Performing Arts

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Beethoven and Quasimodo at an academic conference

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Bleader: Performing Arts

Religion / Onstage / Performing Arts / Dance The latest Reader performing arts reviews and previews

Posted by Sharon Lurye on Thu, Feb 9, 2012 at 2:45 PM

Michael Brosilow
Hesperia

Shame is an overwhelming emotion. When it mixes with religion, it becomes an explosive force. Two plays this week go right ahead and light the fuse: Hesperia and Disgrace. In the former, a porn star joins an evangelical community, hoping to regain her innocence. In the latter, a corporate lawyer tries to run as far away from his Muslim upbringing as he can. Reader critic Zac Thompson recommends Hesperia, saying that playwright Randall Colburn paints his characters as, well, real characters, rather than chick tract stereotypes.

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Music / Performing Arts Tonight: CSO, Muti, and Mason Bates

Posted by Deanna Isaacs on Tue, Feb 7, 2012 at 4:01 PM

Todd Rosenberg

Tonight's the last chance (this season, in Orchestra Hall) to hear Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra take on resident-composer and sometime-DJ Mason Bates's brand-new, electro-infused symphony, Alternative Energy, which includes sounds from Fermilab and junked auto parts, and was the hot item at CSO concerts last week. Word at midafternoon was that seats are available; $20 senior and $15 student rush tickets go on sale at the box office at 5 PM, the concert's at 7:30. Also on the program: Honegger and Franck.

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Onstage / Performing Arts Mamet alert: Race runs on

Posted by Deanna Isaacs on Fri, Feb 3, 2012 at 5:49 PM

1328303990-race3_pic-by-erik-y.-exit_magnum.jpg

Eric Y. Exit

If you're a fan of Mamet-speak and you haven't yet made plans to see Race, here's some news: the Goodman Theatre announced today that it's adding two performances to the run, February 12 and 19. The play's not perfect—it needs a stronger ending and should run straight through without the momentum-busting intermission—but don't let that stop you: the first act of director Chuck Smith's terrific production is a rocket-fueled trip no Mamet aficionado should miss. Justin Hayford reviewed it for the Reader. A video montage of scenes from Race is posted after the jump.

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