Arts & Entertainment Recommendations

Birthplace of Black History Month!

Guided Tour of the Historic Former Wabash YMCA

The Wabash Y was the heart of cultural and economic progress for African Americans in Bronzeville for over half a century and is hailed as the birthplace of Black History Month. The Renaissance Collaborative (TRC) staff lead tours of the building, augmented with newly compiled vintage photos and archived newspaper articles. Although TRC’s mission is promoting self-sufficiency, the organization was founded in 1992 to restore and preserve the historic former Wabash Y. Patricia Abrams, founder and executive director of TRC, stated: “We believe that learning about the achievements of prominent Black figures in our communities will not only reduce racism, but more importantly for African Americans, it will strengthen our cultural identity and inspire us to set our ambitions high, even if it means restarting or a reset of our life’s goals and aspirations.” Visitors must RSVP by 4 p.m. on Eventbrite the day prior to the in-person tour. The tours are on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 10:30 a.m. at 3763 S. Wabash Ave. The tours are free, but a donation of $20 to TRC is suggested.

Face the Past!

‘The Ripple, The Wave That Carried Me Home’

A family responds to injustice, and a daughter reckons with her political inheritance in this new play by Christina Anderson. Janice’s parents are prominent activists fighting for the integration of public swimming pools in 1960s Kansas. As injustice penetrates the warm bubble of her childhood, Janice grows apart from her family and starts a new life far away. She receives a call asking her to speak at a ceremony honoring her father, and she must decide whether she’s ready to reckon with her political inheritance—and a past she has tried to forget. A co-production with the Berkeley Repertory Theatre, "The Ripple" is at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., from January 13-February 12. Tickets $15+ at goodmantheatre.org/ripple

Life Is A Cabaret!

‘Cabaret’

Porchlight Music Theatre presents the Tony Award-winning landmark musical “Cabaret,” at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts (1016 N. Dearborn St.) January 14 – February 12. Bold and provocative, this winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, it shines a spotlight on Berlin in the late 1920s and the colorful, gritty and hedonistic lives found there. Filled with iconic songs and electrifying dance, "Cabaret" tells the story of the American writer Clifford Bradshaw and his relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles on the eve of the Nazi party’s rise to power. Overseen by an ominous Emcee at the fabled Kit Kat Club, "Cabaret" is a cautionary tale that has renewed resonance in today’s political climate. Previews are Saturday, Jan. 14 at 3:30 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 15 at 2 and 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 19 at 1:30 p.m. Performance schedule is Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 3:30 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. with a weekday matinee Thursday, Feb. 2 at 1:30 p.m. Tickets start at $25 at 773.777.9884 or PorchlightMusicTheatre.org

Expect the Unexpected!

Anne Hughes ‘Phenomena’

Anne Hughes sees each creative journey as an adventure in which she faces the unexpected. With every new work, she finds herself gravitating toward themes relating to nature, the cosmos, science and the vastness of what we know and what we do not know. Color, form, and space evolve with abstracted, layered imagery, stimulating a variety of emotional and intellectual responses. In “Phenomena,” ecosystems of all sorts abound. For every action there is a reaction – it might not be equal, but there is a consequence. With this exhibition at the Epiphany Center for the Arts (201 S. Ashland Ave.), Hughes wanders through the mysteries of life and the magic of the creative experience. This exhibit runs through January 21. For more information or to schedule a visit, email art@epiphanychi.com

Set to Music!

'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' Live

More than 20 years ago, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”™ brought an orphaned boy to a boarding school for would-be wizards. Now, the film returns to the giant screen in high-definition, while John Williams’ unforgettable score is performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Justin Freer. Experience the magic with the first installment of the Harry Potter™ Film Concert Series, 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, January 12-14 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets to the 190-minute show are $75-$399 at cso.org

Let Me See You 1,2 Step!

Step Afrika

As the first professional dance company dedicated to the tradition of stepping, Step Afrika! blends dance styles from historically African-American fraternities and sororities, traditional African dances, and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience. Step Afrika performs at Auditorium Theatre (50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive) on January 14. Ticket are $30+ at auditoriumtheatre.org

An Unforgettable Surprise!

‘The Birthday Party’

"The Birthday Party" is known as Harold Pinter’s “comedy of menace.” Stanley may or may not play the piano, and today may or may not be his birthday, and he may or may not be hiding from someone in Meg’s boarding house, where he’s lived for a year. But he’s definitely made nervous by news that two new boarders are about to arrive, and she’s definitely throwing him a party. The show runs January 13-February 26 at City Lit Theater Company, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Tickets are $34 general admission, $29 seniors, $12 students and military, (plus applicable fees) at citylit.org

Classical Lunch Break!

Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts | Claire Huangci, Piano

Classical Music Chicago (formerly the International Music Foundation) presents the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts. The free weekly concert series features extraordinary music by artists who are early in their careers. Enjoy classical concerts in-person at the Seventeenth Church of Christ, Scientist, Chicago, located at 55 E. Wacker Drive. Face masks are optional. You may also view from the comfort of your own home. Join the event in person or online at 12:15 p.m. January 11 for pianist Claire Huangci in music by Franz Schubert, Frédéric Chopin and George Gershwin. Concerts can be viewed from CMC’s website: classicalmusicchicago.org and 98.7 WFMT.

A New Day!

‘Tick…Tick, BOOM!’

Before “RENT,” there was “Tick, Tick…BOOM!” Written by the late Jonathan Larson and directed by BoHo Artistic Associate Bo Frazier, “Tick, Tick…BOOM!” tells the autobiographical story of Jonathan, a struggling New York composer entering his 30s. The year is 1990, the AIDS crisis is escalating, and Jonathan is growing increasingly desperate to leave his dead-end job and write the next great American musical. Jonathan’s girlfriend Susan and his best friend Michael announce major life changes, and Jonathan begins to wonder if the ticking clock is running out on his Broadway dreams. In BoHo Theatre’s groundbreaking production, Director Bo Frazier reimagines this gripping rock musical as a celebration of trans joy, love, and creativity. The play runs January 12-February 5 at The Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway. Tickets are $35 for general admission, $20 for seniors, military, and first responders, and $12 for transgender and gender non-conforming audience members, students, and educational professionals at bohotheatre.com

Compiled by Sarah Linde & Suzanne Hanney