Things to do in Chicago Oct. 10-16: Entertainment

Theater

The Artistic Home stages Lynn Nottage’s “By the Way, Meet Vera Stark,” a comedic satire about a woman who, while serving as a maid to an aging Hollywood starlet in the 1930s, breaks into the movie business as an actress. Risha Tenae directs. From Oct. 12-Nov. 17 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee. Tickets: $35. Visit theartistichome.org.
Hell in a Handbag Productions combines two of its popular parodies into one chilling Halloween tale — “The Golden Girls Meet the Skooby Don’t Gang: The Mystery of the Haunted Bush” — filled with spooky hijinks. From Oct. 10-Nov. 3 at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. Tickets: $38-$60. Visit handbagproductions.org.

Kokandy Productions presents “Into the Woods,” Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s classic musical, a fantastical fairytale adventure filled with storybook characters who chase their deepest desires which have unintended consequences. Derek Van Barham directs. From Oct. 10-Dec. 22 at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division. Tickets: $45, $55. Visit kokandyproductions.com.
The Conspirators present “Commedia Divina: It’s Worse Than That,” Sid Feldman’s comedy that tells the story of a business heiress who is escorted through Dante’s Nine Circles of Hell. Wm. Bullion directs. From Oct. 17-Nov. 10 at Otherworld Theatre, 3914 N. Clark. Tickets: $30. Visit conspirewithus.org.
“We Could Be” is a new interactive play from About Face Theatre about two young siblings that asks the question: In a world where societal expectations lay out your path, do you dare to choose your own adventure? From Oct. 16-27 at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge. Tickets: pay-what-you-can $5-$35. Visit aboutfacetheatre.com.

Next up from Refracted Theatre is Laura Winters’ “Coronation,” a political satire about three disillusioned women who dream up a new branch of government — a monarchy to be run by the Queen of America. Tova Wolff directs. From Oct. 11-Nov. 16 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee. Tickets: $31, $41. Visit refractedco.com. 
MPAACT presents “The Book of Me,” Leonard House’s drama about an adopted daughter and the two families who collide over their choices and the consequences that follow. From Oct. 11-Nov. 24 at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln. Tickets: $22-$50. Visit mpaact.org.
Babes With Blades stages Shakespeare’s comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Lauren Katz directs. From Oct. 16-Nov. 23 at The Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway. Tickets $28-$35. Visit babeswithblades.org.

Opening at Story Theatre is Justine Gelfman’s new play “The Love Object,” which explores agency, betrayal and power through the bubblegum pop of the early 2000’s music industry. Jasmine B. Gunter directs. From Oct. 10-Nov. 3 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark. Tickets: $20. Visit thestorytheatre.org.

Comedy

Comedian Julio Torres has had a busy year with the release of two wonderfully quirky projects: his film directing debut, “Problemista” and his HBO series “Fantasmas.” Now he’s on the road with his new stand-up show “Color Theories,” which, by the title, may include his hysterical impersonations of colors. At 7:15 p.m. Oct. 10-11 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee. Tickets: $26-$50. Visit thedentheatre.com.

Music

Award-winning multi-genre hitmaker Jelly Roll tours behind his new album, “Beautifully Broken.” This is the biggest headlining tour to date for the artist known for blending soulful rock, heartfelt country and raw rap on songs filled with struggle, redemption and hope. Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay open at 7 p.m. Oct. 11 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison. Tickets: $67+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
The Illharmonic Orchestra combines the energy and passion of hip-hop with the sounds of live orchestral accompaniment. Thee Phantom conducts; the MC/vocalist is Phoenix. Opening the show is Chicago’s all-Black chamber music ensemble D-Composed. At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells. Tickets: $49+. Visit auditoriumtheatre.org.

Sabrina Carpenter took the summer by storm with her new album, “Short n’ Sweet,” which landed at the top of the Billboard 200 chart with a trio of buzzy hits in the top 10. Amarae opens at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison. Tickets: $725+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons join the ranks of artists on farewell tours with a performance that promises an evening of nostalgia with hits such as “Sherry,” “Walk Like a Man” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” At 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Rd. Tickets: $45+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
First there’s the world premiere of “Lifers: A Local H Movie,” written and directed by the Chicago band’s singer-guitarist Scott Lucas. Filmed at Metro, it depicts a typical night out in our town. At 7 p.m. Oct. 15 at Music Box, 3733 N. Southport. Tickets: $13. Visit musicboxtheatre.com. This is followed the next night with Local H celebrating the 20th anniversary of “Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles?,” an album that contains some of the band’s finest songwriting. At 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark. Tickets: $22, $25. Visit metrochicago.com.

Illuminati Hotties (the stage name of Grammy-winning producer and engineer Sarah Tudzin who has worked with the likes of Boy Genius, Weyes Blood, Speedy Ortiz), performs songs from her new album, “Power,” at 8 p.m. Oct. 10 (Daffo opens) at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln. Tickets: $20, $25. Visit lh-st.com.
Known for his rockabilly and R&B sound, JD McPherson tours behind his new album, “Nite Owls,” his first album of original songs in six years. The new songs find him tapping into elements of new wave, post-punk, surf rock and more. Kate Clover opens at 8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark. Tickets: $30, $35. Visit metrochicago.com.

Museums

“Paula Modersohn-Becker: I Am Me” is the German Expressionist painter’s first museum retrospective in the United States. In her short life, Modersohn-Becker (1876-1907) charted her own path in turn-of-the-century Germany using a bold, innovative style to explore singular aspects of the feminine experience. The exhibit includes more than 50 paintings, 15 large-scale drawings and five etchings. From Oct. 12-Jan. 12 at Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan. Admission: $14-$32. Visit artic.edu.

Family Fun

“Milo Imagines the World,” Terry Guest’s adaptation of Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson’s children’s book, is the story of a young boy who uses art to process the realities of growing up with an incarcerated parent. Features a hip-hop, pop and country music score by Christian Albright and Christian Magby. Ian Thigpen stars; Mikael Burke directs. Recommended for ages 6 and up. From Oct. 12-Nov. 10 at Chicago Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine. Tickets: $30-$40. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
The Lyric Opera presents “Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World,” a story about facing your fears, learning new things and the power of friendship. At 11 a.m. Oct. 12 at Kennedy-King College, 740 W. 63rd; at 2 p.m. Oct. 27 at Merit School of Music, 38 S. Peoria; and at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 2 at Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th. Admission is free. Visit lyricopera.org.
Slow & Low: Chicago Lowrider Festival is an impressive display of more than 250 meticulously customized cars, motorcycles and bicycles. Plus there’s live music, DJs, folkloric dancers, children’s play area and a pop-up art installation. From 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand. Admission: $15. Visit navypier.org.

Halloween Haunts

Rough House Theater’s “House of the Exquisite Corpse IV: Superstitions,” an immersive puppet haunted house, returns with an all-new show of six macabre destinations filled with frightfully fun Halloween horror. For ages 14 and up. From Oct. 10-Nov. 2 at Steppenwolf Garage, 1624 N. Halsted. Tickets: $21-$46. Visit roughhousetheater.com.
Mercury Skyline Cruiseline presents a Creepy Cruise which features mysterious sightings, creepy haunts, tales of mobsters and more along the Chicago River. The 90-minute cruise departs at 9 p.m. Fridays and 9:30 p.m. Saturdays through Nov. 2 at 112 E. Wacker (Riverwalk level). Tickets: $19-$47. Visit mercurycruises.com.
Intricately carved pumpkins lit with LED lights can be found at Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns, an outdoor special event at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Themes include re-creations of album covers, eerie cartoons, haunted tales from Chicago, Dia de los Muertos tributes and more. From Oct. 16-27 at Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe. Admission: $16, $23, children 2 and under free. Visit chicagobotanic.org.