Currently Browsing: Arts: Performing Arts
Join us in celebrating the 46th anniversary of Márta Mészáros’ emotional drama, Adoption! Her movie broke new ground for feminist filmmaking by exploring the act of motherhood in a strikingly unconventional way in 1975. It tells the story of a woman factory worker, Kata, who—in her 40s—wants to adopt a neglected child.… read more.
FF2 Guest post by Megan Hennessey
Before the pandemic, I struggled to find American theaters that recorded their productions and made them available online. I wanted to watch plays coming out of New York, Chicago, or Los Angeles without having to book a plane ticket and hotel room. (While I am aware of BroadwayHD, a streaming service that brings Broadway productions to you with the ease of your latest Netflix movie, I haven’t explored it further.… read more.
On the five-year anniversary of Queen of Katwe, we celebrate filmmaker Mira Nair!
This biographical drama is perfect for fans who loved The Queen’s Gambit, as it centers on a young girl who wants to become a chess master. Her name is Phiona Mutesi, and she lives in Katwe, the capital of Uganda. In real life, Phiona represented Uganda at four Women’s Chess Olympiads and is one of the first titled female players in Ugandan chess history.… read more.
American pianist and composer Amy Beach (née Cheney) was born September 5th, 1867 in New Hampshire. From the very beginning of her life, she was different from other babies. Supposedly, by the age of one, she had memorized forty songs, and by two, she was able to harmonize the lullabies her mother sang to her to send her to sleep.… read more.
By Elisa Shoenberger
Thanks to the enormous success of Hamilton on Broadway and beyond, historical musicals are having their moment in the limelight.
Now Chicago is making its own contribution with Saint Jane and the Wicked Wicks which just opened on August 26th. It’s a musical play interweaving the life stories of Jane Addams (social work pioneer and founder of Chicago’s Hull House) and Nellie Wicks (the great-grandmother of Kristin Lems who serves in the multiple roles of Playwright, Composer, Lyricist, and Producer).… read more.
Today is the 90th anniversary of Leontine Sagan’s Mädchen in Uniform! The revolutionary German film premiered in 1931 and remains one of the most strikingly feminist movies to this day. It follows a young girl sent to an all-girls boarding school who develops a romantic attachment to her teacher. It is based on a play by Christa Winsloe titled Yesterday and Today.… read more.