The Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts at Northwestern University is turning up the heat this winter with a dynamic lineup of plays, musicals and dance performances. Running through February and March on the Evanston campus, these productions promise to captivate and inspire.
The mainstage winter season kicks off on Feb. 7 with Tina Howe's acclaimed comedy "Museum," an absurdist exploration of art and humanity that's both sharp and entertaining. The Chicago premiere of Gabriel Kahane's "February House" begins Feb. 21. This compelling new musical, set in a bohemian Brooklyn boarding house during World War II, dives into the creative passions and tangled relationships of its artistic residents. Closing the winter season on March 14 is "DanceWorks 2025: signal::transfer," a boundary-pushing dance production that transcends boundaries of time and space.
For tickets and details, visit the Wirtz Center website, stop by the Wirtz Center Box Office in the lobby of the Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Drive on Northwestern's Evanston campus, or call 847-491-7282.
Full mainstage winter season schedule below:
"Museum"
By Tina Howe
Directed by Kathryn Walsh
Feb. 7 - 16*
Josephine Louis Theater, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston
"Museum" takes place in a contemporary art museum and revolves around the interactions between a variety of eccentric characters. These include staff and an array of visitors, each of whom brings their own unique perspective on the artwork and the experience of being in the museum. The narrative unfolds through a series of fragmented, often absurd scenes that capture the disconnect between individuals and their environments, as well as the absurdities of modern culture. Through its quirky, episodic structure and its blend of satire and surrealism, "Museum" critiques the art world, modern life and the sometimes meaningless rituals people perform in relation to both.
*There are two ASL Interpreted performances on Feb. 9 & 13
"February House"
Music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane
Story by Seth Bockley
Directed Seth Roseman
Feb. 21 - March 2
Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston
A Chicago theater premiere, "February House" transforms a dilapidated Brooklyn boarding house (everyone living in the house had a February birthday, hence the name) into a bohemian commune during the early days of World War II.
Flamboyant fiction editor George Davis brings together poet W. H. Auden, novelist Carson McCullers, composer Benjamin Britten and burlesque darling Gypsy Rose Lee to live in a communal utopian experiment. The musical explores how these remarkable residents create a makeshift family, searching for love, inspiration and refuge from the looming war in Europe. Though the house itself was far from ideal - with plumbing issues, no door locks and occasional theft by sailors from the nearby Navy Yard - it became a symbol of risk and artistic experimentation. Despite its challenges, the close-knit community at February House thrived creatively, becoming an intense, sometimes chaotic, but deeply inspiring environment for its residents. "February House" is based on the biography by Sherill Tippins.
"DanceWorks 2025: signal::transfer"
Artistic Director Thomas F. DeFrantz
March 14 - 16
Josephine Louis Theater, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston
DanceWorks 2025 is an evening of dance featuring three original movements, choreographed by visiting artists. This year's concert features:
- "Don't Go There…" by Joe Bowie
Immerse yourself in the raw, emotional narratives of ballet class experiences. This piece explores the language of ballet that shapes and sometimes scars, offering a reflection on the art form.
- "The City of Others" by Sankofa Danzafro
Be captivated by the vibrant fusion of dance, singing and drumming in the restaging of Rafael Palacios' iconic work.
- "at the end" by Al Evangelista
Step into the future with this piece that navigates the delicate balance between help and harm in our digital age. Featuring augmented reality, this work offers a personalized experience that could make viewers rethink the implications of technology and surveillance.
