Chicago Highlights - Winter 2011
Chicago Highlights - Winter 2011
This winter is proving to be a record-setting season for snow and temperatures are consistently low, so we've got plenty of indoor events in this newsletter. It's a great time to check out the new theater openings in Chicago. We're featuring a new series at Navy Pier, "Neighborhoods of the World", as well as Chicago Winter Dance, a series of ice skating and dance lessons.
Finally, we've provided information on many of Chicago's traditional events for the upcoming weeks, such as the 103rd edition of the Chicago Auto Show and the ever-popular St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Theater Performances
Look what's coming to Chicago theater! These performances are limited, so check the dates and plan your outing soon. For tickets, order online; Click to obtain premium tickets!
| Burn the Floor |
Bank of America Theatre, Feb 1 - 13 |
| The international dance
sensation, Burn the Floor, visits Chicago direct from its
record-breaking run on Broadway! This show features 20 gorgeous
champion dancers, in a true theatrical experience. |
|
| Les Miserables |
Cadillac Palace Theatre, Feb 2 - 27 |
| Cameron Mackintosh presents
a brand new 25th anniversary production of the musical, Les
Miserables, with glorious new staging and spectacular re-imagined
scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. |
|
| Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles |
Ford Center, Feb 8 - 13 |
| Rain, the live tribute
performance, covers the Beatles from the earliest beginnings through
the psychedelic late 60s and their long-haired hippie, hard-rocking
rooftop days. |
|
| HAIR |
Ford Center, Mar 8 - 20 |
| HAIR is an exuberant musical
about a group of young Americans searching for peace and love in a
turbulent time and features an extraordinary cast and dozens of
unforgettable songs. |
|
| Merchant of Venice |
Bank of America Theatre, Mar 15 - 27 |
| In this riveting update Shakespeare's
tragicomedy , religion, race and sexuality collide with love, family
and justice and the currency of society and humanity has never been
so changeable. |
|
Featured Events
Navy Pier has created a wonderful series of events celebrating Chicago's diverse communities. Pick a Sunday or two and head to the Crystal Gardens for an afternoon of cultural fun!
Theater buffs, how about getting a backstage look at Chicago's historical theater venues? We've gathered the information you need!
Neighborhoods of the World at Navy Pier
Each Sunday, from February 6 through April 3, Navy Pier will honor Chicago’s ethnic neighborhoods with this first-ever performance series, featuring music, dance, colorful costumes, authentic cuisine, and local vendors selling folk arts. These events will be held at Navy Pier's Crystal Gardens from noon until 5pm; admission is free.
Feb 6 – Amazing India
Feb 13 – Chinese New Year Celebration
Feb 20 – Africa in Chicago
Feb 27 – Kick-Off to St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
Mar 6 – Celebrate Poland
Mar 13 – Bell’Italia
Mar 20 – Celebrate Mexico
Mar 27 – A Greek Journey in the Windy City
Apr 3 – German Chicago Now
Theater Tours
Chicago is home to some of the finest performance theaters; several
offer tours of their facilities.
Chicago Theater Marquee
Tour – Visit this landmark venue on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays at noon for a one-hour behind-the-scenes tour, including the
grand lobby, majestic auditorium and backstage areas. The cost is $12
for adults and $10 for children 12 and younger. Note: Tour days and
times vary by season.
Auditorium Theater - Tour the magnificent Auditorium Theatre and
marvel at the art and architecture of Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan.
Tours are available Mondays at 10:30am and 12pm and Thursdays at
10:30am. Tour tickets are $10 per person.
Broadway in Chicago Historic Theatre Tour - Broadway In Chicago offers a public tour of its theatres every Saturday at 11am. Each tour visits two of its three theatres: the Ford Center for Performing Arts (the Oriental Theatre) the Cadillac Palace Theatre and the Bank of America Theatre.
Lyric Opera Backstage Tour – Two Days Only – Feb 27 & Mar 20. This 2-1/2 hour, 10-stop tour takes you from makeup and wardrobe, to props and scenery, to the orchestra pit. Tour times are assigned between 11:30am and 2:30pm. The Classic Tour is offered at $35, with an optional box lunch for $12. The Premium Tour is offered at $150, which provides a more private tour and a gourmet luncheon.
Winter Events
Chicagoans love their traditions and are happy to share them with visitors. The blustery winter weather isn't going to keep anyone home. Here's a sampling of our favorite events.
| Chinese New Year Parade |
Chinatown, Feb 5 |
| The Chinatown New Year
Parade celebrating the Lunar New Year, “Year of the Rabbit 4709”
will include marching bands, floats, lion teams, a100’ Mystical
Dragon, and Miss Friendship Ambassador. |
|
| Chicago Winter Dance |
Millennium Park Feb 5-27 |
| Chicago Winter Dance
highlights both ice skating and dance lessons. On Saturday mornings,
beginner and intermediate ice skating lessons are offered free of
charge; on Sundays, ice skating lessons and “ice sports”, such as
noodle ball, curling and speed skating. Expert demonstrations are
offered as well. Also on Saturdays and Sundays, dance
enthusiasts can head out to Jay Pritzker Pavilion’s enclosed stage
for one-hour dance lessons, led by professional dance instructors.
Lessons are free of charge and each session features a different
theme, from the Tango to the Mambo Show. |
|
| Chicago Auto Show |
McCormick Place, Feb 11-20 |
| First staged in 1901, the
Chicago Auto Show is the largest auto show in North America and has
been held more times than any other auto exposition on the
continent. This year marks the 103rd edition of the Chicago Auto
Show. |
|
| Professional Bull Riders Rodeo |
United Center, Mar 5-6 |
| Professional bull riding is
a fierce, rough, and grueling sport with roots deeply imbedded in
American culture. It’s America’s original extreme sport. This rodeo
has evolved into a captivating and adrenaline charged sporting event
that features an all star cast of the greatest bull riders and
bucking bulls in the world. |
|
| St. Patrick’s Day Parade |
S. Columbus Drive, Mar 12 |
| Held the Saturday before St.
Patrick’s Day, the Chicago St. Pat’s Parade kicks off at Balbo,
heading north on Columbus to Monroe. The parade begins at noon. An
annual tradition, the Chicago River will be dyed green beginning at
10:45am. |
|
| Chicago Flower & Garden Show |
Navy Pier, Mar 5-13 |
| At the Chicago Flower &
Garden Show, visitors will be treated to the best of landscape
design and see the latest in sustainable and green products. Themed
"The Sport of Gardening," among the show's many highlights are
30-plus gardens that will spotlight top Midwest landscapers, growers
and garden designers. |
|
| Family Pet Expo |
Arlington Park Racetrack, Mar 18-20 |
| The Midwest’s largest pet expo with over
300 booths of pet products, services & animal rescue, plus
rock-n-roll K9’s, Indy Disc Dog Club, the Amazing Acro-Cats,
Ultimate Exotic Animal Encounter, hundreds of pets to see and touch
and much more. |
|
Chicago Highlights is a publication of Chicago Traveler; for more issues, see the Chicago Highlights Archive.
