DATE NIGHT: The World On A String: Harold Arlen Revue

This Tuesday we'll be attending the opening of a new musical revue right near our house (in the Edgewater neighborhood) City Lit Theatre company is producing the world premiere of a Harold Arlen song revue. The revue, entitled I've Got the World on a String: Harold Arlen's Songs of Love and Loss, features 23 of Arlen's most famous songs.

NOTE: This is the start of a new occasional feature on Dadapalooza, where I review and feature cultural events that would be perfect for Date Nights. A lot of the cultural reviewing I've been doing has been kid-friendly, but I've been wanting to review and bring to your attention great cultural and culinary opportunities for you and your spouse to re-connect as adults. This may be even MORE important than finding great cultural things for your kids! So drop the kid off with your in-laws, hire a babysitter, and let's get to DATE NIGHT! PS--If you've got an idea for a great date night in Chicago, let me know, and I'll check it out. Thanks for reading!

In case you were unaware, Harold Arlen was one of the most popular song composers of the 20nth century.  He wrote for Broadway, film (including The Wizard of Oz), vaudeville, and for musicians around the world.  Many of his songs are now jazz standards.


 I've been a fan of many of his songs for a long time!

Here are just a few of the songs that will be featured in the revue:

• Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive
• As Long as I Live 
• Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea 
• Down with Love 
• Fun to Be Fooled 
• I Love a Parade 
• If I Only Had a Brain 
• It's Only a Paper Moon
• I've Got the World on a String 
• Let's Fall in Love 
• Lydia the Tattooed Lady 
• Over the Rainbow
• Stormy Weather
• That Old Black Magic

Arlen wrote the music for all these songs, and collaborated with many top lyricists including Yip Harburg, Johnny Mercer, Ira Gershwin, and Ted Koehler.

The show, which is set in a Manhattan bar in the 1940's, features 3 men and 3 women (and 1 piano player, of course.)  It sounds like a great concept, and I'm looking forward to connecting with my wife in an adult way over these wonderful classic songs.

After you see the show, you'll definitely want to read more about Harold Arlen, and probably listen to him as well (or maybe even before you see the show!)

I highly recommend the following books and albums (available from Amazon):
(These are good places to start)


INFORMATION

DATES:  March 4- April 10, 2016
The show has a slightly complicated schedule:
    Tuesday, March 8 7:00 PM (OPENING)
    Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm
    Mondays March 21, 28 and April 4th at 7:30 pm
    Sundays at 3:00 pm  *No Show Sunday, March 27th*
    Final two performances April 9th and 10th will be at 5pm

WHERE: CityLit Theatre Company, 1020 W Bryn Mawr, Chicago, IL 60660
City Lit Theater is located on the second floor of the Edgewater Presbyterian Church at the corner of Bryn Mawr and Kenmore.

COST:  Tickets are $29 each, with discounts for Students, Military, and Seniors.

MORE INFO:  Call the box office 773-293-3682 or visit http://www.citylit.org