The 17th annual Chicago Humanities Festival, this year themed “Peace and War,” runs through 11/12, offering dozens of lectures, readings, and discussions by an international coterie of writers, artists, and scholars as well as film screenings (see reviews in Movies) and theatrical and musical performances. And for the first time the festival introduces science-focused “Wonder Cabinet” programs and free “Sidebars at the Center” events. Programs are $5 in advance, $6 (cash only) at the door, unless otherwise noted. (Tickets for sold-out programs often become available due to attrition; arrive at the venue no later than 30 minutes before the program, and available tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.) Tickets can be ordered by phone at 312-494-9509 or online at chfestival.org. Following is the schedule through 11/9; a complete schedule is available at chicagoreader.com.
“Curiodyssey” The festival’s benefit gala includes a cocktail reception, silent auction, and dinner. Details are being kept under wraps, but CHF artistic director Lawrence Weschler notes, “It will be an evening of pure spectacle,” and audience members are encouraged to bring along their cell phones. Field Museum. $500; call 312-661-1028, ext. 18, for tickets. 6 PM There’s also a 10 PM performance-only presentation of Curiodyssey. It’s $25; call 312-494-9509.
“Families at War” Discussion with playwrights Richard Nelson (Franny’s Way) and Toni Dorfman (Family Wolf); actors from the Goodman and the Steep Theatre Company perform play excerpts. Goodman Theatre. 10 AM
“The War on World Order” Talk by international political affairs scholar Charles Hill. First United Methodist Church. 10:30 AM
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“Sidebars at the Center” Studs Terkel interviews journalist-artist Lauren Redniss (Century Girl: 100 Years in the Life of Doris Eaton Travis, Last Living Star of the Ziegfeld Follies); they’ll be joined by CHF artistic director Lawrence Weschler; a two-hour reading of Maureen Gallagher’s drama Martin Furey’s Shot follows at 12:30. And at 3 PM Iraq war veteran Brian Turner reads from his poetry collection Here, Bullet. Chicago Cultural Center. 11 AM F
“Kinsale and the Great O’Neill” Irish historians Hiram Morgan and John McCavitt discuss events surrounding the Anglo-Irish Nine Years War of 1594-1603. Newberry Library. Noon
Peter Sis presents his illustrated Tibet Through the Red Box. Art Institute. 12:30 PM
