Blue Man Group, "Immersive Monet" And More Things To Do In Chicago This Season

Clear your calendars: The city is packed with debut experiences and fleeting moments not to be missed this fall and winter.

BLUE MAN GROUP

ONGOING

Chicago’s Blue Man Group first debuted their bald blue heads at Briar Street Theatre in Lakeview in 1997, and today, the sensational act is still rocking out on the same stage. This out-of-the-box show—which celebrates its 25th anniversary with a special performance Oct. 20—is a wondrous journey through music, color and comedy that will leave viewers in pure awe. It’s a must on any Chicago bucket list. Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St.

FLOURISH: THE GARDEN AT 50

THROUGH 9/25

Celebrating half a century of showcasing and conserving the natural world, the Chicago Botanic Garden’s monthslong happening “Flourish: The Garden at 50” comes to a close in September. Throughout its 28 gardens, interactive stories will be told alongside pop-up events and 10 nature-inspired art installations from both national and global luminaries. Pops of gold-hued plants are incorporated into the garden displays throughout to catch your eye during the festivities, spreading the garden’s message to imagine a future where people and nature thrive together. 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe,

Celeste M. Cooper is a featured ensemble member in Steppenwolf Theatre's production of The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington.

CAPTURING LOUIS SULLIVAN: WHAT RICHARD NICKEL SAW

8/26-2/19

If it weren’t for Polish American photographer Richard Nickel, we would not have a comprehensive overview of architecture firm Adler & Sullivan’s work in Chicago from the 1880s and early 1890s. After meeting Louis Sullivan, an influential architect of the Chicago School and a mentor to Frank Lloyd Wright, Nickel fought against the urban renewal movement that threatened to demolish many of Sullivan’s buildings in the 1960s and ’70s. This season, The Richard H. Driehaus Museum pays homage to the photographer's efforts in Capturing Louis Sullivan: What Richard Nickel Saw, which features 40 photographs and a selection of over 12 architectural fragments. Anna Musci, executive director of The Richard H. Driehaus Museum says, “Presenting this exhibition is a celebration of both Chicago’s architectural legacy and those who have gone to great lengths to ensure that its beauty and cultural heritage are preserved for future generations.” 40 E. Erie St.

IMMERSIVE MONET & THE IMPRESSIONISTS

OPENS 9/1

Explore the awe-inspiring artworks of some of the great masters, as Lighthouse Immersive and Maestro Immersive Art present its latest 360-degree digital art exhibition, Immersive Monet & The Impressionists. History remembers artists like Monet, Renoir and Degas as radicals for their bold spontaneity in both movement and color mediums, which the upcoming exhibit will express with state-of-the-art projection systems and a dreamlike musical score to engage audiences in the vibrant yet transient depictions of nature these artists envisioned. Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago, 108 W. Germania Place

Immersive Monet & The Impressionists offers viewers a new perspective on some of history's most iconic creators.

THE MOST SPECTACULARLY LAMENTABLE TRIAL OF MIZ MARTHA WASHINGTON

9/1-10/9

Steppenwolf Theatre Company kicks off its new season with a bang, raising the curtain on James Ijames’ fantastical yet amusing new play, The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington. Ravaged by a wicked illness, the widowed “Mother of America,” Martha Washington, is confined to her Mount Vernon quarters; meanwhile, the enslaved people of the estate patiently await their hour of liberation as Martha’s late husband George Washington’s will declares their impending freedom upon her death. “To have Whitney White and James Ijames (fresh off winning the Pulitzer Prize) back together at the launch of our '22/'23 season is a huge gift for all of us at Steppenwolf,” says artistic director Audrey Francis. 1650 N. Halsted St.

Chicago-based artist Faheem Majeed's work "A Ladder for Creeping Charlie & Bittersweet Nightshade" at Chicago Botanic Garden's "Flourish: The Garden at 50"

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

9/17-10/7

With the formidable presence of the full Lyric Opera of Chicago orchestra and chorus, beloved Tony Award winner Fiddler on the Roof makes its triumphant North American debut after its heralded premiere at Komische Oper Berlin. Leading opera director Barrie Kosky (The Magic Flute, Prince Igor, Salome) revitalizes the revered tale of Tevye and his five daughters as guests are transported to the village of Anatevka to experience the family’s joys and deep sorrows in a new light. “I am thrilled for Chicago audiences to experience Fiddler on the Roof through the vision of the charismatic and unique Barrie Kosky, a director I’ve worked with at Salzburg Festival and admire so much,” says Lyric music director Enrique Mazzola. “This will be unforgettable and an unmissable Fiddler.” Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Upper Wacker Drive

The Kyiv City Ballet makes its Chicago debut at Auditorium Theatre this season.

KYIV CITY BALLET

9/24-25

Appearing for the first time in Chicago, the Kyiv City Ballet of Ukraine will take the stage in Auditorium Theatre’s fall season opener. Artistic Director Ivan Kozlov leads the company, the original ballet of Ukraine for 10 years, which will perform a mixed repertoire featuring two of the country’s top prima ballerinas, Krystina Kadashevych and Oksana Bondarenko. Auditorium Theatre CEO Rich Regan says, “We hope to attract not only dance lovers but all who stand behind Ukraine to show support for these brave artists.” 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive

Jennafer Newberry and Lissa deGuzman star as Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, in the national tour of Wicked.

WICKED

9/28-12/4

The iconic musical that shook up the theater world when it first debuted on Broadway in 2003, Wicked takes the stage at James M. Nederlander Theatre in the Loop this season. The North American tour stars Lissa deGuzman, who previously played Jasmine in Disney’s Aladdin national tour among other Broadway roles, as the green Elphaba and Jennafer Newberry as good witch Glinda, the character she previously understudied for. 24 W. Randolph St.

OPEN HOUSE CHICAGO

10/1-31

The Chicago Architecture Center pays homage to the Windy City’s world-class architecture in a monthlong event dubbed Open House Chicago. The free, public festival offers self-guided tours through the CAC app, access to hidden gems across the city, and in-person programming Oct. 15 and 16. The event will spotlight more than 20 neighborhoods and host opportunities for outdoor exploration focused on themes such as community engagement, green spaces, historic preservation, residential architecture and more. Multiple locations

This year's Open House Chicago event will spotlight sites such as Central Park Theatre and the CTA Control Center. Pictured: 150 N. Riverside Plaza in downtown Chicago

BEYOND BORDERS

10/12-23

The renowned Joffrey Ballet honors its rich legacy in the company’s 2022-2023 season premiere, Beyond Borders—a mixed program featuring works by the Joffrey’s past and present icons. Company co-founder Gerald Arpino choreographed “Suite Saint-Saëns,” a creation that fuses classical movements with his signature neoclassical flair, which influential choreographer Agnes de Mille once described as feeling like “standing in a flight of meteors.” The program also features in-demand choreographer Chanel DaSilva’s second original work (the first was 2021’s critically acclaimed “Swing Low”). The hypnotic yet romantic “Vespertine” by Liam Scarlett, who also designed the costumes, rounds out the program. Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Upper Wacker Drive

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