Things to do in Chicago Jan. 16-22: The Mix

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The musical “Come from Away,” with book, music and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, tells the true story of 7,000 passengers stranded when planes were grounded after Sept. 11 and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Christopher Ashley directs. From Jan. 21-26 at CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe. Tickets: $40-$120. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents “Fun Home,” Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron’s musical based on a graphic novel by Alison Bechdel. Winner of seven Tony Awards, it shares how Bechdel unlocks the memories, milestones and mysteries of her youth as she sees her parents through grown-up eyes. Stephen Schellhardt directs. From Jan. 16-March 2 at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn. Tickets: $20-$85. Visit porchlightmusictheatre.org.
“Avaaz” is Emmy Award nominee Michael Shayan’s solo show celebrating the Iranian-Jewish immigrant experience in a heartfelt and hilarious tribute to his mother. Moritz von Stuelpnagel directs. From Jan. 21-Feb. 9 at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, 800 E. Grand. Tickets: $42-$80. Visit chicagoshakes.com.
Steep Theatre presents “A Slow Air,” David Harrower’s drama about estranged siblings (Peter Moore, Kendra Thulin) who are brought together through a remarkable string of events. Robin Will directs. From Jan. 18-March 1 at The Edge Off Broadway, 1133 W. Catalpa. Tickets: $20-$45. Visit steeptheatre.com.
MPAACT stages “The Pro Motion,” Joseph Giovannetti’s dark comedy about two co-workers, both up for a big promotion, whose friendly workplace rivalry implodes. Directed by Lauren “LL” Lundy. From Jan. 17-March 2 at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln. Tickets: $22+. Visit greenhousetheater.org.

Actor Josh Gad (Olaf in “Frozen,” Elder Cunningham in “The Book of Mormon”) debuts his essay collection, “In Gad We Trust,” in an evening filled with personal stories about fatherhood, self-image, career highs and lows and more all filled with his signature wit. At 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport. Tickets: $54-$84, includes a signed copy of the book. Visit athenaeumcenter.org.
BrightSide Theatre presents a concert version of Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse’s musical “Jekyll and Hyde.” From Jan. 17-26 at Madden Theatre, North Central College, 171 Chicago, Naperville. Tickets: $37. Visit brightsidetheatre.com.

New York-based Been Stellar tours behind the recent album “Scream from New York, NY,” which sees the band leaving the driving shoegaze of its early work to tap into the sound and spirit of Sonic Youth, Interpol and Radiohead. At 8 p.m. Jan. 17 at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln. Tickets: $20, $25. Visit lh-st.com.
Chicago Sinfonietta presents its annual Martin Luther King Jr. tribute concert featuring the orchestra and flute-composer duo Flutronix (Nathalie Joachim and Allison Loggins-Hull) performing “Black Being,” a piece honoring the Black female experience. Flutronix is known for its fusion of classical music with hip-hop and electronic programming. At 3:30 p.m. Jan. 19 at Wentz Hall, 171 W. Chicago, Naperville ($57, $67); 6:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells ($27-$57). Visit chicagosinfonietta.org.
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration Concert, presented by Music Institute of Chicago and Evanston Interfaith Clergy and Leaders, features performances by violinist David Roche, Dance Center Evanston, Chicago Musical Pathways Initiative, Evanston Arts Center and more. At 3 p.m. Jan. 19 at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago, Evanston. Admission is free. Visit musicinst.org.

One of New Orleans’ best, Rebirth Brass Band, an ensemble that began by playing on the sidewalks of the French Quarter, combines elements of the jazz, funk, soul and R&B that band members grew up with. At 8 p.m. Jan. 17 at Space, 1245 Chicago, Evanston (sold out; evanstonspacemusic.com) and 8 p.m. Jan. 18 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport ($30-$50; thaliahallchicago.com.)
For Frankie is a celebration of the life of house legend Frankie Knuckles with Tedd Patterson, Ralphi Rosario, Derrick Carter, Lori Branch, Duane Powell, Michael Serafini. Hosting are Lucy Stoole and Nico. Proceeds benefit the Frankie Knuckles Foundation. At 9 p.m. Jan. 19 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark. Tickets: $20-$30. Visit metrochicago.com.
The Flat Five (Kelly Hogan, Nora O’Connor, Scott Ligon, Casey McDonough and Alex Hall) bring their “twisted sunshine pop” to a three-Wednesday residency. At 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 (with Chris Ligon), 29 (with Andre Sa) and Feb. 5 (with Paul Cebar) at The Hideout, Tickets: $25, $30. Visit hideoutchicago.com.
Cathy Richardson’s Goddesses of Rock pays tribute to the greatest female rock artists including Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Heart, Stevie Nicks and more. At 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph. Tickets: $28-$45. Visit citywinery.com.

A new season of screenings by the Chicago Film Society continues with the “The Grapes of Wrath” (7:30 p.m. Jan. 22), John Ford’s classic starring Henry Fonda, John Carradine and Oscar winner Jane Darwell. Upcoming films include Guy Maddin’s “My Winnipeg,” Alan Rudolph’s “Choose Me,” Ernst Lubitsch’s “The Love Parade,” Oscar Micheaux’s “The Symbol of the Unconquered” and more. Screenings continue through May 14 at Northeastern Illinois University, 3701 W. Bryn Mawr, and Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport. Tickets: $10-$12. For a complete list of films, visit chicagofilmsociety.org.
Marvel Studios’ “Black Panther” is screened as the Chicago Philharmonic performs Ludwig Goransson’s score. Senegalese tama (talking drum) player Massamba Diop, who assisted Goransson, joins the orchestra for the performance. At 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells. Tickets: $49+. Visit auditoriumtheatre.org.

“Dieter Roth and Björn Roth: Balabild 5” is a portrait of the Roths’ artistic practice and creative life in Bala, Iceland. Canvas, paint tubes, brushes, lightbulbs, photographs and other items are glued together and tied with wire to vertically cascade from nine feet high to form the artwork. To July 6 at Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago. Admission: $14-$22. Visit mcachicago.org.
“The Written Image: A Confluence of Music and Calligraphy” features artworks by nearly two dozen artists which highlight how modern and contemporary Urdu and Arabic calligraphers of the South Asian diaspora continue to uncover diverse ways of expressing their love of the written image. To March 15 at South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan. Admission: $10. Visit saichicago.org.

For an easy tropical winter escape with the kids, visit the Butterfly Haven, a 2,700 square-foot greenhouse, where you can intermingle with more than 40 species of exotic, free-flying butterflies and bird species from the Southern Hemisphere. Daily at 2 p.m., learn about the butterfly life cycle and watch a butterfly release. Ongoing at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 N. Cannon. Admission: $8-$17. Visit naturemuseum.org.
Follow this with a walk through the lush flora and tropical temperatures indoors at the Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park). Showcased here in eight gardens are thousands of plant species from around the world. Admission: $10, free for Chicago residents. Visit garfieldconservatory.org.