Theater
Ray Davies and Joe Penhall’s Olivier Award-winning “Sunny Afternoon” is the story of the Kinks’ rise to fame as told through their own prolific catalog of hit songs including “You Really Got Me,” “Lola,” “All Day and All of the Night” and more. Portraying the original members of the Kinks are Michael Lepore (as Peter Quaife), Oliver Hoare (Dave Davies), Danny Horn (Ray Davies), and Kieran McCabe (Mick Avory). Edward Hall directs the North American premiere. From March 21-April 27 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, 800 E. Grand. Tickets: $44-$125. Visit chicagoshakes.com.
Broadway in Chicago and Porchlight Theatre present the Chicago premiere of “Titanique,” Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli and Tye Blue’s musical comedy send-up of the blockbuster film “Titanic,” driven by the songs of pop icon Céline Dion. Stars Clare Kennedy as Dion, Adam Dane as Jack and Maya Rowe as Rose; Blue directs. From March 25-May 18 at Broadway Playhouse, Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut. Tickets: $45-$100. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.
“No Such Thing” is Lisa Dillman’s drama about a middle-aged screenwriter with a foundering career who finds herself at a crossroads of social and professional invisibility. Malkia Stampley directs. From March 22-April 27 at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge. Tickets: $39. Visit rivendelltheatre.org.
Trap Door Theatre reprises its Jeff Award-nominated staging of Bertolt Brecht’s classic drama “Mother Courage and Her Children.” Holly Cerney stars; Max Truax directs. From March 20-29 at Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland. Tickets: $30. Visit trapdoortheatre.com.
The dark comedy “it’s been ten years since everyone died. a play about final girls” is about three survivors of an attempted attack by a group of cold-blooded killers. From March 21-April 6 at Open Space Arts, 1411 W. Wilson. Tickets: $25. Visit openspacearts.org.
“Xavier Mortimer: Master of the Magic” features the illusionist from Cirque du Soleil’s “Michael Jackson One.” From March 21-23 at CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe. Tickets: $40-$115. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.
Jess McKenna and Zach Reino’s “Off Book: The Improvised Musical” is the comedy duo’s stage version of their popular podcast in which they create a musical on the fly. At 7:30 p.m. March 20 at Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Tickets: $25-$45. Visit jamusa.com.
Dance
Center Stage at Ruth Page is an annual festival featuring area theater and dance performers including Giordano Dance Chicago, Congo Square Theatre, Hedwig Dances, Porchlight Music Theatre, Visceral Dance Chicago, Winifred Haun & Dancers, Ayodele Drum & Dance and much more. At 7 p.m. March 21-22 at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn. Tickets: $25, $40 for both nights. Visit ruthpage.org.
Wondrous Strange presents “Briefly Breathless,” a piece, inspired by the experience of those who swim in Lake Michigan year-round, that examines the culture of cold plunges and asks us to face our fears and search for our inner resilience. At 8 p.m. March 21-22 at Steppenwolf 1700 Theater, 1700 N. Halsted. Tickets: $20. Visit steppenwolf.org/outlook.
Ragamala Dance Company’s “Children of Dharma” explores life through three characters from the Hindu epic “The Mahabharata” to unearth some of the most enduring questions of conscience facing humanity today. At 7:30 p.m. March 21 ($52-$150) and 2 p.m. March 22 (abbreviated family-friendly performance, $17-$23) at Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph. Visit harristheaterchicago.org.
Music
British singer-songwriter-dancer FKA twigs (Tahliah Debrett Barnett) tours behind her third studio album, “Eusexua,” a love letter to dance music’s emancipating powers as channeled through her haunting signature style. At 8 p.m. March 26 at The Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston. Tickets: $85+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Bach in the City (the successor to the long-running Bach Week Festival) presents a concert on J. S. Bach’s 329th birthday, featuring several of the composer’s choral works as well as works by Giovanni Gabrieli, Paul Mealor and Andrea Gabrieli. Performed by the Bach in the City chorus, Gaudete Brass, organist Jacob Reed, cellist Nomin Zolzaya and contrabassist Ian Hallas. At 7:30 p.m. March 21 at St. Vincent de Paul Church, 1010 W. Webster. Tickets: $30, $45. Visit bachinthecity.org.
The Burney Sisters (Bella and Emma) redefine indie-folk with their soulful harmonies and heartfelt lyrics. Their original songs feel both timeless and fresh. Rachel Drew opens at 7 p.m. March 23 at Robert’s Westside, 7321 Madison, Forest Park. Tickets: $15, $20. Visit robertswestside.com.
Singer-songwriter mxmtoon tours behind her new album, “Liminal Space,” featuring her most introspective songs to date. The 24-year-old artist has collaborated with Carly Rae Jepsen and Noah Kahan as well as hosting a podcast and creating a graphic novel. At 7 p.m. March 26 at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn. Tickets: $48+. Visit houseofblues.com/chicago.
Artists of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center perform one of the most beloved works of the chamber repertoire, Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet plus works by Bach and Mozart. At 7:30 p.m. March 25, with a pre-show conversation with the musicians at 6:45 p.m., at Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph. Tickets: $39-$85. Visit harristheaterchicago.org.
Museums
“Christina Fernandez: Multiple Exposures” is a survey of the Los Angeles-based artist who from the late 1980s to the present has conducted a rich exploration of migration labor, gender and her Mexican American identity through photography. Curator Ionit Behar says Fernandez’s work “illuminates the rich complexities of Latinx identity and invites viewers to actively engage with the layers of her imagery.” To Aug. 3 at DePaul Art Museum, 935 W. Fullerton. Admission is free. Visit artmuseum.depaul.edu.
“Native Pop!” explores the central role Indigenous people have played in the story of popular culture. Items include letterpress and digital prints, pamphlets, photography, ledger art, comic books and zines. To July 19 at Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton. Admission is free. Visit newberry.org.
Movies
The 19th Asian Pop-Up Cinema Film Festival highlights films from throughout Asia. Opening the festival is Taiwan’s “Dead Talents Society,” a supernatural comedy with director John Hsu in attendance along with star Chen Bo-Lin. Other films include the director’s cut of Anselm Chan’s Hong Kong drama “The Last Dance,” Keizo Murase’s “Brush of the God,” Japanese director Junichi Yasuda’s “A Samurai in Time” and more. To April 13 at AMC Newcity 14, 1500 N. Clybourn, and Chinese American Museum of Chicago, 238 W. 23rd. Ticket prices vary. For a complete list of films, visit asianpopupcinema.org.
A Paul Schrader Retrospective Series (March 21-April 4), curated by Schrader, features seven of his films (“Blue Collar,” “Hardcore,” “American Gigolo,” “Cat People,” “Mishima,” “Light Sleeper” and “First Reformed”) and four other favorites (Bernardo Bertolucci’s “The Conformist,” Robert Bresson’s “Pickpocket,” Michelangelo Antonioni’s “Red Desert” and Yasujiro Ozu’s “Late Spring”). The series ends with an in-person conversation with the director on April 5 ($60). At Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State. Tickets: $14.50. Visit siskelfilmcenter.org.
Family Fun
Filament Theatre (4041 N. Milwaukee) presents two spring plays for the younger set. Hawaiian playwright Lee Cataluna’s “Heart Strings” (March 22-April 19) follows sisters Hoku and Mahina as circumstances split them up and bring them back together. Juliet Kang Huneke’s “Hannah and Halmoni Save the World” (March 30-April 27) follows two superheroes masquerading most days as granddaughter and grandmother. Tickets: $5-$18. Visit filamenttheatre.org.
Celebrate Holi, the Hindu Festival of Colors, with music, dance and family-friendly programming commemorating the arrival of spring in the traditions of the Indian diaspora. From 1-5 p.m. March 22 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand. Admission is free. Visit navypier.org.