Beverly Arts Center

In All Directions At Once: Simmerling Gallery Exhibit Opening
2026-03-07 14:00 - 2026-04-04 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Simmerling Gallery
In All Directions At Once: Simmerling Gallery Exhibit Opening
EXHIBIT BY KELLY MCKAIG AND DEBORAH NEWMARK
GALLERY EXHIBIT OPENING: Saturday, March 7th, 2pm-4pm
Closing Saturday, April 4th, 11:00am-1:00pm
In All Directions At Once brings together the work of mixed media artists Kelly McKaig and Deborah Newmark. Both artists create abstract, intuitive work using salvaged, handmade, and natural materials. Their practices embrace process, play, and experimentation, resulting in work that feels deeply personal while remaining open and universal—inviting viewers to find their own meanings and connections.

Cheers to the South Side: A South Side Irish Pub Exhibit
2026-03-13 18:00 - 2026-04-30 20:00 | IL
Cheers to the South Side: A South Side Irish Pub Exhibit
By Kelly White
Exhibit Opening: Friday, March 13th, 6pm-8pm
Runs through April 30th.
Kelly White is a Chicago-based photojournalist, feature news reporter, editor, and visual storyteller with two decades of experience capturing life through both words and images. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Kelly draws inspiration from her hometown’s neighborhoods and community spirit, which infuse her writing and photography with authenticity and nostalgia.
A graduate of Saint Xavier University, Kelly began her career at The Xavierite, the university’s newspaper, and has contributed to major publications including the Daily Southtown, the Chicago Tribune, and numerous regional outlets. She currently works as an editor and photojournalist at Southwest Regional Publishing. Her photography spans portrait, event, and editorial work, capturing both intimate moments and vibrant community life with clarity and emotion.
Kelly’s deep connection to Chicago’s South Side inspired her latest exhibition, Cheers to the Southside, a South Side Irish Pub Exhibit celebrating the cultural heartbeat of the community. The exhibit is on display at the Beverly Arts Center through April.

Bar provided. Music performed by Ethan Sellers.

Motor City: The Motown Review
2026-04-03 19:30 - 2026-04-04 22:00 | IL
Motor City: The Motown Review
April 3rd, 2026 @ 7:30pm
NEW SHOW ADDED! April 4th, 2026 @ 2:00pm
April 4th, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Non-members – $35
Members – $32
Step back in time with Motor City “ The Motown Review”. Experience the Soul of a Generation,
join us for an electrifying evening that pays tribute to the legendary sounds of Motown! Our
talented cast brings to life the unforgettable hits of your favorite artists, including:
• The Supremes
• Marvin Gaye
• The Four Tops
• Tammi Terrell
• Smokey Robinson and The Miracles
• Martha and The Vandellas
• Mary Wells
• The Temptations
A Night of Classics, prepare for a spectacular show filled with timeless hits, stunning
performances, elaborate costuming and a journey through the Motown era. From soulful
ballads to danceable grooves, our revue captures the essence of the Motown sound that
changed music forever! Incredible performances of classics like “Ain’t No Mountain High
Enough” “My Girl”, “Stop! In the Name of Love”, “Dancing In The Street” to name a few! A live
band that will keep you grooving all night long! Engaging choreography that brings the energy
and spirit of the 60s and 70s! Gather your friends and family for a night of nostalgia and joy.
Whether you’re a lifelong Motown fan or new to these iconic sounds, this show promises to be
an unforgettable experience don’t miss out! Let the magic of Motown take you away and let
the good times roll with the sounds of Motor City!
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE

Ridge Historical Society Fundraiser: The Architectural Beauty of the Far South and Southwest
2026-04-10 19:00 - 21:00 | Baffes Theatre at Beverly Arts center, 2407 W 111th St, Chicago, IL, 60605, United States
The Architectural Beauty of the Far South and Southwest
April 10th, 2026 @ 7:00pm in the Baffes Theatre
$25
Lee Bey will discuss the remarkably beautiful and largely unsung architecture of the far South and Southwest Sides of Chicago, which are home to lesser-known but important work by luminary architects such as Jeanne Gang, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Eero Saarinen, as well as buildings by pioneering black architects such as Walter T. Bailey, John Moutoussamy, and Roger Margerum.Contrary to popular narratives that typically ignore the great architectural heritage of Chicago’s South Side, Bey will detail the beautiful and intact buildings and neighborhoods that reflect the value and potential of the area. His presentation will offer much to delight and intrigue even those familiar with the South Side.Event Proceeds from this fundraiser event will benefit RHS.Get tickets online (Ticketing is not through Beverly Arts Center and so BAC memberships do not apply): https://bit.ly/RHS-leeAbout Lee BeyLee Bey is the award-winning architecture critic for the Chicago Sun-Times. His writing, and photography on architecture and urban design have been featured in many news outlets, architectural journals, and international design publications.Bey is the author of the much-praised book Southern Exposure: The Overlooked Architecture of Chicago’s South Side, which showcases his architectural photography and social commentary, and he is the main photographer of the book. Who is the City For? Architecture, Equity and the Public Realm in Chicago, written by Blair Kamin.Bey, an adjunct professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology College of Architecture, is expert in Chicago history and late 20th century Black history. A sought-after speaker, he previously was director of media and government affairs for the Chicago office of SOM, executive director of the Chicago Central Area Committee, and deputy chief of staff for architecture and urban planning under Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.

7Metrix Presents: I Heard the City Breathe
2026-04-11 18:00 - 2026-05-01 20:00 | Simmerling Gallery
7Metrix Presents: I Heard the City Breathe
Short Film + Gallery Exhibition
Exhibit Reception: Saturday, April 11th, 2026, 6pm-8pm
Runs Friday, April 6th – May 1st, 2026.
Produced by Brian Sykes (7Metrix). Featuring new music, video and photography created in collaboration with ISPro Academy high school students and ISPro Music Artists.
I Heard the City Breathe is rooted in the Black experience. This immersive exhibit brings the story of Chicago to life with sound, image and memory.
More than a premier, it’s a homecoming: a dedication and homage to the Southside roots that helped shape Brian’s creative voice and ultimately sparked this work.

Artist Statement:
My name is Brian Sykes, and I am writing to propose a presentation of my collaborative project,
“I Heard The City Breathe”, at the Beverly Art Center on April 11. This work is a short film and
gallery-style exhibition rooted in the Black experience of Chicago. Through visual art, music,
and storytelling, the project reflects the emotional, cultural, and historical realities of the city
while honoring the voices of the communities that continue to shape it. Presenting this work at
Beverly Art Center would be more than an exhibition opportunity for me—it would be a deeply
meaningful homecoming.
As a Saint Xavier University alumnus, many of the seeds for this work were planted during my
time as a student. When I arrived at Saint Xavier, I was still learning how to process the
experiences I carried as a young Black man from the South Side of Chicago. I was surrounded by
pain, trauma, beauty, culture, and contradiction, but I had not yet fully learned how to translate
those realities into artistic language. My time at Saint Xavier helped me begin that process. It
was there that I was challenged to trust my voice, embrace vulnerability, and understand that my
lived experience was worthy of artistic exploration.
A number of mentors played a critical role in that transformation. Nathan Peck, Monte Gerlach,
Cathy Saunders, and Jane Hileman helped guide me through the artistic and emotional process of
creating deeply personal work. Dr. Jan Bickel of the Music Department helped me reconnect
with my voice and confidence in music, while Michael Grimm of Production Services
contributed to the broader environment that encouraged me to think across disciplines and
explore multiple forms of expression. Their investment in me was not only academic—it was
personal, affirming, and life-shaping.
Out of that period came my 2014 series, “Inner-City Madness”, one of the earliest bodies of
work in which I fully confronted the effects of poverty, trauma, and inner-city violence on Black
children and families in Chicago. That series was deeply connected to my own psychological
experiences and became the first true foundation of my artistic voice. It was later given its first
solo exhibition by Amy Roach at the Beverly Art Center, making Beverly one of the first
institutions to publicly affirm my work. That experience has stayed with me ever since.
Returning now with I Heard The City Breathe would represent a full-circle moment—not only as
an artist returning to a meaningful space, but as someone bringing back a more developed,
collaborative, and community-rooted vision.
Since then, my work has grown across multiple disciplines, including music, education,
mentorship, and creative entrepreneurship. I began to work for Marlon King of Insomniac
Studios. Through my partnership with Marlon King, I expanded my skills in music production,
project management, artist development, and music business, and together we co-founded ISPro
Academy. Through ISPro Academy, we have created pathways for high school students, young
adults, and emerging creatives to learn audio engineering, music production, and music business,
while connecting them to real-world opportunities and mentorship throughout Chicago.

That work has led to partnerships with a range of respected institutions and organizations,
including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Museum of Science and Industry, Hyde Park Art
Center, Chicago West Community Music Center, Elastic Arts, Navy Pier, Walter Payton High
School, and the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship. Some of the projects I have been honored
to take part in include creating 30 minutes of original music for an 11-piece string ensemble for
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Soundpost Renaissance Remix Fashion Show, leading
workshops through the Museum of Science and Industry’s Black Creativity Career Showcase and
Science Works Audio Engineering Workshop, and helping support professional development
programming such as the Center for Creative Entrepreneurship’s Music Bloom series and
music-industry meetups focused on publishing, branding, networking, and artist growth.
All of those experiences have come together in I Heard The City Breathe. Supported by the
DCASE Individual Artist Grant and the Illinois Arts Council Creative Catalyst Grant, the project
brings together youth, adult artists, and community collaborators in an intergenerational
reflection on the Black experience of Chicago. It is both a personal artistic statement and a
collective offering—one that honors memory, struggle, beauty, survival, and creative legacy.
Presenting “I Heard The City Breathe” at the Beverly Art Center on April 11 would allow me to
return to the place that first gave my work a public home and share how that journey has
evolved. It would honor the mentors and institutions that helped shape me, while also offering a
new generation of artists and audiences a chance to experience a work grounded in truth,
collaboration, and the spirit of Chicago. It would be an honor to bring this project to Beverly Art
Center and continue the story in a space that has already meant so much to my artistic life.
Sincerely,
Brian Sykes

BAC Youth Theatre Company Presents Singin' in the Rain JR.
2026-04-16 19:00 - 2026-04-19 17:00 | IL
BAC Youth Theatre Company Presents
Singin’ in the Rain JR.
Performances: April 16th & April 17th @ 7:00pm, April 18th & April 19th @ 3:00pm
Directed by Carrie Hartman
Non-members $15
Members – $13
Singin’ in the Rain JR. has all the makings of a Tinseltown tabloid headline — the starlet, the leading man and a love affair that could change lives and make or break careers! In silent movies, Don Lockwood and Lina Lamont are a hot item, but behind the scenes, things aren’t always as they appear on the big screen! Meanwhile, Lina’s squeaky voice might be the end of her career in “talking pictures” without the help of a talented young actress to do the talking and singing for her.
The “Greatest Movie Musical of All Time” is faithfully and lovingly adapted by Broadway legends Betty Comden and Adolph Green, from their original award-winning screenplay in Singin’ in the Rain JR. Hilarious situations, snappy dialogue and a hit-parade score of Hollywood standards make Singin’ in the Rain JR. a guaranteed good time for performers and audience members alike. (From Music Theatre International)
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE:

BAC 59th Anniversary Gala: A Night of Glitz, Glamor and All That Jazz
2026-04-25 19:00 - 22:00 | Baffes Theatre at Beverly Arts center, 2407 W 111th St, Chicago, IL, 60605, United States
SPONSOR THE GALA HERE!

BAC 59th Anniversary Gala: A Night of Glitz, Glamor and All That Jazz
April 25th, 2026
7pm-10pm
Regular Price – $150
Patrons Under 30 – $100
Golden Age Patrons Over 65 – $100
It will be a hot night and some swinging jazz with the coolest cats in town! Join us on April 25 for the Beverly Arts Center 59th Annual Auction: Bev Beats: Southside Streets — A Night of Glitz, Glamor and All That Jazz! Paint the town red with Cocktails, Music & Dancing, Savories and Sweets, and Live & Silent Auctions. Get your tickets now!
Tickets are $100 if purchased before March 1st and $150 after March 1st. For Young Arts Patrons under 30 and Golden Age Patrons over 65, a special ticket rate of $75 is available until March 1.
Event to take place at the Beverly Arts Center.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
VIEW SILENT AUCTION ITEMS HERE!
