THE MIX
Cool things to do this weekend
Art Institute reboot
When the Art Institute of Chicago shut down in March, some art lovers thought they’d lost their chance to see “El Greco: Ambition and Defiance,” which had just opened. But there’s good news. The galleries at the Art Institute reopen to the public July 30 and the exhibit has been extended through Oct. 19. Other exhibits include: “Malangatana: Mozambique Modern,” “Noda Tetsuya: My Life in Print,” “Toulouse-Lautrec and the Celebrity Culture of Paris,” “Bauhaus Chicago: Design in the City” and “Pure Drawing: Seven Centuries of Art from the Gray Collection.” “Monet and Chicago” will open on Sept. 3. Timestamped tickets are free through Aug. 3, and after that paid tickets ($16-$25) are available through the museum’s website. Facial coverings and social distancing guidelines are required. Visit artic.edu.
Dance moves required
The National Museum of Mexican Art’s annual salute to a Tejano queen returns with “Bidi Bidi Boom Boom! The Virtual
Selena Tribute Dance Party.” The celebration features performances by drag artists Venus Carangi, Angelica Marques and Ladia Gia, and you can show off your dance moves to favorite Selena tunes and other music from DJ Trini. The party streams from 8-10 p.m. July 31. Admission is $10. Visit nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org.
Utopian struggle
Trap Door Theatre is presenting “Alas,” a fragment of Romanian playwright Matei Visniec’s “Cabaret of Words” translated by Daniela Silindean. Directed by Michael Mejia and featuring a cast of 16, “Alas” is the story of a utopia and the struggle for liberty as a group of citizens begin to realize their perfect world requires sacrifices. The Chicago ensemble has invited members of its sister company, Trap Door International in Barcelona, to take part in the digital production. The stream begins July 31 and tickets are $10. Visit trapdoortheatre.com.
Classical notes
The Music Institute of Chicago continues its free weekly series “Indoor Voices,” which features performances and conversations with noted musicians. The next guest is violinist Robert Chen, concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 1999. Stream at 7:30 p.m. July 31. Visit musicinst. org/nch.
Conversation about race
Chicago Children’s Theatre and Filament Theatre, along with the many theaters that make up the organization Theater for Young Audiences, present a free online adaptation of
Jelani Memory’s “A Kids
Book About Racism” (Aug.
1-2). The play’s adapter and director, Khalia Davis, says she recognized “the importance of including children in these difficult conversations. This show embraces the full spectrum of emotional response children may have as they navigate comprehending racism and how it may affect them.” To stream and for more information, visit chicagochildrens
theatre.org or filamenttheatre.org.
Working for laughs
The funny women of Matt Damon Improv present the final two installments of the seven-part web series “In-Diana,” which focuses on a group of co-workers trying to survive in the new virtual work environment. Creator Allison Reese-Shapiro says it’s a “a silly, strange, sex-positive and socially conscious web series anyone can relate to.” Stream the new episodes beginning Aug. 3; past episodes are also available. For more information, visit facebook.com/mattdamonImprov/.
Festival fun online
Fiesta Del Sol goes online this year with a variety of workshops and a music lineup that includes Electrik Bill, Garrett David, Gene Farris, Kid Enigma, Maurice “Ice” Culpepper, Ron Carroll and more. Streams July 30-Aug. 2. Visit fiestadelsol.org. ... Also going online is the Scottish Festival & Highland
Games, which features athletic events, Highland dancers, bagpiping and food demonstrations. Stream beginning at 2 p.m. Aug. 1. Visit scottishfestivalchicago.org. Mary Houlihan, for the Sun-Times