Friday 8/16 – Thursday 8/22
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17 SATURDAY Perhaps the mayor should consider designating August 17 Drepung Gomang Monastery Day–the touring Tibetan Buddhist monks from that overcrowded and underfunded Indian monastery are participating in no fewer than three events today. At noon they’ll perform a ritual dismantling of a sand mandala–meant to symbolize the impermanence of the material world–that they’ve been working on since Tuesday at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington (312-744-6630); it’s free to watch. Then from 2 to 4 they’ll lead a chanting workshop at HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo (312-362-9707); the suggested donation for the session is $25. After a few hours off they’ll perform at 7:30 as part of “Voices Across Faith: An Evening of Music Celebrating the World’s Diverse Spiritual Traditions” at Unity in Chicago, 1925 W. Thome. They’ll be joined by a Sikh devotional singing group, the multifaith One Human Family Workshop Choir, local Sanskrit chanting group Devi 2000, cantor Deborah Bard, and poet-musician Richard Fammeree. The suggested donation is $15, and reservations are recommended; call 312-629-2990, ext. 13. For more on the monks go to www.gomang.org.
The Chicago Coalition Against U.S. Militarism was formed nine months before September 11 in response to what its members saw as America’s increased warmongering abroad and militarization at home. So far the group has sponsored a forum on U.S. actions in Korea, Puerto Rico, and Colombia, coordinated some International Women’s Day events, and started an offshoot project, the Anti-Boeing Coalition. Tonight’s fund-raiser includes music, dance, and poetry and also benefits the Palestinian Aid Society. It’s from 5 to 7:30 at HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo; tickets are $10 or pay what you can. For more information call 773-278-6706.
22 THURSDAY Redmoon Theater’s production, Nina, being performed in Humboldt Park, is the first of three different versions director Jim Lasko plans to stage of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull. Variants two and three will premiere next year at the Steppenwolf Studio Theatre in the spring and at another outdoor venue in the summer; a spokesperson promises the latter will be “bigger than any other outdoor performance we’ve ever done.” In addition to the company’s usual emphasis on spectacle, this production has characters that actually interact and speak lines of Chekhov’s dialogue. The show opened August 9; tonight’s performance is at 7 in front of the recently restored Humboldt Park boathouse, 1351 N. Sacramento. (In case of rain, tickets will be honored at another performance; the show runs Thursday through Sunday until August 25.) Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. For reservations call 773-388-9031.
