Patrons of the performing arts can be the first to see opera, dance and theater productions premiering in Chicago this autumn.
OPERA
Dame Jane Glover conducts the North American premiere of Leonora performed by Chicago Opera Theater at the Studebaker Theater (Oct. 1, 4 and 6). Soprano Vanessa Becerra plays the title role and tenor Edgardo Rocha makes his Chicago debut in this classical Italian opera by Ferdinando Paër. The libretto by Giuseppe Maria Foppa and Giacomo Cinti is based on the true story of an 18th century French woman who disguised herself as a man in order to rescue her imprisoned husband.
DANCE
The Joffrey Ballet begins its 69th season with the North American premiere of Atonement at the Lyric Opera House (Oct. 17-27). The full-length narrative ballet is based on Ian McEwan’s same-named novel which was adapted into a 2007 film starring Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Romola Garai, and Vanessa Redgrave.
In this co-production with Ballett Zürich, British choreographer Cathy Marston makes the character Briony Tallis a choreographer instead of an author so she can relay redemption via dance. “Playing to the strengths of our company artists to convey complicated characters, such as the story’s protagonist Briony, Atonement sets the stage for a commanding season ahead, encouraging Chicago audiences to see themselves in ever more complex ways,” says the Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director Ashley Wheater MBE.
The staging is enhanced by Laura Rossi’s musical score performed live by the Lyric Opera Orchestra. “This production marks the second time the Company has mounted a full-length ballet with an original score,” adds Acting CEO Deputy Director and Chief Financial Officer Shari Massey. “New works are essential for the evolution of our art form, and with Cathy and Ashley at the forefront, I couldn’t be more excited for Chicago to witness what’s in store.”
Step Afrika! presents the Chicago Premiere of The Migration: Reflections on Jacob Lawrence at the Auditorium Theatre (Oct. 19). Inspired by Lawrence’s 60-panel paintings, this performance incorporates vibrant visuals along with live musical accompaniment performed by saxophonist and flutist Lionel Lyles, drummers Agyei Edwards and Abdou Muhammad, and vocalists Ariel Dykes, Briona Jackson, and Kanysha Williams who will sing “Wade in the Water” arranged by Greg Watkins.
“Audiences were literally on their feet last year, marveling at the incredible stepping performed by this important American dance company,” explains Auditorium CEO Rich Regan. “We’re honored to launch our Auditorium 2024-25 season with Step Afrika! back on our stage, offering a historic work that pays tribute to the strength of the Black American migration story, and the role the City of Chicago played as a welcoming place to call home.”
PARA.MAR Dance Theatre makes its Studebaker Theater debut with / v. anthology / (Sep. 20-21). This presentation of mixed repertory works includes the world premiere of “Trace of Grace” by Xavier Nuñez.
THEATER
Mollyanne Nunn, Emily Holland, Spencer Diaz Tootle and Cat Christmas in a publicity image from the Story Theatre’s world premiere of the love object. Photo by David Hagen.
Cat Christmas, Emily Holland, Kaylah Marie Crosby, Mollyanne Nunn, Spencer Díaz Tootle, and William Anthony Sebastian Rose II are featured in the Story Theatre’s world premiere of the love object at Raven Theatre’s Schwartz Stage (Oct. 10-Nov. 3). Per her contemporary adaptation of Euripides’ Hippolytus, Emerging Playwright-in-Residence Justine Gelfman explores the hyper-sexualization of female celebrities amid the pop music scene of the early 2000s. The production directed by Northwestern MFA Directing alum Jasmine B. Gunter features strobe light effects and a confetti cannon. Click here for questions and here for tickets.
Goodman Theatre will present the Chicago premiere of Eboni Booth’s 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning dramedy Primary Trust (Oct. 5-Nov. 3). “I’m always drawn to plays that push the boundaries of empathy, that interrogate love and grief, friendship and longing, and do so in subtle and profound ways,” says Malkia Stampley, who makes her Goodman directing debut with this production. “Primary Trust is the kind of play that sticks with you, that days later you find has allowed you to look at the world differently, even if just for a moment.”
Polly Noonan directs Shattered Globe Theatre’s Midwest premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s black comedy Becky Nurse of Salem at Theater Wit (Oct. 10-Nov. 16). “How lucky that Shattered Globe can collaborate again with Chicago’s own Sarah Ruhl to introduce one of her newest plays to her hometown audience,” says the company’s executive artistic director Sandy Shinner. “Her plays are always a gift for both artists to explore and audiences to experience.”
Obie Award-winner Brittany Bradford and Tony Award-nominated Jon Michael Hill play two lost souls in the world premiere of Ngozi Anyanwu’s Leroy and Lucy (Nov. 5-Dec. 15) at Steppenwolf’s in-the-round Ensemble Theater in Honor of Helen Zell.
The world premiere of Chris Bower’s The Ship and The Sea reimagines the sinking of the 17th century Swedish warship Vasa as told from the perspective of the ship. This Curious Theatre Branch production can be seen (through Sep. 29) at the Facility Theatre via “pay what you can” tickets.