THEATER
“Blue Eyed Soul Sung by Brown Eyed People” is writer-director Jackie Taylor’s tribute to music “that unites us all as people.” Songs include “Groovin’ (on a Sunday Afternoon)” by the Young Rascals, “Takin’ It to the Streets” by the Doobie Brothers,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion” by Tommy James and the Shondells and more. From Sept. 21-Nov. 10 at Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark. Tickets: $56.50-$66.50. Visit blackensemble.org.
William Goldman’s “Misery” is a psychological thriller based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name. A romance novelist (Steve Key) is rescued from an auto accident by an ardent fan (Wandachristine) but all does not go as planned. Halena Kays directs. From Sept. 20-Oct. 26 at American Blues Theater, 5627 N. Lincoln. Tickets: $45. Visit americanbluestheater.com.
Steep Theatre presents the world premiere of “Happy Days Are Here (Again),” Omer Abbas Salem’s drama that examines man-made “divine” power, who wields it, and whether they can be trusted. Azar Kazemi directs. From Sept. 20-Oct. 27 at Steppenwolf ‘s 1700 Theater, 1700 N. Halsted. Tickets: $30, $40. Visit steppenwolf.org.
“Ain’t Too Proud — The Life and Times of the Temptations” follows the legendary group’s journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Features songs from the group’s classic songbook. From Sept. 24-29 at CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe. Tickets: $38-$116. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.
Trap Door Theatre remounts its production of the Nicole Wiesner adaptation of Slawomir Mrozek’s “The Martyrdom of Peter Ohey,” which examines how we cope when the world around us becomes a circus. Co-directed by Miguel Long and Wiesner. From Sept. 19-28 at Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland. Tickets: $30. Visit trapdoortheatre.com.
The Home Creative Co. present “The Outsiders,” an intimate, immersive adaptation of S.E. Hinton’s novel, a coming-of-age story of love and loss told by 14-year-old Ponyboy Curtis. Jonathan James directs. To Oct. 26 at Athenaeum Center, 2936 N. Southport. Tickets: $35. Visit athenaeumcenter.org.
Idle Muse Theatre presents “The Tempest,” Shakespeare’s drama, set on a faraway island, where magic, illusion and spirits run wild. From Sept. 19-Oct. 20 at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W. Catalpa. Tickets: $30. Visit idlemuse.org.
In the annual remount of “Splatter Theater,” 13 cliched horror movies characters find themselves at the murderous whims of a guy in a hockey mask. From Sept. 21-Oct. 26 at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont. Tickets: $25. Visit theannoyance.com.
Dance
Para.Mar Dance Theatre’s “Taste of Grace” features Laura LaRusa and James LaRusa.
Para.Mar Dance Theatre presents an evening of mixed repertory works including Xavier Nunez’s “Trace of Grace,” Jennifer Archibald’s “Walk,” Helene Simoneau’s “So Soon My Love,” Stephanie Martinez’s “Kiss,” Yin Yue’s “Stay a Little Longer” and Martinez’s “Dos Lados.” At 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20-21 at Studebaker Theatre, Fine Arts Building, 401 S. Michigan. Tickets: pay-what-you-can, suggested $10-$100. Visit fineartsbuilding.com/events/.
Music
The last big neighborhood music fest of the summer, Riot Fest, features music on five stages including performances by Fall Out Boy, Beck, Slayer, The Offspring, Public Enemy, Sum 41, St. Vincent, Spoon, Bright Eyes, Waxahatchee, Rob Zombie, Sublime, Dr. Dog and much more. From 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sept. 20-22 in Douglass Park, main entrance at Ogden and Sacramento. Tickets: $109-$299. Visit riotfest.org.
Carin Leon.
Jesus Fernando Espinoza Photo
Mexican sensation Carin León recently opened for the Rolling Stones, performed at Coachella, collaborated with R&B artist Leon Bridges on “It Was Always You (Siempre Fuiste Tu)” and with Kane Brown on “The One (Pero No Como Yo)” and made his debut at the Grand Ole Opry. He’s closing out the year with a 27-city tour which brings him to town for a two-night stand at 8 p.m. Sept. 19-20 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison. Tickets: $44+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
From Sept. 20-29 at venues citywide, World Music Festival Chicago welcomes acts from Chicago and around the world including La Conora Mazuren (Columbia), Bia Ferreira (Brazil), Ana Crisman (Spain), Fränder (Sweden), Maryna Krut (Ukraine) and more. Plus there’s the all-night Ragamala celebration of South Asian Music, a Global Carnival with Afro-Brazilian street band Ilê Aiyê and New Orleans’ Flagboy Giz & the Wild Tchoupitoulas and a Global Peace Party with music from Cuba and Poland. Admission is free. For a complete schedule, visit cityofchicago.gov.
The 25th Englewood Jazz Festival features Nicole Mitchell, Jeremiah Collier, Corey Wilkes, Junius Paul, Greg Ward Quartet, Jahari Stampley, The Young Masters, a performance of the jazz poetry opera “Paul Robeson: Man of the People” and more. From 6-8 p.m. Sept. 19-20 and noon-6 p.m. Sept. 21 at Hamilton Park , 513 W. 72nd. Admission is free. Visit englewoodjazzfestival.org.
Sigur Ros, the Icelandic post-rock band known for its ethereal sound that incorporates classical and minimal elements, performs with the 41-piece Wordless Music Orchestra at 8 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells. Tickets: $56.50+. Visit auditoriumtheatre.org.
Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent, the husband and wife who perform as Shovels and Rope, tour behind their new album “Something Is Working Up Above My Head.” Al Olender opens at 8 p.m. Sept. 22 at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln. Tickets: $30, $35. Visit lh-st.com.
Indonesian pop singer-songwriter Nicole Zefanya, who goes by Niki, won a competition at age 15 to open for Taylor Swift in Jakarta. Now at 25, she’s released her third album, “Buzz.” At 7 p.m. Sept. 25 Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence. Tickets: $63+. Visit livenation.com.
Museums
“The 50th: An Anniversary Exhibition” (Sept. 24-March 2) traces the layered histories that have made up the Smart Museum over its existence. Drawn from the collection, the exhibit presents more than 100 works including paintings, works on paper, sculpture and archival materials. Also, in celebration of the anniversary, South Side artist Robert Earl Paige creates “Give the Drummer Some!” (Sept. 24-July 31), a multi-part pattern-based installation and public art project. At Smart Museum, 5550 S. Greenwood. Admission is free. Visit smartmuseum.uchicago.edu.
“Tarts,” by Jaroslava Kuchma, is among the artwork featured in “Agency: Craft in Chicago from the 1970s-80s and Beyond.”
“Agency: Craft in Chicago from the 1970s-80s and Beyond” explores the rise of “high craft” in Chicago art and its impact on contemporary artists, especially those on the margins, such as immigrants, women, LGBTQ, Black and other artists of color. From Sept. 21-Dec. 22 at Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. Chicago. Admission: pay-what-you-can donation. Visit uima-chicago.org.
Movies
Reeling: Chicago LGBTQ+ International Film Festival showcases 41 feature films and 11 short film programs. Among the films are Anthony Schatteman’s “Young Hearts,” the story a young boy who finds himself falling in love for the first time; Juan Pablo Di Pace and Andres Pepe Estrada’s “Duino,” about a filmmaker struggling to finish a movie inspired by his first love, and Michael Mabbott and Lucah Rosenberg-Lee’s “Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story,” a documentary about the trans soul singer. From Sept. 19-Oct. 6 at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport; Landmark Century Centre Cinema, 2828 N. Clark, and Chicago Filmmakers Firehouse Cinema, 1326 W. Hollywood. Tickets: $15. Visit reelingfilmfest.org.
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of Films by Women, the groundbreaking festival that championed women filmmakers, with screenings of some of the festival’s most original and daring films and filmmakers. From Sept. 23-27 at Gene Siskel Center Film Center, 164 N. Clark, and Block Cinema at Block Museum of Art, 40 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston. Tickets: $14.50, free at Block Cinema. Visit siskelfilmcenter.org or blockmuseum.northwestern.edu/cinema/.
Family Fun
“Legendary Iceland” is now featured at Flyover.
The immersive experience, Flyover, which uses a 65-foot spherical screen and flight motions seats, presents “Legendary Iceland,” a new flying journey filled with breathtaking locations in a country known for its stunning coastlines, epic waterfalls and dramatic fjords. Begins Sept. 19 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand. Tickets: $33.95, $23.95 children 13 and under. Visit experienceflyover.com.
Festival Fun
Chicago Live! celebrates Chicago’s arts and cultural community with performances (musicians, dance companies, house music legends) on five stages throughout Navy Pier capped off with a headlining solo acoustic set by Jeff Tweedy (8 p.m. Sept. 21). From noon-9 p.m. Sept. 21 and noon-6 p.m. Sept. 22 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand. Visit navypier.org.
World Dumpling Fest celebrates diverse cultures with music, dance and dumplings. From noon-9 p.m. Sept. 21 at 3150 Logan Blvd. Tickets for food are $1 each, 20 for $18.50, 50 for $45. Visit chicagoevents.com.
A new event at Brookfield Zoo, Hispanic Heritage Fest, features music, cultural performances, story times, animal experiences and more. From 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sept. 21 at Brookfield Zoo, 8400 31st, Brookfield. Free with zoo admission: $29.95, $20.95 children 3-11. Visit brookfieldzoo.org/events.
