Arts & Entertainment Recommendations

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Compiled by Emma Murphy

Law & Order!

‘The Trial of Socrates’

Nationally renowned attorneys will reenact the most famous court case of ancient Greece, “The People v. Socrates,” at 7 p.m. Monday, May 22 at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St., in cooperation with the National Hellenic Museum (NHM). Was Socrates, the great philosopher, guilty of impiety and corrupting young people in 399 B.C.E.? Or was he merely encouraging free thought? Actor and The Second City alum John Kapelos (The Shape of Water, The Umbrella Academy, The Breakfast Club, Forever Knight) will portray Socrates. Prosecution attorneys Robert A. Clifford (Clifford Law Offices), Dan K. Webb (Winston & Strawn) and Sarah King (Clifford Law Offices) will present the People’s case against Socrates. Defense attorneys Patrick Collins (King & Spalding), Tinos Diamantatos (Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP) and Julie Porter (Salvatore Prescott Porter & Porter, PLLC) will seek to save him from poison hemlock. As was the custom in ancient Greece, audience votes can tip the scale of justice. Tickets are $50 for students, $100 general admission at nationalhellenicmuseum.org/trial or 312.655.1234. Attorneys can register for CLE credit on site.

What A Wonderful World!

‘Immersion: A Fresh(water) Perspective on Biodiversity’

This conversation focuses on the critical freshwater ecosystems and how key partnerships work towards healthier ecosystems for all the organisms, humans included, who rely on them. “Immersion” is an annual event meant to connect people with leading voices in the climate movement. Tickets to this event include a pre-program reception with appetizers and two drink tickets, plus the program, featuring a panel discussion and audience Q+A, as well as access to Oceanarium exhibits until 8:30 p.m. The event is at 5:30 p.m., May 16, at the Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Tickets are $50 at www.sheddaquarium.org/programs-and-events/immersion

Across the Pond!

‘Letters from Home’

This exhibit is a collaborative contemporary art exhibit that brings together artists in Sweden and Chicago who have created original works interpreting a collection of early 20th century letters to Chicago immigrant Emil Olsson from his family in Sweden. This international exchange produced new contemporary artwork interpreting themes present in the Olsson letters that relate to the early Swedish American immigrant experience and the artists’ own experiences with immigration. The exhibit is open until August 13 at the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St, Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tickets are $6 with information at swedishamericanmuseum.org

Honoring the Indigenous

The exhibition, “No Rest: The Epidemic of Stolen Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirits,” features 35 original works from 12 collaborating Indigenous artists and will draw attention to the crimes perpetrated against Native women and two-spirit individuals in the United States. Native communities throughout the United States continue to be plagued by the highest violent crime rates in the country. The Mitchell Museum seeks to humanize and honor the lives of Indigenous women and two-spirit individuals. The exhibit is open through September at Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 Central St., Evanston. Tickets are $6+ at mitchellmuseum.org/no-rest-exhibit

Change the Narrative!

Flipping the Script

Springboard to Success (S2S) ensures a robust college access pipeline for Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) youth to get into college and professional careers. This event showcases S2S students and alums who have flipped the script of what is expected of youth growing up in public housing. Food and drink are provided. During the event, watch a trailer to a short film written and produced by CHA youth and see photography from its college exposure program that will be available in the silent auction from 5:30-8 p.m., May 18, at Six10, 610 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets are $75 at www.s2schi.org/flippingthescript

The Food That Makes Chicago!

Meet the Authors

Authors Monica Eng and David Hammond discuss their book “Made in Chicago: Stories behind 30 Great Hometown Bites.” Chicago is well known for Italian beef and pizza, but Eng and Hammond focus on original Chicago food that you may have never heard of. They present the stories of the people and places behind the food as well as showcase the multicultural history of the city. The event is in-person and on Zoom at 6 p.m., May 11. The free talk will be in Ruggles Hall at The Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St. with registration at www.newberry.org/calendar/made-in-chicago-stories-behind-30-great-hometown-bites

Find Your Groove!

‘The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective’

“The Afro-Caribbean Jazz Collective” led by Jose Guzman, featuring Victor Garcia on trumpet is hosted by the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center. The band embraces traditional repertoire from Puerto Rican and Cuban songbooks, and incorporates modern jazz harmony and melodic angularity. The performance will be at 8 p.m., May 19, at 4048 W. Armitage Ave. Free reservations at segundoruizbelvis.org

A Chicago Legend!

‘No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks’

May is poetry month! Written by Chicago poets Eve L. Ewing and Nate Marshall, “No Blue Memories" is a uniquely staged retelling of Brooks’s life using simple, illuminative paper-cut puppetry by Manual Cinema, set to music composed by Jamila Woods and Ayanna Woods. Gwendolyn Brooks was an icon, a poet laureate, and a Pulitzer Prize winner, but she was also a treasured educator and mentor to the countless writers and children who knew her as their very own “Miss Brooks.” Free screening of the movie from 6-7:30 p.m., May 16 & 18, at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St. Details at chipublib.bibliocommons.com/events

Life is a Cabaret!

Chicago Cabaret Week

Catch the grand opening of the 2nd annual 10-day festival celebrating all aspects of cabaret from the Great American Songbook, Broadway, to French chanson, vocal harmonies, and more on May 12. Shows run through May 21 at Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland. Tickets are $30+ epiphanychi.com/events

Soul 2 Soul!

‘Broadway Soul’

Memorable and empowering soul songs that transformed musical theater. Join Chicago Cabaret for an evening with soul songs from Broadway musicals through the years, including “Color Purple,” “Ain't Misbehavin',”

“Smokey Joe's Café,” “Porgy and Bess,” and more! Artists include: Arlene Armstrong, Anne Burnell, Evelyn M. Danner, T. Patrick Davis, LaShera Moore Ellis, Lynne Jordan, Ava Logan, Madeline Morgan, Greta Pope, David Stephens, Joyce Denise Thomas, and Gabriel Valentino. The show is one night only at 7:30 p.m., May 15, at The Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St. Tickets are $30+ at chicagocabaret.org