’s Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Symphony Orchestra. From home is located in the Loop’s performs here, as do leading
September through June, it theater district. The troupe jazz ensembles, pop and folk
performs at Symphony Center. presents contemporary plays as acts, children’s performers, and
During the summer, it performs well as the classics directed with dance troupes, including
at the Ravinia Festival. a fresh approach. Productions Hubbard Street Dance and the
The highly acclaimed Lyric often star well-known stage and Joffrey Ballet of Chicago.
Opera of Chicago presents screen actors. The park’s sound system is
lavish productions and brings Broadway in Chicago is excellent. Reserved seats in the
international stars to Civic a theatrical production pavilion usually cost from
Opera House during its company which performs $25 to $60. General lawn seat
September-to-March season. touring Broadway productions admission to the park costs
Music of the Baroque is in the city. The Chicago Theater about $10.
Chicago’s leading early-music is a multi-purpose venue that Although Highland Park has
ensemble. At the Chicago presents concerts and theater. several good restaurants, most
Cultural Center, free concerts The Auditorium Theatre people buy general-admission
take place each week, from (see p46) hosts mainstream tickets, bring a picnic dinner
Chamber Mondays to the Dame musicals such as Les Miserables (some, lavish spreads with
Myra Hess Memorial Concert and Showboat, as does the candles, crystal, and fine wine),
series on Wednesday at 12:15pm, Bank of America Theater. and sit on the lawn to enjoy
which features emerging Since its inception in a church the performances.
performers of classical music. basement, Steppenwolf
Mandel Hall at University of Theater Company has gained Film
Chicago hosts folk, jazz, and a national reputation for staging
classical groups. Northwestern avant-garde plays. Although Like most cities, Chicago has
University presents concerts by many of the actors who started a cinema multiplex in almost
leading touring ensembles at at Steppenwolf, such as John every neighborhood showing
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall. Malkovich and Laurie Metcalf, first-run movies. There are also
have left, they frequently return several art film houses in
to perform with the company the city.
Dance
or direct. The Harold Washington
The unique blend of jazz, ballet, Shakespeare Repertory Library Center screens a diverse
and modern dance that Company stages three selection of films. The Music Box
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago productions a year in Chicago is a fully restored 1929 movie
offers will transport you to new Shakespeare Theater, its palace designed to look as
places in entertainment. striking courtyard-style theater though you are outdoors at
Performances take place at the at Navy Pier. night. It shows an eclectic mix of
Music and Dance Theater. Many notable theaters are foreign, American independent,
Each season, Joffrey Ballet of located near Lincoln Park and and classic films. An organist
Chicago presents four perfor- in Lakeview, among them entertains with vintage popular
mances of classical ballet with a the Royal George and the music during intermission
contemporary edge, reflecting Victory Gardens Theater. on weekend evenings.
the dance company’s mandate The League of Chicago The Gene Siskel Film Center
to present the works of 20th- Theaters shares information on presents a wide range of
century American artists. 200 small, mid-sized, and large standard-setting international

166-167_EW_Chicago.indd 166 13/07/16 3:00 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
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Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm