Venue Fri Mar 21 2008
HotHouse Reborn in the Viaduct Theater
Like a phoenix emerging from the ashes, The Hothouse has risen again. The venue announced today that it's returning in April with a month of shows at the Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western. Exciting news for fans of world and avant garde music, but the fact that it's only a month worth of programming probably means the venue is not out of the woods yet.
Read the full news release after the jump.
HotHouse Re-Opens in Partnership with the Viaduct TheaterHotter Than Ever! HotHouse@Viaduct
Music organization re-opens after 8-month hiatus. With partnership between 2 organizations, music and theater will be presented.
(March 21, 2008) – HotHouse/The Center for International Performance and Exhibition ("HotHouse") announced today that it is re-opening after an 8-month hiatus. HotHouse and the Viaduct Theater announced today that the 2 organizations have joined in a unique partnership to offer music and theater to Chicago audiences. Throughout the month of April, performances will take place at the Viaduct Theater. The first performance on April 5 invites all HotHouse members, free of charge.
Both organizations are not-for-profits, share similar values regarding the arts and the value of progressive programming, as well as providing access to underserved audiences. The HotHouse@Viaduct partnership brings together the best of worlds, and both organizations believe that their offerings and audiences will complement each other well. Together, they will be able to present music and theater of the highest caliber, with approximately half of the year devoted to each medium.
The Viaduct Theater co-founder Robert Whitaker stated that "we are very excited to join forces with HotHouse. We have wanted to expand our music offerings for awhile, and believe that a partnership with HotHouse will bring the expertise needed to make music at the Viaduct a success."
HotHouse President Linda Michaels was equally enthusiastic, stating that "We always intended to re-open, although there were definitely some who doubted us. I am grateful for the hard work and dedication of the artistic programming team, particularly David Chavez, and the Board in making this a reality."
A preliminary teaser announcement was sent out to individuals in the HotHouse database via email earlier this week. HotHouse reports that the response to this email has been overwhelmingly positive; numerous individuals have written to HotHouse expressing their excitement and gratitude about the re-opening, and even offering to volunteer their time and professional services to the HotHouse@Viaduct partnership.
Shows are scheduled throughout the month of April. The first show is scheduled for April 5, and HotHouse members are invited to this show free of charge. The April schedule, which spans a variety of genres including African, Latin, and jazz, as well as visual arts and dance, is as follows:
April 5 Seneke Ensemble, 10 p.m., HotHouse members free, $12 in advance, $15April 11 Mexican Son Jarocho to Spanish Flamenco: Las Guitarras de España and Fandanguero. Plus a special after-set by Darwin Noguera's Evolution Trio. 9 p.m., $15
April 12 Wendy Clinard's Jondo Portraits, 8 p.m., $20
April 17 Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble, 8 p.m., $10
April 18 Casa Caliente! HotHouse Latin Dance Party! Features Papo Santiago y Orchestra Infraverde, De La Buena and Aguzate.org DJ's. 9 p.m.
April 24 Greg Ward Quartet and Cafe Antarsia, 9 p.m. $10
April 25 Chicago Samba , 10 p.m., $10
April 26 Global Rhythm Project: World Music Dance Party! 10 p.m., $8
For additional information regarding the artists and to purchase tickets, please refer to www.hothouse.net or www.viaducttheater.com.
HotHouse on Hiatus since July 2007
In July 2007, HotHouse moved out of it South Loop location after reaching an amicable settlement with its previous landlord in the South Loop, which was mutually agreeable and resolved a 2005 lawsuit filed by HotHouse in Cook County. Since July 2007, HotHouse has been honing its long-term strategic vision and searching for an appropriate new venue.
About the Viaduct Theater
The Viaduct Theater is a non-profit arts producer established in 1998 with the purpose of promoting, producing, and creating theater, film, art, dance, and music in Chicago. The Viaduct produces plays and musical events, and also selects and shows independently-made films. The Viaduct Theater also furnishes and maintains an equipped production facility for theater practitioners, filmmakers, and musicians.
About HotHouse
HotHouse Mission:
We strive to expose audiences to a wide range of cultural expression, to encourage respect of our ethnic diversity, and to promote greater understanding of differing artistic traditions and perspectives.In 2007, HotHouse celebrated 20 years of presenting a phenomenal range of adventurous and provocative cultural programs. HotHouse has earned an international reputation for building audiences for essentially non-commercial and more esoteric art work, producing innovative festivals, introducing Chicagoans to artists from around the world, and providing many communities across the city with access to a first-rate facility for their own activities. In two decades of operation, HotHouse has hosted over 6,000 cultural events, including: concerts, forums, poetry readings, film screenings, art exhibitions, debates, book signings, theater works, workshops, master classes, and community gatherings.
- Andrew
