Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Sunday, October 6
RTG Dance presents In Progress, an evening of new choreography by Rachel Thorne Germond and special solo performances by NYC based guest artist Barbara Mahler. The program includes Double Judies, a boozy burlesque-style duet, featuring Germond and Jessica Hudson (of the now-defunct Chicago Kings). Dressed as Judy Garland, they'll dance to her rendition of Embraceable You. Mahler performs Joan's Revenge, a burlesque spoof on Joan Crawford as well as a solo piece, With Bated Breathe. Germond collaborates with innovative musician Michael Zerang, on a new quartet Tragic Dance, rounding out the program. This evening, at 8pm at Links Hall (3435 N Sheffield). Tickets are $12-15. For more information call 773-281-0824, or visit the website.
For a nice finish to Bike to Work Week, end your morning commute downtown at Daley Plaza (at Dearborn and Washington) between 7:30 and 9 AM and pick up a free t-shirt and breakfast as speakers discuss how Chicago is getting more bike friendly. For more information, call 312-744-3315 or visit the Bike Chicago website.
As part of the Joffrey's celebration of its 50th anniversary, the dance troupe leads a Latin dance session, beginning with a lesson (45 to 60 minutes) at 8:30 PM, and followed by dancing with a live band. In the Chase Promenade, free. For more information, visit the website.
A student with the Joffrey Ballet's Education and Community Engagement program has choreographed a line dance in commemoration of the Joffrey's 50th anniversary. Starting at 1 PM in Wrigley Square, the public will be invited to join in. Free. For more information, visit the website.
High school students from the Joffrey Ballet's Education and Community Engagement program will perform this percussive dance in the Crown Fountain. Free. The five-minute dance will be repeated four times between 12 N and 1 PM, and again between 5 PM and 6 PM. For more information, visit the website.
The Onion City Film Festival continues at Chicago Filmmakers this evening with two separate programs of film and video work from around the world. The programs will be at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM; please see the Chicago Filmmakers Website for a complete schedule. The festival runs through June 18 at Chicago Filmmakers. Admission to tonight's programs: $8, $7 for students, and $4 for Chicago Filmmakers members. Festival passes will also be available for purchase. Chicago Filmmakers: 5243 N. Clark. (773) 293-1447.
The Grant Park Music Festival's season opener features the Joffrey Ballet performing Romeo and Juliet, so if you like ballet you'll want to show up early enough to grab a seat close to the stage. Pritzer Pavillion, 6:30 PM. Free. For more information, visit the website.
Writer-director David Gordon Green (George Washington, All the Real Girls, Undertow) appears at the Future Filmmakers Festival's opening night, with a screening of two of his early works from his time at the North Carolina School of the Arts. 7-9pm. Film Row Cinema, Columbia College Chicago, 1104 S Wabash. $10 students, $15 Cinema/Chicago or IFP Chicago members, $20 general admission. Reserve tickets here.
Cinema/Chicago's Future Filmmakers Festival, for filmmakers under the age of 20, goes nationwide for the first time this year. All screenings take place at the Film Row Cinema at Columbia College and are free to the public. See full schedule here. Columbia College Chicago, 1104 S Wabash.
This evening at 5 PM, Taste of Randolph Street kicks off with live music and food from local restaurants. 900 to 1200 W Randolph. For more information, visit the website.
In conjunction with the Nick Cave: Soundsuits exhibit, Instruments of Movement presents a full-length dance performance wearing some of Cave's soundsuits. In the Claudia Cassidy Theater, 7 PM. Free. 78 E Washington Street. For more information, call 312-744-6630 or visit the website.
Indie pop combo Office headlines at the Bottle, with support from Raising the Fawn and Brenmar Someday. 10pm. $8; buy online at TicketWeb. Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western.
This latest show at the Lakeshore Theater tells the story of Agent UU7 and his mission to save the world. With action, romance and dancing -- yes, dancing -- the James Bond-like show will be like no other you've seen. Mainly because this one employs life-sized puppets as actors (they work for foam peanuts, you know). Opening tonight at 10:30pm, the show will run through July 21 at 3175 N. Broadway. Tickets are $15 and can bought by calling 773-472-9492 or by clicking here.