Theater
- Regarded as one of the best British plays of the 20th century, “Top Girls” is playwright Caryl Churchill’s masterclass on feminism, class and politics that navigates the shifting dynamics in a patriarchal society. Lucky Stiff directs. From Feb. 12-March 22 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St. Tickets: $45. Visit raventheatre.com.
- Also running alongside “Top Girls” is The Story Theatre’s “Pot Girls,” a world premiere play about the power of women, words and weed that’s an intertextual riff on Churchill’s classic play. Ayanna Bria Bakari directs. From Feb. 12-March 1 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St. Tickets: $20-$45. Visit thestorytheatre.org.
- Justice, legacy and survival collide in Kristen Adele Calhoun’s dark comedy, “Black Cypress Bayou,” the story of a mother who summons her daughters home after the richest man in East Texas turns up dead on their property. Ericka Ratcliff directs. From Feb. 13-March 15 at Definition Theatre, 1160 W. 55th St. Tickets: $25+. Visit definitiontheatre.org.
- “Bernadette, The Musical” is the story of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, a French farm girl who has visions of a beautiful lady that set off a turn of events that cannot be explained. French singer-actress Eyma Scharen stars; Serge Denoncourt directs. From Feb. 12-March 15 at Athenaeum Center, 2936 N. Southport Ave. Tickets: $45-$149. Visit athenaeumcenter.org.
- Shattered Globe Theatre presents “Morning, Noon and Night,” Kirsten Greenidge’s exploration of teens, family, surveillance and connection. AmBer Montgomery directs. From Feb. 13-March 28 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets: $20-$60. Visit sgtheatre.org.
- In Zack Peercy’s “Kubrickian,” three trapped men should be focused on escape but instead can’t stop talking about film director Stanley Kubrick. AJ Schwartz directs. From Feb. 13-March 15 at Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St. Tickets: $30. Visit thefactorytheater.com.
- “Harvey” is Mary Chase’s classic play about a man who insists on going everywhere with his friend Harvey, a 6-foot-tall rabbit that only he can see. Lisa M. Ramos directs. From Feb. 13-March 8 at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey Pkwy. Tickets: $35. Visit saintsebastianplayers.org.
- Chicago City Opera presents Jules Massenet and Henri Cain’s “Cendrillon,” a romantic French opera that tells the classic story of Cendrillon (Cinderella) who, with the help of her fairy godmother, attends a magical ball. At 7:30 p.m. Feb. 13-14 at The CheckOut, 4116 N. Clark St. Tickets: $35+. Visit thecheckout.org.
- Gwydion Theatre presents Grayson Kennedy’s adaptation of Maxim Gorky’s “The Lower Depths,” a drama that investigates the forgotten class, the poorest of the poor and their untold human connections. Danny Kapinos directs. From Feb. 12-March 1 at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. Tickets: $32.64. Visit gwydiontheatre.org.
Music
- Following the 20th anniversary of the full band’s tour, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – Piano and Voice Tour presents front man Alec Ounsworth’s body of work in its starkest form. “Doing the material in this way has been a chance to connect with the work on an intimate and new (but familiar) level,” says Ounsworth. At 8 p.m. Feb. 14 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: $39. Visit oldtownschool.org.
- Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and the classical-roots string trio Time for Three perform “Emily – No Prisoner Be,” a work with music by composer Kevin Puts, that shapes 24 poems by Emily Dickinson into a journey into the poet’s inner world. At 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets: $49+. Visit cso.org.
- Los Angeles psychedelic duo Rio Kosta (Mike Del Rio and Kosta Galanopoulos) tour behind the new album, “Unicorn,” which introduces their concoction of ’70s psychedelia, global funk grooves and vocal harmonies. At 8 p.m. Feb. 17 at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave. Tickets: $27+. Visit lh-st.com.
- Celebrate Mardi Gras with the zydeco sounds of CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band. At 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Tickets: $20. Visit evanstonspace.com. At 8 p.m. Feb. 17 at FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. Tickets: $45. Visit fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.
Museums
- “Paris in Black” traces the journeys of Black artists, writers, performers and intellectuals, such as Henry Ossawa Tanner, Josephine Baker, Langston Hughes, Richard Wright and James Baldwin, who found freedom, inspiration and transformation in the cultural and social environment of Paris. To early 2027 at DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, 740 E. 56th Place. Admission: $4-$14.50. Visit dusablemuseum.org.
- “Lucas Samaras: Sitting, Standing, Walking, Looking” focuses on the artist’s innovative photographs — along with selected sculptures, drawings and paintings — which unite Samaras’ background in performance and his technical achievements with instant process film. To July 20 at Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. Admission: $14-$32. Visit artic.edu.
Movies
- Chicago Film Society’s 39th season begins with Ernst Lubitsch’s silent film, “Lady Windermere’s Fan” (7:30 p.m. Feb. 12) and Douglas Sirk’s “Written on the Wind” (7 p.m. Feb. 17). At Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. The CFI’s roster of new and old films continues through May 31. For more information visit chicagofilmsociety.org.
- Crying at the Shed features a Valentine lineup of films dealing with messy and meaningful relationships. Films screened are “Licorice Pizza,” “Beginners,” “Y Tu Mama Tambien,” “My Own Private Idaho,” “Lady and the Tramp,” “La Chimera,” “Her” and “Lost in Translation.” From Feb. 12-14 at The Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave. Tickets: $8+, $90 festival pass. Visit saltshedchicago.com.
Family fun
- Juniper Junction, the Morton Arboretum’s large-scale model train display, showcases trains much larger than standard models. It’s an experience for all ages presented in partnership with the LGB Model Railroad Club of Chicago. From Feb. 14-22 in the Arboretum’s Firefly Pavilion, 4100 Ill. Rt. 53, Lisle. Admission prices vary. Visit mortonarb.org.
“Kitty and the Beanstalk,” a musical adaptation of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” now about two sibling cats who climb a beanstalk and discover why the sun has vanished. For ages 4-10. Calvin Adams directs. From Feb. 14-March 22 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave. Tickets: $20. Visit lifelinetheatre.com. - Learn about our nation’s leaders and what it means to be an engaged citizen when the Chicago History Museum commemorates Presidents Day at a family-friendly event. Interactive activities include making your own campaign buttons and signs, writing letters to elected officials and more. From 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Feb. 16 at 1601 N. Clark St. Admission is free for Illinois residents on this day; admission for nonresidents $17, $19. Visit chicagohistory.org.
- After a sold-out show at the Chicago Theatre last fall, Gabby and her cat friends return for another performance of “Gabby’s Dollhouse Live!,” which features the music and magic of the popular Netflix series. At 4 p.m. Feb. 15 at Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Rd., Rosemont. Tickets: $39+. Visit ticketmaster.com.