Mary Houlihan

1 week ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Mary Houlihan

Lili-Anne Brown directs “The Color Purple,” the musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s novel about a young woman’s journey to personal awakening. Leading the large cast are Brittney Mack as Celie, Aeriel Williams as Shug Avery, Evan Tyrone Martin as Mister and Nicole Michelle Haskins as Sofia. Book by Marsha Norman with music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. From June 21-July 27 at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn. Tickets: $33-$143. Visit goodmantheatre.org.

2 weeks ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Mary Houlihan

Invictus Theatre takes on the challenge of staging “Angels in America,” Tony Kushner’s monumental two-part play that examines the social, sexual and religious issues facing the country as the AIDS crisis gained momentum in the 1980s. A single cast performs both parts — “Millennium Approaches” and “Perestroika” — in repertory. Charles Askenaizer directs. June 13-Sept. 7 at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park. Tickets: $25, $38. Visit invictustheatreco.com.

3 weeks ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Mary Houlihan

About eight years ago, British musical theater writer Jack Godfrey was trolling the internet looking for inspiration when he came across the unbelievable true story of Larry Walters and his homemade flying machine that in 1982 resulted in a 45-minute flight that made headlines. “I was thinking about living with a dream and pursuing a dream which was something quite important to me at the time,” Godfrey says.

3 weeks ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Mary Houlihan

Chicago Blues Festival, touted as the largest blues fest in the world, features headliners Mavis Staples, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and a B.B. King Centennial Tribute with Ingram, D.K Harrell and Jonathan Ellison. From June 5-8 at Millennium Park, Michigan and Randolph; Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted; and Maxwell Street between Halsted and Union. Admission is free. For a complete schedule, visit chicagobluesfestival.us.

1 month ago | chicago.suntimes.com | Mary Houlihan

Things to Do in Chicago May 29-June 4: The Mix The Weeknd at Soldier Field, “Tina – The Tina Turner Musical” at Cadillac Palace Theatre and Do Division in West Town are among the highlights in the week ahead. Things to Do in Chicago May 22-28: The Mix “42 Balloons” at Chicago Shakespeare, the Sueños Music Festival in Grant Park and the 40th Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest are among the highlights in the week ahead.