ART
`CONSUMING NATURE’
Works by four contemporary artists concerned with the symbiotic relationship between Nature and man; opens Thursday, Museum of Contemporary Photography, 600 S. Michigan Ave. Free. 312-663-5554.
`THE TUMULTUOUS FIFTIES’
A view from The New York Times photo archive: Opens Saturday, Terra Museum of American Art, 666 N. Michigan Ave. Free. 312-664-3939.
`DAY OF THE DEAD’
The annual exhibition, said to be the largest in the U.S.; final week, Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, 1859 W. 19th St. Free. 312-738-1503.
— Alan G. Artner
CLASSICAL
HIGHLAND PARK STRINGS
Duo pianists Misha and Cipa Dichter join the orchestra under Francis Akos for a family concert. The husband-and-wife team will play Mozart’s Concerto in E-flat, K. 365, on a program that also holds works by Haydn, Corelli and Turina; 3 p.m. Sunday at Highland Park High School, 433 Vine Ave., Highland Park; free; 847-831-3810.
SHARON ISBIN
The gifted American guitarist kicks off the 10th anniversary celebration of the Segovia Classical Guitar Series. Included on her program will be the Chicago premieres of works written for Isbin by Tan Dun and John Duarte; 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Northwestern University’s Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston; $10-$23; 847-467-4000.
BELLA VOCE
“Orient Star,” the choir’s annual holiday program, combines favorite Christmas fare with choral works by Eastern European composers from the 16th Century to the present. Anne Heider will direct weekend performances in Evanston, Lisle and Chicago, beginning with a concert at 8 p.m. Friday in Alice Millar Chapel, 1870 Sheridan Rd., Evanston; $10-$25; 312-461-0723.
WILLIAM FERRIS CHORALE
Newly appointed chorus master Paul Nicholson will lead seasonal favorites, Renaissance polyphony, Banjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols” and other yuletide music in “Home for Christmas” (also the name of the chorale’s new CD recording). Guest artists are Stephen Hartman, harp, and Thomas Weisflog, organ; 8 p.m. Friday in Mt. Carmel Church, 690 W. Belmont Ave.; $16-$20; 773-325-2000.
CHICAGO MASTER SINGERS
“Carols of the Season” is the self-descriptive title of the chorus’ Christmas family program, with Alan Heatherington conducting; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 7 p.m. Dec. 14, at Divine Word Chapel, Waukegan and Techny Roads, Techny; $28-$40; 877-825-5267.
— John von Rhein
JAZZ
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DAVE HOLLAND
The venerable bassist fronts one of the most persuasive quintets in jazz; Tuesday through Sunday at the Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave.; $25; 312-670-2473.
PAUL WERTICO
The brilliant Chicago drummer leads trio staffed by guitarist John Moulder and bassist Eric Hochberg; 8 p.m. Friday and 9 p.m. Saturday at the Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway; $10; 773-878-5552.
— Howard Reich
MOVIES
NEW FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL
The pick of the bunch: “Feathers in My Head,” by Belgium’s Thomas de Thier, a poignant film about a grieving mother; through Thursday at Facets Multimedia, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave.; $7; 773-281-9075.
`FROM HERE TO ETERNITY’
“From Here to Eternity” (Fred Zinnemann; 1953) deserves its eight Oscars; The Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave.; $8; 773-871-6604.
— Michael Wilmington
ROCK
`SECOND CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS: LETTERS TO SANTA’
The theater troupe’s annual 24-hour improvisation marathon for charity will include performances by Steve Albini, Billy Corgan, Jeff Tweedy, Robbie Fulks, Sally Timms and Jon Langford; Tuesday at Second City, 1608 N. Wells St.; $10; 312-664-4032.
LOW
The Duluth, Minn., trio’s “Christmas” EP is one of the all-time great holiday releases; Friday at Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N. Kedzie Ave.; $15; 800-594-8499.
CHRIS AND HEATHER’S COUNTRY CALENDAR SHOW
The music of the honky-tonk greats featured on Heather McAdams’ 2004 country calendar will be celebrated, revue-style, by husband Chris Ligon, Neko Case, Robbie & Donna Fulks, Kelly Hogan, Andrew Bird and Jon Langford; Saturday at FitzGerald’s, Berwyn, $15; 708-788-2118.
— Greg Kot
THEATER
`BLACK MILK’
Vassili Sigarev’s play, seen here in European Rep’s U.S. premiere, proves quite shrill in Act 1. But in Act 2 “Black Milk” becomes a powerfully moving experience, guided by an ever-richer performance from Heather Prete as Poppet; through Dec. 28 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave.; $20; 312-902-1500.
`CAMELOT’
This revival of the 1960 King Arthur musical is directed by and stars Ray Frewen. There’s strong and seasoned work from Frewen, Cory Goodrich’s fervent queen, and Joe Van Slyke and David Lively as Merlin and Pellinore, respectively; through Jan. 4 at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace; $22-$25, dinner theater packages start at $38.50; 630-530-0111.
`CELEBRATION ON ICE’
It has ice. It has skaters. It has Circus Boy, who juggles and walks on ladders. It has impressionist Frank Pisani, as well as skating, dancing tributes to everything from “Chicago” to “Ghostbusters” to “God Bless the U.S.A.” It is the final show in the history of Drury Lane Evergreen Park; through Jan. 11 at Drury Lane Evergreen Park, 2500 W. 95th St., Evergreen Park; $26, lunch or dinner and show, $46; 708-422-0404.
`THE LION KING’
Director Julie Taymor and company’s gorgeous, supple visual achievements take your breath away. Half the score’s lovely too; arranger Lebo M one-ups the weak Elton John/Tim Rice songs without even trying. Chicago’s own Larry Yando snarls artfully as the villainous Scar; Rafiki the baboon, played by South African performer Thandazile A. Soni, is pure delight; through Jan. 18 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.; $18-$82; 312-902-1400.
`THE MISANTHROPE’
Moliere’s 17th Century courtiers go Hollywood, via London, in Martin Crimp’s adaptation of the masterwork. We’re in a posh London hotel suite wherein an A-list Hollywood actress (Kati Brazda) drives her jealous, sour playwright-lover (Nick Sandys) to distraction with all her frippery and flirtations and hypocritical fawning. The update only occasionally feels like a straitjacket, thanks to a very stylish and confidently acted Next Theatre production directed by Jason Loewith; through Dec. 14 at Next Theatre Company, 927 Noyes St, Evanston; $12-$29; 847-475-1875.
`THE SECRET IN THE WINGS’
Rich, strange and often darkly beautiful, adapter/director Mary Zimmerman’s deftly acted exploration of six lesser-known fairy tales builds upon a 1991 production dating to the early days of Lookingglass Theatre. Now, in the Lookingglass Water Works space on North Michigan Avenue, Zimmerman has reworked the stories to strong imagistic effect. Humans turn into swans; beheaded noggins turn into rubber balls; and, in an excellent framing device, the ogre next door turns into a more humane version of himself; through Dec. 14 at Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave.; $30-$55; 312-337-0665.
`TWELFTH NIGHT’
From London’s Globe Theatre, director Tim Carroll’s so-called original practices interpretation of Shakespeare’s great, slightly terrifying comedy features an all-male cast; period music played live on period instruments; and a visual aesthetic not unlike (presumably) the original 1602 version. All that’s fine. But for many of us, this is the first “Twelfth Night” that really means something. The acting, led by Globe artistic director Mark Rylance’s exquisitely tortured and lovelorn Olivia, exhibits both delicacy and emotional force; through Dec. 14 at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave.; $65-$75; 312-595-5600.
— Michael Phillips
`ACCIDENTAL RAPTURE’
Eric Pfeffinger’s intelligent and thoroughly compelling new play about the complex relationship between secular humanists and conservative Christians is a revelation; through Dec. 21 at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., $12-15; 773-506-4542.
`BROADWAY BOUND’
Neil Simon’s autobiographical play — faithfully, expansively and amusingly revived at Pegasus Players — is among the very best of the many great Simon comedies; through Dec. 21 at Pegasus Players, 1145 W. Wilson Ave.; $10-25; 773-878-9761.
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`GREAT SOCIETY’
Set in 1964, the Chicago-themed comedy focuses on the smaller, paranoid cogs in the Richard J. Daley machine. It’s sharp, carefully researched and penned with panache by Barbara Wallace and Thomas R. Wolfe. It has plenty of good belly laughs; through Jan. 4. at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave; $16-32. 773-327-5252.
`JOB OPPORTUNITY’
In Michael Fossberg’s noir-esque crime-caper show, the dramatic action takes place in the moving front seat of a 1985 Oldsmobile — literally. All seating for the audience, maximum of four, is in the car, which roams the city streets. The real fun is that one has no idea which street denizens are in the cast and who is simply roaming the streets. There’s a whiff of danger here, especially if you go for one of the late-night road trips; through Jan. 25; maximum audience size is four; car leaves from the Mercury Theatre, 3745 N. Southport Ave.; $38.50-$44.40; 773-325-1700.
`OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS’
Joe DiPietro’s proudly retro play is a shamelessly sentimental piece of emotional realism about an initially ungrateful young fellow who comes to understand the worth of his quartet of New Jersey grandparents only when he decides to move to Seattle to pursue his selfish career. Michael Weber’s production cuts the treacle with performances from a splendid quartet of veteran Chicago actors unafraid to wrestle with the meanness and insularity of old age, as well as the wisdom it imparts; through Jan. 25 at the Mercury Theatre, 3745 N. Southport Ave.; $38.50-44.50; 773-325-1700.
`PANTS ON FIRE’
Mendacity may be older than the republic, but this still is an unusually fertile time for this lively, exuberant and very funny new comedy revue at the spunky Second City e.t.c., which, thanks to an especially talented current cast, continues to beat the pants off the more staid Second City mainstage. Director Joshua Funk and his youthful coterie see and debunk liars everywhere; open run at Second City e.t.c., 1608 N. Wells St.; $17-$19; 312-337-3992.
`SHE LOVES ME’
Clad in a slew of elegant costumes as an enthusiastic band plays somewhere in the back, a plethora of lovable young players knock themselves out singing and dancing around this sweet mini-Europe in Circle Theatre’s tiny but impressive revival of this fading jewel box of a show; through Dec. 14 at Circle Theatre, 7300 W. Madison St., Forest Park; $10-22; 708-771-0700.
— Chris Jones