**** For just three days, November 13–15, the Athenaeum Center is presenting Dante360, an immersive theatrical journey into one of the most influential works in world literature: Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy. If you have ever struggled to make your way through this epic poem—or remember tackling it in college, as I do—this production offers a lively and imaginative way to experience Dante’s extraordinary journey.The production takes us through the poem’s spiritual landscape, following Dante as he travels through Purgatory and ultimately toward Heaven. Along the way, he is guided by the Roman poet Virgil and reunited with Beatrice, the idealized love who becomes his guide in the final part of his journey. Rather than simply presenting the story, Dante360 uses music, dance, movement and theatrical imagery to draw the audience into Dante’s imagination and the world he created more than 700 years ago.
Adding valuable historical context is Elizabeth Lev, an art historian and scholar who lived in Florence for more than 30 years studying its art and history. Her insights help place Dante’s work in the political, religious, and cultural world that shaped it.
The older Dante is portrayed by Curtis Powell, who narrates the poet’s life and reflects on the journey. Powell is a familiar presence as an artist, director and playwright. Alex Schultz, new to Chicago and previously seen with Shakespeare in the Park, plays the younger Dante as he makes his way through the poem’s trials. Mike Rogalski, a well-known Chicago actor whose work includes Timeline Theatre and Chicago Shakespeare Theater, takes on the role of Virgil. Rae Lindenberg, an educator at the Young Actors Training Center in Wilmette with experience in Chicago film and television, plays Beatrice.
The full ensemble deserves recognition. Together, the performers bring energy and dimension to the many stages of Dante’s journey. The combination of movement, music and dance makes the experience feel less like a traditional lecture about a classic poem and more like stepping inside the poet’s mind.
The Divine Comedy is a demanding work—roughly 14,000 lines, often published in editions of several hundred pages—and it is filled with references to the politics and religious conflicts of Dante’s time. His opposition to powerful figures in Florence, including the political forces aligned with the papacy, contributed to his exile. Those historical tensions are important to understanding why he wrote what he did. Dante360 helps audiences see that this is not only a spiritual adventure, but also a deeply personal work shaped by the world around its author.
Now in its eighth year, the production clearly has an audience. The house was full, with students and lovers of the arts ready to take in this unusual presentation. At approximately two and a half hours, including intermission, it gives viewers time to follow the story and consider the ideas behind it. It is an ambitious undertaking, and an engaging reminder that a work written centuries ago can still speak to a modern audience.
Dante360’s brief Chicago engagement runs through November 15, so this year’s performances are nearly over. Keep an eye out for next year’s return. For information about future productions and the Athenaeum Center’s calendar, visit AthenaeumCenter.org.
And there is more coming up at the Athenaeum. In December, the radio-play presentation It’s a Wonderful Life is scheduled for December 11–31, while the Lakeview Orchestra will present Winter Tale with Micah Gleason.
Located in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, the Athenaeum Theatre has been a landmark of the city’s Off-Loop theatre scene since 1911. Its eclectic calendar is worth exploring for theatre, music and other cultural events.
The Athenaeum Center For Thought and Culture is located at 2936 N. Southport; phone is 312-820-6250
More Stories
“Revolutions 2” A Chamber Concert reviewed by Julia W. Rath
“Home for the Holidays”-
A Little “sunshine” with my massgae!