Now in its 17th year, the Chicago Humanities Festival is running strong, presenting 16 days’ worth of fall programming featuring world-renowned thinkers–authors, policy-makers, artists, scholars, poets and others. This year’s theme is “Peace and War: Facing Human Conflict” and the fest’s goal is to explore conflict’s history, current application and future through the artful, learned lens of the humanities. Some of this year’s programs have already sold out, but there’s still time to snap up tickets to great events.
CHICAGO LATINO COMPOSERS SERIES: PEACE AND WAR
3-4:30 p.m. Sun.; free. Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall, 78 E. Washington St.; 312-744-6630. This related program is part of the ongoing Sunday Salon Series, and they’ve embraced the Humanities Festival theme for this event to create a special program showcasing the work of seven local composers, poets and members of the Chicago Civic Orchestra.
‘BEOWULF’
3:30-4:30 p.m. Nov. 5, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Nov. 6; $5. Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.; chfestival.org. This classic work is brought to vivid color by the Metro Theater Company’s revival. Expect plenty of physical showmanship, percussion and a dynamic set to aid in the retelling of this epic that focuses on themes such as bravery, heroism and war. Recommended for ages 10 and up.
FACETS FILM SERIES
Various times and dates Mon.-Nov. 10; $5 per screening. Facets Cinematheque, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave.; 773-281-4114. More than two dozen films dealing with peace and war, handpicked by Facets Multi-Media film program director Charles Coleman, are hitting the big screen in honor of the festival. Featured titles include Akira Kurosawa’s Cannes Film Festival Best Film winner “Kagemusha” (1980; in Japanese with English subtitles), David O. Russell’s “Three Kings” (1999), Stanley Kubrick’s “Full Metal Jacket” (1987) and Gillo Pontecorvo’s Venice Film Fest Best Film winner “Battle of Algiers” (1966; in French and Arabic with English subtitles).
CURIODYSSEY
Two gala options: 6 p.m. cocktails, 7 p.m. performance and 8:15 p.m. dinner; or 7 p.m. cock-tails, 8:15 p.m. dinner and 10 p.m. performance (performance-only tickets are for 10 p.m.); $500 benefit gala, $25 performance only. The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive; R.S.V.P. to 312-661-1028, ext. 18. Curious odyssey, indeed. The details about this “evening of spectacle and wonder” are being kept extremely hush-hush. All we know is that the organizers promise an extraordinary event, and that they recommend attendees bring their cell phones along. For those interested in the pre-show gala benefit dinner, expect complimentary valet parking, a cocktail reception, a fest-related silent auction and dinner before the evening’s performance. Attire is business formal.
Various times, dates and locations, Sat.-Nov. 12; $5-$10 per program, some fees may vary. 312-494-9509, see chfestival.org for complete schedule and updates.
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Compiled by Fauzia Arain
