Chicago folk singer Michael Smith’s “Michael Margaret Pat & Kate,” an autobiographical musical reminiscence, is scheduled to open in January 1994 at Victory Gardens Theater. But fans of Smith’s contemporary folk songs can get a sneak peek at the production in previews at 7 and 10 p.m. April 10 at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 909 W. Armitage Ave.
“Michael Margaret Pat & Kate,” which explores Smith’s growing-up years, his relationship with his sisters and the siblings’ reactions to a family tragedy, features music by Smith and a script by Smith and director Peter Glazer.
Glazer also wrote and directed “Woody Guthrie’s American Song,” a 1991 Northlight Theatre production that won several Jeff Awards.
Singer-guitarist Smith will be accompanied by Willy Schwarz on accordion, Miriam Sturm on fiddle, Larry Gray on bass and Pat Fleming on guitar.
Tickets are $10. Call the Victory Gardens box office at 312-871-3000 for reservations.
DeWan goes on record: Singer-songwriter Jim DeWan is recording a live album Sunday at the Old Town School, and anyone who wants to be part of the proceedings is welcome to show up. The concert is free; seating begins at 7:15 p.m. The singer and guitarist, whose repertoire includes folk, country and pop tunes, will perform “The Day the Earth Ended Waltz,” “I Married a Zombie,” “I’m Feeling Sluggish Today” and other original material in a humorous vein. DeWan divides his time between Chicago and Nashville.
Cultural traditions: Songs, dances and stories from South Africa, Northern Ireland and several American Indian cultures are among the upcoming free events at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.
Harold Scheub, a professor of African language and literature at the University of Wisconsin, discusses oral traditions in South African literature at 5:30 p.m. April 14. Also on the program is a celebration of South African performing arts by Ndikho and Nomusa Xaba. The couple’s performance includes poetry, dance, instrumental and vocal music with lyrics in Zulu, Sotho and English.
The Irish American Heritage Choir and the Crossroads Ceili Dancers of the Francis O’Neill Club share the bill at 5:30 p.m. April 21. The Heritage Choir, founded in 1986, performs in English and Gaelic and specializes in songs about the struggle to retain Irish cultural identity amid political and religious conflict. The Crossroads Ceili Dancers perform traditional dances in the high-stepping Ceili style.
Northern Ireland is also in the spotlight April 22, when author John Conroy discusses the historical context of the conflict in Northern Ireland at 12:15 p.m., followed by a concert by Chicago folk singer Jamie O’Reilly and friends.
The Red Sands Drum Group of the Blackhawk Native American Dance Troupe of Chicago will perform ceremonial songs, and E. Donald Two-Rivers will read from his poetry, at 12:15 p.m. April 23. The dance troupe, including male fancy dancers, female fancy shawl dancers and buffalo dancers, also will perform as part of a 2 p.m. program April 24.