The Auditorium Theatre has announced its 2016–17 season, featuring international and local dance ensembles as well as celebrations of composers Cole Porter and George Gershwin.
The international dance series includes appearances by Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba, celebrating Afro-Cuban rhythms in a program called Cuba Vibra! (November 5–6); a return visit by Dance Theatre of Harlem, with the Midwest premiere of an as-yet-unnamed ballet by choreographer Francesca Harper set to music by composer John Adams (November 18–20); the annual Chicago engagement of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (March 22–26); and Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg with a reprise of their ballet Red Giselle (May 19–21).
The Auditorium's "Made in Chicago" dance series will feature Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater with a one-night performance of Flamenco Passion (September 29), a new program by Thodos Dance Chicago (March 11), and an appearance by Giordano Dance Chicago (June 10).
On the music side, look for an onstage-seated concert by singer-songwriter Susan Werner, making her ninth Auditorium appearance (September 22); a 125th-birthday celebration of Cole Porter, featuring local cabaret talents Joan Curto, Paul Marinaro, Tammy McCann, Beckie Menzie and Tom Michael (September 24); the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic with a new exploration of The Mississippi River: Black and Blues (November 11); the 12th annual presentation of Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah (January 14–15); and a visit by the Boston Pops in By George! The Pops Plays Gershwin (March 31).