Displaying items by tag: Revelations
New Leadership on Display at Alvin Ailey Dance Theater with Alicia Graf Mack
Sustaining legacy is no simple task, especially when considering the arts. How do you preserve continuity of spirit while simultaneously establishing artistic harmony with the past, present and future? Knowledge, skill and vision at the top are always critical. But there are other intangibles that ultimately determine long term success.
When Robert Battle unexpectedly announced he could no longer act as artistic director for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2023 for health reasons, one of the most accomplished and revered dance companies in the United States began a search to fill a pair of epic shoes. Since its inception in 1958, nearly 70 years ago, the company has only had three artistic directors, Mr. Ailey himself, his designated successor and former principal Ailey dancer, Judith Jamison, and Mr. Battle whose initial association with the Ailey company was that of a guest choreographer. He’d go on to distinguish himself as a master in his field.
Late in 2024, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater chose Alicia Graf Mack, at the time director of the dance division at Juilliard, to become its fourth artistic director. She began her tenure as Ailey’s new artistic director in July last year.
Mack’s background and credentials are all exemplary and on their own portend a fruitful stewardship. Born in California and raised in Columbia Maryland, her parents, one Jewish the other African-American, were socially engaged academics who encouraged their children’s creative interests. Mack trained in ballet and by 17 was accepted into Dance Theater of Harlem where, at nearly 6’ tall and willowy, her height and grace contributed to building her celebrity. Consequential injuries necessitated that she quit dance, leading her to acquire a History degree at Columbia University.
After finishing Columbia, Mack returned to the Dance Theater of Harlem where the company’s financial difficulties made her homecoming brief. Applying to the American Ballet Theater and being rejected because of her height, she approached the Ailey company where she was not only accepted into the company, but she was also “embraced” in her totality.
Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack. Photo by Andrew Eccles.
Her initial time with Ailey, from 2005 and 2008, allowed Mack to explore and hone other dance styles more deeply and to intellectually mature as a dancer. After leaving the company to obtain a degree in non-profit management at Washington University in St. Louis, she returned to Ailey in 2011 where she enjoyed notable success as one of its premier dancers until 2014. Mack then redirected her career and devoted it to education.
At a luncheon held in her honor at Chicago’s Auditorium Theater earlier this year, Mack talked about the people and experiences that led her from being an aspiring teenage dance professional to heading one of the world’s leading dance organizations. As she recounted her past, the emotional intelligence and natural humility she’s noted for were readily apparent. In her remarks, the new artistic director recognized the wealth of experience, knowledge and talent resident in the Ailey staff and stated she would be relying on those resources to help her fulfill her mission. She also credited the mentorship she received from dance titans, including Ms. Jamison, pioneering Black ballerina Lorraine Graves and the legendary Carmen de Lavallade. The advice and counsel they all shared will prove valuable assets for the future.
Just as she balanced the need to adapt to tomorrow while respecting heritage at Juilliard, Mack addressed doing much the same in her new role with Ailey. Not only is she mindful in honoring the “Ailey aesthetic”, but she also shared her interest in bringing in new choreographic voices to complement, expand and enhance the principles and values Mr. Ailey displayed in his work and that of the choreographers he admired.
Providing avenues for dancers to achieve fulfillment in their craft is also central to Mack’s mission. One she’s shown to advance through an ethos of affirmation.
As the climax to the Auditorium’s 2025-2026 Celebrating Women in Dance season later this month, the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater engagement at the theater is a welcome to Ms. Mack. The three-day run will see two programs performed. In addition to Alvin Ailey’s classic Revelations and an excerpt from Judith Jamison’s 2005 Reminiscin’, the remaining five dances are contemporary creations of pioneering luminaries in choreography. All five works saw their world premieres in 2025.
Love and Time On Our Side: The Notebook: The Musical at Broadway in Chicago
06 August 2026 in Theatre in ReviewIn times of stress, we often turn to familiar and comforting things: a favorite song, a dog-eared book, a movie…
Grammy-Nominated Premiere Anchors 9th NEXUS Chamber Music Festival This August 12-14
06 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreChamber music may be one of music’s most misunderstood children. An early form of classical music, it has always been…
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company Announces Mud Row October 15 - November 15 at Theater Wit
05 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreRemy Bumppo Theatre Company is pleased to announce the cast, creative and production teams for the first production in its 2026…
Victory Gardens Theater presents the World Premiere of Zayd Ayers Dohrn's The Humanities beginning September 10th
05 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreVictory Gardens Theater (2433 N. Lincoln Avenue), an historic incubator for new play development, proudly announces the World Premiere staging of The…
Goodman Theatre Presents Dead Girl's Quinceañera September 26th Through November 1st
05 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreSecrets, sisterhood and solving crime take center stage this fall in the world premiere co-production of Dead Girl's Quinceañera by Miami native…
Chicago City Opera presents a Mozart double feature of The Impresario and Bastien and Bastienne August 15th & 16th
04 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreChicago City Opera (CCO) presents an evening of two one act Mozart operas The Impresario and Bastien and Bastienne combined…
The Notebook - James M. Nederlander Theatre - Through August 16th
04 August 2026 in Now PlayingProducers Kevin McCollum and Kurt Deutsch, along with Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce THE NOTEBOOK, a new musical based…
Harris Theater Presents return of Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project, Aug. 28
04 August 2026 in Upcoming DanceFollowing last year’s smashing sold-out engagement, the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance proudly presents the return…
Guarneri Hall Launches 2026/27 Season with NEXUS Festival: Music for 8 and Two Premieres August 12-14, 2026
04 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreGuarneri Hall, an intimate state-of-the-art, custom-built classical music venue in the heart of downtown Chicago, proudly opens its 2026/27 season…
Chicago Magic Lounge Welcomes Back David Parr as Fall Artist in Residence with Time Traveler October 7 – December 16
04 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreChicago Magic Lounge welcomes back acclaimed magician David Parr as its Fall Artist in Residence with David Parr: Time Traveler, a new theatrical experience…
yo ho. Delivers Queer Pirate Chaos, Big Laughs, and Fierce Swordplay
03 August 2026 in Theatre in ReviewA quick history lesson: Anne Bonny and Mary Read are two of history’s most famous female pirates. Both women disguised…
The Outsiders - Cadillac Palace - Through August 16th
03 August 2026 in Now PlayingThe Tony Award® winning Best Musical, THE OUTSIDERS, based on the seminal novel by S.E. Hinton and Francis Ford Coppola’s landmark motion picture, returns to Chicago…
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre to present Play On! September 11–October 18
01 August 2026 in Upcoming TheatreChicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for Play On!, which opens the Theater's 40th Anniversary Season. This jazz musical tells…
Iceboy! Sets New Goodman Box Office Record
31 July 2026 in Theatre BuzzToday, Goodman Theatre achieves a new milestone in its 100th anniversary season: Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive…
First National Tour of OH, MARY! Announces Chicago's Mary Todd Lincoln
30 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreKevin McCollum & Lucas McMahon and Mike Lavoie & Carlee Briglia, along with Broadway In Chicago announced today that Tony…
Citadel Theatre announces EUREKA DAY, playing September 9 – October 11
30 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreLake Forest’s Citadel Theatre has announced the full cast and crew for its season opener - the satirical comedy EUREKA…
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble presents the third World Premiere in its 30th Anniversary Season Bonnie's Last Flight
30 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreRivendell Theatre Ensemble, Chicago's only professional theater that seeks to advance women through the power of storytelling, announces the cast for…
Definition Theatre presents How We Got On by Idris Goodwin Sept 11-27
29 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreDefinition Theatre is proud to present How We Got On, a mix-tape for the stage by playwright Idris Goodwin and directed by Tyrone Phillips. How We…
3Arts Awards Celebration uplifts Illinois' artistic community, Oct 26 at Harris Theater
29 July 2026 in Theatre BuzzThe nonprofit service organization 3Arts announces the date for its annual 3Arts Awards Celebration, a festive evening of dynamic performances by Chicago artists and the…
Mike Bartlett’s ‘An Intervention’ Zings in Chicago Premiere
28 July 2026 in Theatre in ReviewA new company, Heart of Gold Theatre, is presenting the Chicago premiere of Mike Barlett’s An Intervention. Bartlett is a…
Carmela misses her papi, because papi is missing some of his papers: Carmela Full of Wishes returns Oct. 25-Nov. 15 at Chicago Children’s Theatre
28 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreCarmela misses her papi, because papi is missing some of his papers.Chicago Children’s Theatre presents Carmela Full of Wishes, a…
Promethean Theatre Ensemble to stage BLOOD OF THE LAMB at The Den, September 3 -October 3
28 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatrePromethean Theatre Ensemble announced today it will stage the Chicago premiere of BLOOD OF THE LAMB, by Arlene Hutton, a gripping two-woman,…
Metropolis’ Wizard of Oz Rekindles Pure Childhood Wonder
26 July 2026 in Theatre in ReviewMetropolis Performing Arts Centre’s new staging of The Wizard of Oz sends audiences down the yellow brick road with a…
Jackalope Theatre Company Announces Plays, Playwrights and Casts for THE 17th LIVING NEWSPAPER FESTIVAL, August 20 - 24
24 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreJackalope Theatre Company is proud to announce the schedule for the 17th Annual Living Newspaper Festival, August 20 - 24, at the Jackalope Theatre…
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre Announces 2026-2027 Season
24 July 2026 in Upcoming DanceCerqua Rivera Dance Theatre (CRDT), the Chicago-based dance company, is proud to announce its 2026 - 2027 season. In the coming year,…
Love Actually In Concert at Cadillac Palace Theatre Saturday, December 12th - One Night Only!
24 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreIt may be the middle of summer, but for fans of Universal’s “Love Actually,” Christmas comes early this year. GEA…
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre presents Ride the Cyclone September 16th through October 25th
24 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreMetropolis Performing Arts Centre, located in the heart of downtown Arlington Heights, 111 W. Campbell St., is proud to announce the cast…
Sharp Witty Satire "I Killed Andy Breitbart" Returns to the Apollo Studio Sept. 5-27
24 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreFollowing multiple sold-out runs, "I Killed Andy Breitbart," the acclaimed 75-minute solo show, written and performed by Pam Dickler and directed by Drew Martin, returns…
Black Ensemble Theater continues its 50th Anniversary Season with the free outdoor concert series Fridays on the Green August 14, 21 and 29, 2026
24 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreBlack Ensemble Theater continues its 50th Anniversary Season with the return of its outdoor musical celebration Fridays on the Green. The concert series is…
Refracted Theatre Company presents the Chicago Premiere of I’M GONNA MARRY YOU TOBEY MAGUIRE, Sept 18 - Oct 31
24 July 2026 in Upcoming TheatreAward-winning Refracted Theatre Company is proud to announce the cast and creative team of I’m Gonna Marry You Tobey Maguire, written by Samantha Hurley and directed…
Latest Articles
-
Grammy-Nominated Premiere Anchors 9th NEXUS Chamber Music Festival This August 12-14
Written by Mitchell OldhamChamber music may be one of music’s most misunderstood children. An early form of classical music, it has always been open to a huge spectrum of emotions and moods and can swing instantly from the softly reflective to the boldly… -
Love and Time On Our Side: The Notebook: The Musical at Broadway in Chicago
Written by Kendall RoyzenIn times of stress, we often turn to familiar and comforting things: a favorite song, a dog-eared book, a movie we’ve seen twenty-seven times. We’re drawn back to the things we know because they have a certain salve to the… -
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company Announces Mud Row October 15 - November 15 at Theater Wit
Written by Buzz Center StageRemy Bumppo Theatre Company is pleased to announce the cast, creative and production teams for the first production in its 2026 - 2027 season, Mud Row, written by Dominique Morisseau and directed by Malkia Stampley, October 15 - November 15, in Theater One at Theater Wit, 1229 W.… -
Victory Gardens Theater presents the World Premiere of Zayd Ayers Dohrn's The Humanities beginning September 10th
Written by Buzz Center StageVictory Gardens Theater (2433 N. Lincoln Avenue), an historic incubator for new play development, proudly announces the World Premiere staging of The Humanities, a contemporary new work by acclaimed playwright Zayd Ayers Dohrn, directed by veteran Chicago talent Eddie Torres. The Humanities is a provocative, ripped-from-the-headlines…
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.