8-1-08
Affordable Housing for Artists
The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Chicago Department of Housing have proposed an initiative for affordable artist housing at the site of the historic Hotel Strand, 6315 S. Cottage Grove Ave., which would be the first city-sponsored artist live/work development on Chicago’s South Side. The Strand Artists Lofts would offer artists ownership opportunities at below-market rates, subsidized by the Dept. of Housing. The proposal calls for 36 loft condominiums of 960-1060 square feet to be created within the property, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. While key architectural features will be preserved (and restored) the interiors will be modern, full-amenity units. The Strand Artists Lofts are priced at $208,888, with subsidies available of up to $53,000 per qualified buyer(s), reducing the price to as low as $155,000. The Hotel Strand is in the Woodlawn neighborhood, close to The Grand Ballroom, an immaculately restored 1923 jazz venue, and the University of Chicago’s planned Lerner Center for the Creative and Performing Arts. Great idea. Too bad the city doesn’t make a commitment to doing this in all ’hoods. Subsidized artist housing in Austin, Rogers Park, Bucktown, Albany Park, Uptown, Pilsen, etc. would make a difference.
The Joffrey Tower, the new mixed-use high-rise Loop HQ for the famous ballet troupe, will open large Sept. 11-15 with a series of events ranging in price from free to $1,000/ticket. The Joffrey Ballet will dance at Millennium Park’s Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Sept. 11, honoring the victims of 9/11. That’s the free event. The official Opening Night of the Joffrey Tower will be a Sept. 12 black tie gala dinner dance (guests dine, the company dances). That’s the 1,000 clams event. Then, the Joffrey Tower will host a free Sept. 13 Community Open House (2p.m.-4p.m.) with the public invited to tour the Joffrey facilities. Finally, on Sept. 15 the Joffrey will host another soiree, Couture & Cocktails, for a mere $250/ticket. Well, no sit-down dinner you know, but plenty of food and cocktails. As Scotty Fitzgerald wrote, “The rich are different from you and me.”
As far as we know, the Joffrey Ballet is the only dance company in the world with a high-rise building named after it. The company occupies three floors of the building, with retail space below and condos above. It’s the Joffrey’s first permanent home in Chicago. Among the many amenities (such as seven rehearsal studios) is a 144-seat black box theatre which the Joffrey intends to make available as an affordable performance venue for new works by emerging choreographers and for smaller dance companies in the community.
Glengarry Glen Ross opened July 25 at Redtwist Theatre. So another Mamet production, no big deal. But, picking up on hero Ricky Roma’s line, “This is not a world of men,” Redtwist has mounted a gender-blind production, casting women in the play for the first time. Said Redtwist, “We were intrigued by the prospect of women in a world of men, and we asked Mr. Mamet to allow us to proceed accordingly.” Mamet’s agent replied, “Mr. Mamet does not dictate the gender of the characters, as long as not a single word of his text is changed. You may proceed with your production using some female cast members as long as you don’t change any of the text whatsoever.” Done! The female roles are Jacqueline Grandt as Roma, Debra Rodkin as Aaronow, Erin Shelton as Williamson and Filonna Thomas as Baylen. The show runs through Aug. 24. Redtwist is the renamed Actor’s Workshop Theatre.
Broadway and Chicago seem to be growing closer and closer all the time. In order to extend its summer hit production of Dennis DeYoung’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Bailiwick Repertory had to recast a number of roles, the lead part of Quasimodo among them. For the plum bell-ringing rocker, Bailiwick secured the services of Broadway veteran Evan D’Angeles, a Broadway veteran of Miss Saigon, Pacific Overtures and Children & Art: Sondheim’s 75th Birthday. He has extensive national tour and regional credits as well, among them six months as Angel in the Chicago company of Rent. Hunchback continues through Aug. 31.
Also, the 149th return visit of Mamma Mia! features a slew of Chicagoans, among them Susan McMonagle in the starring role of Donna Sheridan and Michael Aaron Lindner as possible daddy Harry Bright, another principal role. Completing the Windy City crew is ensemble member Nathan Alan Johnson, whom we presume will look cute in flippers and a wetsuit. Mamma Mia! stops at the Auditorium Theatre Sept. 17-28.
Our director friend Patrizia Acerra makes her operatic debut Aug. 3-7 staging Bizet’s Djamileh at the Chicago Cultural Center. A little-known gem, it’s a delightful one-act romance set in a fictional Egyptian court. Acerra was able to stage it among the glories of Preston Bradley Hall, with its beautiful mosaics and newly-restore Tiffany stained glass dome. She worked with professional soloists and the New Millennium Orchestra of Chicago under the direction of Francesco Milioto. Each summer, the Cultural Center produces one opera for a short run, and the free tickets go in a flash.