In honor of screen icon, songstress and animal rights activist Doris Day, who passed away this May, Chicago’s Music Box Theatre presents The Inimitable Doris Day. The weekend matinee series showcases the star’s acting and singing talents in “Calamity Jane” (Sep. 15), “Love Me Or Leave Me” (Sep. 21) and “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (Sep. 28-29).
The historic cinema also screens Midnight Musicals including cult favorite “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (Sep. 2) featuring Tim Curry and “Desperately Seeking Susan” (Sep. 6-7) showcasing Madonna. For tickets and more information, visit MusicBoxTheatre.com.
Next door, Season of Concern presents Second City Divas—In Concert (Sep. 9), a benefit performance at Mercury Theater Chicago. The one-night-only event includes solos, duets and group numbers by local theater performers such as the show’s musical director Roberta Duchak (who served as a vocal coach on the 2012 film “Les Misérables”) and Heidi Kettenring (who appeared in the 2013 film “Man of Steel”), among others. Actress, singer and songwriter Cory Goodrich will be given the Larry Sloan Legacy Award.
The Auditorium Theatre and Chicago Sinfonietta are hosting Get Out with the Chicago Sinfonietta, a one-night screening of Jordan Peele’s 2017 film “Get Out” (Sep. 21) with live accompaniment of the score led by composer Michael Abels.
“I have had the honor of enjoying a long relationship with the Sinfonietta, which has commissioned, performed, and recorded my works through the years, and it feels like I’m coming home to family,” says Abels. “Now I’ll be conducting them for the first time at the Auditorium Theatre, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to recreate the music from ‘Get Out’ live in concert at this historic venue. I look forward to enjoying the audience’s live reactions and to sharing this movie-concert experience with them.”
In addition to the instrumental score, Abels and the Sinfonietta will perform other songs in the film, from Run, Rabbit, Run to I’ve Had The Time of My Life.
“We are excited to perform alongside a screening of this popular film as the Sinfonietta opens the Auditorium Theatre’s American Music Series. ‘Get Out’ pushes the boundaries of the horror and thriller genres, and the Sinfonietta pushes the boundaries of the classical music genre. Audience members are sure to feel a sense of energy and anticipation throughout the film in a way that can only be experienced with live music,” adds Mei-Ann Chen, Chicago Sinfonietta music director.
“Get Out with the Chicago Sinfonietta is the perfect way to kick off the Auditorium’s 2019-20 Season,” notes C.J. Dillon, Auditorium Theatre chief programming officer. “We look forward to partnering with the Sinfonietta and welcoming this stellar Chicago orchestra, led by the renowned composer Michael Abels, to our landmark stage for this unique presentation of this new American classic.”
For tickets and more information, visit AuditoriumTheatre.org. Discounts are available for groups of 10 and more, students, teens, and Chicago-area community groups.
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Pictured: The late great Doris Day, who introduced her signature song Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) in Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Man Who Knew Too Much”
