Studio5 Hosts Dance, Jazz and WTTW’S Jay Shefsky this Fall!

This fall, Studio5 is pleased to present a wide range of extraordinary entertainment, including several world premiere dance performances, legendary jazz performers, as well as an intimate evening with WTTW’s own Jay Shefsky. It’s a fall line-up that has something for everyone!

If you are a fan of modern dance with a message, you’ll love the performances by Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre and the Houston-based dance company Open Dance Project. On Sept. 27 and 28 Cerqua Rivera presents the world premiere of their celebrated work, “American Catracho,” a piece about immigration that has been three years in the making and has been called a “tour de force” by Chicago Magazine.

Then on Nov. 1 and 2, get ready for a new kind of dance experience when Open Dance Project presents their new work, “Panopticon.” In this unusual performance, the audience doesn’t sit on chairs; instead, the dancers surround the audience, making them feel as if they are immersed in another world. This particular show is set in the year 2151 in a world where citizens are constantly being watched and deep, human connection is forbidden. Created by former Evanston choreographer Annie Arnoult (Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch in 2018”), this piece is sure to enthrall.

Studio5 is also presenting a cornucopia of jazz events this season from The Chicago Cellar Boys, who specialize in the jazz from the 1920s and 30s (eg. Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong), to Polish jazz singer Grazyna Auguscik and pianist Ben Lewis, who will be doing a contemporary take on Frederic Chopin. And, of course, Studio5 will be welcoming back lots of Chicago fan favorites including Paul Marinaro, Alyssa Allgood, Megon McDonough, Don Stiernberg and more.

And finally, on Oct. 26, Studio5 is excited to invite audiences to an intimate evening with Emmy winner Jay Shefsky, host of WTTW’s long-running program “Jay’s Chicago,” as he shares stories and video segments he has gathered over the years covering the fascinating people in our own neighborhoods. If you love Chicago and all of its quirks, it’s an evening you won’t want to miss!

Advanced tickets are now on sale for the fall shows at http://studio5.dance/.

Studio5

Where: 1934 Dempster St., Evanston, IL 60202

Info: 847-328-6683 or http://studio5.dance/

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sept. 6 – The Bobby Lewis Quintet
8 p.m.
Legendary trumpeter Bobby Lewis has played with some of the greatest jazz musicians of all time including Curtis Mayfield, Natalie Cole, Ramsey Lewis, Gladys Knight, and Peggy Lee. At 83 years old, Lewis has had an amazing career being part of more than 7,500 recording sessions and recording more than a dozen of his own CDs. Join us for an evening of outstanding music and fascinating stories from Lewis’s legendary career. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Sept. 13 – Bobby Broom
8 p.m.
Well-known jazz guitarist Bobby Broom has been performing since he was a teenager, playing with everyone from Al Haig and Sonny Rollins to Miles Davis, Stanley Turrentine, Dizzy Gillespie, Dr. John, and Charles Earland. His newest recording, Soul Fingers, produced by legendary drummer Steve Jordan, is drawn from Broom’s favorite songs of his childhood in the 1960s and ’70s. The album runs the gamut from The Beatles and Procul Harum to Bobbie Gentry and Motown. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Sept. 14 – Do Tell! A Storytelling Event to Benefit the Evanston Dance Ensemble
8 p.m.
Join us for an evening of storytelling, where the performers tell true stories that are full of laughs, sighs, and surprises. Hosted by two-time Moth Slam winner Scott Whitehair, the event will feature storytellers ranging in experience from first-timers to long-time professionals. Proceeds will benefit the Evanston Dance Ensemble.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Sept. 20 – Megon McDonough and Fred Simon
8 p.m.
Nationally known singer Megon McDonough, who is equally comfortable singing pop, folk and jazz, teams up with legendary jazz pianist Fred Simon for a night of music by Burt Bacharach. They'll be doing songs like "Alfie," "A House Is Not A Home," "The Windows Of The World" and more. And then in the second half of the show, they'll be doing some of their original songs, as well as some surprise covers. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Sept. 27 – Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater Program A: American Catracho
8 p.m.
In the first of two different performances at Studio5, Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater is proud to present the world premiere of “American Catracho,” their lauded exploration of immigration. This piece has been in development for the past three years as the company debuted various sections of it, and this is the first time that the entire suite will be performed together. An emotional, lyrical, engrossing piece, it has been called a “tour de force” (Chicago Magazine) and “easily [Wilfredo’s] most promising work” (Chicago Tribune).
Tickets: $30 in advance, $35 at the door; students and seniors 65+ $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Sept. 28 – Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater Program B: Root & Place Between Earth and Sky
8 p.m.
In the second of Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater’s performances, the company will perform two world premieres: “Root” and “Place Between Earth and Sky.” “Root” explores a modern African American experience with African movement and rhythms. “Place Between Earth and Sky,” by choreographer Shannon Alvis and Grammy nominated composer Clarice Assad, is inspired by Alvis’s family heritage and Native American myth. Internationally renowned composer Assad weaves a lyrical, evocative soundtrack you won't want to miss.
Tickets: $30 in advance, $35 at the door; students and seniors 65+ $25 in advance, $30 at the door

Oct. 4 – Reggie Thomas Trio
8 p.m.
Jazz pianist Reggie Thomas is coordinator of the internationally recognized Northern Illinois University School of Music’s Jazz Studies program and has performed internationally in Canada, Italy, Poland, Senegal and England. His recordings include work with Clay Jenkins, Kim Richmond, Clark Terry, and Mike Vax, and he is a co-author of the book Teaching Music through Performance in Jazz. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $20 general admission, $25 cabaret seating

Oct. 11 – Paul Marinaro Quintet
8 p.m.
Vocalist Paul Marinaro, dubbed as having “one of the most beautiful vocal instruments in the business today” by Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune, has an infectious passion for any material he performs, and always brings a fresh interpretation to anything he tackles. See him perform with Tom Vaitsas (piano), Mike Allemana (guitar), John Tate (bass), and Gregory Artry (drums). This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Oct. 18 – Grazyna Auguscik & Ben Lewis
8 p.m.
Polish jazz singer Grazyna Auguscik, who explores experimental and genre-bending jazz, has teamed up with pianist Ben Lewis, to create a contemporary take on Frederic Chopin, Poland’s poetic romantic composer of mazurkas, sonatas, waltzes, nocturnes and ballades. You won’t want to miss this extraordinary, beautiful music. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Oct. 25 – Chris Madsen’s Kings of the Lobby
8 p.m.
Kings of the Lobby, founded in 2015 by saxophonist Chris Madsen, plays his arrangements of pop/rock/R&B songs from the 70s through the 90s. The band combines elements of jazz and funk to reinterpret this classic repertoire and highlight Madsen's unique arranging style. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Oct. 26 – WTTW’s Jay Shefsky: Stories of Life in Chicago
8 p.m.
Spend an evening with Emmy award winner Jay Shefsky, host of WTTW’s long-running program “Jay’s Chicago” and Senior Producer of “Chicago Tonight,” as he shares stories and video segments he has gathered over the years covering the fascinating people in our own neighborhoods.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Nov. 1 – Open Dance Project: Panopticon
7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Open Dance Project is a Houston-based dance company founded by choreographer Annie Arnoult, a former Evanston resident who was recently named as Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch in 2018.” “Panopticon” is their newest piece, an hour-long immersive production where the audience doesn’t sit on chairs, but instead stands in the space while the dance is performed around them. Set in the year 2151, in a world where “citizens” are constantly being watched, “Panopticon” follows two would-be lovers struggling with their desire for physical and emotional intimacy in a world where deep, human connection is forbidden.
Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 at the door; students and seniors 65+ $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Nov. 2 – Open Dance Project: Panopticon
7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Open Dance Project is a Houston-based dance company founded by choreographer Annie Arnoult, a former Evanston resident who was recently named as Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch in 2018.” “Panopticon” is their newest piece, an hour-long immersive production where the audience doesn’t sit on chairs, but instead stands in the space while the dance is performed around them. Set in the year 2151, in a world where “citizens” are constantly being watched, “Panopticon” follows two would-be lovers struggling with their desire for physical and emotional intimacy in a world where deep, human connection is forbidden.
Tickets: $35 in advance, $40 at the door; students and seniors 65+ $25 in advance, $30 at the door.

Nov. 8 – Alyssa Allgood Quartet
8 p.m.
Alyssa Allgood is poised, musically mature jazz singer who was the winner of the Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Competition. She’s returning to Studio5 with a new band featuring Mike Allemana (guitar), Dennis Carroll (bass), and George Fludas (drums). This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Nov. 15 – Steve Rashid
8 p.m.
Studio5’s own artistic director takes a turn on the Studio5 stage presenting an evening of his own music. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Nov. 22 – Evanston Dance Ensemble: Young Choreographers Project
7:30 p.m.
See members of the Evanston Dance Ensemble perform works created by the dancers themselves. The program will also feature a full company dance created by Randy Duncan, a three-time recipient of the Ruth Page Award for Outstanding Choreography.
Tickets: $18, $12 for students and seniors 65+

Nov. 23 – Evanston Dance Ensemble: Young Choreographers Project
4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
See members of the Evanston Dance Ensemble perform works created by the dancers themselves. The program will also feature a full company dance created by Randy Duncan, a three-time recipient of the Ruth Page Award for Outstanding Choreography.
Tickets: $18, $12 for students and seniors 65+

Nov. 24 – Evanston Dance Ensemble: Young Choreographers Project
4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
See members of the Evanston Dance Ensemble perform works created by the dancers themselves. The program will also feature a full company dance created by Randy Duncan, a three-time recipient of the Ruth Page Award for Outstanding Choreography.
Tickets: $18, $12 for students and seniors 65+

Dec. 6 – Jeremy Kahn Quartet
8 p.m.
Jazz pianist Jeremy Kahn teams up with Jim Gailloreto (saxophone), Larry Kohut (bass), and Eric Montzka (drums) to perform the entire album of Most of a Nickel, a reimagining of Kurt Weill’s songs from The Threepenny Opera (including “Mack The Knife”). This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Dec. 7 – Larry Schanker & Silent Films
8 p.m.
Brilliant composer/pianist and Chicago theater music legend Larry Schanker returns to Studio5 to provide live, improvised accompaniment to an evening of classic silent films shown on our beautiful projection system. You’ll be amazed as he improvises a complete score as he watches the film.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Dec. 13 – Don Stiernberg Quartet
8 p.m.
Known worldwide as a master of the jazz mandolin, Don Stiernberg and his band always perform tuneful and entertaining concerts filled with swinging jazz and dry humor. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Dec. 20 – The Chicago Cellar Boys
8 p.m.
Celebrate the holidays with Chicago’s premiere traditional jazz group! The Chicago Cellar Boys specialize in the jazz and hot dance music from the 1920s and 30s (eg. Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong) within stylistic accuracy and wild abandon. Hearing this group is like time-traveling and walking in on an early form of jazz as it was being invented. Their repertoire contains some recognizable pieces that are still played in other contexts, but many that were exclusively of the era and have otherwise been lost to history. This concert will be recorded live for Chicago Jazz Live on WDCB.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating

Dec. 21 – Tom Mula: A Reading of Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol
8 p.m.
Tom Mula performs a staged reading of his beautiful novel, Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol, which tells Dickens' famous tale from the perspective of Scrooge's former business partner. Tom's recording of his reading of the novel was broadcast on NPR nationally for six years and he has performed the story across the country (including here at the Goodman) as a one-man play, and has adapted it for the stage for larger ensembles. Enjoy an intimate reading of this inspiring, funny, deeply touching story.
Tickets: $20 for general seating, $25 for cabaret seating; students $15 for general seating, $20 for cabaret seating

About Studio5
Studio5 is a performing arts venue that opened in Evanston in 2016, bringing professional dance, music, and spoken word events to a 123-seat theater. Founded and curated by Dance Center Evanston director Béa Rashid and Emmy-award winning composer and jazz musician Steve Rashid, Studio5 provides North Shore arts-goers with a venue that is both state-of-the-art and intimate, connecting audiences and artists. Studio5 boasts great sight lines; comfortable seats; excellent sound; ample, free parking; and a cash bar that opens a half an hour before each performance.