Shamrock Fun
This weekend it’s all about the Irish beginning with the annual dyeing of the Chicago River (10 a.m. March 15) followed by two traditional parades. The 70th annual Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, one of the largest in the country, begins at noon March 15 and lasts for about three hours on Columbus between Balbo and Monroe (chicagostpatricksdayparade.org). The 47th annual South Side Irish Parade steps off at noon March 16 and lasts for about two hours on Western from 103rd to 115th in the Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood (southsideirishparade.org).
One of the best area celebrations takes place at the Irish American Heritage Center (4626 N. Knox). From 1-11 p.m. March 15 find a full lineup of Irish music, dance, food, children’s activities and more ($15 advance, $20 at door; free for kids 12 and under). On the day itself, March 17, from 4-11 p.m. there’s music with the Chancy Brothers, Lagram’s Way and Without U2 in the center’s Fifth Province Pub ($10, free for 12 and under). Visit irish-american.org.
Old St. Pat’s family-friendly Shamrock’n features Irish pub food, music and activities for children. From 11 a.m.-5 p.m. March 15 at 625 W. Adams. Tickets: $30+, children 6-10 $10, free for 5 and under. Visit oldstpats.org/shamrockntheblock.html.
The street festival Shamrock & Roll features live music, Irish dancers, bagpipers, family-friendly activities, food vendors and more. From noon-10 p.m. March 15 and noon-8 p.m. March 16 on Division from State to Dearborn. Admission: $10 suggested donation. Visit exploretock.com/the-lodge-tavern.
Shamrockin’ at the Pier is a pub crawl through six restaurant-bars and a docked cruise ship that includes drink specials, live music, games and more. From 2-7 p.m. March 15 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand. Tickets: $40. Visit navypier.org.
Theater
“Splash Hatch on the E Going Down” is Kia Corthron’s drama about a teenager (Jada Jackson) who is navigating both the complexities of pregnancy and the weight of her growing obsession with the urban environment and social justice. Cheryl Lynn Bruce directs. From March 14-April 13 at Definition Theatre, 1160 E. 55th. Tickets: $25+. Visit definitiontheatre.org.
Puccini’s masterpiece “La Boheme” captures the essence of young love and artistic passion in bohemian Paris. Tenor Pene Pati, making his Lyric Opera debut, leads the cast as Rodolfo with soprano Ailyn Pérez as Mimi, Gabriella Reyes as Musetta and Wil Liverman as Marcello. Melanie Bacaling directs; Jordan de Souza conducts the Lyric Opera Orchestra. From March 16-April 12 at Lyric Opera, 20 N. Wacker. Tickets: $69+. Visit lyricopera.org.
From Lima, Peru, Teatro La Plaza’s “Hamlet” is a celebration of self-expression by a group of young performers with Down syndrome. The artists explore the central question “To be or not to be?” through their own experiences and a mix of pop music, dance and humor. Performed in Spanish with English subtitles. From March 13-23 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in partnership with Chicago Latino Theatre Festival, 800 E. Grand. Tickets: $30-$50. Visit chicagoshakes.com.
Idle Muse Theatre presents “The School for Scandal,” Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s classic comedy of manners that sends up celebrity society and the idle rich. Evan Jackson directs. From March 13-April 13 at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 113 W. Catalpa. Tickets: $30. Visit idlemuse.org.
Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell and Gordon Farrell’s “The Lifespan of a Fact” challenges the boundaries of journalism and ethics as truth and creative license collide. Directed by Elizabeth Mazur Levin. From March 14-April 6 at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Rd., Glenview. Tickets: $55. Visit oillamptheater.org.
Ashwaty Chennat’s “Little Fears” explores our relationships with everyday objects and what we discover about ourselves through them. The piece features South Asian music, dance traditions, pantomime and puppetry. At 8 p.m. March 14-15 at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater, 1700 N. Halsted. Tickets: $15-$25. Visit steppenwolf.org/lookout.
Dance
The Joffrey Ballet’s “Winning Works” is a program of five world premieres from up-and-coming choreographers Karley Childress, Roderick George, Shota Miyoshi, Alejandro Perez and Keelan Whitmore. From March 14-23 at Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago. Tickets: $35. Visit joffrey.org.
Music
Mary J. Blige, the queen of R&B and hip-hop soul, performs songs from her new album, “Gratitude,” which celebrates the love and thankfulness she has towards her life, family, friends and fans. Also on the bill: Ne-Yo and Mario. At 7 p.m. March 14 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison. Tickets: $235+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Chicago Sinfonietta performs a program featuring classic works by Brahms, Mahler and Mendelssohn as well as modern pieces by Michelle Isaac (“Moshe’s Dream”), Valerie Coleman (“Opus Serena”) and Sandra Bailey (“Dual Voices, Single Journey”). At 6 p.m. March 13 at Wentz Hall, 171 E. Chicago. Tickets: $57, $67. At 3 p.m. March 16 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells. Tickets: $27-$57. Visit chicagosinfonietta.org.
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at “Beautiful Vision: The Songs of Van Morrison.” Chicago singer-songwriter Steve Dawson gathers some of his favorite Chicago musicians to play selections from the Belfast artist’s songbook. Joining him are Chris Greene (saxophone), Alton Smith (piano), John Abbey (bass), Larry Brown (drums), John Mead (guitar) and Sophie Creutz (reeds). At 7:30 p.m. March 17 at Space, 1245 Chicago, Evanston. Tickets: $15. Visit evanstonspacemusic.com.
Singer songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov joins with the Chicago Philharmonic to perform orchestral versions of his songs including fan favorites as well as tunes from his recent album, “Appaloosa Bones.” Christopher Dragon conducts. At 7:30 p.m. March 13-14 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells. Tickets: $45+. Visit auditoriumtheatre.org.
Alligator Records artist Selwyn Birchwood is a guitarist, lap steel player, songwriter and vocalist who is setting a course for the future of the blues with his visionary and original music. He calls it “electric swamp funkin’ blues,” a mix of blues, psychedelic rock, funk and Southern soul. At 8 p.m. March 13 at Space, 1245 Chicago, Evanston. Tickets: $15-$25. Visit evanstonspacemusic.com.
Ike Reilly Assassination, tagged as “one of the best live bands in America,” lives up to its rockin’ reputation during three performances at 4, 8 p.m. March 15 and 6 p.m. March 16 at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport. Tickets: $25. Visit lh-st.com.
The Nashville-based string band Old Crow Medicine Show celebrates 25 years of great roots music at 7 p.m. March 15 at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee, Waukegan. Tickets: $40-$70. Visit geneseetheatre.com.
Museums
“Lines of Connection: Drawing and Printmaking” features more than 90 works on paper by some of the greatest artists in the Western tradition and explores the connections between drawing and printmaking. Artists include Albrecht Dürer, William Blake, Parmigianino, Rembrandt, Peter Paul Rubens, Maria Sibylla Merian and more. From March 15 to June 1 at Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan. Admission: $14-$32. Visit artic.edu.
Family Fun
“Go Dog Go! • Ve Perro ¡Ve!” is Allison Gregory and Steven Dietz’s new, bilingual musical based on P.D. Eastman’s children’s book that follows a pack of dogs as they drive, swim, play baseball and make their way to a big dog party. Dietz directs. From March 15-May 18 at Chicago Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine. Tickets: $42.25. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
“Leaf” is Amanda Link’s adaptation of a Sandra Dieckmann picture book about a polar bear on a quest to return home and the young crow who helps on the journey. Nathaniel Niemi directs. From March 13-April 20 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood. Tickets: $20. Visit lifelinetheatre.com.