Theater
- The world premiere of Marco Antonio Rodriguez’s adaptation of Junot Diaz’s novel, “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” stars Lenin D’Anthony Izquierdo as Oscar, a nerdy Dominican college freshman determined to give love another chance, and Kelvin Grullon as Yunior, his roommate who encourages him in his quest. Wendy Mateo directs. From Feb. 21-April 5 at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. Tickets: $34-$94. Visit goodmantheatre.org.
- The New Theatre Project presents “The Shape of the Bones,” Spencer Huffman’s new drama about a small religious community, its young, charismatic pastor (Rae Gray), a young boy (Archer Geye) who thinks he is one of the chosen few, and his mother (Hilary Williams) who resorts to desperate measures to save her son. From Feb. 23-March 22 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets: $25-$32. Visit theaterwit.org.
- The Actors Gymnasium’s new show, “Aquí o Allá: A Circus Story,” is about a family of misfit clowns in search of a new home. Created and directed by Raquel Torre with circus direction by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi. From Feb. 21-March 22 at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. Tickets: $25-$55. Visit actorsgymnasium.org/shows.
- “The Play That Goes Wrong” follows a bungling troupe of thespians attempting to stage a 1920s murder mystery as things go from bad to worse. Johanna McKenzie Miller directs. From Feb. 25-March 29 at Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Tickets: $25-$49. Visit metropolisarts.com.
- Cut to the Chase is The Artistic Home’s festival of one-act plays: Katherine Swan’s “The Ark,” Sara Feedman’s “Crowbar,” Rebecca Kane’s “Help from the Pod,” Siah Berlatsky’s “Odradek’s Emporium,” Chris Widney’s “One of the Great Ones” and Allie Costa’s “Remembrance.” From Feb. 19-22 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets: $25. Visit thedentheatre.com.
Dance
- The Joffrey Ballet presents “American Icons” featuring works by trailblazing artists of the 20th century: Gerald Arpino’s “Kettentanz,” Martha Graham’s “Secular Games,” Robert Joffrey’s “Postcards (Pas de Deux Excerpt)” and Glen Tetley’s “Voluntaries.” With live music performed by members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra under the baton of Scott Speck. From Feb. 19-March 1 at Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive. Tickets: $46-$201. Visit joffrey.org.
- Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre’s Inside/Out series returns with two new pieces by emerging Latinx choreographers: Ruben Andrés Castillo’s “Los Immigrantes” and Lilia Castillo Gomez’s “La Guerrera.” Portions of the works will be performed followed by a discussion with the choreographers. At 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4545 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: $32. Visit cerquarivera.org/schedule.
- “Śiva Bhāva: Love, Care and the Cosmos” features a fusion of three styles of South Asian Classical dance — bharatanatyam, kathak and odissi — accompanied by a live South Asian orchestra. Presented by Mandala South Asian Performing Arts. At 6 p.m. Feb. 20, 4 p.m. Feb. 21 and 11 a.m. Feb. 22 at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. Tickets: $25. Visit mandalaarts.org.
Music
- After spending recent years recording with Elton John and helming the renaissance of Joni Mitchell, Brandi Carlile is now touring behind her new solo album, “Returning to Myself,” which finds the acclaimed singer-songwriter looking inward and reflecting on the past and looking ahead to the future. Folk-rock group The Head and the Heart open at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Rd., Rosemont. Tickets: $65+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
- Chicago Symphony Orchestra Zell Music Director designate Klaus Mäkelä returns for three concerts performing R. Strauss’ “Ein Heldenleben” and Sibelius’ “Lemminkäinen,” a work from Mäkelä’s native Finland, which is a symphonic portrait of the country’s folk here. At 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19-21 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets: $49+. Visit cso.org.
- International punk band Gogol Bordello celebrates the release of a new album, “We Mean It, Man!” which fuses the band’s raw energy with electronic layers, loops and drum rhythms. Also on the bill: Puzzled Panther and Boris and the Joy. At 7 p.m. Feb. 24 at Concord Music Hall, 2047 N. Milwaukee Ave. Tickets: $35. Visit concordmusichall.com.
- After their van was broken into and their equipment and the hard drive that held all their new recordings were stolen, indie-folk favorites The Lone Bellow had to go back to square one with the new songs. Diehard fans helped raise the money to replace the equipment and get the band back into the studio. The resulting new album, “What a Time to be Alive,” is a love letter to the fans and the enduring bond music has forged. Fabrizio opens at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. Tickets: $39.96. Visit thaliahallchicago.com.
Museums
- The Art Institute of Chicago’s newest acquisition, Norman Rockwell’s “The Dugout,” a gift from former Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and his wife, Diana Rauner, is an iconic painting that depicts the 1948 Chicago Cubs after a loss to the Boston Braves. Now just in time for baseball season, it’s on display across from another iconic painting, Grant Wood’s “American Gothic.” At 111 S. Michigan Ave. Admission: $14-$32. Visit artic.edu.
- “It Will Destroy” is a group exhibition of work by 23 contemporary artists who examine the deconstruction of society’s systems and structures. Through painting, sculpture, installation and video, the artists examine themes of self-preservation and reconciliation. To April 19 at Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. Chicago Ave. Admission: $10. Visit uima-chicago.org.
Movies
- Architecture and Design Film Festival showcases films with both a design focus and a human story that will appeal to industry professionals, design-conscious consumers and fans of nonfiction storytelling. The nine films are “Identity: A Czech Graphic Design Love Story,” “Living in a Piece of Furniture: Gerrit Rietveld’s Houses,” “Building on the Edge,” “Changing Lanes,” “Lewerentz Divine Darkness,” “We the Others,” “At the Garden’s Pace,” “The Space Architect” and “Miralles.” From Feb. 19-22 at Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St. Tickets: $21.50. Visit siskelfilmcenter.org.
- Get informed about one of the tricker categories on your Oscar ballot: the 2026 Oscar Nominated Short Films in three categories: animation, documentary and live action. Watch the movies, pick your winners and see which films come out on top at the Oscars on March 15 (6 p.m. WLS-Channel 7 and Hulu). The films begin Feb. 20 at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. Tickets: $11. (Also check other area theaters for additional screenings.) Visit musicboxtheatre.com.
Family fun
- The Orchid Show: Feelin’ Groovy, an annual event at the Chicago Botanic Garden, throws it back to the 1960s and 1970s. Featured are floor-to-ceiling cascading orchids, a 10-foot lava lamp with colorful blooms and a Route 66 tribute with a flower-filled Volkswagen Beetle and a vintage hotel sign overgrown with orchids. To March 22 at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. Admission prices vary. Visit chicagobotanic.org.
- Junior Archeology is a hands-on event where young explorers (ages 5-12) can step into the role of archeologist to explore replica artifacts, from pottery to mysterious objects, and consider what they had been used for and who might have made them. From 1-2 p.m. Feb. 21 at the National Hellenic Museum, 333 S. Halsted St. Tickets: $10, $5 for members. Visit nationalhellenicmuseum.org.
- Celebrate the Year of the Horse at the Argyle Lunar New Year Parade featuring local community groups, cultural institutions, dancers and performers. The parade steps off at 1 p.m. Feb. 21, at Argyle Street and Sheridan Road, and continues down Argyle. There are also family-friendly activities between 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, visit exploreuptown.org.
