Pitchfork Music Festival is just around the corner. Here’s some of what’s happening before the weekend of nonstop tunes begins:
Mon 7/10: Dion Boucicoult’s arch 1841 comedy of manners London Assurance gets a spirited and fully committed production at City Lit (1020 W. Bryn Mawr). This story of bumbling boors, chiseling social climbers, and simpering fops gallivanting and scheming around the London countryside is crisply performed by a uniformly excellent cast. Their nimble way with this wordy text is a thing to behold and illustrates neatly why this play was such an influence on Oscar Wilde. Tonight is the first of only two Monday night performances. 7:30 PM, $12-$32
Mon 7/10: Black Ensemble is bringing sexy back for the ninth year during its annual Sex in the Summer Series at Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center (4450 N. Clark) with original, sensual new works from members of the Black Playwright’s Initiative. 7 PM, $15-$20
Tue 7/11: In 2016, artist and author Amy Krouse Rosenthal conceived of a different sort of “beauty salon”: a “forum where artists, authors, musicians, and others would convene to talk about and work on the beautiful things they were making.” In tribute to “AKR,” who died in March, the new exhibit “AKR: A Beauty Salon” at Carrie Secrist Gallery (835 W. Washington) celebrates creativity and artistry with a re-creation of Rosenthal’s favorite coffee shop, pop-up yoga classes, a temporary tattoo parlor, and more. 10:30 AM-6 PM, free
Tue 7/11: Chicago-bred author Daryl Gregory swings by Book Cellar (4736 N. Lincoln) to read from his new novel, Spoonbenders—the story of a family running the talk-show circuit with incredible acts like astral projection. 7 PM, free
Wed 7/12: Kyle Mooney, the SNL star most resembling Sideshow Bob, brings subversive, offbeat, captivating, and occasionally awkward comedy to Thalia Hall (1807 S. Allport). The evening features a jumble of comedic styles, including characters and videos created with Mooney’s creative partner, Dave McCary. 8:30 PM, $25
Wed 7/12: Accomplished poet Timothy David Rey headlines the open-ended, welcoming, and warm open mike Elizabeth’s Crazy Little Thing. Comics, poets, and experimental performance artists alike are given slots by host Elizabeth Harper at Phyllis’ Musical Inn (1800 W. Division). 9 PM, free
Thu 7/13: If you know Chanté Moore only from TV One’s R&B Divas LA, you’re seriously doing yourself an injustice. Hear this chanteuse’s syrupy pipes at the Promontory (5311 S. Lake Park). 7 PM and 10 PM, $22-$36
Thu 7/13: So you think you can dance? You can! The Chicago Park District hosts Summer Dance-Off, free step and footwork competitions in green spaces across the city: Garfield Park (100 N. Central Park), Washington Park (5531 S. Russell), Hamilton Park Cultural Center (513 W. 72nd), and Austin Town Hall Park (5610 W. Lake). 2-5 PM, free