Pivoting online
The Pivot Arts Festival, the free annual celebration of adventurous, multidisciplinary performance, moves online June 5-11 with content available to stream through June 30. The festival opens with a cocktail event and a dance party with artists from “The Rosina Project,” a collaboration between Chicago Fringe Opera and BraveSoul Movement. The roster also includes “In the Wurkz” by The Era Footwork Crew, “Resilience Reimagined” by Red Clay Dance Company, “The Long Term” by Prison and Neighborhood Arts Project, “Superfluxus” by Seth Bockley and Drew Paryzer, and short video performances by artists in quarantine including solo performers David Cale and multi-genre artists Aaliyah Christina, Irene Hsiao, Olivia Lilley, Corey Smith, Darling Squire, Sister Sylvester and Anna Martine Whitehead. Also featured are three short dance films and “Alpharaoh,” a documentary film about Alex Alpharaoh’s tour of “Wet: A DACAmented Journey.” For days, times and links to the performances, visit pivotarts.org/festival
Adventures in Paris
TimeLine Theatre streams its wonderful production of William Brown and Doug Frew’s “To Master the Art,” which recalls the adventure and romance of a blossoming chef, Julia Child, and her husband Paul Child, an American intelligence officer, as they embark on a journey of discovery in 1950s Paris. Karen Janes Woditsch and Craig Spidle offer perfect portrayals of the couple. Streams through June 7; tickets are $15, $25. Visit timelinetheatre.com.
Singing the blues
The Millennium Park at Home free music series continues with online performances saluting what would have been the 37th Chicago Blues Fest. Radio personality and blues aficionado Tom Marker hosts three evenings of music featuring Mike Wheeler and Guy King (June 5), Melody Angel and John Primer (June 6) and Ivy Ford and Toronzo Cannon (June 7). Performances stream at 7:30 p.m. nightly at facebook.com/millenniumparkchicago.
Nature walk
The Morton Arboretum reopened to members on June 1 with a planned opening to the general public on June 15. Some changes have been put in place: Visitors are asked to wear facemasks when within six feet of others not in their party, and all buildings and indoor restrooms are closed until further notice. Daniel Popper’s new art installation, “Human+Nature,” has been rescheduled to April 2021. However, the popular “Troll Hunt” exhibit will remain through early next year. Advance reservations are required for timed-entry passes. The Morton Arboretum is at 4100 Illinois Rt. 53, Lisle. Admission, $7-$15, includes parking. Visit mortonarb.org.
Intimate conversations
The Music Institute of Chicago streams “Indoor Voices,” a free music series. First up is a conversation with Lady Valerie Solti, wife of the late maestro Sir Georg Solti and co-founder of the Solti Foundation US (June 5), followed by performances and conversations with jazz vocalist Tammy McCann and jazz vibraphonist/composer Joe Locke (June 12), violist Matthew Lipman (June 19) and pianist Abraham Stokman (June 26). Stream Fridays at 7:30 p.m. at musicinst.org/nch.
Barbra’s basement
Pride Films & Plays’ live online reading series, “Pride in Place,” continues with Jonathan Tolins’ “Buyer & Cellar.” The wickedly funny solo show stars Scott Gryder as a struggling actor who takes a job managing a make-believe shopping mall in the basement of Barbra Streisand’s Malibu home. Jeff Award nominee Gryder starred in PF&P’s 2019 production of the play. Stream at 7 p.m. June 4. For tickets ($10) go to pridefilmsandplays.com
Dancing in place
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago concludes its virtual season with “(stay)Inside/Out,” an evening of original choreography by company dancers. The annual event offers an opportunity for the dancers to experiment with all aspects of creating a work and, this year, adapting it to their individual stay-at-home environments. Also included are conversations with company artists. The free performance streams at 6:30 p.m. June 5 at hubbardstreetdance.com.
Studio talk
Step into designer Joe Freshgoods’ studio to hear about his creative process, his passion for Chicago and his philosophy on storytelling and streetwear. The virtual visit celebrates the launch of his second capsule collection for the Museum of Contemporary Art and is moderated by curator Michael Darling. Streams free at noon June 9. Visit mcachicago.org.
Mary Houlihan is a Chicago freelance writer.
