Theater
“The Guardsman,” by the Hungarian playwright Ferenc Molnar, is a romantic comedy that has been a popular stage vehicle since 1910, and now, in a transition that seems perfectly natural, it has been turned into a romantic musical comedy, “Enter the Guardsman,” presented by Northlight Theatre in Skokie. Oozing old-world charm and wit, it tells of a charming acting couple engaged in a game of amorous make-believe, off stage and on. David New is the vain actor husband, Hollis Resnik is his delectable diva wife, Iris Lieberman is her clever maid and John Reeger is the urbane playwright who acts as master of ceremonies for their game of deception. Peter Amster has staged the story with invention and affection.
“Enter the Guardsman” runs through Sunday on the big stage of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie; 847-673-6300.
— Richard Christiansen
Rock
Jason Ringenberg: Ringenberg put the twang in the punk assault of Jason and the Scorchers; now he’s exploring the country roots of soul music; Friday at Schubas; 773-525-2508.
— Greg Kot
Classical music
Chicago Ensemble: Group under direction of pianist Gerald Rizzer (with guests from the Chicago Symphony Orchestra) displays its eclectic spirit in season opener — works by Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms and the Flute Sonata by Chicago-born Robert Muczynski; 5 p.m. Sunday at the Three Arts Club, 1300 N. Dearborn, and 3 p.m. Jan. 14 at International House, 1414 E. 59th St.; 312-409-9677.
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Pinchas Zukerman and Chicago Symphony musicians: The popular violinist and violist is joined by six colleagues from the CSO in an all-Mozart chamber music program that holds the Divertimento in E-flat (K.563) and String Quintet in G minor (K.516); 3 p.m. Sunday at Symphony Center; 312-294-3000.
Newberry Consort: Ensemble regulars welcome Chinese instrumentalists as they perform “East Meets West: The Marco Polo Show,” a “virtual” tour of medieval silk roads in music and literature; 8 p.m. Friday at the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton; repeated at 8 p.m. Saturday at Grace Episcopal Church, Oak Park, and 3 p.m. Jan. 14 at Northwestern University’s Lutkin Hall, Evanston; 312-255-7300.
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra: Carmon DeLeone opens 23d anniversary season with symphonic favorites by Dvorak and Respighi, plus Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto; 8 p.m. Saturday at Center for the Performing Arts, Governors State University, University Park; 708-481-7774.
— John von Rhein
Art
“Taoism and the Arts of China”: Closes Sunday; Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave.; 312-443-3600.
“Chicago Swedish American Artists”: Opens Thursday; Swedish American Museum Center, 5211 N. Clark St.; 773-728-8111.
“Black Creativity”: The annual juried exhibition; opens Friday; Museum of Science and Industry, 57th Street at Lake Shore Drive; 773-684-9844.
— Alan G. Artner
Theater
“Booth”: Austin Pendleton performs, eccentrically but engrossingly, in this drama about the Booths, the famous, flamboyant American acting family of the 19th Century; through Sunday at Writers’ Theatre at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Ave., Glencoe; 847-835-5398.
“Early and Often”: Premiere of Tom Wolfe’s and Barbara Wallace’s riotously funny, shrewdly insightful comedy about Chicago-style politics in 1960, peopled by Famous Door Theatre with marvelously brash, tough, rude characters; extended through Jan. 28 at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.; 773-327-5252.
“Fiddler on the Roof”: A sturdy, if somewhat scaled down, production of the classic musical, with Theodore Bikel once more taking on the role of Tevye the dairyman, surrounded by vigorous dancing and a solid supporting cast, including Tamra Hayden and Daniel Cooney as his second daughter and the radical student she loves; through Sunday at the Shubert Theatre, 22 W. Monroe St.; 312-902-1400.
“The School for Scandal”: Star/director Brian Bedford’s staging of Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s 1777 English comedy of manners, imported from the Stratford Festival of Canada, is perfectly pitched and delightfully performed in every stylistic detail; through Jan. 21 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave.; 312-595-5600.
“The Weir”: In Conor McPherson’s simple, magical drama, three middle-aged codgers and a pleasant young woman in a pub in rural Ireland tell an increasingly haunting series of ghost stories; through Jan. 20 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.; 312-335-1650.
— Richard Christiansen
Jazz
Patricia Barber: The indispensable Chicago singer-songwriter-pianist leads her trio; 8 p.m. Monday at the Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway; 773-878-5552.
Northern Illinois University Jazz Ensemble: Ron Carter directs one of the best collegiate big bands in the country; 8 and 10 p.m. Tuesday at the Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave.; 312-670-2473.
David “Fathead” Newman Quartet: Expect gritty, soulful reed work; Thursday through Sunday at the Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave.; 312-670-2473.
— Howard Reich