AGP Executive Report

Broadway Buzz: “Schmigadoon!” won best new musical at the 2026 Tony Awards, with “Liberation” taking best play and “Ragtime” winning best musical revival; Caissie Levy (Hamilton-born) also grabbed best lead actress for “Ragtime.” Chicago Arts & Culture: Route 66 history gets a living tribute in Springfield at Bill Shea’s Gas Station Museum, now curated for a fourth generation. Film in Illinois: Indie drama “Road to Everywhere” opens June 17 and rolls into Chicago June 26, paired with live music events tied to the film’s cast reunion. Local Art Market: Intuit Art Museum cofounder Marjorie Freed’s folk and outsider collection heads to auction June 11 in Chicago. Public Art: Jaume Plensa’s new permanent sculpture “NEST” debuts in Prague, another reminder of his Chicago-linked public-art footprint. TV/Streaming: NBC cancels multiple shows ahead of summer/fall, including “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and “Stumble.” Sports-Entertainment Crossover: EA Sports explains why Caleb Williams landed the Madden NFL 27 cover, and Illinois fans are already leaning into the Chicago connection. Sports Media Loss: Chicago Bulls legend and broadcaster Stacey King dies at 59.

Broadway Buzz: “Schmigadoon!” won best musical at the 2026 Tony Awards, with “Liberation” taking best play and “Ragtime” earning best musical revival; John Lithgow and Laurie Metcalf also scored major acting wins as Pink hosted at Radio City Music Hall. Chicago Spotlight: The Tonys included a big “Chicago” 30th anniversary tribute featuring Pink, Queen Latifah, Whitney Leavitt and Alex Newell—plus a star-packed red-carpet moment for Broadway fans. Local Arts & Community: Two Chicago foundations teamed up for “Runway of Change,” an inclusive fashion show set for June 21 that spotlights disability rights and accessibility through fashion. Sports & Culture Loss: Bulls legend and broadcaster Stacey King died at 59; the team called him a beloved voice who brought Bulls basketball into Chicago homes for decades. Illinois Youth Watch: A Kids Count report says Illinois is doing better than most on youth well-being, but reading and math declines and rising child death rates remain urgent. World Cup on the Radar: Group D is shaping up as a pressure-cooker for the U.S. at home, with Paraguay, Turkey and Australia all capable of upsets.

Sports Loss: Chicago Bulls legend and longtime broadcaster Stacey King has died at 59. A three-time NBA champion, King was a fan-favorite voice for nearly two decades on Bulls TV, and the team called him a “cherished member” whose energy and humor brought games to life for generations. Broadway Buzz: Pink will host the Tony Awards on CBS and Paramount+ this Sunday, with 24 shows chasing wins across 26 categories. World Cup Watch (Illinois angle): The U.S. heads into FIFA World Cup play after a 2-1 warmup loss to Germany, with Antonee Robinson’s rocket goal standing out as the bright spot. Local Festivals: Murphysboro’s Big Muddy Monster Festival returns June 20 with cryptid-themed events and a free Liberty Theatre program lineup. Music & Community: The Chicago Blues Festival continues through Sunday at Millennium Park, with a relaxed, family-friendly vibe and major living legends on the bill. Arts in Chicago: A new Emmett Till dream exhibit, “From Memory to Movement: Emmett at 85,” opens at Blanc Gallery in Bronzeville, using mixed-media works to spark conversations about race and justice.

World Cup Buzz (Chicago): The U.S. men’s team wrapped its final tune-up at Soldier Field with a 2-1 loss to Germany, but Antonee Robinson’s rocket of a goal and a sellout crowd (63,636) left coach Mauricio Pochettino talking up growing fan energy ahead of the tournament. World Cup Off-Field Drama: Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was reportedly questioned for nearly seven hours after arriving at O’Hare, with the team’s photographer also facing major delays. Pope & Soccer: Pope Leo XIV said he’ll be cheering for the U.S. during World Cup play, while joking about competing with Bad Bunny’s Spain tour buzz. Broadway/Chicago Spotlight: The 79th Annual Tony Awards hit Radio City Music Hall Sunday, hosted by P!NK, with big “Chicago” and “Rent” anniversary tributes. Local Pride: The Quad Cities Pride Festival drew hundreds with live music, drag performances, and community vendors. Sports (Illinois): The Cubs edged the Giants 3-2 in 10 innings at Wrigley; the White Sox beat the Phillies 6-3.

WNBA & Chicago Sports Buzz: The Chicago Sky host Toronto with plenty of roster questions swirling around the league’s “flawed” teams. World Cup in Chicago: Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was detained and questioned for nearly seven hours at O’Hare before being allowed in, while the team’s photographer was denied entry after a long hold. Pope Leo & Sports: Pope Leo XIV says he’ll “certainly” support the U.S. during the World Cup during his Spain visit. USMNT vs Germany (Soldier Field): The final tune-up lands in Chicago with kickoff at 7:30pm BST and live TV/stream details varying by region. Local Soccer Pride: Chicago Fire defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi earns an MLS All-Star start, set to face Liga MX in Charlotte. Bears Stadium Fallout: The Bears advance their Hammond, Indiana stadium plan, keeping Illinois lawmakers and fans in a fresh round of debate. Weekend Arts & Events: Chicago’s free Chicago Blues Festival at Millennium Park and Lincoln Park Greek Fest headline the cultural calendar.

Stadium Drama: The Chicago Bears board voted to advance a new stadium project in Hammond, Indiana, after Illinois lawmakers adjourned without a last-ditch deal—prompting fresh backlash from Illinois Republicans and renewed debate over whether the team could drop “Chicago” from its name. Sports-Entertainment Crossover: EA SPORTS leaned into Bears QB Caleb Williams’ Michael Jordan homage for Madden NFL 27, while Matt Chapman’s monster day sent the Giants past the Cubs 18-3. WNBA Spotlight: The Chicago Sky snapped a five-game skid with a comeback win over the Connecticut Sun, with Hailey Van Lith drawing extra attention in her reunion matchup. Music & Pop Culture: Taylor Swift released a new “Toy Story 5” song, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” returning her to country-leaning sounds. Local Arts: Normal unveiled a Route 66 Art Deco mural, and Peoria County opened a renovated Bicentennial Park with music, art, and food for First Fridays Amplified. World Cup Buzz (Chicago): U.S. training continues as defender Chris Richards works toward a possible return ahead of the tournament.

Bears Stadium Drama: The Chicago Bears’ board voted to advance a new stadium plan in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site still undecided, after Illinois lawmakers adjourned without passing a bill that could have helped the team stay in the state—setting up a high-stakes fight over where the franchise lands next. US Soccer Update: Mauricio Pochettino says Chris Richards will sit out the USMNT’s World Cup send-off vs. Germany at Soldier Field as the team weighs his ankle status. Pop Culture Buzz: Taylor Swift dropped “I Knew It, I Knew You,” a new “Toy Story 5” song, and fans are already speculating about Oscar potential. Local Arts & Nightlife: Lincoln Park’s LaSalle Drive underpass is getting two massive “Day into Night” murals, turning a tunnel into a living, illustrated nature scene. Music & Touring: Wilco announced its first-ever performances in Africa, with a Morocco run planned for March 2027. Sports on TV (Illinois fans): Here’s how to watch the Phillies-White Sox matchup in Philadelphia on June 5, plus TV/streaming info for other Chicago-area games.

Sports-Entertainment Crossover: The Chicago Cubs pulled off a wild 9th-inning rally, scoring four in the bottom of the ninth to beat the Athletics 7-6, with Dansby Swanson tying it and Pete Crow-Armstrong delivering the winner. Streaming/TV: Starz ordered “Power: Legacy,” bringing back Joseph Sikora as Tommy Egan and Michael Rainey Jr. as Tariq St. Patrick, with the spinoff set to reunite the duo after “Force.” Film Spotlight: Director Adam Rehmeier talks “Carolina Caroline,” a road-robbery story starring Kyle Gallner and Samara Weaving, hitting U.S. theaters Friday. Music & Pop Culture: Taylor Swift’s “Toy Story 5” track leans hard into her country roots, while Morgan Wallen teased an unreleased song. Chicago Arts & Community: The Art Institute of Chicago is set for a major Willem de Kooning drawings exhibition this fall, and the Doodle Folk Music Festival returns June 13 in Bishop Hill with free performances. Sports Business/Local Pride: The Illinois Valley Sports Hall of Fame inducted its 2027 class, celebrating decades of athletes and teams.

Art Institute of Chicago: The museum is bringing the largest-ever exhibition of Willem de Kooning’s drawings to town this fall, opening June 14 and running through Sept. 20 with 200+ works that spotlight how sketching shaped his entire career. Theater & Broadway: Ahead of the 2026 Tony Awards, a guide looks at what to expect Sunday night at Radio City, plus a reminder that “losing” Best Musical shows can still become major hits. Chicago live music: Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s Roaring Nights returns with big names including Melissa Etheridge (June 7), Blues Traveler (July 24) and Nelly (July 25). Sports & entertainment crossover: “Damn Yankees” is in residence at Theo in Evanston through July 5, serving classic ballpark fun with a fresh local staging. Pop culture: Pokémon GO Fest celebrates its 10th anniversary at Grant Park June 5–7 with special in-game events and real-world activities. Local community: Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis summer camp registration is still open, with eight weeks of programs across Illinois and Missouri.

Obama Presidential Center Opening: Chicago’s Obama Presidential Center is set to open June 19, with a museum tower and a nearly 20-acre campus costing about $850 million—up from early estimates of $350 million—plus a community basketball court, library, playground, and a “Presidential Reading Room” featuring 3,500 book titles personally selected by the Obamas. Public Art on Michigan Avenue: Eight swimmer sculptures by Carole Feuerman debut on the Magnificent Mile in “Monuments of Stillness,” on view around Michigan Avenue north of the river through mid-November. Music & Culture: The Tribeca Festival kicks off with Questlove’s Earth, Wind & Fire documentary, while SIU Sharp Museum highlights sustainability through textile art in a new exhibition running through August 28. Local Arts Community: Chicago Catholic Artists launches its first “Upper Room” exhibition at Three-In-One Art Gallery, open by appointment through June 24. Sports-Entertainment Crossover: EA Sports names Bears QB Caleb Williams the cover athlete for Madden NFL 27. Weekend Picks: Rockford’s first June weekend lineup leans into live music, Pride events, and family-friendly theater.

Madden NFL 27: Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams is the first Bears player on the cover, posed in his signature “jump throw” style, with EA Sports rolling out standard and deluxe cover versions ahead of the Aug. 13 launch. Theater Spotlight: Steppenwolf ensemble member Gary Cole returns to Chicago for the premiere of “Catch as Catch Can,” directed by Amy Morton, marking his first local stage appearance in 25 years. Streaming Watch: Prime Video’s “Every Year After” leans into a Canadian lakeside romance with a decade-spanning twisty past, starring Sadie Soverall and Matt Cornett. TV News: NBC cancels “The Hunting Party” after two seasons, shopping it around for a possible revival. Local Arts & Community: Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art and other June listings highlight outdoor art, music, and performance picks across the city. On the Road: IDOT announces intermittent lane closures on IL 203 near Branding Drive starting June 8 for pavement patching, aiming for mid-August completion.

Local Arts Spotlight: Keokuk Art Center is featuring Renee Donley’s June show “I Dream of Art,” mixing watercolors, colored pencils, chalk, acrylic, and even hot glue and spackling, with nature-heavy one-of-a-kind pieces plus notecards. Music & Community: The Association of Lifelong Learners keeps its Adventures in Music series going with a June 11 Granum Theatre performance featuring flutists MaryAnn Hubbard and Cheryl Bates, soprano Nora Stone, and pianist Kat Tomaszewski. Pop Culture Buzz: Pope Leo XIV’s AI encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas” has gone viral, sparking meme reactions online, including “Love my woke pope” style posts. Illinois Politics (Arts-adjacent): Illinois Senate advances a bill restricting where ICE detention centers can be placed, with final approval headed to Gov. JB Pritzker. Sports + Entertainment Crossover: Peabo Bryson, the “Voice of Love” behind Disney hits “Beauty and the Beast” and “A Whole New World,” has died at 75.

Bears Stadium Drama: Illinois lawmakers adjourned without a Bears stadium deal, leaving Hammond, Indiana’s mayor to push hard for the team to go there. School Tech & Culture: Illinois approved a “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban in K-12, with limited exemptions, as Chicago-area schools weigh how to implement it. Riverfront Dining: NAIA, a huge Greek-Levantine restaurant on the Chicago River, officially opened with a dock-and-dine setup for boat arrivals. Arts in Chicago: “Monuments of Stillness,” a new public art installation by Carole A. Feuerman, debuts on Michigan Avenue through Nov. 2026. Film & Festivals: MUBI Fest Chicago returns July 10–12 with “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” and more screenings, live scores, and themed events. Music & Live Shows: Motionless In White announced a second North American fall leg of its Sweat and Blood Tour, with tickets going on sale June 5. Community Events: Glen Ellyn Park District’s June/July lineup kicks off with Lake Ellyn summer events and more family-friendly programming.

Bears Stadium Standoff: Illinois lawmakers adjourned the spring session early Monday without passing a Bears bill, but a last-minute proposal from Sen. Bill Cunningham would let Cook County cities create local stadium authorities—aimed at giving the team property-tax certainty while keeping land publicly owned. WNBA & Chicago Sports: Dallas Wings’ Paige Bueckers apologized (jokingly) after a rough night in a 79-56 loss to the Chicago Sky’s matchup results—highlighting how the Wings are learning to win ugly in a long season. Local Pride Voice: A Chicago writer reflected on what the Pride flag means beyond decoration—sanctuary, survival, and a personal coming-out story tied to the city’s Pride season. Music & Theater Buzz: The Tony Awards will feature a “Chicago” 30th anniversary tribute with Queen Latifah and Pink among performers. Illinois Fair Headliner: Du Quoin State Fair announced Randy Houser for a Labor Day concert on Sept. 7. TV Spotlight: NBC’s medical drama “Brilliant Minds” is ending its run in summer after cancellation. Sports Media Loss: Larry Fitzgerald Sr., a Chicago-born Minnesota sports journalist, died at 71.

Broadway & Chicago Spotlight: The Tony Awards will spotlight Chicago’s 30th anniversary with performances from P!nk, Queen Latifah, Whitney Leavitt, Julianne Hough, Alex Newell, Dylan Mulvaney and more, with the show airing June 7. Pop Culture: Taylor Swift drops a new Toy Story 5 tie-in single, “I Knew It, I Knew You,” releasing June 5. Music on the Road: Megan Moroney kicks off her Cloud 9 Tour, with stops including United Center in Chicago. Sports & Local Politics: Illinois lawmakers passed a $56B+ budget early Monday, but the Bears stadium bill stalled when the House adjourned without a vote; Mayor Brandon Johnson is now backing a new Cook County stadium-authority approach. Health & Tech: UIC and University of Utah researchers unveiled a physics-informed AI wearable that could enable continuous, cuffless blood pressure monitoring. Arts & Community: North Central College plans a 60,000-square-foot student commons in Naperville, including a new dining hall and activities center. Public Health Alert: Chicago-area ozone levels triggered an Air Pollution Action Day, warning millions to limit outdoor activity.

Bears Stadium Drama: Illinois lawmakers raced past a midnight deadline, revamping the Bears-in-state plan into a new framework built around publicly owned stadium authorities after earlier megaprojects property-tax relief stalled in the Senate. Statehouse & Arts: Downtown Springfield’s revitalization push cleared the Senate, aiming to create a Capital Area Tourism Authority tied to a new hotel and expanded medical district. Music on Vinyl: Frank Zappa’s “ZAPPAtite” compilation lands on vinyl July 17, giving fans a long-awaited wax release. Local Sports Focus: The Twins hit a rough patch and open a homestand vs. the White Sox after a five-game skid, while the Cubs’ rivalry finale at Busch ended 5-1 as St. Louis took the rubber match. World Cup Tune-Up: The USMNT plays Senegal in Charlotte ahead of the June 6 send-off in Chicago, with TV/stream details set for fans. Community Events: Wichmann Vineyard’s Fifth annual Grape Stomp returns June 6 with live music and proceeds benefiting the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Illinois.