Chicago After Dark - Chicago - page 151

Joffrey Ballet of Chicago While this major classical com-
pany concentrates on touring, the Joffrey schedules about 6 weeks of
performances a year in its hometown. Led by co-founder and artis-
tic director Gerald Arpino, the company is committed to the classic
works of the 20th century. Its repertoire extends from the ballets of
Arpino, Robert Joffrey, Balanchine, and Jerome Robbins to the cut-
ting-edge works of Alonzo King and Chicago choreographer Randy
Duncan. The Joffrey continues to draw crowds with its popular rock
ballet, Billboards, which is set to the music of Prince and tours inter-
nationally. The company is usually in town in the spring (Mar or
Apr), fall (Sept or Oct), and December, when it stages a popular ren-
dition of the holiday favorite The Nutcracker. Office: 70 E. Lake St.
& 312/739 - 0120. www.joffrey.com. Tickets $25-$130.
THEATER
Some of Broadway's most acclaimed dramas in recent years (the
Goodman Theatre's revival of Death of a Salesman and Steppenwolf 's
The Grapes of Wrath, to name a couple) hatched on Chicago stages.
With more than 200 theaters, Chicago might have dozens of pro-
ductions playing on any given weekend—and seeing a show here is
on my must-do list for all visitors.
The city's theaters have produced a number of legendary comedic
actors, including comic-turned-director Mike Nichols (The Gradu-
ate, Postcards from the Edge, Primary Colors), as well as fine dramatic
actors and playwrights. David Mamet, one of America's greatest
playwrights and an acclaimed film director and screenwriter, grew up
in Chicago's South Shore steel-mill neighborhood and honed his
craft with the former St. Nicholas Players, which included actor
William H. Macy (Fargo, Boogie Nights).
The thespian soil here must be fertile. Tinseltown and TV have
lured away such talents as John Malkovich, Joan Allen, Dennis
Franz, George Wendt, John and Joan Cusack, Aidan Quinn, Anne
Heche, and Lili Taylor. But even as emerging talent leave for higher
paychecks, a new pool of fresh faces is always waiting to take over.
This constant renewal keeps the city's theatrical scene invigorated
with new ideas and energy.
For a complete listing of current productions playing, check the
comprehensive listings in the two free weeklies, the Reader (which
reviews just about every show in town) and New City; the weekly
Time Out Chicago; or the Friday sections of the two dailies. The web-
site of the League of Chicago Theatres (www.chicagoplays.com)
also lists all theater productions playing in the area.