Chicago Theatre Week (Feb. 5-15), the annual celebration of theater in Chicago, features a diverse list of more than 70 plays around the city and suburbs. Tickets: $30, $15 or less. Visit hottix.org/chicago-theatre-week.
Tony Award-winning musical “The Outsiders,” based on the novel by S.E. Hinton and Francis Ford Coppola’s film, is the story of Ponyboy Curtis (Nolan White), his best friend Johnny Cade (Bonale Fambrini) and their Greaser family of “outsiders” as they battle their affluent rivals, the Socs. From Feb. 10-22 at Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St. Tickets: $49-$165. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.
“Hamnet” Lolita Chakrabarti’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, runs from Feb. 10-March 8 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave.
Manuel Harlan
The Royal Shakespeare Company presents “Hamnet,” Lolita Chakrabarti’s adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s novel, about Agnes Hathaway and William Shakespeare as they create a life together and apart. Eric Whyman directs. From Feb. 10-March 8 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand Ave. Tickets: $58+. Visit chicagoshakes.com.
The Second City e.t.c. goes fully unscripted in “Improv Supernova” with suggestions by the audience fueling high-wire improv resulting in entirely different shows at each performance. Anne Libera directs. Ongoing at The Second City, 230 W. North Ave. Tickets: $39+, on Thursdays $19.59. Visit secondcity.com.
“Miss Julie” is August Strindberg’s drama about class, gender and desire at the turn of the 20th century as a woman (Mi Kang) hopes to abandon her aristocratic life and the expectations that trap her. Gabrielle Randle-Bent directs. From Feb. 6-March 8 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave. Tickets: $60-$90. Visit courttheatre.org.
In William Inge’s drama “Come Back, Little Sheba,” a former beauty queen (Gwendolyn Whiteside) and a recovering alcoholic (Philip Earl Johnson) live a life of heartbreak and regret until a young student (Maya Lou Hlava) becomes their boarder. Elyse Dolan directs. From Feb. 6-March 22 at American Blues Theater, 5627 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: $34.50-$89.50. Visit americanbluestheater.com.
“Hedda Gabler,” Christopher Shinn’s adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s drama about a woman who wants to escape her loveless, ordinary existence, runs from Feb. 5-March 8 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.
Joe Mazza
Remy Bumppo Theatre presents “Hedda Gabler” Christopher Shinn’s adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s drama about a woman (Aurora Real de Asua) who wants to escape her loveless, ordinary existence. Marti Lyons directs. From Feb. 5-March 8 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets: $39-$56. Visit remybumppo.org.
The 2026 Black Excellence Revue presents “Black and Highly Flavored,” which features sketches, music and improv that honors Black artistry, humor, resilience and community. From Feb. 5-March 20 at The Second City, 230 W. North Ave. Tickets: $39+. Visit secondcity.com.
“Pivot” is Alex Lubischer’s dark comedy about a woman who is ready to fight for her future when her wedding plans blow up in her face. Hallie Gordon directs. From Feb. 11-March 21 at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave. Tickets: $38+. Visit rivendelltheatre.org.
Joshua Harmon’s “Admissions” digs into the lengths we’ll go to protect our children and the complicated truths that surface. Beth Wolf directs. From Feb. 13-March 15 at Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest. Tickets: $45. Visit citadeltheatre.org.
Music
Grammy-winning soprano Renée Fleming performs at 7 p.m. Feb. 5 at Lyric Opera, 20 N. Wacker Drive.
Marvin Joseph
Grammy-winning soprano Renée Fleming returns to the Lyric Opera with “Voice of Nature: The Anthropocene” with concert pianist Inon Barnatan. The multimedia recital traces the evolving relationship between humanity and the natural world and features imagery from the National Geographic Society. At 7 p.m. Feb. 5 at Lyric Opera, 20 N. Wacker Drive. Tickets: $113+. Visit lyricopera.org.
Singers José James and Lizz Wright join together to reimagine the music of Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You,” in a 50th anniversary celebration of an album that is one of R&B’s most influential recordings. At 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets: $55+. Visit cso.org.
The Cactus Blossoms performs Feb. 6 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.
Aaron Rice
Brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum, aka The Cactus Blossoms, are among the distinctive group of modern practitioners of harmony duo singing. Their most recent disc, “Every Time I Think About You,” is “pure Americana dream pop,” according to the website No Depression. Country folk artist Angela Autumn opens at 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: $41. Visit oldtownschool.org.
If you’re craving ABBA’s hits, check out Sweden’s Arrival, a show band created by Rutger Gunnarsson (one of ABBA’s original musicians) and Swedish artist Vicky Zetterberg. At 8 p.m. Feb. 6 at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive. Tickets: $54+. Visit auditoriumtheatre.org.
Museums
Hamdia Traoré’s “Des marabouts de Djenné and Muslim Portraiture in Mali” marks the Malian photographer’s first exhibit in the U.S.
Hamdia Traoré
Northwestern University’s Block Museum of Art offers two new exhibits drawn from recent museum photographic acquisitions that show artists documenting their own communities. “Hamdia Traoré’s Des marabouts de Djenné and Muslim Portraiture in Mali” marks the Malian photographer’s first exhibit in the U.S. “Teresa Montoya: Tó Łitso (Yellow Water): Ten Years After the Gold King Mine Spill,” features images from the Chicago-based artist’s series documenting a 2015 Colorado mine spill. To July 14 at Block Museum, 40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. Admission is free. Visit blockmuseum.northwestern.edu.
“Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition” features paintings, drawings, fine art prints, sculpture, mixed media, ceramics and photography by Black artists, including artists between the ages of 14-17. To April 19 at Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Tickets: $25.95, $14.95 children ages 3-11. Visit griffinmsi.org.
Movies
Uma Thurman stars as The Bride in “Kill Bill.”
“Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair” combines volumes 1 and 2 of Quentin Tarantino’s martial arts tale, one of cinema’s definitive revenge sagas, into a single epic, complete with a new never-before-seen anime sequence. From Feb. 5-9 at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. Tickets: $25. Visit musicboxtheatre.com.
Family fun
Bring a puzzle and take a different one home at the Great Andersonville Puzzle Exchange.
Erica Ruyle
Fika Fest returns to the Andersonville neighborhood with a Coffee & Cocoa Crawl (10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 7, $30 includes a mug, $10 for kids 12 and under includes a gift bag). The wildly popular Great Andersonville Puzzle Exchange (10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 8, Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark St., $5 suggested donation) is the place to bring a puzzle and take a different one home. There’s also a Puzzle Throwdown (11 a.m.-2 p.m., Raygun, 5207 N. Clark St.) where puzzle masters can attempt to finish a 48-piece puzzle in record time. For more information, visit andersonville.org.
Wear your pjs and bring your favorite stuffie to the Valentine Pajama Jam, a concert for kids and families, celebrating love and togetherness through singing and dancing with music performed by Old Town School teaching artists. At 10:30 a.m. Feb. 7 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4545 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: $20. Visit oldtownschool.org.
Now in its 10th year, Chicago Black Restaurant Week highlights the contributions of Black-owned restaurants and chefs and their impact on Chicago’s vibrant food scene. Participating eateries feature curated menus and discounts. From Feb. 8-22 throughout the city. For more information, visit chiblackrestaurantweek.com.