ART
`LEAVING FOR THE COUNTRY: GEORGE BELLOWS AT WOODSTOCK’
Paintings of nature and neighborhood done during the artist’s last years; final week, Terra Museum of American Art, 666 N. Michigan Ave. Free. 312-664-3939.
`GRAPHIC MODERNISM: SELECTIONS FROM THE COLLECTION OF FRANCEY AND DR. MARTIN L. GECHT’
More than 130 works on paper, including a gift of 31 promised to the museum; final week, Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave. $10 suggested admission. 312-443-3600.
— Alan G. Artner
CLASSICAL
`THE HARP OF MELODY’
The city’s flagship early-music group, the Newberry Consort, presents a special benefit performance previewing its latest recording project. The evening will include an intimate concert, drinks and a post-performance reception; at 8 p.m. Friday in Ruggles Hall of the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton Ave.; $75, individual; $125, couple; 312-255-3700.
WINTER CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Chicago’s own Vermeer Quartet performs the first of six concerts (through Jan. 25) making up the Northwestern University 2004 Winter Chamber Music Festival. Pianist Andrea Swan and clarinetist Russell Dagon are the guest artists in works by Schubert, Brahms and Tchaikovsky; at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston; $10-$22; 847-467-4000.
ARS ANTIGUA
Bass player Jerry Fuller and friends perform Baroque favorites by Purcell, Corelli, Telemann, Handel and J.S. Bach on period instruments; at 2 p.m. Saturday in Quigley Chapel, Rush and Pearson Streets; free; 312-415-2391.
— John von Rhein
JAZZ
DAVID `FATHEAD’ NEWMAN
Newman has built a large and devoted following for his robust, soul-tinged approach to alto and tenor saxophones; Thursday through Sunday at the Jazz Showcase, 59 W. Grand Ave.; $20; 312-670-2473.
ERNEST DAWKINS
The mighty alto saxophonist leads his Live the Spirit Band, featuring some of the best young jazz improvisers in the city; 9 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday at the Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway; $8-$15; 773-878-5552.
— Howard Reich
MOVIES
VINCENTE MINNELLI RETROSPECTIVE
Minnelli, a native of Chicago and student at the Art Institute who later became one of the great directorial stylists of Hollywood’s Golden Age — gets a 10-film retrospective featuring two great musicals: 1951’s “An American in Paris,” with George Gershwin melodies and Gene Kelly dances, playing Sunday and Wednesday; and 1953’s witty “The Bandwagon,” pairing dancers Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse, playing Saturday; Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.; $8; 312-846-2800.
ROBERT ALTMAN
Shot in Chicago last year, Robert Altman’s “The Company” is a lyrical, low-budget musical drama, which portrays a rising young ballerina (Neve Campbell) in her season of initiation at the Joffrey Ballet. The dance scenes are splendid and the drama has near-documentary intimacy. With Malcolm McDowell and the Joffrey company. MPAA rating: PG-13. Playing at selected theaters.
— Michael Wilmington
THEATER
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`CAMELOT’
This revival of the 1960 King Arthur musical is directed by and stars Ray Frewen. In Alan Jay Lerner’s unwieldy libretto, the Round Table always was loaded down with too much stuff, but people tend to forgive the show’s problems once Lancelot cranks up “If Ever I Would Leave You,” or Arthur and Queen Guenevere trade queries in “What Do the Simple Folk Do?” 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; ends Sunday 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; in January, this haven of architectural kitsch and various, cherished show business traditions — from star-driven dinner theater to musicals to variety shows such as this one — is razed to make way for a Wal-Mart; through Jan. 11 at Drury Lane Evergreen Park, 2500 W. 95th St.; $26, lunch or dinner and show, $46; 708-422-0404.
`HAIRSPRAY’
A lot of fun, propelled by a strong Motowny score and a generally exhilarating brand of retro pop silliness. Plus-size 1962 Baltimore teen Tracy Turnblad changes the course of civil rights history and becomes a local idol in the bargain. In director Jack O’Brien’s fine touring edition Tracy’s mom is played by Bruce Vilanch. For the Chicago engagement, the supporting role of Seaweed is played by Chester Gregory II, and that is kinetically happy news indeed; through Feb. 15 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theater, 24 W. Randolph St.; $37-$87; 312-902-1400.
`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.
–Michael Phillips
`DOORS OPEN ON THE RIGHT’
Joshua Funk’s stellar, daring and frequently hilarious new revue on the Second City mainstage blames poor Steve Bartman (of Cubs choke infamy) for everything from fire to the lack of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. The cast is young but the material is hot and Funk’s formative mastery of the Second City genre without recent peer; open run at Second City, 1616 N. Wells St., $17-$19; 312-337-3992
`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. The work of the Famous Door Theatre Company, it has plenty of good belly laughs; ends Sunday at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.; $16-$32. 773-327-5252.
`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’
A 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.
`ROSE RAGE’
Edward Hall’s wildly revisionist and controversial reduction of Shakespeare’s three “Henry VI” plays imagines a juicy butcher’s abattoir replete with a bloody floor. Deaths are accompanied by the live-onstage slicing of real offal and animal flesh. Tension is underscored by the sharpening of knives. Anachronistic metaphors predominate. And the red-hot, two-part, six-hour show has actors both stomping happily on the flag of St. George and playing merry hell with the original text. The fascinating, thrilling end result is Elizabethan history recast as bastard, blood-infested Jacobean tragedy; through Jan. 18 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier; $70; 312-595-5600.
— Chris Jones