Theater
- Former Goodman Theatre artistic director Robert Falls makes his Steppenwolf Theatre directing debut with “Amadeus,” Peter Shaffer’s Oscar and Tony Award-winning drama that which follows the rivalry between composers Antonio Salieri and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Ian Barford and David Darrow lead the 18-member cast. From Nov. 6-Jan. 11 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Tickets: $72.50+. Visit steppenwolf.org.
- With music and lyrics by Alicia Keys and a book by Kristoffer Diaz, the Tony Award-nominated “Hell’s Kitchen” tells the coming-of-age story of Ali (Maya Drake), a 17-year-old girl searching for freedom, passion and her place in the world. Michael Greif directs. From Nov. 11-30 at Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St. Tickets: $50-$149. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.
- “White Christmas” is based on the classic 1954 film about two former GIs, now a popular song-and-dance duo, who put on a show to help a beloved general save his business. Stephen Schellhardt directs. From Nov. 12-Jan. 11 at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Tickets: $31-$106. Visit paramountaurora.com.
- The musical comedy “Sister Act” is an adaptation of the popular film about a lounge singer hiding from the mob at a convent. E. Faye Butler directs. From Nov. 12-Jan. 11 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Tickets: $92+. Visit drurylanetheatre.com.
- Greg Kotis and Mark Hollmann’s Tony Award-winning musical, “Urinetown,” is a satire about water shortages and a fight for free toilet usage in a dystopian-like city where citizens spark a revolution. Danny Kapinos directs. From Nov. 7-Dec. 21 at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, 721 Howard St., Evanston. Tickets: $50-66. Visit theo-u.com.
- “A Devil Comes to Town” is Jeremy Ohringer’s adaptation of Paolo Maurensig’s novel about a town obsessed with writing and the publisher who sets off a sinister chain of events. Ohringer directs. From Nov. 6-22 at Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Cortland St. Tickets: $22. Visit trapdoortheatre.com.
- For its inaugural production, Wild Door Theater presents “Smokefall,” Noah Haidle’s play about three generations of a family navigating love, loss and the passage of time. Andrew Gallant directs. From Nov. 10-Dec. 21 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets: $25-$39. Visit wilddoortheater.com.
- Tom Dudzick’s “Miracle on South Division Street” is a comedy-drama about the possible unraveling of a family’s miraculous Christmas Eve story. Scott Shallenbarger directs. From Nov. 12-Dec. 14 at Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. Tickets: $45. Visit citadeltheatre.org.
Dance
- Joffrey Ballet performs the world premiere of Chanel DaSilva’s “Wabash & You,” with on-stage accompaniment by the funk band The Main Squeeze; and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s “Broken Wings,” inspired by the life and art of Frida Kahlo set to Peter Salem’s score. At 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6-7; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 and 2 p.m. Nov. 9 at Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St. Tickets: $46+. Visit harristheaterchicago.org.
- Chicago Repertory Ballet presents the world premiere of Wade Schaaf’s “The Capulets,” a ballet set in the world of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” but now reimagined through the perspective of Lady Capulet, Juliet’s mother. From Nov. 7-16 at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St. Tickets: $39+. Visit chicagorepertoryballet.com.
Music
- Pioneering indie band Tortoise, first formed in Chicago in 1990, performs an album-release show for the new disc “Touch,” the band’s first release since 2016. In a collaboration with the Chicago Philharmonic, the new songs and a selection of the band’s classics are all arranged to be performed with live orchestra. At 7:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive. Tickets: $60+. Visit auditoriumtheatre.org.
- Rachael & Vilray — Rachael Price, lead singer for the band Lake Street Dive and guitarist-songwriter Vilray Bolles — recently released their third collaboration, “West of Broadway,” which was inspired by Vilray’s new love of classic musicals. Moorea Masa & The Mood open at 8 p.m. Nov. 8 at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston. Tickets: $49.62+. Visit evanstonspace.com.
- Chicago Asian American Jazz Festival features performances by Jeff Chan and Ratchet, Yoko Noge and Jazz Me Blues, Kioto Aoki Trio, Tatsu Aoki’s The MIYUMI Project, Chien-An Yuan and All Things Shining and more. From Nov. 7-10 at Elastic Arts, 3429 W. Diversey Ave. Tickets: $20. Visit airmw.org.
- Evanston-based indie dream-pop singer Lindsay Anderson performs songs from “Forgiving,” her new 12-song album inspired by the romantic and artistic entanglement of surrealist painters Leonora Carrington and Max Ernst. Susie McCollum opens at 8 p.m. Nov. 7 at Epiphany Center for the Arts, 201 S. Ashland Ave. Tickets: $20, $25. Visit epiphanychi.com.
Museums
- “Live, Laugh, Labor: Reflections on Usefulness and Other Myths” features the work of Chicago-based artist Andi Crist. Drawing inspiration from her career as a professional art handler and fabricator, the exhibit navigates boundaries and relationships between work, play and practice. To Jan. 11 at Cleve Carney Museum of Art, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Admission is free. Visit theccma.org.
- Museum of Broadcast Communications has reopened (Wednesday-Sunday) in a pop-up space at 440 W. Randolph St. Included among a number of exhibits are “Johnny Carson: The Centennial Exhibit,” “The Evolution of Late Night Television,” “Bozo’s Circus: 65 Years” and more. Admission: $16-$19, free for children 6 and under. Visit museum.tv.
Movies
- Black Harvest Film Festival returns with its annual showcase of Black cinema from across the diaspora. Among the feature films and shorts screened are Elegance Bratton’s “Move Ya Body: The Birth of House,” Angela Lynn Tucker’s “The Inquisitor,” Gregory Alan Williams’ “Paw Paw & Dayja,” Kahlil Joseph’s “BLKNWS: Terms and Conditions” and more. From Nov. 7-16 at Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St. Tickets: $13, festival passes $30, $60. Visit siskelfilmcenter.org.
- Bob Koester, best known as the founder of Delmark Records and the owner of the Jazz Record Mart, also was an avid film collector. The Chicago Film Society received hundreds of reels of 16mm film from Koester’s family and, after sifting through the collection, are now ready to screen a selection of these treasures at “International Sweethearts of Rhythm: Jazz and Blues Films from the Bob Koester Collection.” At 8 p.m. Nov. 6 at Constellation, 3111 N. Western Ave. Tickets: $20.72. Visit chicagofilmsociety.org.
Family fun
- The Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Public Library have joined forces to expand the Artist’s Studio into all 81 library locations. The program provides a space for children and others to explore books and works of art from the museum’s collection, create art and more. This fall, kids can create a collage print inspired by the art of Elizabeth Catlett. For more information, visit chipublib.org.