Charles E. Gerber broke into TV in the 70s on a Jewish kids’ show, but his career as a singer, actor, and teacher continues ...

Marcus Gardley's Lorca-inspired story of free Black women facing an uncertain future in 1830s New Orleans returns at Invictus.

Chicago became a hub for beer brewing in the 19th century. By 1900, the city had around 60 breweries, thanks to an influx of German and Irish immigrants who brought with them lighter, more carbonated ...

Topher Payne's 2013 dark comedy Angry Fags, updated for our current authoritarian age, returns at Ghostlight Ensemble.

Steven Levenson's Days of Rage traces the relationships among friends and would-be revolutionaries in the late 60s ...

The Moviegoer is the diary of a local film buff, collecting the best of what Chicago’s independent and underground film scene ...

When the weather is fine, especially during Chicago summertimes, Medley’s semi-secret patio is a sanctuary to enjoy a meal ...

Bylines labeled “Chicago Reader Staff” are used for features that contain nonwritten, nonreported information like listings, ...

Torn Light Records reopens after a month of mopping up, Public Works sells a “Fuck ICE” T-shirt to benefit immigrant groups, and more.

Even after the passage of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, local officials and everyday people resisted the legalized abductions of men, women, and children who had escaped slavery ...

Long-running Chicago shows provide opportunities for artists and audiences to imbibe—but there's an art to keeping it from going too far.

Life-affirming, love-affirming, and deeply, beautifully joyful—we need such antidotes to remind us of the magic that remains with us in small and large acts of generosity. The Reader is free.