South Shore Arts begamn registration for its 2022 spring session of visual art classes on February 14. In-person visual arts classes will begin the week of March 14, 2022 and will include a variety of senior, adult, and youth art classes, such as multi-level ceramics, figure drawing, Japanese Manga illustration for teens, natural history illustration, and more. Classes will be held in Munster in the fully-equipped South Shore Arts studios at the Center for Visual & Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road.  

The South Shore Arts Art in Focus lecture series will continue virtually via Zoom webinar with special guest Maestro Kirk Muspratt on Monday, February 21, 2022, at 10am.

**** Recommended **** Marriott’s energetic production of "West Side Story" is an amazing dance spectacular – and Marriott’s in-the-round layout allows the audience to see the dance moves up close and personal – as they say in sports.  Combine Leonard Bernstein’s glorious music and Steven Sondheim’s amazing lyrics, and you have one of the best musicals ever written.  Although it premiered more than fifty years ago, “West Side Story” is continues to be relevant.  The star-crossed lovers, Tony (Jake David Smith) and Maria (Lauren Marie Median), just reach out and grab at your heart strings.  In fact, I was entranced whenever they sang together!   I had tears in my eye at the end, so I give “West Side Story” 4 Spotlights.   

**** Highly Recommended ****   Mercury Theater’s production of "Women of Soul" is nothing short of spectacular.  This revue has all the glitz, glitter and glamour anyone could ask for!  "Women of Soul" also has eight of the best voices in Chicago theater paying tribute to everyone from Mahalia Jackson to Janet Jackson, and more.  The voices are awesome, the costumes beyond gorgeous.  Angela Weber Miller’s elegant yet intimate set provides the perfect backdrop for all those sequins.  I was dancing in my seat!  4 BIG Spotlights

ALTERNATIVE ROCK BAND BODEANS RETURNS TO THE MAC TO PERFORM HIT SONGS “GOOD THINGS,” “CLOSER TO FREE,” “FADEAWAY” AND MORE MARCH 4

Northern Waters Casino Resort and the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians to Become the Official Resort-Casino of The Hodag Country Festival

GOODMAN THEATRE ANNOUNCES ARTISTIC UPDATES:
• WHEN GIVEN A CHOICE, BLEED BY KIMBERLY DIXON-MAYS IS THE FIRST FUTURE LABS READING OF 2022, APPEARS ON FEBRUARY 26; FREE TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE
• CUBAN-AMERICAN DIRECTOR/ARTS EDUCATOR GEORGETTE VERDIN IS NAMED THE 2022 MICHAEL MAGGIO DIRECTING FELLOW IN THE PROGRAM’S 20TH YEAR
• THE GOODMAN JOINS APRIL 20 NATIONWIDE EVENT, #ENOUGH: PLAYS TO END GUN VIOLENCE—EIGHT 10-MINUTE PLAYS AUTHORED BY TEEN WRITERS—DIRECTED BY GEORGETTE VERDIN AND QUENNA BARRETT

THE CHICAGO ENSEMBLE ANNOUNCES LIVE STREAMING OPTION FOR FEBRUARY 20 CONCERT | The Concert at the University of Chicago’s International House, Available for In-Person or Live Streaming, Features the Works of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven

MULTIPLATINUM INDIE POP TRIO AJR DEBUTS “ORDINARYISH PEOPLE” MUSIC VIDEO FEATURING BLUE MAN GROUP | Music Video Features Original Score Composed by Blue Man Group Associate Music Director and Blue Man Group Chicago Band Member Jeff Quay | Blue Man Group to Join AJR in Five Cities of 2022 OK ORCHESTRA Tour

Virtual Training:  Taxes for Creative Small Businesses | Wednesday, February 23rd at 6:00 PM ET (5:00 PM CT)