ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Compiled by Cora Saddler

You Got A Friend!

Steppenwolf Theatre’s 'Seagull'

What is Love? What is Art? When is Lunch? If you’ve found yourself pondering these essential questions, head over to Steppenwolf Theatre’s new in-the-round Ensemble Theater in honor of Helen Zell for ensemble member Yasen Peyankov’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “Seagull” from April 28-June 12. The new Ensemble Theatre is at the heart of Steppenwolf’s new Liz and Eric Lefkofsky Arts and Education Center. With only six rows, none of the 400 seats is more than 20 feet from the stage. “Seagull” follows one long summer weekend in the Russian countryside, where three generations collide and wrestle with the things that inspire, consume, and make them celebrate, together, all that makes them grateful for one another. Tickets are $54-66. Performances are Tues-Sun at 7:30 pm and Sat-Sun 2:30 pm (except May 8 and 14) at 1650 N. Halsted St. For more information, see steppenwolf.org.

Keeping It Real!

'Let Me Tell You: Stories of Asian American Authenticity'

To commemorate Asian Pacific Heritage Month, the Chicago Public Library presents “Let Me Tell You: Stories of Asian American Authenticity” in partnership with Mia Park, 6 p.m. May 2 at Uptown’s Bezazian Library, 1226 W. Ainslie St. The hybrid Zoom and live “Let Me Tell You” will share personal stories of healing, mourning, and remembering, while amplifying the voices of Asian Americans in Uptown and throughout Chicago. The performance is a response to the recent spike in anti-Asian violence. Performers represent mixed race, adopted, immigrant, and American-born individuals from the diaspora (Performers: Hannah Ii-Epstein, Minky Kim, Thavary Krouch (pictured), Sangi Ravichandran, Peter Ruger, Jihar Shah and Giau Minh Truong). FREE. For more information and registration, see miapark.com.

Quicker Than A Ray of Light!

Kinetic Light: Wired

The Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., hosts the artists of Kinetic Light—Alice Sheppard, Laurel Lawson, Jerron Herman, and Michael Maag–for the gravity- and assumptiondefying performance of “Wired” on May 5-8. The performance honors histories of race, gender, and disability in America through an exploration of barbed wire told through an immersive and intimate experience of aerial and contemporary dance, light, and sound. At times, the show depicts violence as well as disability-based and racial injustice. Performances are 8-10 pm May 5-7 and 2-4 pm May 8. Tickets are $10 and livestream is available May 7. For more information, see mcachicago.org

The Doctor is Out!

'Rasheeda Speaking' '

“Hello, Rasheeda speaking.” For a revival of Chicago writer Joel Drake Johnson’s “Rasheeda Speaking,” directed by Shattered Globe Theatre Associate Artistic Director Amber Mongomery, visit Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Whether it's the doctor’s inability to remember her name or the toxic fumes coming from the lab next door, the story follows Jaclyn Rasheeda as she navigates her place as the only Black woman in the office. W.hen her white co-worker, Ileen, is promoted and asked to spy on Jaclyn, how far will Jaclyn, Ileen, and their boss Dr. Williams go, as fear of difference, racism, and tensions begin to rise. Running through June 4, at 8 p.m. Thurs - Sat, and 3 p.m. on Sun, and 2:30 & 8 p.m. on June 4. Tickets are $15+ at theaterwit.org.

A Call to Duty!

Board Member Boot Camp

Think you have what it takes to serve on a nonprofit board? Find out at Chicago Foundation for Women's Board Member Boot Camp, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. May 7 and 14, with a networking session at 5:30-7:30 p.m. May 11. Both events are a comprehensive, interactive, multi-day training virtual sessions designed for individuals with limited or no experience on nonprofit boards. The aim is to help participants gain essential skills in topics like board roles and responsibilities, understanding nonprofit financials, and fundraising basics, through workshop activities. Participants will also engage in conversations about diversity, equity, includison, and more. The program is open to all, with women-identified people especially encouraged to apply. Cost to attend is $200. For more information, see cfw.org.

Back In the Game!

Special Olympics Illinois Region D Spring Games Opening Ceremony

Special Olympics Illinois Region D will open its week-long Spring Games in track and field on May 5 at Soldier Field, 1410 S. Museum Campus Drive. In a long-standing Chicago Special Olympics tradition, dignitaries from the city will show their admiration and respect for the athletes, who parade across the field before lighting the cauldron. Volunteer check-in starts at 8:30 am, agency/team check-ins will be from 9:30-10am, followed by the ceremony from 10-2 pm. FREE. For more information, see soill.org.

Here's To Your Health!

'Art. Heals.'

Art takes on many forms! For its two-year, 20th anniversary retrospective season, the Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble presents “Art. Heals.” in the auditorium of Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster Ave. “Art. Heals.” is a curated performance and visual art exhibition that features music, dance, theater, poetry, multimedia, and visual arts of the Chicago community. “Art. Heals.” is created to heal the wounds of the pandemic and bring the community back together through art. Chicago Danztheatre is Chicago’s only multidisciplinary arts organization dedicated to social justice. Performances take place from 8-10 pm. May 6, 7, 8, 13 and 14; the gallery opens at 7:30 pm. General tickets are $20 with student/senior discounts available. More info at danztheatre.org.

Keep it Local!

Open House Chicago Fair Trade: World Fair Trade Day Celebration

Chicago Fair Trade is known for hosting the nation's largest World Fair Trade Day. This year, member businesses and allies will host over two dozen events to show how they support economic and environmental justice from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 14, citywide. As an attendee, you will receive a virtual passport when checking in at different sites. Visit three or more and you'll be entered into the raffle ($200+ value). After a kick-off at Metropolis Cafe in Avondale, events include a fair trade sample sale at Sobremesa's in West Garfield Park, fair trade cocktails at local indie designer Production Mode in Pilsen, studio tours and demos at the Weaving Mill in Humboldt Park, shopping at Andersonville Galleria, Union Handmade, Embellish, Eco & the Flamingo. More info and itineraries at chicagofairtrade.org

Immigrant Pioneers!

Middle Kingdom Under the Big Sky: Experiences of Chinese Immigrants to the US

Mark Johnson, assistant professor of educational initiatives at the University of Notre Dame and author of the upcoming book, “The Middle Kingdom Under the Big Sky,” will be joined by J.D. candidate at Columbia Law School Allen Wang in a discussion of Johnson’s book on the recovered stories of Montana’s Chinese population from the 1880s-1950s. The discussion, 6-7 p.m. May 5 in Ruggles Hall of the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St., will show the pressures that the Chinese community faced from family members back in China and from non-Chinese Montana residents. Johnson will pull several large collections of primary documents left by these Chinese pioneers, rendered in English through a transnational translation project. The program is part of the Newberry exhibition, "Crossings: Mapping American Journeys” running through June 25. FREE. Register at newberry.org