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PHOTOGRAPHY BY EVAN HANOVER (BLUEBEARD) 78 MICHIGANAVEMAG.COM The Ruffi ans' Burning Bluebeard, coming to Wicker Park. Gisele Vienne Twyla Tharp troupe members Matthew Dibble and Rika Okamoto are helping to bring two inventive new works to Chicago. HAND TO MOUTH A bunch of dummies takes center stage at the Museum of Contemporary Art this month as French director and choreographer Gisele Vienne collaborates with American novelist Dennis Cooper to create The Ventriloquists Convention. Inspired by an annual event at Kentucky's Vent Haven Museum, this theatrical performance fea- tures nine actors portraying as many ventriloquists (and their dummies, of course). The crazy quilt of 27 dis- tinct voices offers a playful means of taking a deep dive into the human condition. November 12–14, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., 312-280-2660; mcachicago.org F i f t y yea r s a f t er Tw yl a T h a r p e s t a bl i s hed her cont empora r y da nce t roupe, t he world- renow ned Tony a nd Emmy Awa rd – w inning choreographer is still one of the biggest names in the business—and she's commemorating the m i lestone w it h a 50 t h-a n n iversa r y tou r t hat brings her company, Tw yla Tharp Dance, to the Auditorium Theatre this month. But don't expect a greatest-hits show. Ever the innovator, Tharp has created two new dances specifi cally for the tour, "Preludes and Fugues" and "Yowzie," feat u r i ng music by J. S. Bach a nd t he ava nt - garde composers John Zorn, Henry Butler, and Steven Ber nstei n, a s wel l a s t he at h let icism and art ist r y t hat have become Tharp's sig na- ture over the years. November 5 – 8, Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy., 312-341-2300; auditoriumtheatre.org MA 'TIS THE SEASON Three shows offer a twist on typical holiday fare. Holiday history takes a turn for the macabre in The Ruffi ans' Burning Bluebeard (November 19 – January 10, The Den Theatre, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-697-3830; the-hypocrites.com). Based on the true story of Chicago's 1903 Iroquois Theatre fi re, it involves six clowns attempting to resurrect the theater to perform their Christmas pantomime, this time sparing nearly 600 audi- ence members from tragedy. American Blues Theater continues its 14-year tradition of pre- senting It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! (November 20 – December 27, Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-404-7336; americanbluestheater.com), which delivers the Jimmy Stewart fi lm in 1940s radio fashion, including sponsor messages, car- ols, and telegrams from the audience, adding throwback charm to a Christmas classic. Known for campy parodies like Poseidon! An Upside Down Musical, the cult favor- ite Hell in a Handbag Productions takes on yuletide with the Joan Crawford – meets – Scrooge story Christmas Dearest (November 28 – January 2, Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St.; handbagproductions.org), which fi nds the actress in production on her new holiday fi lm, Oh Mary. "I want people to leave having a good feel- ing about the holidays," says writer/star David Cerda, "because it's still a Christmas Carol tale of redemption, forgive- ness, and appreciating what you have." Fifty and Fabulous LEGENDARY CHOREOGRAPHER TWYLA THARP BRINGS HER ANNIVERSARY TOUR TO THE AUDITORIUM THEATRE. // PERFORMANCE // stage dance CULTURE Spotlight