Barrington's White House spring season 'simply extraordinary'
With a mix of acclaimed performers and old favorites, the upcoming spring season at Barrington's White House features an eclectic lineup of cultural and artistic events.
"We have been building our repertoire of events for six years, and each season is better than the last. The upcoming cultural season at Barrington's White House is simply extraordinary," said Rollin Potter, the White House's cultural director.
Potter said he especially is excited to feature acclaimed saxophonist Victor Goines from Wynton Marsalis' Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, as well as two young, distinguished artists: mezzo soprano Katherine Beck from Lyric Opera's Ryan School and world-renowned pianist and Gilmore Young Artist award winner Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner.
The spring season launched earlier this month with the annual Barrington Town-Warming that featured keynote speaker Robert Gates, former U.S. secretary of defense, on the theme "Security in a Post-Pandemic World."
Two favorite series will return next month. "2nd Thursdays: Jazz Cabaret," kicks off March 10 with jazz enthusiasts performing in an open mic setting alongside Marianne Kim Jazz Duo. It continues April 14 and May 12.
The other, "3rd Thursdays: Your Art Night Out," returns March 17 with "Transparent by Nature" with Michael Ireland, and continues April 21 with "Painting from the Heart" by Marci Oleszkiewicz and May 19 with Al Buschauer's "A Passionate Life in Photography."
On March 11, professional Emmy-winning storyteller Jim May presents "I Knew I Was in Trouble When…," a family-friendly version of the popular "Moth Radio Hour" program that airs on stations across the country and beyond.
On March 13, mezzo soprano Beck will perform a collection of operatic arias and classic American songs.
Barrington native Stephanie Walker brings a tabletop reading of her new play "Sophia Hayden Deserves Better" on March 27.
Another Barrington native, Veronica Roth, the bestselling author of the "Divergent" book series and "Carve the Mark," will take part in a question-and-answer session April 3.
Barrington Area School District 220 Superintendent Robert Hunt will discuss the COVID-19's pandemic impact on classrooms in "The Future of Education: Lessons Learned in a Global Pandemic" on April 10.
Saxophonist Goines presents "Jazz All-Stars'' April 30 when he'll be joined by outstanding students from area high schools.
Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro makes his Barrington's White House debut with his presentation "Surprising Facts About Higher Education" May 15.
Pianist Sanchez-Werner will present Rachmaninoff's B-flat Minor Sonata and Schumann's Humoreske on May 22.
The spring season concludes with "The Bright Side of Bluegrass" and ice cream social May 28, courtesy of the Barrington Area Council on Aging, with music from Sunnyside Up bluegrass band.
Tickets start at $10; student pricing is available for certain events. Tickets can be purchased at barringtonswhitehouse.com/events.
Barrington's White House is at 145 W. Main St. in the heart of downtown Barrington. For more information, call (224) 512-4066 or visit barringtonswhitehouse.com.