Best One-Person Shows In Chicago
If watching an ensemble show or a large stage production is not your thing, then consider checking out solo shows and performances in Chicago. Whether you want to see an iconic entertainer or an up-and-coming performer, the area boasts a number of solo shows that are sure to delight. To find a solo show near you, consider checking out the following five performances.
Bill Cosby
The Chicago Theatre
175 N. State St.
Chicago, IL 60601
(800) 745-3000
www.thechicagotheatre.com
Date: Oct. 25, 2013
Are you a fan of the iconic comedian Bill Cosby? If you enjoyed his numerous television shows, including "The Cosby Show," listened to his live performances or read his books, then you might want to check out his live show at The Chicago Theatre. The celebrated entertainer's works touch on a multitude of topics, including his childhood, fatherhood and education. The performance is scheduled for one night only on Oct. 25, 2013. If you can't make it on that date, there's no need to worry; Cosby will have a live show at North Central College College in southwest suburban Naperville on March 29, 2014.
Anne Carson
Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
Harold Washington Library Center
400 S. State St.
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 494-9509
www.chicagohumanities.org
Date: Nov. 2, 2013
If you're in the mood for a poetry reading, then consider seeing poet Anne Carson read from her latest work, "red doc >," at the Harold Washington Library Center in the Loop neighborhood. The reading will take place on Nov. 2, 2013, at 11 a.m. in the library center's Cindy Pritzker Auditorium. The reading is part of Chicago Humanities Festival's fall festival, "Animal: What Makes Us Human," which includes a series of lectures, screenings and readings that focus on how humans and animals co-exist. For information on tickets, check out Chicago Humanities Festival's website.
John Lithgow: Stories By Heart
North Shore Center for the Performing Arts
9501 Skokie Blvd.
Skokie, IL 60077
(847) 673-6300
www.northshorecenter.org
Date: Nov. 3, 2013
For fans of acclaimed actor John Lithgow, you will be pleased to learn that he will perform his theatrical memoir "Stories by Heart" at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. The performance also includes works from P.G. Wodehouse and Ring Lardner, and Lithgow takes on the personalities and voices of different characters. Lithgow has been in numerous television shows, movies and plays, and is an award-winning actor, having won five Emmy awards and two Tony awards. The performance is for one day only on Nov. 3, 2013, at 2 p.m., and tickets start at $55.
Fillet Of Solo Festival
Lifeline Theatre
6912 N. Glenwood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60626
(773) 761-4477
www.lifelinetheatre.com
Dates: Jan. 2-19, 2014
Just because you want to see a solo performance doesn't mean you need to see only one performer. With Fillet of Solo Festival, which runs Jan. 2 through 19, 2014, you can see several storytellers from the area in one performance. Previous festivals have included performances from artists that include the Sweat Girls and members of Second City. In previous years, the festival's performers have included music, too. For a detailed list of scheduled performers, check out the festival's website. Located in Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood, Lifeline Theatre features an intimate setting in a converted ComEd substation. The festival will also have performances at Heartland Studio.
Alton Brown Live! The Edible Inevitable Tour
Oriental Theatre
24 W Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 977-1700
www.broadwayinchicago.com
Date: Feb. 8, 2014
What do you get when you combine wit with a vast knowledge of cooking? The Alton Brown Live! The Edible Inevitable Tour, of course. The show features the popular Food Network host giving audiences the lowdown on food. The show features comedy, a multimedia presentation and plenty of information on culinary science. The show is appropriate for the entire family, making it a fun idea for an outing for even the youngest foodie. Ticket prices start at $25, and two performances are scheduled for Feb. 8, 2014, at Chicago's famed Oriental Theatre.
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Megan Horst-Hatch is a runner, reader, baker, gardener, knitter, and other words that end in "-er." She is also the president of Megan Writes, LLC. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
