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Highlighting History and a Ton of A&E News
Amanda Finn
June 27, 2025
Hey Everyone!
Oofda, it’s been a hot one here in Chicago lately. I can’t say I’m a fan of that. But I can say I’m a fan of all the press releases I’ve been getting! Wow! This newsletter will have the longest news section of any ShowCago yet!
It just goes to show that our city is always bustling—arts and entertainment never sleep.
As the summer continues, I can’t think of a better time to go out and support local A&E. Even if it’s too sweltering to be outside, at least most of the arts spaces and restaurants are air-conditioned.
Stay Cool, Chicago,
Amanda
Feel the Love
Photo Courtesy of About Face Theatre
I love documentaries. Spending an hour or two with someone else’s life, history, experiences, and learning through someone else’s eyes. Theater can often have the same effect, even if that lens of documentary style isn’t there. In many ways, Om Mission feels like a living documentary. It embodies the idea that we remain in this world so long as our legacies are spoken.
And it digs deep into the stories left unspoken.
Created and performed by Zahra Baker and Shanta Nurullah, the two excavate narratives of Black lesbians, such as jazz singer Gladys Bentley. Bentley’s voice and penchant for suits made her an icon. But her 1952 interview with Ebony Magazine, in which she claimed to have been cured of her lesbianism, was a stark reminder of how queerness has changed.
Baker and Nurullah reflect on this notion of public queerness. Through their personal histories, they delve into the complexities of identity through music, group participation, and storytelling. The show feels increasingly more serious as it progresses, yet in a room full of fellow queer individuals, there was a sense of community that I cannot even begin to put into words. When the lyrics “nothing and nobody is gonna straighten me” floated from the stage into the audience, they poured into me. Like water into the parched Earth, those lyrics were nourishment I didn’t know I needed.
Set in a minimalist style living room, emboldened by Nurullah’s gorgeous sitar and Baker’s vibrant outfits by Loren Frank, we are welcomed into their lives. OM feels like a casual conversation between friends. “We give love a chance each and every day,” Nurullah croons. That’s what you’ll feel here. You’ll feel the love.
Directed by Kezia Waters, this show is a prescient reminder of how much history we miss out on if we aren’t paying attention. Not only that, but how many narratives have been snuffed out by the system because they didn’t fit the status quo. It’s almost hard to believe that this show has been five years in the making. That, at a time when the powers that be are suppressing marginalized communities, this show was brought to life now feels abundantly necessary.
While we can’t change the past, we can’t protect queer ancestors from refusing their authentic selves, we can preserve our present. We can share our stories and all the lessons they have for us. Or, if we don’t have a story to tell right now, we can simply listen.
Playing now through June 28 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N Milwaukee Ave.
My Other Recent Reviews
Chicago A&E News
Babes With Blades Theatre Company is kicking off its 2025 season with an extended Fighting Words Festival from September 6 to 14 at the Bramble Arts Loft. Attendees can enjoy these new works for $5 or pay what they can, with a suggested price of $10, and actively participate in post-show discussions to help shape the plays' development. Artistic Director Hayley Rice emphasizes that audience feedback is crucial for playwrights, underscoring the festival's role in presenting diverse new narratives on stage.
Black Ensemble Theater announces that That's What Friends Are For: Gladys, Dionne and Patti, a musical celebration of sisterhood, soul, and legendary voices, has been extended through August 10. Written and directed by Producing Managing Director Daryl D. Brooks, this popular production brings together the iconic Patti LaBelle, Dionne Warwick, and Gladys Knight as they share their deep bond, personal journeys, and timeless hits during a fictional Las Vegas residency. Due to high demand, theatergoers now have an extended opportunity to experience this uplifting musical at the Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center.
Blue in the Right Way is staging its second production, The Tender Trap, a fresh take on Max Shulman and Robert Paul Smith's play, directed by Kevin V. Smith. The show runs from July 3 to July 12 at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, with tickets available at BlueInTheRightWay.com. This reimagining explores the life of New York bachelor Charlie Reader, who finds his seemingly idyllic, woman-filled existence complicated when his married friend visits and witnesses his charming but ultimately unsustainable lifestyle.
The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project (CBDLP) is set to make its Harris Theater debut on August 23 at 6 p.m. with a new group concert titled Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions. Co-directed by Mashaune Hardy and Kevin Iega Jeff, this performance will showcase ten groundbreaking companies representing diverse Black dance traditions, including Chicago Footwork, ballet, tap, and jazz. Inspired by Dr. King’s Beloved Community, the show promises a vibrant celebration of connection, resilience, and shared humanity.
Goodman Theatre has extended the run of The Color Purple, the musical, for six additional performances, now playing through August 3. Directed by Lili-Anne Brown, this production of the beloved story of resilience and self-discovery features a 21-member company, including Brittney Mack as Celie. Tickets for the extended performances are available at GoodmanTheatre.org/Purple or by phone.
Hoste, a Pilsen-based creative cocktail company and event space, is launching a new quarterly Artist-in-Residence series to showcase Chicago visual artists. Launching July 6, each residency will feature rotating gallery exhibitions, collaborative events, public programming, and a new mural on Hoste's exterior. This initiative deepens Hoste's commitment to integrating art into its community space, with each residency also including a nonprofit partnership.
Ox Bar & Hearth by Chef John Asbaty and restaurateur Alain Uy is opening this summer in Chicago's Lincoln Park, a modern Midwestern restaurant reflecting their shared passion for great food, drinks, and warm hospitality. The name "Ox Bar & Hearth" pays tribute to the former Golden Ox, located in the same spot, while also signifying a communal spirit and honest Midwestern cooking. This new establishment aims to offer welcoming and thoughtful hospitality, drawing inspiration from traditional London neighborhood pubs.
PlayMakers Laboratory is bringing back its popular sketch show, That's Weird, Grandma: Summer Vacation!, for a limited six-performance run from July 26 to August 10, 2025, at the Neo-Futurist Theater in Chicago. The show adapts stories written by Chicago elementary school students into a family-friendly comedy featuring professional actors, comedians, and musicians. Directed by Brandon Cloyd, the production promises a blend of humor and poignant moments that appeal to all ages while celebrating young imaginations.
Steppenwolf Theatre Company is kicking off its 50th Anniversary Season with the Chicago premiere of ensemble member Rajiv Joseph's family drama, Mr. Wolf. Directed by ensemble member K. Todd Freeman, the production runs from September 11 to November 2 in Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theater. Tickets go on sale Friday, July 25, and can be purchased via steppenwolf.org or the Box Office.
Universal Destinations & Experiences has announced Universal Horror Unleashed: Chicago, a permanent, year-round immersive horror attraction, set to open in 2027. This new venue, located at 700 W. Chicago Avenue, will transform a 114,000-square-foot building into a world-class horror destination featuring mazes, themed bars, unique food, and exclusive merchandise. The project is Universal's first branded experience in the Midwest, aiming to generate over $1 billion in economic impact for Chicago and create more than 400 permanent jobs.
Do you have Chicago-based A&E news to announce?
Email me at [email protected]!
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