Born and raised in Chicago, Irene Michaels returns to her hometown for a very special performance at one of the city’s most beloved summer traditions—The Little Italy Festa-Taylor Street. Performing on Friday, August 15 at 7:30 PM, Irene brings her signature blend of glamour, resilience, and musical flair to the neighborhood that helped shape her.
A multi-hyphenate icon, Irene has spent decades breaking boundaries across the worlds of modeling, acting, equestrian competition, entrepreneurship, and music. She is the visionary behind the “I On…” luxury lifestyle brand, the author of I On Beauty, and the creator of a signature skincare line. In her late seventies, she redefined what it means to age gracefully by emerging as a House Music Recording Artist, earning BroadwayWorld Awards, a Josie Music Award, and wide acclaim for her dynamic cabaret performances.
Now 80 and still performing to sold-out crowds, Irene Michaels is living proof that passion has no expiration date. Her upcoming appearance at the Festa will be a celebration not only of Italian-American heritage, but of bold reinvention and unstoppable spirit.
Taylor Street is one of the most historic neighborhoods in Chicago. From the late 1800s to about the 1950s, this area was a hub for Italian immigrants to settle and establish their families. It soon became Chicago’s “Official” Little Italy. Chicago’s Little Italy Festa-Taylor Street celebrates the great history of the neighborhood and the rich culture of the generations of Italians who settled there decades ago. Fabulous food from award-winning area restaurants, several stages of continuous family entertainment, quality merchandise from Italy, and colorful cultural attractions make this event one of the most popular of the summer. Sponsored by Little Italy Chicago Neighborhood Association and Produced by Ron Onesti (who was born on Taylor Street) of Onesti Entertainment.
The festival is a weekend celebrating Italian culture, cuisine and class. Chosen by the Taylor Street neighborhood, Ron will represent the Italian American community and immerse guests in an authentic Italian experience. As colors of green, white and red parade the streets, festivalgoers will experience the taste and feel of Italy on the same streets that Ron’s grandparents settled on in 1911. “I was born on this street, in this neighborhood, on Taylor and Western Avenue. I am excited to not only bring this celebration of Italian heritage and culture to the next level, but also to be an active part in re-establishing Taylor Street as Chicago’s ‘official’ Little Italy.”
For more information visit https://oshows.com/festivals/