Opera news: Mitisek out at COT, Jesus in at Lyric

It’s been a busy few days on the local opera beat, starting with a little shocker: over the weekend, Chicago Opera Theater announced that its innovative, high-profile artistic director, Andreas Mitisek, will leave the company when his contract expires at end of August. Mitisek, who has led COT since 2012 and put his personal mark on it, said in a statement released Saturday afternoon that he’s “decided to move on at the end of my contract and pursue some artistic projects I have been dreaming about for a long time.”

Prop Thtr Presents New Work on Loss at the 28th Annual Rhinofest

Prop Thtr presents On Loss by Mark Chrisler and Groundswell by Karen Fort as part of the 28th Annual Rhinofest. Other Rhinofest events produced by Prop Thtr include A Full Moon Vaudeville featuring a large cast that includes writer/performer Ian Belknap kicking off Rhinofest on Saturday, January 21 and the Cabaret Prop’d series featuring jazz trumpeter Yves Franois that starts on Friday, January 27. Rhinofest is produced and curated by Prop Thtr and Curious Theatre Branch.

Sun 25

Families enjoy activities and crafts including dreidel bounce, baby/toddler zone, face paint, make your own donut, rainbow loom Chanukah jewelry, wood etching, take a picture with Judah Maccabee, dreidel crafts, Chanukah gelt, live presentations and more. Catch an interactive storytime , the Olive Oil Press demo and a Chanukah film .