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1. The Birth of a Birth Book

Pulitzer-winning local author Jonathan Eig’s 2014 book, The Birth of the Pill, gets remixed by TimeLine Theatre, with Eig himself as a character. Sept. 2–Oct. 4. timelinetheatre.com

2. Sound’s Round 2

Impresario-musician Mike Reed’s multigenre, multivenue festival, Sound & Gravity, returns for its second year with acts like Son Lux (pictured, above) and Chicago’s Jessica Risker. Sept. 3–6. soundandgravity.org

3. Great Impressions

The Art Institute’s major fall exhibition, Mary Cassatt: After Impressionism features more than 75 pieces, from full paintings to ephemera of her long-lost mural for the 1893 world’s fair. Sept. 6–Jan. 3. artic.edu

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4. Seeing Double

Kokandy’s hit production of the rarely produced Jekyll & Hyde heads to Streeterville’s Broadway Playhouse for a second run, complete with an impressive 15-piece orchestra. Sept. 8–Oct. 25. broadwayinchicago.com

Two actors in "Jekyll & Hyde," playing at Streeterville's Broadway Playhouse, one of 10 recommended events in September 2026. (Evan Hanover)
“Jekyll & Hyde” (Evan Hanover)

5. Extra! Extra!

So long, Skokie. Northlight Theatre inaugurates its swank Evanston digs with The Front Page, set in a Chicago newsroom and starring real-life spouses Kate Fry and Timothy Edward Kane. Sept. 9–Oct. 18. northlight.org

6. Sliding Doors

With the exhibition If Emmett Till Lived, Columbia College’s Museum of Contemporary Photography ponders what the murdered Chicago youth’s life might have looked like. Sept. 10–Dec. 19. mocp.org

"Man tossing a child into the air" by Stephen Marc, to be exhibited at "If Emmett Till Lived" at Columbia College's Museum of Contemporary Photography, one of 10 recommended events in September 2026.
"Man tossing a child into the air" by Stephen Marc (Stephen Marc)

7. North Shore Hoedown

The annual two-day Evanston Folk Festival boasts big acts, including the Indigo Girls and a comedy-concert mash-up from Fred Armisen. Sept. 12–13. evanstonfolkfestival.com

Fred Armisen, a scheduled artist playing the Evanston Folk Festival, one of 10 recommended events in September 2026. (Sheva Kafai)
Fred Armisen, a scheduled artist playing the Evanston Folk Festival (Sheva Kafai)

8. Bob and Weave

With the Robert Rauschenberg–inspired Dancing With Bob, Trisha Brown Dance Company and Merce Cunningham Trust choreograph to pop art and avant-garde rock. Sept. 17. harristheaterchicago.org

9. Scary-Go-Round

Adapted from the same tale of a doomed carnival barker that inspired Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, the ballet Liliom comes to the Joffrey. Sept. 17–27. joffrey.org

10. Standout Screenings

Celebrating a quarter century on State Street, the Siskel Center is showing 25 pivotal films, including the 1974 blaxploitation classic Foxy Brown, starring Pam Grier. Sept. 26 and 28. siskelfilmcenter.org

A still of Pam Grier from "Foxy Brown," one of 25 pivotal films to be shown at the Siskel Center, celebrating a quarter century on State Street, one of 10 recommended events in September 2026. (Park Circus)
A still of Pam Grier from "Foxy Brown," one of 25 pivotal films to be shown at the Siskel Center (Park Circus)

Web Behrens is contributing Go editor at Chicago magazine.