Arts & (Home) Entertainment Recommendations

Rare Film!

Chicago Filmmaker Collection

Music Box Theatre’s virtual platform, Music Box Direct, launched the Chicago Filmmaker Collection showcasing homegrown talent in front of and behind the camera on March 26. The first five films in the series are “Dreaming Grand Avenue,” “Holy Trinity,” "Mercury in Retrograde,” “Rogers Park,” and “Signature Move.” As part of the Music Box Theatre's year-round mission to curate films and series worthy of a large and loyal audience, the programming team looks at hundreds of films that the theatrical space either can't find room for in the schedule or can't play theatrically for very long. Music Box Theatre's mission also includes bringing attention to local filmmakers and productions. Find more about the films and how to stream them at musicboxdirect.com. No subscription required. Viewers pay a fee to have access to the films for 48 hours.

Renaissance Wares!

“Lust, Love, and Loss in Renaissance Europe”

Passion, violence, and virtue emerge in this exhibition as fundamental, intertwined elements in the artworks of Renaissance Europe. Organized by the Feitler Center for Academic Inquiry at the University of Chicago’s Smart Museum of Art, "Lust, Love, and Loss in Renaissance Europe" features more than 40 paintings, prints, sculptures, and luxury wares. These artworks played an essential role in intimate, familial experiences, while also shaping and responding to massive intellectual, political and religious shifts throughout Europe between the 15th and 18th centuries. Together, the works illuminate the many ways that Renaissance objects lay at the heart of public rituals and individual relationships, offering insights into the social, sexual, cultural, and visual experiences of their audiences. The exhibition runs through June 13. Read more about the exhibition and required safety measures at smartmuseum.uchicago.edu/ and register for a visit at www.exploretock.com/smartmuseumofart

Serial Show!

'Miss Holmes' Audio Drama

Lifeline Theatre continues its virtual season with a six-episode audio drama adaptation of ensemble member Christopher M. Walsh’s hit play, “Miss Holmes,” inspired by the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, directed by ensemble member Paul S. Holmquist. Miss Sherlock Holmes, possessor of one of the greatest deductive minds of her generation, finds herself regularly incarcerated for behaviors deemed abnormal in a “respectable” lady. Dr. Dorothy Watson struggles to make a difference at the only hospital in England that will hire female doctors. These unconventional women, trapped in an era that refuses to accept them, must forge a bond of trust and work together to uncover the secrets surrounding a corrupt police investigator whose wives have a habit of turning up dead. Join the original Lifeline cast in this thrilling murder mystery that re-introduces familiar characters from the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in an immersive audio experience. Episodes in the serial will be released weekly until the final one April 16, at which point all will be available for listening until April 30. Ticket holders will receive a password to a private webpage to access them. Suggested donation is $20 at http://www.lifelinetheatre.com

Film Fest Returns!

Chicago Latino Film Festival

After date changes and going virtual, the Chicago Latino Film Festival is back for its 37th year! From April 8-18, over 80 films will be available for streaming safe in your home. Visit https://chicagolatinofilmfestival.org/ to purchase tickets and view a limited selection of drive-in events. Some films will also be available for streaming in various states throughout the Midwest like Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana, though some are exclusive to Illinois, so double check before having a virtual watch party.

Beyond the Stage!

Introduction to Understanding the Musical Canon and its Implications

The Music Institute of Chicago’s new livestreamed free lecture series, "Beyond the Stage: Musicians on Music," offers insights and perspectives on a range of musical topics spanning classical, jazz, and popular music. Award-winning pianist and Music Institute faculty Daniel Baer talks about the influence of Europe’s political, social, and economic philosophies on the development and codification of the modern canon. Baer covers composers omitted from the canon and discusses ways in which musicians and institutions challenge the canon’s immutability. The April 15 event at 7 p.m. is free, but registration is required at www.musicinst.org/upcoming-performances-classesworkshops-and-special-events.

Internship Fundraising!

A Night of Illustrations

Join Chicago Semester as it brings to life the many stories of the program’s alumni, sites, supervisors and campus partners with “A Night of Illustrations.” This year's annual Awards Celebration will be a free, virtual broadcast featuring the impact of the program not just in Chicago, but across the many communities that students and alumni call home. Wherever you tune in from, you will have opportunities to participate in the event’s silent auction, raffle and more! And watch the website for more details about a special celebrity guest appearance! Hint, hint: this playwright-turned-radio-program-host has appeared as a contestant on the game show “Jeopardy!” and voiced a character in the 2015 Disney Pixar film "Inside Out." April 16, 7 p.m. Register at chicagosemester.org/webinars/a-night-of-illustrations/.

Healthcare Heroes Opera!

On Call: COVID-19

Working In Concert premieres the world’s first full-length virtual opera, “On Call: COVID-19,” streaming on April 17 at 7 p.m. and 18 at 2:30 p.m. “On Call” is drawn from 200 articles about global healthcare workers facing the COVID-19 pandemic and provided a meaningful project for opera singers who have been hard-pressed to find work during the pandemic. The opera’s three scenes look in on a series of “Zoom” calls by six characters: medics from Chicago, Seoul, Rio de Janeiro, Lombardy, New York City, and a Syrian refugee camp near Beirut as they each struggle with the pandemic unfolding in their unique geographical location. During these calls, they provide a lifeline to each other, and ultimately discover kindness and compassion can be as powerful as a tool as a vaccine and a ventilator. Each cast member has chosen their own character’s name to honor either a healthcare worker or someone who has died from COVID. Tickets are $20 for individuals or $30 for a household and can be purchased at www.WorkingInConcert.org/CovidOpera.