‘Chicago’ Continues its Strong Run at CLO; ‘Logan’s Run’ 40th Anniversary Party at Hollywood (Thurs., 6/23/16)

Billy Flynn (John O’Hurley) ‘guides’ Roxie Hart (Dylis Croman) through a pretrial press conference. photo: Mike Polk.

1) In 1924 in Chicago, two lurid murder cases made headlines, each involving a glamorous young woman. One admitted shooting her lover and there was strong evidence that the other, a cabaret singer, had killed hers. Both had clever lawyers who played on the jurors’ sympathy, and both were acquitted. After covering the cases as a reporter, Maurine Dallas Watkins wrote a play satirizing the media-circus trials and the reckless, freewheeling atmosphere of the city itself. Her play, Chicago, did well on Broadway. Nearly 50 years later, a musical adapted from it did even better. Writers John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse mixed the crime stories with dark humor and sizzling song-and-dance to evoke the Roaring Twenties in a way that audiences loved. The Chicago musical is an enduring hit, playing and re-playing worldwide while a movie version won the 2002 Oscar for Best Picture. Pittsburgh CLO is performing Chicago with TV’s John O’Hurley in the male lead as lawyer Billy Flynn. See our review. 8 p.m. Performances through June 26. Benedum Center, 237 7^th St., Cultural District. (MV)

2) Logan’s Run – Did you know that it’s the 40^th anniversary of the dystopian sci-fi flick Logan’s Run? You know what?—me neither. But the fine folks at Hollywood Theater did and they’re celebrating with this 40^th birthday party. In case you weren’t around 40 years ago (and if you follow the logic of Logan’s Run you wouldn’t have been) life in the year 2274 is pretty much everything you could dream. There’s no war, no strife, no pain … just a bunch of young, good-looking folks gamboling in the sun. The nasty truth, however, is that when you turn 30 in this utopia you are put to sleep … forever. Some 29-and-counting folks are naturally unhappy with this arrangement and try to escape.

Michael York plays a guy named Logan whose job it is to run after them and kill them. But somewhere along the way he meets and falls in love with Jenny Agutter … and they bump into Peter Ustinov—the only person they’ve ever met over 30. He explains that the world wasn’t always like this and Logan decides to bring the truth to the people—with the expected results. Imagine—people over 30 being erased from the culture? Thank God that never came to be! The Hollywood, btw, is encouraging “Logan’s Run-inspired dress.” Sounds like fun! 8 p.m. 1449 Potomac Ave., Dormont. (TH)

3) The Pirates take on the San Francisco Giants on one of the prettiest patches of grass in the ‘Burgh today at 12:35 p.m. It’s Gerrit Cole bobblehead Day (first 20,000 fans). PNC Park, 115 Federal St., North Shore.

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