This unholy year is winding down (or so we’re told), and as we veer between images of poop emojis and dumpster fires to do it visual justice, it’s hard to remember that there are in fact things for which to be grateful. For me, that gratitude comes in the form of recognizing how many theater, dance, and performance companies have continued to create in the digital world—one that wasn’t a familiar home for many of them before COVID-19.
Albany Park Theater Project’s Feast is a show I’d kicked myself for missing live during its several incarnations, but thanks to APTP putting up a video (beautifully directed by Daniel Andries and Anne Northrup) of the show’s 2015 Goodman run, I can finally stop kicking. A show about food, community, family, and the essential workers who keep all of that running for us is a perfect choice for Thanksgiving viewing. (Unless you’re saddled with xenophobic relatives for the holiday, in which case consider it part of the deprogramming process for them.) You can watch Feast for free, but it’s also available for sale as a DVD. Purchasing it might be a nice way to show appreciation for a company that’s been building the next generation of theatermakers and truth tellers for 23 years.
So while I remain anxious about the state of the live arts this Thanksgiving, I’m also thankful for everyone who found a way to keep going. If you want to help the artists keep going, here are a few local funds to consider: the Chicago Theatre Workers Relief Fund, the Dancers’ Fund, Season of Concern, the Arts for Illinois Relief Fund, and the Chicago Artists Relief Fund.
