Chicago – The Opera Festival of Chicago continues its latest season with a celebration of Italian opera in its most vibrant form—where art is not only a vocation but a way of life. Presented in collaboration with the Italian Cultural Institute of Chicago, the season opened with Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème and continues with additional performances of the timeless story of love and passion set against the harsh realities of life. Puccini's masterpiece returns to the stage on July 1 and July 5 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. The festival also takes audiences into the glamorous and emotionally charged world of the theater with Adriana Lecouvreur by Francesco Cilea, inspired by the life of the legendary French actress. Performances are scheduled for June 28 and July 3, also at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. (9colonne)