Theater
- The latest stage version of “To Kill a Mockingbird” is Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of the classic Harper Lee novel. It’s a story of racial injustice and childhood innocence and centers around white small-town lawyer Atticus Finch, who takes the case of a wrongly accused Black man, Tom Robinson. The touring company features Richard Thomas as Finch, Melanie Moore as his daughter Scout, Jacqueline Williams as housekeeper Calpurnia and Yaegel T. Welch as Robinson. Mary Badham, who as a young girl memorably portrayed Scout in the 1962 film adaptation, returns to the stage as the Finches’ neighbor Mrs. Dubose. Bartlett Sher directs. From May 17-29 at Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., $35+. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.
- Court Theatre presents August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running,” a drama which explores Black identity in the 1960s. During the civil rights movement, Memphis Lee fights to sell his diner for a fair price while restaurant regulars struggle as their neighborhood changes in unpredictable ways. Ron OJ Parson directs. From May 13-June 12 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. Tickets: $37.50-$84. Visit courttheatre.org.
- Teatro Vista returns to live theater with Brian Quijada’s “Somewhere Over the Border.” Inspired by his mother’s real-life border crossing from El Salvador to the U.S. and mashed up with “The Wizard of Oz,” the musical theater piece uses fact and fantasy to tell of one young girl’s pursuit of the American dream. Denise Yvette Serna directs. From May 12-June 12 at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Rd. Tickets: $15-$49.50. Visit teatrovisto.org.
- Joseph Stein, Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick’s Tony Award-winning musical, “Fiddler on the Roof,” is the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and the traditions that define faith and family. Yehezkel Lazarov stars as Tevye; Bartlett Sher directs. From May 17-22 at Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St. Tickets: $31+. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.
- About Face Theatre presents Terry Guest’s “The Magnolia Ballet,” a Southern gothic drama about a teen with a secret that threatens to destroy his already broken home. Guest melds high drama, dance, poetry and spectacle to explore masculinity, racism and the love between a queer kid and his father. Mikael Burke directs. From May 12-June 11 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., $5-$35. Visit aboutfacetheatre.com.
- Invictus Theatre stages Edward Albee’s scorching and wickedly funny drama “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf.” Two married couples battle with their spouses and each other during one alcohol-fueled evening. Charles Askenaizer directs. From May 12-June 12 at Reginald Vaughn Theatre, 1106 W. Thorndale Ave. Tickets: $30. Visit invictustheatreco.com.
- Promethean Theatre returns from its pandemic hiatus with a staging of Shakespeare’s “Richard III.” A cast of 15 plays over 30 characters in the epic history play about the diabolical would-be king who will go to any length to achieve the throne. Steve Scott directs. From May 12-June 25 at Factory Theatre, 1623 W. Howard St. Tickets: $30. Visit prometheantheatre.org.
- AstonRep Theatre’s season concludes with the Chicago premiere of Sarah Treem’s “When We Were Young and Unafraid.” Set in the ’70s, the drama is the story of Agnes, whose house is a refuge for victims of domestic violence. Sara Pavlak McGuire directs. From May 13-June 12 at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W. Catalpa Ave. Tickets: $20. Visit astonrep.com.
- Broken Nose Theatre presents Zoe Kazan’s “After the Blast,” about a young couple, Anna and Oliver, in a dystopian world where they must seek government approval to become parents. From May 13-June 11 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets: Pay-what-you-can. Visit brokennosetheatre.com.
- The Porchlight Revisits series presents Heidi Rodewald and Stew’s “Passing Strange,” a musical about a young musician chasing his dreams and reeling against his conservative upbringing. At 7 p.m. May 18, 1:30 and 7 p.m. May 19 at Porchlight Music Theatre, Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. $49. Visit porchlightmusictheatre.org.
Dance
- Hubbard Street Dance concludes its 44th season with performances of Ohad Naharin’s “Decadance/Chicago,” an evening-length work comprised of excerpts from his most celebrated pieces including “Sadeh21,” “Naharin’s Virus” and the iconic “Minus 16.” A second program offers the Chicago premiere of Spenser Theberge’s “Ne Me Quitte Pas,” Aszure Barton’s “BUSK,” Naharin’s “George & Zalman” and Amy Hall Garner’s “As the Wind Blows.” From May 12-15 at Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph. Tickets: $15-$110. Visit hubbardstreedance.com.
- Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre presents an evening of audience favorites and new works including “Root,” “Soul Remedy” and “Mood Swing,” plus the new works “From Here, To Home” and “The Island,” which were inspired by real-life stories from Chicago’s West Side. At 7:30 p.m. May 14 at Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. Tickets: $36. Visit thebeverlyartscenter.org.
Music
- Koffee tours behind her debut album, “Gifted,” which showcases the 22-year-old’s songwriting, vocal and production talents. She’s created an innovative and fresh body of work that pushes reggae forward. Her 2019 EP “Rapture” won the Grammy for best reggae album, making her the youngest person and only woman to win that category. Buju opens at 8 p.m. May 15 at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St. Tickets: $50. Visit houseofblues.com/chicago.
- “Josephine Baker, A Legacy of Fervor” celebrates the extraordinary legacy of the performer, French resistance heroine and civil rights fighter. The concert features performers from Paris and Chicago: Michele Barbier, who served as Baker’s personal assistant in the later years of her life; Evelyn Danner; Lynne Jordan; Mylene Launay; Ave Logan; Patrick Pernet; Maryline Rollet; Clotilde Rullaud; Christine Steyer; Wilfried Touati and Kat Victoria. At 7 p.m. May 16 at Alliance Francaise, 54 W. Chicago Ave. Tickets: $35. Visit af-chicago.org.
- Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra closes its 44th season with pianist Alexander Toradze performing Sergei Prokofiev’s “Piano Concerto No. 3,” the world premiere of IPO composer-in-residence Martha Horst’s “Reverberations” and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade.” At 7:30 p.m. May 14 at Ozinga Chapel, Trinity Christian College, 6601 W. College Dr., Palos Heights. Tickets: $10-$67. Visit ipomusic.org.
Museums
- The hottest museum ticket of the summer is “Nick Cave: Forothermore,” the first career-spanning retrospective of the Chicago-based artist. The exhibition is designed as an immersive journey and features cast bronze sculptures, sequined tapestries, color-saturated videos, installations and more than a dozen selections from Cave’s signature “Soundsuit” series. From May 14-Oct 2 at Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. Admission: $8, $15. Visit mcachicago.org. The citywide celebration continues at the DuSable Museum of African American History (740 E. 56th Pl.) with a fund-raising gala on May 21 with a presentation of “The Color Is,” a performative fashion experience featuring an 80-look production by Cave and his brother Jack Cave. Two public performances also are planned for May 22-23. And the Merchandise Mart will feature a new video presentation by Cave projected on the building through Sept. 7.
- If your taste in art leans more toward the classic, check out “Cezanne,” an ambitious exhibit which explores Paul Cezanne’s work across media and genres with 90 oil paintings, 40 watercolors and drawings and two complete sketchbooks. From May 15-Sept. 5 at Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. Admission: $14-$25. Visit artic.edu.
Family fun
- Introduce youngsters to the beauty and creativity of ballet when A&A Ballet’s Family Dance Series presents its take on “Carnival of the Animals” and a world premiere of “The Firebird,” featuring new choreography by Alexei Kremnev and projected sand art animation by Anastasia Antropova. For ages 3 and up. At 3 p.m. May 14 at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. Tickets: $25-$55. Visit athenaeumtheatre.org.
The Insect Asylum, a new museum and community center founded by nature advocate Nina Salem, is celebrating its grand opening in Avondale. There’ll be a meet and greet with a live sloth and owls, live insect demonstrations, a dance performance by India Yvee DeMinuit and acoustic music by Vince Flippone. Salem’s 2,500-insect collection will be on display as well as the taxidermy animals she has collected. The grand opening begins at 1 p.m. May 14 at 2870 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets: $5-$40. Visit theinsectasylum.com.
The 2022 Stars on Ice tour brings the best of the U.S. Figure Skating team to town. The tour showcases the new Olympic medalists from the recent games in Beijing including Nathan Chen, Madison Hubbell, Zachary Donohue, Madison Chock, Evan Bates, Karen Chen, Alexa Knierim, Brandon Frazier and Vincent Zhou, plus 2022 Olympic team members Jason Brown, Alysa Liu and Mariah Bell and 2018 medalist Mirai Nagasu. At 7:30 p.m. May 14 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St. Tickets: $15+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
