22 things to do in Chicago April 23-29

Theater

• Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical “South Pacific” is a 10-time Tony Award-winner filled with classic songs. Set during World War II, it follows two love stories set against the beauty of a tropical island. The Paramount Theatre staging boasts 36 actor-singer-dancers and a live 15-piece orchestra. From April 29-June 14 at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Tickets: $31-$106. paramountaurora.com.
• Porchlight in Concert presents Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s “Follies.” The musical stars Michelle Duffy, Angela Ingersoll, Anthony Rapp and Stephen Wallem; Michael Weber directs. At 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 25 and 2 p.m. April 26 at Studebaker Theater, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets: $104.50-$159.50. Visit porchlightmusictheatre.org.

• “Loki – The End of the World Tour” is Christina Calvit’s world premiere rock musical that follows Loki (Jack Chylinski) as he arrives at Asgard, bringing chaos, comedy and three monstrous children as he tangles with Odin, Thor and Freya. Heather Currie directs. From April 24-June 14 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. Tickets: $45. Visit lifelinetheatre.com.
• “Barbra & Judy Together Again” features Barbra Streisand impressionist Steven Brinberg and Judy Garland interpreter Angela Ingersoll. The performance is a benefit for Season of Concern Chicago, the organization that provides financial assistance for theater artists affected by illness, injury or circumstance. At 7 p.m. April 27 at Studebaker Theater, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets: $50-$200. Visit fineartsbuilding.com/events.
• Saint Sebastian Players present “I Hate Hamlet,” Paul Rudnick’s comedy about an actor cast as Hamlet who is visited by the ghost of legendary actor John Barrymore. Zach Kunde directs. From April 24-May 17 at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey Pkwy. Tickets: $35. Visit saintsebastianplayers.org.
• “The Wedding Singer” is a Tony Award-nominated musical about a 1980s wedding singer who is the life of the party until his fiancée flees. Amber Mak directs. From April 29-May 24 at Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Tickets: $25-$49. Visit metropolisarts.com.

Dance

• The always remarkable Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns with performances of Medhi Walerski’s “Blink of an Eye,” Judith Jamison’s “A Case of You,” Fredrick Earl Mosley’s “Embrace,” Maija Garcia’s “Jazz Island,” Matthew Neenan’s “Difference Between,” Jamar Roberts’ “Song of the Anchorite” and each performance concludes with Ailey’s masterpiece “Revelations.” At 7:30 p.m. April 24, 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. April 25 and 3 p.m. April 26 at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr. Tickets: $46+. Visit auditoriumtheatre.org.
• Marcel Gbeffa and Sarah Trouche’s “Didę” is inspired by the Guèlèdè traditions whose ceremonies and masks pay homage to Ìyá Nlá, the Yoruba primordial spirit of all creation. At 7:30 p.m. April 24 at Dance Center of Columbia College, 1306 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets: $10-$100. Visit dance.colum.edu.
• Ede2 presents artistic director Rachel Molinaro’s “The Little Dancer: A Reimagining of ‘Le Petit Prince,’” the story of a pilot marooned in the desert where she meets a mysterious stranger. At 3:30 and 7 p.m. April 25 and 2 and 5 p.m. April 26 at Studio5, 1938 Dempster St., Evanston. Tickets: $11, $6 for ages 10 and under. Visit evanstondanceensemble.org.

Music

• Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band bring their Land of Hope and Dreams tour to town. The tour came together on the heels of Springsteen releasing “Streets of Minneapolis,” written in response to the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by federal immigration agents. After opening in Minneapolis, Rolling Stone said it’s “one of the most inspiring rock concerts ever.” At 7:30 p.m. April 29 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison. Tickets: $229+. Visit ticketmaster.com.

• After a 30-year break, Heavenly, the band that melded a punk independence with melodic pop music, returns with a new album, “Highway to Heavenly.” The new roster of songs continue the band’s recipe for its previous four albums — a combination of sharp-edged politics with joyful pop music. At 9 p.m. April 23 at Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave. (sold out); and 7:30 p.m. April 24 at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave. ($38.30.) Visit beatkitchen.com.

• Versos de Mujer is an all-female ensemble that performs traditional Puerto Rican music with a contemporary approach. The performance is part of the BoriCorridor Tour, an initiative that connects artists from Puerto Rico with their communities in the United States. At 6 p.m. April 26 at Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, 4048 W. Armitage Ave. Tickets: $20. Visit boritix.com.

• Sally Buice and Molly Rochelson, aka The Montvales, tour behind their third full-length album, “Path of Totality,” featuring politically driven folk music, inspired by such artists as John Prine, whose songs gave the duo a sense of agency in dark times. Also on the bill: singer-songwriter Chris Acker. At 8 p.m. April 23 at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave. Tickets: $26. Visit hideoutchicago.com.

Museums

• Photographer Lauren Deutsch and filmmaker Jonathan Woods present “Tangible Sound: Arrival to a Higher Ground,” an immersive exhibit developed by the Tangible Sound Collaborative, which translates the energy of Chicago’s improvised music scene into color, movement and visual form. From April 25-Sept. 27 at Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. Admission is free. Visit chicagoculturalcenter.org.

• “Currents: 60 Years of the Chicago Architecture Center” charts the evolution of the organization from its grassroots efforts saving the historic Glessner House in 1966 to becoming a world-class architecture center renowned for establishing Chicago as “the city of architecture.” To March 1, 2027, at Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E. Wacker Dr. Admission: $15. Visit architecture.org.

Movies

• Among the dozen films at Doc10, a festival showcasing documentary films, are Alex Gibney’s “Knife: The Attempted Murder of Salman Rushdie,” followed by a Q&A with Rushdie; Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff’s “Give Me the Ball!,” a portrait of tennis great Billie Jean King; Alysa Nahmias’ “Cookie Queens,” about Girl Scouts racing to meet their cookie-selling goals and J.M. Harper’s “Soul Patrol,” about the first elite unit of Black special ops fighters in the Vietnam War. From April 24-May 3 at Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St. and Davis Theatre, 4614 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: $20. For a complete schedule, visit doc10.org.

• “An Autumn Summer” is a coming-of-age love story inspired by a real-life tale from writer-director and Chicago native Jared Isaac. A young couple (Lukita Maxwell and Mark McKenna) spend the final month before college chasing an endless summer. Following the screening, filmmaker Joe Swanberg moderates a Q&A with Isaac. At 7 p.m. April 23 at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. Tickets: $14. Visit musicboxtheatre.com.
• CineYouth Festival presents films from filmmakers ages 22 and younger. Featured are 70-plus international short films as well as workshops on AI tools in filmmaking and advice on getting into film festivals around the world. From April 24-26 at Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave. Admission is free, but reservations are required. Visit chicagofilmfestival.com/cineyouth.

Family fun

• Explore Your Lyric blends the magic of the opera house with the wonder of the big top. Included are circus demonstrations and performers; interactive sound, set and costume design stations; art activities; a DJ and dancing; face painting; a peek into the orchestra pit and more. Enter at 11 a.m. or noon April 26 and stay until 2 p.m. at Lyric Opera, 20 N. Wacker. Tickets: $10, children $5. Visit lyricopera.org.
• Georgette Kelly’s new play, “Farewell Opportunity,” is about a young girl who visits the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab and meets the Opportunity Mars Rover and the NASA scientist in charge. For ages 5 and up. Raquel Torre directs. From April 25-May 17 at Filament Theatre, 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets: $7-$21. Visit filamenttheatre.org.
• Chicago Public Library’s 27th annual Poetry Fest features poetry workshops and performances suitable for all ages. Among the highlights are a Haiku Fest, Poems While You Wait, a conversation with Illinois Poet Laureate Mark Turcotte and more. From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 25 at Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St. Admission is free. Visit chi.gov/poetryfest2026.
• Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl, a one-day event celebrating indie bookstores, returns on April 25, Independent Bookstore Day. More than 80 city and suburban bookstores are participating. Get a map from your first store and see how many you can visit in a day. Reach 10 or 15 stores and receive 10% or 15% discounts from all participating stores for a year. For more information and a map of store locations, visit chilovebooks.com.