| Happy Monday. The big opening this last week was David Byrne's interactive "Theater of the Mind," which inaugurated a new performance space just north of the Chicago River. It is a big gamble for the Goodman, but it appears to have been doing well at the box
office so far; the hope is for the show to last well into the fall, if not beyond. Also new: John Lithgow in
"Giant" on Broadway. It's a show that asks a very timely question about the value of an artist with regrettable views but creative excellence — not to mention the question of when and how criticism of Israeli policy can veer into antisemitism. It's a big, old-fashioned, highly articulate debate play. Lyric Opera also opened a very beautiful new production of "El último sueño de Frida y Diego," a fantastical contemporary opera by composer Gabriela Lena Frank and librettist Nilo Cruz. Ana María Martínez and Daniela Mack in “El ultimo sueño de Frida y Diego” at Lyric Opera of Chicago. (Cory Weaver) Bravo to the longtime Chicago director Jonathan Berry, who has been named producing artistic director at the Raven Theatre. He replaces Sarah Slight, who is headed
to the producing staff at the Goodman Theatre. Stormy Daniels at Rivendell? Can't say I ever thought I'd type those four words, but Daniels will indeed be at Rivendell on Tuesday night. The show is billed as "Stormy Daniels live in Chicago — laughs, stories and truth bombs." Speaking of Rivendell, that theater's world premiere production of Melissa Ross'
"Do Something Pretty" (coming up in May) will mark young ensemble member Katherine Mallen Kupferer’s Rivendell debut. The cast also features Jasper Johnson, Reilly Oh and Jocelyn Zamudio. Jessia Fisch directs. Chicago Theatre Week, the annual celebration
of Chicago’s theater scene sponsored by the League of Chicago Theatres and Choose Chicago, sold 17,185 tickets during this year's event running Feb. 5-15. Finally, we have the winners of the Non-Equity Jeff Awards. Have a great week. — Chris Jones, chief theater critic Nathan Haydel, Tyler Fauntleroy, Jared Howelton, Elvie Ellis and company in the national tour of
“Hamilton,” now at the CIBC Theatre in Chicago. (Joan Marcus) Our current list of Chris Jones Recommends: “Hamilton” through April 26 at CIBC Theatre; “Madama Butterfly” through April 12 at Lyric Opera of Chicago; “El último sueño de Frida y Diego” through April 4 by Lyric Opera of Chicago; “The Drowsy Chaperone” through April 26 at Theo Ubique Theatre; “Theater of the Mind” in an open run by the Goodman at the Reid Murdoch Building; “Grelley Duvall Best Actress” through April 12 at Chopin Theatre. | 
