Even if you’ve seen it butchered by a high-school cast—especially if you’ve seen it butchered by a high-school cast—don’t miss The Hypocrites’ take on the Thornton Wilder classic Our Town. The troupe remounts its too-short, sold-out staging, an imaginatively revisionist twist on what must be...
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Wilder Than Ever
 Our Town Photo by Margaret K. Lakin |
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Even if you’ve seen it butchered by a high-school cast—especially if you’ve seen it butchered by a high-school cast—don’t miss The Hypocrites’ take on the Thornton Wilder classic Our Town. The troupe remounts its too-short, sold-out staging, an imaginatively revisionist twist on what must be the most produced play in history. The first run was lauded by critics and audiences alike; if you missed it then, catch it starting at 8 p.m. Friday the 19th at Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division St.; 773-989-7352). The show continues though October 26th, and tickets are $20 to $25.
Best Bets for Things to Do This Week
Stargaze
Hit songs, big stars; can you say, “crowd pleaser”? Tommy Tune directs Turn of the Century, in which Jeff Daniels and Rachel York play performers who are transported back to the early 1900s, where they take credit for writing some of the last century’s best music. Previews begin 8 p.m. Friday the 19th at the Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn St.; 312-443-3800); the show opens Monday the 29th and runs through November 2nd. Tickets are $25 to $82.
Compare
When it comes to theatre, time travel is the new black. The creators of The House Theatre of Chicago’s critically acclaimed musical The Sparrow have remounted their earlier production Dave DaVinci Saves the Universe, in which a scientist must invent a time machine to save his daughter’s life. The show runs through November 8th at Chopin Theatre. Tickets are $10 to $29; call 773-251-2195.
Jam
One of the best fests of the year, hands down, The Hideout Block Party runs 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday the 20th and 1 to 10 p.m. Sunday the 21st just outside The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia Ave.; 773-227-4433). Local acts include the marching punk band Mucca Pazza, alt-country crooner Robbie Fulks, and rapper Rhymefest—but sometime Chicagoan Neko Case and her sometime band The New Pornographers are why most folks will flock. Tickets are $25 for one day; $45 for both; find a full schedule at hideoutblockparty.com.
Schmooze
Candace Bushnell has had a pretty good year, what with the movie version of Sex and the City raking in scads of cash. Hear the secrets to her success—and an excerpt from her new book, One Fifth Avenue—when she reads at Borders (830 N. Michigan Ave.; 312-573-0564), 7 p.m. Wednesday the 24th. Bushnell will sign copies of her new book only; BYO or buy it at the bookstore.
Listen
Public debt, overblown architecture, horrendous traffic: Who needs those troublesome 2016 Olympics when we’ve got an excellent, budget-friendly Olympics of music? The World Music Festival runs Friday the 19th through Thursday the 25th with 70-plus concerts, more than half of which are free. Don’t miss the pairing of indie-rock band Calexico with the Latin rhythms of Mariachi Luz de Luna and flamenco guitarist Salvador Duran, 6 p.m. Thursday the 25th at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park (Randolph Drive and Michigan Avenue; free). Find a full schedule at cityofchicago.org/worldmusic.
Wince
If you haven’t checked out Chicago’s bloodthirsty gals on wheels yet, here’s your chance: The Windy City Rollers’ all-star team takes on the nation’s number-one-ranked Kansas City Roller Warriors at Cicero Stadium (1909 S. Laramie Ave., Cicero), 7 p.m. Saturday the 20th. Tickets are $15 at windycityrollers.com; $20 at the door.