Theater
Miss Scarlet, Colonel Mustard, Mrs. Peacock, Professor Plum, and all the rest are on hand in the comedy “Clue,” which brings the classic board game to life. Murder and blackmail are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for an evening they won’t soon forget. Casey Hushion directs. From Feb. 18-March 2 at CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe. Tickets: $35-$120. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.
In Phil Claudnic’s comedy “Kitty James and Destiny’s Trail to Oregon,” a woman heads west to find her fortune, but a mysterious medallion and an ancient prophecy may lead her down a different path in this homage to classic adventure films and text-based historical games. Jennifer Betancourt directs. From Feb. 14-March 29 at The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard. Tickets: $30. Visit thefactorytheater.com.
“A Lie of the Mind” is Sam Shepard’s drama about two families, connected by marriage, as they grapple with pain and fear after a terrible act of violence. Azar Kazemi directs. From Feb. 13-March 22 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark. Tickets: $45. Visit raventheatre.com.
The 15-year old Cirque du Soleil show “OVO,” set in an insect colony, returns with an updated look including new acrobatic acts and characters, a revamped set design, freshly designed costumes and reinvented music. From Feb. 13-16 at NOW Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Pkwy., Hoffman Estates. Tickets: $50+. Visit cirquedusoleil.com/ovo.
“Seth’s Broadway Concert Series” returns with theater maven Seth Rudetsky presenting an evening of conversation and songs with Tony Award winner Jessie Mueller, who originated the Broadway roles of Jenna in “Waitress” and Carole King in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.” At 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Studebaker Theater, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan. Tickets: $60-$100. Visit fineartsbuilding.com.
“I and You” is Lauren Gunderson’s drama about two teens working on a poetry project that unlocks the much deeper mystery that has brought them together. Directed by Scott Shallenbarger. From Feb. 19-March 23 at Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan, Lake Forest. Tickets: $45. Visit citadeltheatre.org.
First Floor Theater presents “One Party Consent,” Omer Abbas Salem’s drama about a grad student, her advisor and the degradation of trust. Nadya Naumaan directs. From Feb. 13-March 15 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee. Tickets: $10-$35. Visit firstfloortheater.com.
Dance
Hubbard Street Dance presents a program featuring a world premiere by innovative choreographer James Gregg plus Johan Inger’s “Impasse,” FLOCK’s “Into Being” and Ohad Naharin’s “Black Milk.” From Feb. 13-16 at Harris Theatre, 205 E. Randolph. Tickets: $20-$110. Visit hubbardstreetdance.com.
Music
Country singer-songwriter Colter Wall’s breakout EP “Imaginary Appalachia” propelled him onto the mainstage and led to his first full-length album, “Little Songs.” He tours only when it is off-season on his Saskatchewan ranch and that time is now. Red Shahan opens at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells. Tickets: $49+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Concerts for Cuba includes live events in Chicago, New York and San Francisco with all proceeds going to support humanitarian aid for Cuba. Chicago performers include Norberto Guerra & Charlie Mejias, Charlie Mejias, Grupo Cha Cha and Proyecto Libre Super Band. At 8:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at Constellation at Links Hall, 3111 N. Western. Tickets: $25, live stream $20. Visit constellation-chicago.com.
“White Cities: On the Legacy of Charles White” is a collaborative project that explores the co-founder of the South Side Community Art Center, and the connection between music and visual art. Pianist and composer Gerald Clayton performs an original suite, “White Cities: A Musical Tribute to Charles White” (7:30 p.m. Feb. 14, $12-$43). Plus a symposium offers a deeper look at White’s multi-dimensional legacy (11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Feb. 15, free). Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th. Visit tickets-uchicago.edu.
Frequency Festival, Chicago’s contemporary and experimental music festival, returns with performances at three locations. The fest begins with the local debut of John McCowen’s Mundanas project and the Varo String Quartet and Nois performing “Poetics of Space Translation Symmetry” by Chicago composer Noah Jenkins. From Feb. 18-23 at Constellation, 3111 N. Western; Gray Center for Arts and Inquiry, 929 E. 60th, and Bond Chapel, 1025 W. 58th. Tickets: Free-$20. For program info, visit frequencyfestival-chicago.com.
Mariachi Herencia de Mexico presents a concert honoring the life and legacy of Vincente Fernandez, “the Frank Sinatra of ranchera music.” The ensemble reimagines Fernandez’s iconic hits with new arrangements that blend tradition with a fresh perspective. At 8 p.m. Feb. 14 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln. Tickets: $40. Visit oldtownschool.org.
New Orleans artist Benjamin Booker takes experimental and lo-fi hip hop, dream and noise pop, ambient and indie rock and mixes it all into something entirely his own. He’s touring behind his new album “Lower.” Kenny Segal opens at 8 p.m. Feb. 18 at Subterranean, 2011 W. North. Tickets: $23. Visit subt.net.
Museums
“Our Story Is One” features Maryam Safajoo’s painting series on the persecution of Baha’is in Iran. Accompanied by artifacts of those imprisoned, the paintings tell a powerful story of injustice and violence, paired with hope, resilience and survival. From Feb. 15-April 11 at Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. Chicago. Admission is by donation. Visit uima-chicago.org.
The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, now rebranded as the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, begins a new era focused on the indigenous communities of Chicago and the Great Lakes Region. The new exhibit “Living Stories: Contemporary Woodland Native American Art” features the work of Christal Ratt, Valaria Tatera, Martina Gauthier, Le’Ana Asher, Sharon Hoogstraten, Jennifer Stevens, Monica Rickert-Bolter and Jim Terry. To Dec. 30 at 3001 Central, Evanston. Admission: $6, $8. Visit gichigamiin-museum.org.
Movies
Get informed about the trickier categories on your Oscar ballot — the 2025 Oscar Nominated Short Films in three categories: animation, documentary and live action. Pick your winners and see which films come out on top at the Oscars on March 2 (6 p.m. WLS-Channel 7 and Hulul). Good luck. The short films screen beginning Feb. 14 at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport ($11; musicboxtheatre.com), and Wayfarer Theater, 1850 2nd St. in Highland Park ($10-$15; wayfarertheaters.com).
Family Fun
Families can check out “The Art and Science of Arachnids,” an exhibit that highlights the significance of scorpions, tarantulas, vinegarroons and other creatures. Featured are a variety of interactive science-based multimedia elements and animal encounters to discover the role arachnids play in ecosystems. To May 4 at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon. Tickets: $8-$15, children 2 and under free. Visit naturemuseum.org.
Filament Theatre takes “Forts: Build Your Own Adventure” on the road for a run at Writers Theatre. The immersive experience transforms the theater’s space into a living room overflowing with cardboard boxes. Parents and children can build forts using boxes, sheets, clothespins and more. From Feb. 15-April 6 at Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Ct., Glencoe. Tickets: $20. Visit writerstheatre.org.
My First Movies is a program of short films chosen by the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival that introduce young viewers (ages 2-5) to the magic of storytelling through cinema. Chicago Danzrtheatre Ensemble provides interactive activities. At 10:30 a.m. Feb. 15 at Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton. Tickets: $12. Visit facets.org.