Jonny wants to know: how many shows did you see last year? According to new statistics released by the League of Chicago Theatres, 39% of all Chicago-area residents went to theater at least once last year. That’s 2.4 million people. What’s more, the typical Chicago theater patron saw three shows, making total tickets sales somewhere between $7.2 million and $7.5 million. That’s a lotta’ butt in seats, especially when the butt’s as big as yours, dear reader. The roaring ticket sales give the theater industry a total annual economic impact of $347 million—and rising—on the local economy. The Chicago area’s 200-plus theater companies employed 6,417 people (in 2002, the last year for which complete stats are available). These numbers are very healthy indeed, up more than 100% in 10 years. The stats also reveal that 63% of all theater-goers are women and only 37% are men. Drag queens count as women, of course. Because live theater is doing so well, the League of Chicago Theaters has clout in high places. This has allowed the League to help re-open the five little Off-Loop troupes that were shuttered in November by nasty agents of the City’s Department of Revenue. The League arranged two January meetings at the Mayor’s Office hosted by top Daley lieutenant Timothy Mitchell, who promised assistance and better communication between theaters and various city departments responsible for inspections and licensing of theaters. As a result, at least three of the five closed theaters should be reopened by the time you read this, Profiles, TimeLine and WNEP, with the Artistic Home and Playground theaters not too far behind.
Say, dear reader, if you want to see three shows in 2004 in order to be statistically significant, but you don’t know which three to see, then check out the North Side Theater Sampler at the Cultural Center on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. The evening will offer scenes from current and upcoming shows of 20 theater troupes between Diversey and Howard streets, from the lake to Western Avenue. All are small Off-Loop venues of 150 seats or less, among them American Theatre Company, Corn Productions, Curious Theatre Branch, Defiant Theatre, Live Bait, Pegasus Players, Prop Theatr and Rivendell.
The 20 sample scenes will be split into two programs, and will unfold in the Claudia Cassidy Theater and in the G.A.R. Hall. In addition to the performances, light refreshments will be offered in the G.A.R. Rotunda, and there will be information available about the participating troupes. It’s all part of a Feb. 19-22 celebration of Chicago theater. The North Side Theater Sampler is free. More info is available at (312) 744-6630.
This is Valentine’s Day Weekend, and there’s a whole mess o’ romantic stuff on Chicago stages. Among the more interesting choices: choreographer and multimedia artist Valerie Alpert and company offer Dances de Amor—passionate Latin dances of love—at the Ruth Page Center, Feb. 12-14, (312) 337-6543; and jazz/classical trumpeter extraordinaire Winton Marsalis offer romantic music by Ellington, Goodman and Basie in two Valentine’s Day concert dances with the the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, at the South Shore Cultural Center, (312) 294-3000.
The Second City comedy conglomerate has come up with a neat idea for Valentine’s Day: instead of candy gifts, offer a gift of laughter by purchasing a Second City gift certificate for the Apple of Your Eye, redeemable for classes at the Second City Training Center in improvisation, acting, or comedy writing. Gift certificates may be purchased in any amount and applied towards the $255 class fee. The next term of classes begins March 8, although the certificates are good for future terms; (312) 664-3959.
Fans of vocal music will have a treat next Wednesday (Feb. 18) when dazzling mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartolli makes an all-too-rare local appearance at Symphony Center, performing works by Gluck, Salieri and Vivaldi with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Following the concert, the personable Ms. Bartolli will sign CD’s at the Symphony Store.
And speaking of things romantic, Goodman Theatre has extended its Italian musical romance, The Light in the Piazza, through Feb. 22. Our critic, Rick Reed, loved it and so did Jonny.