Posted on March 14, 2018

Spring has (kind of) sprung and it’s blooming with culture! Lincoln Park is full of comedy, theater, music, film, and so much more! Check out this guide of exciting cultural events happening around our neighborhood this spring.

Comedy

iO Theater
1501 N. Kingsbury
For over three decades, the iO has been serving up some of the best laughs in Chicago. Spread out over 4 theaters and filled with dozens of shows, there’s sure to be something to get everyone laughing. This spring, their calendar is booked tight with multiple shows a day, including 3Peat, The Scene, and Whirled News Tonight. Check them out!
View full event calendar here.

The Second City
1616 N. Wells
When you think of Chicago and comedy, you probably think of Second City! This spring, Second City is keeping pace with a full and exciting schedule of shows, including Dream Freaks Fall From Space, TRAINWRECK, and Spring Fling. With comedy shows seven nights a week, you can laugh your way to summer with Second City!
View full event calendar here.

Zanies Comedy Club
1548 N. Wells
This spring, Zanies has a jam-packed schedule, filled with nationally-recognized comedic headliners every week. These headliners include Ronny Chieng, Ms. Pat, and Larry Reeb. Get ready to laugh those winter blues away.
View full event calendar here.

Film

ArcLight Cinemas
1500 N. Clybourn
This spring, ArcLight Cinemas will be showing unique and classic movies that you won’t catch in theaters anywhere else. Here are a few of these films:

Badlands
Originally released in 1975 and based on the Starweather-Fugate killing spree of 1958, Badlands follows a fifteen-year-old girl and her twenty-five-year-old boyfriend who slaughtered her entire family and several others in Dakota badlands.

The Blues Brothers
Expanding on their Saturday Night Live characters, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd star as Jake and Elwood Blues, two white boys with soul. Re-enjoy this 1980s classic and remember why you loved their shenanigans in the first place.

Christine
A nerd-ish boy buys a strange car with an evil mind of its own and his nature starts to change to reflect it.

Full movie listings here.

Museums

Chicago History Museum
1601 N. Clark
The Chicago History Museum boasts some of the most intricate and remarkable exhibitions in the world. With a rotating selection of carefully-curated exhibits, there’s sure to be something new to discover each time you visit.

Race: Are We So Different?
Race is the first national exhibition to tell the stories of race from the biological, cultural, and historical points of view. Combining these perspectives offers an unprecedented look at race and racism in the United States. Will our differences bring us together or divide us even more?
Now until July 15

Amplified: Chicago Blues
Southern black migrants brought the blues to Chicago, forging new connections and making the city home along the way. Immerse yourself in the Chicago scene of the 1960s, and experience the blues by playing guitar, designing an album cover, writing lyrics, and singing karaoke.
Opens on April 7

View of the full schedule of exhibitions here.

Music

DePaul School of Music
Throughout the year, the DePaul School of Music has a busy calendar of concerts and events- from jazz, orchestra, piano, world music, and more. This spring is no exception! Most events are free and open to the public. Some exciting upcoming events include Electric DePaul and the School of Music Spring Gala Concert.
Full list of events and concerts here.

Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N. Lincoln
The Old Town School of Folk Music teaches and celebrates music and cultural expression. Its Lincoln Park facilities hold hundreds of classes and workshops in music, dance, and visual arts, and host a number of concerts showcasing talented musicians. Examples include The Salaam-Shalom Music Project, which bridges music from the Middle East, Asia, and Jewish culture, and the NIU Steelband, which brings the steelpan to America.
Full list of events and concerts here.

Nature

Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N. Clark
What’s going on at the Zoo this spring? New animal arrivals and fun events for the whole family! Check out the new Plains Zebras, Snowy Owlets, Crowned Lemurs, and more. While you’re there, participate in one of their special events, like Fitness at the Zoo, Chicago Wine Fest, and LEAP: Learn, Explore, and Play.
Full event calendar here.

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon
Take a walk on the wild side at the Nature Museum and experience all of the engaging programs they have to offer. For adults, check out their Butterfly Haven Yoga. For those with little ones, show your adventurous youngsters the worlds of birds, butterflies, crawling critters, and more!
Full event calendar here.

Theatre

Apollo Theatre
2450 N. Lincoln

Knuffle Bunny
This Emerald City Theatre production is hosted at the Apollo! Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical follows a desperate dad, a merry mom, and toddler Trixie after she loses her beloved to rabbit at the laundromat. Join the hunt for the dearest stuffed an animal, and learn about the importance of communication along the way.
March 24- May 26
Tickets and showtimes here.

Greenhouse Theater Center
2257 N. Lincoln

Birds of a Feather
Roy and Silo are your typical gay American dads with one noticeable exception: they’re penguins! Join them in their quest to adopt an egg and raise their baby penguin Tango. Based on the true story that became one of the most banned books in the US, Birds of a Feather will delight you and surprise you.
April 27-June 17
Tickets and showtimes here.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company
1650 N. Halsted

The Doppelgänger
The Doppelgänger is a hilarious farce that exposes the personal greed behind first-world exploitation and takes a look at the back-room deals that shape our world. You’ll be left wondering: whose side am I supposed to be on?
April 5-May 27
Tickets and showtimes here.

Remy Bumppo Theatre
3717 N. Ravenswood

Hang
Three people. One room. One woman’s devastating decision in the balance. Join Remy Bumppo Theatre for the U.S. premier of hang, Debbie Tucker Green’s darkly humorous and poetic hit from London’s Royal Court.
March 21-April 29
Tickets and showtimes here.

The Theatre School at DePaul University
350 N. Racine

Three Sisters
The Prozorov sisters dream of returning to Moscow, but are unable to wake to their provincial reality. Each sister questions her own place in the world after the arrival of members of the Russian military. Olga, Masha, Irina, and their brother Andrey search for meaning in Chekhov’s tragicomic masterpiece about broken dreams, inertia, and missed opportunities.
April 11 – 22
Tickets and showtimes here.

The Cat in the Hat
Sally and her brother are bored on a rainy day, when the Cat in the Hat appears with tricks and things and games to play. Their day is filled with mischief and imagination despite protests from their fish. That is, until their mom returns home. Join us for Dr. Seuss’ classic children’s story that illustrates boredom is truly just a state of mind. Recommended for ages 4 and up.
April 19 – May 26
Tickets and showtimes here.

Victory Gardens Theater
2433 N. Lincoln

Lettie
After serving seven years in prison, Lettie is released and struggles to make a fresh start. This fresh start includes starting a new welding job and attempting to reconnect with her children. Trying again and again to create a non-criminal life, Lettie must make difficult choices to protect her future.
April 6- May 6
Tickets and showtimes here.

 

Can February March? No, but April May.