Things to do in Chicago Oct. 24-30: The Mix
Theater
The perennial holiday favorite “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” is the story of two buddies who stage a winter pageant to save a struggling Vermont inn. Linda Fortunato directs. From Oct. 30-Dec. 29 at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire. Tickets: $63+. Visit marriotttheatre.com.
The Midwest regional premiere of Disney’s “Frozen the Broadway Musical” brings the beloved animated film to life. It’s a coming-of-age story of two sisters, Elsa (Emily Kristen Morris) and Anna (Beth Stafford Laird), as they navigate love, loyalty and Elsa’s uncontrollable powers. Trent Stork directs. From Oct. 30-Jan. 19 at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena. Tickets: $28-$85. Visit paramountaurora.com.
The Second City e.t.c.’s 48th revue, “Best Kept Secret: Tell Everyone," features returning company members Meghan Babbe, Terrence Carey, Claudia Martinez and Tim Metzler plus newcomers Jenelle Cheyne and Javid Iqbal. Opens Oct. 30 at The Second City, 230 W. North. Tickets: $39+. Visit secondcity.com.
Tony Award nominee Jon Michael Hill and Obie Award winner Brittany Bradford star in “Leroy and Lucy,” the story of two lost souls who meet at a crossroads, in the dead of night, deep in Mississippi. Ngozi Anyanwu’s play is inspired by the myth of musician Robert Johnson and the Delta Blues. Awoye Timpo directs. From Oct. 24-Dec. 15 at Steppenwolf Ensemble Theatre, 1646 N. Halsted. Tickets: $20+. Visit steppenwolf.org.
Music Theater Works presents “Little Shop of Horrors,” Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s musical about a carnivorous plant and the meek flower shop employee whose life it takes over. Kyle A. Dougan directs. From Oct. 24-Nov. 17 at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Tickets: $19.50-$106. Visit musictheaterworks.com.
Eugene Ionesco’s “Rhinoceros,” a tale about a town’s citizens gradually transforming into horned beastsm is told with an intergenerational cast and a physical, imagistic staging. From Oct. 24-Nov. 24 at Theatre Y, 3611 W. Cermak. Admission is free. Visit theatre-y.com.
Manual Cinema’s thrilling adaptation of the classic Mary Shelley tale “Frankenstein” is filled with shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, sound effects and music. From Oct. 25-27 at Studebaker Theater, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan. Tickets: $45-$65. Visit manualcinema.com.
Jazzma Pryor and Jasmine ”Jaz” Robertson perform all nine roles in “Until the Flood,” Dael Orlandersmith’s play exploring the 2014 social uprising in Ferguson, Missouri, following the shooting of Michael Brown. Directed by Tim Rhoze. From Oct. 26-Nov. 10 at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes, Evanston. Tickets: $32. Visit fjtheatre.com.
Nothing Without a Company presents Kevin Sparrow’s “Sofa King Queer,” a pop-punk/indie rock musical that examines the positioning of LGBTQIA+ rights as a political token during election season. From Oct. 26-Dec. 2 at Berger Park Cultural Center, 6205 N. Sheridan. Tickets: $30-$60. Visit nothingwithoutacompany.org.
Invictus Theatre presents “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” one of Shakespeare’s most popular and enduring tragedies, about a Scottish general consumed by ambition. From Oct. 29-Dec. 15 at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park. Tickets: $38. Visit invictustheatreco.com.
The podcast “Horrorwood: True Crime in Tinseltown,” hosted by Kate McCoy and Kevin Corbett, delves into the dark underbelly of Hollywood. The hosts come to town for a live show at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at Venus Cabaret Theatre, 3745 N. Southport. Tickets: $28. Visit mercurytheaterchicago.com.
Dance
Giordano Dance Chicago presents Ray Leeper’s “Black and Red,” Al Blackstone’s “Gershwin in B,” Marinda Davis’ “Flickers,” Adam Houston’s “Unconditional” and Autumn Eckman’s “Yes, And…” At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25-26 at Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph. Tickets: $36-$106. Visit harristheaterchicago.org.
Red Clay Dance Company performs Vershawn Sanders-Ward’s “Unconditional Conditions,” Lela Aisha Jones’ “We all ‘gon die: into revivals” and Amansu Eason’s “DevelopMino.” At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 25-26 at Logan Center for the Arts, 914 E. 60th. Tickets: $35-$45. Visit redclaydance.com.
Music
Sting brings his rock combo, including Dominic Miller (guitar) and Chris Maas (drums), to town for a four-night stand. It’s a return to a format that the legendary musician is familiar with (i.e. The Police) and one that he says is an “enjoyable challenge.” Expect plenty of fan favorites, deep cuts, and new fare including the recently released single “I Wrote Your Name (Upon My Heart)," on which Sting growls a gritty, blues melody. From Oct. 28-29, Nov. 1-2 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells. Tickets: $65+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Following his Super Bowl halftime show and successful Las Vegas residency, R&B icon Usher brings his timeless classics and slick moves to a tour he’s calling “Past Present Future.” There's a reason Usher, adept at creating fascinating, meticulous performances, is called “the greatest showman of his time.” At 8 p.m. Oct. 28-29, 31 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison. Tickets: $71+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden’s “The Future Past” tour includes songs from the band’s recent album “Senjutsu" and 1988’s seminal “Somewhere in Time,” as well as other fan favorites. At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim, Rosemont. Tickets: $150+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Mexican-American singer Lila Downs and the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company celebrate Dia de Los Muertos, Mexico’s Day of the Dead, at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan. Tickets: $45-$199. Visit cso.org.
On her first arena tour, Maggie Rogers hits the road in support of her new album, “Don’t Forget Me,” which Pitchfork says “is her strongest yet, the sound of a wise, clear-eyed, melodious prodigy coming into her own voice.” At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison. Tickets: $34+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
The Civic Orchestra of Chicago begins a new season with performances of works by Wagner, Ortiz and Schumann. Ken-David Masur conducts. At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan. Tickets: pay-what-you-can beginning with $5. Visit cso.org.
Movies
The 1922 silent horror classic “Nosferatu” gets the prog-rock treatment with British composer Paul Bielatowicz’s original live score and multimedia production. At 8 p.m. Oct. 25-26 at Athenaeum Center, 2936 N. Southport. Tickets: $24+. Visit athenaeumcenter.org.
A screening of the 1992 horror film “Candyman” includes an appearance by Johnny Westmoreland (he played Samuel Evans in the 2021 sequel), a meet and greet, and pre- and post-screening Q&As. At 6 p.m. Oct. 30 at Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton. Tickets: $14. Visit facets.org.
Museums
“Jeremy Frey: Woven” is a mid-career retrospective of the seventh-generation Passamaquoddy basketmaker that explores the shapes, textures and colors of his extraordinary body of work. Included are more than 50 stunning baskets made from ash wood with sweetgrass, birch bark, cedar bark and porcupine quillwork. From Oct. 26-Feb. 10 at Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan. Tickets: $14-$32. Visit artic.edu.
“Dia de Muertos, Where the Past Is Present” is the annual exhibit highlighting the annual Mexican Day of the Dead. Nearly 70 works from the museum’s permanent collection are on display. Plus visitors can add to the installation “El Camino de las Almas” with a message, drawing or memory of a loved one. From Sept. 20-Dec. 8 at National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th. Admission is free. Visit nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org.
Family Fun
Blue Man Group presents a special Halloween performance for families that includes pre-show face painting, Halloween-inspired surprises during the show, goodie bags for all children in costume under age 17, and post-show photo ops with the Blue Men. At 1 p.m. Oct. 27 at Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted. Tickets: $49+. Visit blueman.com/chicago.
Sing and shake your bones at the Old Town School’s Halloween Hootenanny as the Wiggleworms teaching artists present a not-too-scary musical good time for the younger set. At 11 a.m. Oct. 26 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln. Tickets: $15. Visit oldtownschool.org.
Day of the Dead Live! features classical and popular music, life-sized puppets, stilt walkers, aerialists, dancers and more. From Oct. 29-Nov. 1 at Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State. Admission is free. Visit chipublib.org/news/day-of-the-dead-live/.