THEATER
`CHAGRIN FALLS’
Small, exceedingly well-crafted premiere of Mia McCullough’s lively, well-written script on the pall of death hanging over a sleepy bar in an isolated Oklahoma town; through Nov. 3 at Stage Left Theatre, 3408 N. Sheffield Ave.; $15-$20; 773-883-8830.
`EMBRYOS ON ICE’
The Second City’s 87th satirical revue presents a crackerjack cast offering a welcome rush of laughter on topics ranging from George Washington quarters to United States census figures; 1616 N. Wells St.; $17; 312-337-3992.
`INCOGNITO’
An extraordinary one-man show by the actor-writer Michael Fosberg in which a journey into his personal history becomes a mind-opening experience for all of us; through Nov. 11 at Bailiwick Theater, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.; $20 and $25; 773-883-1090.
`MISS SAIGON’
More Top Picks Best Smartwatches For Heart Patients
The epic musical, scaled down but still spectacularly presented on an arena stage swarming with theatrical invention and melodramatic passion; through Nov. 4 at Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire; $33-$38; 847-634-0200.
`NO MAN’S LAND’
Harold Pinter’s 1975 masterpiece on the shadowy past and the gloomy present is given a sturdy revival, with Joe Van Slyke and David Darlow. It’s often very amusing, as the aged writers at the center of the piece search for a common ground; through Nov. 11 by Remy Bumppo Theatre, upstairs at Victory Gardens, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.; $22.50-$25.50; 773-871-3000.
`OVER THE TAVERN’
A total charmer about the joys and travails of a blue-collar family in 1959 Buffalo, N.Y., written by Tom Dudzick, zestfully directed by William Pullinsi and its jokes and truths fleshed out by a terrific cast; through Nov. 18 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie; $32-$45; 847-673-6300.
`PACIFIC OVERTURES’
An intimate, elegant, imaginative presentation of the ambitious 1976 musical about the opening of Japan to the West, with a small orchestra and an all-male cast of 10 actors giving glorious voice to Stephen Sondheim’s superb score; through Dec. 2 upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave.; $35-$45; 312-595-5600.
`A PHOENIX TOO FREQUENT’
Short, sweet romantic verse drama of 1946 by Christopher Fry, in which a love affair blossoms in a tomb; through Dec. 9 at Writers’ Theatre, Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Ave., Glencoe; $38; 847-835-5398.
`THEY ALL FALL DOWN: THE RICHARD NICKEL STORY’
A multimedia vision of the life and work of the late Chicago photographer, anchored by a superb portrayal by Larry Neumann Jr. of the fussy, eccentric man in love with the great buildings designed by Louis Sullivan; through Nov. 18 by Lookingglass Theatre at the Ruth Page Center, 1016 N. Dearborn St.; $28.50-$33.50; 773-477-8088.
`THE VISIT’
A thrilling music theater adaptation of Friedrich Durrenmatt’s tragicomedy, filled with great moments and great performances, led by Chita Rivera and John McMartin as a vengeful millionairess and the small town small-town shopkeeper who is the object of her immense love-hate; through Nov. 3 at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.; $40-$55; 312-443-3800.
— Richard Christiansen
JAZZ
BENNY GOLSON
The noted composer-reedist turned in a perfunctory set during the Chicago Jazz Festival, but perhaps he’ll be more inspired in a better setting; Tuesday through Sunday at the Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave.; $20; 312-670-2473.
CHICAGO JAZZ ENSEMBLE
The great repertory orchestra performs William Russo’s “Chicago Suite No. 2” and Ellington favorites, 8 p.m. Friday at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie (the concert will be repeated at other locations through Nov. 29); $25; 312-344-6300.
— Howard Reich
CLASSICAL
`A GARLAND FOR LINDA’
The nine-part choral song cycle, commissioned by Paul McCartney in memory of his wife Linda, will receive its Chicago premiere by the chamber choir Bella Voce (formerly His Majestie’s Clerkes), at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. James Cathedral, Wabash at Huron. Among the composers who contributed to the work are John Tavener, John Rutter and McCartney. A portion of the proceeds from this benefit concert will go toward The Garland Appeal, a charity supporting cancer research; $20-$40; 312-461-0723.
`FIRST CHAIRS & FRIENDS’
Ensembles drawn from the ranks of Symphony II will perform Beethoven’s Septet for winds and strings and Chausson’s Concerto for Piano, Violin and String Quartet, in the organization’s season opener at 7 p.m. Sunday in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Evanston; $10-$45; 847-866-6888.
`I CAPULETI E I MONTECCHI’
Bellini’s lovely bel canto retelling of the Romeo and Juliet story returns to Lyric Opera in Giulio Chazalettes’ striking, stylized production, designed by Ulisse Santicchi and conducted by Bruno Campanella, with Andrea Rost and Vesselina Kasarova as the lovers from feuding families; the first of 10 performances is 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Civic Opera House; $29-$135; 312-332-2244.
`POWDER HER FACE’
The hot young British composer Thomas Ades’ blackly bawdy new opera, inspired by the scandalous liaisons of a real-life English duchess, has its Chicago premiere, courtesy of a group called Nimrod Opera. Presented under the auspices of the Chicago Humanities Festival and the Museum of Contemporary Art at 8 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Nov. 4 in the MCA Theater (pre-performance discussion at 5 p.m. Saturday.);$10-$11; 312-494-9509.
— John von Rhein
ROCK
More Top Picks Best Playground Flooring Tiles
LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III
By turns wry and poignant, Wainwright remains one of the post-Dylan folk movement’s finest songwriters; Sunday at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.; $18-$22; 773-728-6000.
DE LA SOUL
Pioneers of psychedelic hip-hop still going strong; Sunday at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St.; $27.50; 312-923-2000.
STEREOLAB
U.K. purveyors of trancy electro-rock with a French accent (thanks to smooth vocalist Laetitia Sadier); Wednesday at the Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave.; $17; 773-472-0449.
SPIRITUALIZED
Jason Pierce returns with his latest mini-orchestra to convey his blend of transcendent space-rock and gospel; Friday at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.; $17; 773-549-4140.
— Greg Kot
DANCE
DANCE CHICAGO
Dance Chicago, the annual showcase of area talent, launches its 2001 installment this weekend, with performances through Dec. 2 boasting works of jazz, tap, modern and ballet: in the past, as fine and thorough a way as any to sample dance and spot tomorrow’s stars. At the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave.; $5-$25; 312-902-1500.
— Sid Smith