THEATER
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`THE FATHER’
August Strindberg’s stinging drama of the war between the sexes, with Michael Canavan, as an immovable martinet, opposed by Shannon Cochran, as his irresistible wife, in a take-no-prisoners battle for domination; $30; Writers’ Theatre at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Ave., Glencoe; 847-835-5398.
`BY THE BOG OF CATS’
Irish Repertory’s enterprising American premiere of Marina Carr’s drama is a surprising stunner, a contemporary reworking of “Medea” transplanted to contemporary rural Ireland; through June 24 in the upstairs theater of Victory Gardens, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.; $22-$42; 773-871-3000.
`THE TAFFETAS’
Silliness abounds in this send-up of ’50s pop music, as performed by the quartet of sharp actresses who portray four sweet sisters singing their little hearts out on a mythical TV show in the Eisenhower years; through July 28 at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire; $33-$38; 847-634-0200.
`WIT’
An impassioned portrayal by Carmen Roman illuminates Margaret Edson’s drama about a smart, tough, scholarly woman, hospitalized by cancer, who discovers her humanity in her painful journey toward death; through Saturday at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.; $29-$45; 312-443-3800
— Richard Christiansen
JAZZ
PATRICIA BARBER/KURT ELLING
Two of Chicago’s more innovative vocalists open a “Great American Songbook” series at the Ravinia Festival; 8 p.m. Monday at the Ravinia Festival’s Martin Theatre, Green Bay and Lake-Cook Roads, Highland Park; $10 lawn, $35-$50 pavilion; 847-266-5100.
TOM HARRELL
One of the great lyric voices of the trumpet also is a top-notch composer-arranger; Tuesday through Sunday at the Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave.; $20; 312-670-2473.
JAZZ AT RAVINIA
Four-day festival will feature Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, plus pianist Danilo Perez, starting at 6 p.m. Thursday; Jane Monheit Quintet, Oscar Peterson Quartet, 6 p.m. Friday; Poncho Sanchez, Roy Hargrove and Bebel Gilberto, 7 p.m. Saturday (see Rock picks); Reginald Robinson, Joshua Redman, Ramsey Lewis and Nancy Wilson, 5 p.m. next Sunday at Ravinia in Highland Park; $10 lawn, $30-$35 pavilion; 847-266-5100.
— Howard Reich
ROCK
HIGH ON FIRE
This power trio is led by mighty Matt Pike, former guitarist with stoner-rock pioneers Sleep; Wednesday at Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave.; $10; 773-276-3600.
VERUCA SALT
Louise Post carries on without Nina Gordon, and roars more persuasively than ever; Wednesday at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn Ave.; $15; 312-923-2000.
PINETOP SEVEN
Atmospheric, cinematic pop songs by one of Chicago’s most intriguing bands; Friday at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave.; $8; 773-525-2508.
BEBEL GILBERTO
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Bossa-nova with a contemporary electronic spin by the daughter of Brazilian pop legend Joao Gilberto; with Roy Hargrove and Pancho Sanchez, Saturday at Ravinia in Highland Park; $10-$30; 847-266-5100.
— Greg Kot
CLASSICAL
GRANT PARK
Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves returns to Chicago as soloist in the opening concert of the Grant Park Music Festival season, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Petrillo Music Shell. Her program holds Ravel’s song cycle, “Sheherazade,” along with spirituals. Principal conductor Carlos Kalmar leads the Grant Park Orchestra; free; 312-742-7638.
— John von Rhein
MOVIES
JAN SVANKMAJER
The great Czech animator Jan Svankmajer is being celebrated at Facets Multimedia with a full retrospective. Included are his eerie, fascinating features, 1994’s “Faust” (Sunday, 4:45 & 8:45 p.m.), 1996’s “Conspirators of Pleasure” (Monday, 7 & 8:45 p.m.) and his bizarre version of Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland, “Alice” (Wednesday, 9 p.m.); at Facets, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave.; $5-$7; 773-281-4114.
— Michael Wilmington