10 Can't-Miss Cultural Events In Chicago This Fall

With the new fall season comes a packed roster of must-see events. Here’s what not to miss.

Stephanie Jae Park as Eliza in the New York production of Hamilton

HAMILTON

SEPT. 13 - JAN. 28

Watch as history unfolds onstage with the beloved, revolutionary musical Hamilton. Making an anticipated return to Chicago after closing in 2020, the iconic production follows the rise of founding father Alexander Hamilton in a thrilling story of passion and unstoppable ambition that would shape the course of a nation. James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.

“House of Kapwa” by Andrea Yarbrough and Alexx Temeña was featured in a previous edition of the Chicago Architecture Biennial.

ELLSWORTH KELLY: PORTRAIT DRAWINGS

THROUGH OCT. 23

Get a peek at nearly 100 of renowned American artist Ellsworth Kelly’s rarely seen drawings, including his haunting “Self-Portrait, Normandy,” at the Art Institute of Chicago’s newest exhibition. As part of a yearlong Ellsworth Kelly Centennial, the exhibit honors the postwar artist’s enduring legacy. 111 S. Michigan Ave.

PICASSO: FIFTY YEARS LATER

SEPT. 9 - JAN. 7

As part of “Celebration Picasso 1973-2023,” a global movement showcasing the iconic works of Pablo Picasso 50 years after his death, The Elmhurst Art Museum presents an extensive three-part exhibition. The major show explores more than 20 works and the legacy of the artist, as well as his profound influence on his contemporaries. 150 S. Cottage Hill Ave., Elmhurst

Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, “Four Directions” (1995), on view in For One and All: Print from The Block’s Collection

THE LEHMAN TRILOGY

SEPT. 19 - OCT. 29

Told through the lens of the immigrant Lehman family, this three-part, Tony Award-winning play takes viewers on a thrilling journey depicting the crumbling of American financial institutions and how the family’s business triggered one of history’s largest financial crises. Broadway Playhouse, 175 E. Chestnut St.

FOR ONE AND ALL: PRINTS FROM THE BLOCK’S COLLECTION

SEPT. 20 - DEC. 3

In honor of the Block Museum’s 40th anniversary, a new exhibit showcases the museum’s foundations with a nod to its origins through more than 60 works by artists including Andy Warhol, Ed Paschke and Amy Sillman. “The focus on prints and printmaking in the exhibition and in the [Block’s] collection reinforces the museum’s ethos: free and open to all,” says Academic Curator Corinne Granof. “With a fairly small number of artworks, the exhibit is able to tell big stories about printmaking and how it has been foundational to visual culture for centuries.” 40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston

MUTI CONDUCTS THE FIREBIRD

SEPT. 21 - 26

World-renowned conductor Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra open the 2023/2024 season with Liadov’s The Enchanted Lake, Stravinsky’s Suite from The Firebird and Brahms’ Symphony No. 2. Each piece tells a different story, from a moonlit night to a haunting lullaby to a warm, sunny melody—adding up to one enchanting program. 220 S. Michigan Ave.

The Flying Dutchman is sure to open the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 69th season on a high note.

EURYDICE

SEPT. 21 - OCT. 22

The Writers Theatre’s season kicks off on an exciting note as newly appointed artistic director Braden Abraham makes his directorial debut with the captivating production, Eurydice. Written by Tony- and Pulitzer-nominated playwright Sarah Ruhl, the show spotlights Eurydice, who must make the life-or-death decision of staying with her father in the underworld or escaping with her husband. 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe

CHICAGO ARCHITECTURE BIENNIAL

SEPT. 21 - JAN. 2

The Chicago Architecture Biennial presents This is a Rehearsal, a citywide exhibition featuring more than 70 creative practitioners whose work spans art, architecture, design and performance. Under the artistic direction of Chicago-based collective Floating Museum, this year’s participants will explore how environmental, political and economic issues transcend borders, each addressed within various contexts.

THE FLYING DUTCHMAN

SEPT. 23 - OCT. 7

Starting off the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 69th season, Richard Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman tells the haunting story of the Dutchman, who comes to shore every seven years searching for a woman who will be faithful to him until death. 20 N. Wacker Drive, Ste. 860

Renowned Italian conductor Riccardo Muti and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra command the stage this season in Muti Conducts The Firebird.

PORT OF ENTRY

OCT. 6 - DEC. 16

Port of Entry, Albany Park Theater Project’s newest production in partnership with New York-based Third Rail Projects, tells the story of those who have settled in the northwest suburb over the past 100 years. “Albany Park is a notable example of the power of community and its ability to nurture those that are seeking refuge and comfort,” says Jennine Willett, the show’s co-director and co-artistic director of Third Rail Projects. Adds David Feiner, APTP co-executive director and of Port of Entry’s co-director, “[It’s] the most ambitious performance APTP has undertaken in its 26-year history…More than 150 artists, storytellers and craftspeople have invested their creativity and spirit in bringing it to life.” 3547 W. Montrose Ave.

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