By Philip Vidal
I am very fortunate to have lived in Chicago all my life. In writing this article, I was overwhelmed thinking about all the upcoming events from abroad, and those on view right now, that make Chicago a truly international city.
Statue of Athena, Roman, first half of the first century CE, marble, height 74.5 in., Halsted A&A Foundation. Photo: Daniel Eggert (@DesigningDan).
A Roman sculpture in marble of the Greek goddess Athena from the early first century CE, whose home for the past 260+ years was in the Robert Adam-designed sculpture gallery of Newby Hall (a Christopher Wren-designed manor in Yorkshire), was acquired by Halsted A&A Foundation and is on extended view in the Tadao Ando-designed atrium of Wrightwood 659.
Concurrently, the Art Institute of Chicago hosts the first North American presentation of 58 ancient Roman sculptures from Italy’s famed Torlonia Collection that have not been publicly displayed in more than 70 years. The Art Institute presents “Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture” March 15-June 29. Beginning March 5, the Art Institute will add Wednesdays to their schedule of open days, offering greater opportunity to see “Myth and Marble,” and the museum’s other exhibitions and world-class collections.
Panafrica Days, organized by the Art Institute of Chicago, the Black Arts Consortium at Northwestern University, Chicago Humanities, and the Neubauer Collegium at University of Chicago, is a series of events across Chicago celebrating the artists, thinkers, and collaborators of Panafrica and runs March 5-8. One of the many events is a lecture on March 6 at the Art Institute given by the internationally renowned artist Wangechi Mutu who will talk about “Tree Woman,” her work featured in the Art Institute’s exhibition “Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica,” which closes March 30.
A one-of-a-kind exhibition embracing dynamic voices transforming African style, visit “Africa Fashion” at the Field Museum to discover works of designers and artists from 20 African countries. Photo by the Field Museum.
Discover how African designers are influencing global fashion at the “Africa Fashion” exhibition, organized by London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, which opened February 28 at the Field Museum.
Closing this month! It is your final chance to visit the “Chicago on the Nile: 100 Years of the Epigraphic Survey in Egypt” exhibition at the ISAC Museum before it closes on March 23. Photo Courtesy of The University of Chicago Institute For the Study of Ancient Cultures – West Asia & North Africa.
I was fortunate to have known the late Carlotta Maher who was a driving force at the Oriental Institute (now the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures or ISAC) and who spent many a winter at Chicago House in Luxor, Egypt. The special ISAC exhibition “Chicago on the Nile: 100 Years of the Epigraphic Survey in Egypt” closes March 23.
Despite Chicago’s international reputation for its architectural gems, not all have survived. Since 2003 Preservation Chicago has put together an annual list of architecturally significant buildings, neighborhoods, public spaces in Chicago under threat of demolition. Register for the free hybrid (in-person at the Chicago Architecture Center or online) 2025 Chicago 7 Most Endangered Announcement and Presentation on March 4. British architect Liam O’Connor is this year’s winner of the annual Richard H. Driehaus Prize at Notre Dame University for traditional architecture. The 2025 award ceremony is March 22 at the Murphy Auditorium. I live in a Mies van der Rohe-designed apartment building. The Mies Society will hold a Mies’ 139th Birthday Cocktail Party at the Arts Club of Chicago on March 19.
Bach in the city! Birthday celebrations are in order for Johann Sebastian Bach this month in “Bach and the Venetians” concert on March 21 at St. Vincent de Paul Church. Photo by Bach in the City.
March 21 marks Johann Sebastian Bach’s 340th birthday and the Bach in the City’s inaugural concert “Bach and the Venetians” at St. Vincent de Paul Church. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) brings internationally-acclaimed artists to Symphony Center. I’m particularly looking forward to two of the world’s most celebrated musicians perform on March 9, Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos and Daniil Trifonov, the brilliant Russian pianist and CSO artist-in-residence.
English and German blasts from my past are coming to Chicago this month. English rockers Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve perform March 11, 12, and 14 at Park West. German electronic band Kraftwerk brings their multi-media concert to the Auditorium Theatre on March 29, a stop on their North American tour celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of their “Autobahn“ album and their first U.S. tour. These concerts inspire me to dig out my Elvis Costello’s “This Year’s Model” (1978) and Kraftwerk’s “Autobahn” albums and give them a spin on the turntable.
Catch the North American premiere of “Sunny Afternoon: based on the music of the Kinks” at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, March 21-April 27. Photo by Jeff Sciortino.
The songs of the British rock band The Kinks are featured in the North American premiere of the musical “Sunny Afternoon: based on the music of the Kinks” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, March 21-April 27. Broadway in Chicago and Porchlight Music Theatre present the musical comedy “Titanique,” a satire with songs by the Québécoise Céline Dion, at Broadway in Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, March 25-May 18.
The world premiere of the bilingual musical “Go Dog Go! Ve Perro ¡Ve!” is fun for all ages! Get your tickets to see it at the Chicago Children’s Theatre, March 11-May 18. Photo credit joe mazza chicago brave lux inc.
Chicago Children’s Theatre presents an all-ages world premiere bilingual (English and Spanish) musical “Go Dog Go! Ve Perro ¡Ve!” March 11-May 18. Chicago Latino Theater Alliance and Chicago Shakespeare Theater bring Teatro la Plaza of Lima Peru’s re-imagined “Hamlet”(in Spanish with English subtitles) to Navy Pier, March 13-23. Jackalope Theatre Company presents the United States premiere of the 2024 Edinburgh Festival Fringe hit, Esho Rasho’s “Dummy in Diaspora,” at the Broadway Armory Park through March 23.
The film-to-live concert “Naruto: The Symphonic Experience” comes to the Auditorium Theatre on March 15. Naruto is the world’s most popular anime, Japanese animation, and one of the best-selling manga, Japanese printed comics and graphic novels. A live orchestra plays Naruto’s soundtrack while scenes from the series are shown on a huge screen. The first issue of the new comic book series “Godzilla vs. Chicago” hit the stands on February 26.
Alliance Française de Chicago hosts the Festival de la Francophonie 2025, a month long celebration with an incredible lineup of free public programs. Photo by Alliance Française de Chicago.
March is the official Mois de la Francophonie. Celebrate the world’s French-speaking cultures at the 23rd edition of the Alliance Française de Chicago’s Festival de la Francophonie with programs featuring dance, food, music and film screenings throughout the month.
Chicago’s Ragamala Dance Company brings a bit of India to the Harris Theater on March 21 and 22 with performances of “Children of Dharma.” The Four Seasons Hotel Chicago collaborates with Mexico City’s Handshake Speakeasy, the #1 bar on the World’s Fifty Best Bars list at the Mile High Cocktail Club, through March 31. The “Chicago Handshake” (Jeppson’s Malört and a beer) is the inspiration for their new cocktail with Chicago’s infamous bitter liqueur, Malört.
Celebrating 50 incredible years of great films and brave conversations! Photo courtesy of Facets Film Forum.
The 28th Chicago European Union Film Festival brings the best and latest films from the EU to the Gene Siskel Film Center, March 7-20. This year features films from Poland. The 19th edition of Asian Pop-Up Cinema runs March 20-April 13 at AMC Newcity14, the Alliance Française de Chicago, and the Leather Archives & Museum. FACETS is well-known for showing independent and foreign-language films, but if you’d like something very close to home without subtitles, FACETS kicks off their year-long “Chicago on Screen” series of screenings and conversations on March 14 with “The Fugitive” (1993), which was filmed in Chicago, stars Chicago native Harrison Ford and was directed by Chicago native Andrew Davis. FACETS Film Forum, formerly Facets Multimedia, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Congratulations!
Dates, times, locations and availability are subject to change.
