Time to plan the weekend. Here’s some of what we recommend:
Through 1/24: It’s the 15th and final year of Collaboraction’s Sketchbook Festival at Chopin Theatre (1543 W. Division), which showcases 16 short theater pieces by local theater veterans and emerging artists. This year’s theme is, fittingly, “Life and Death.”
Through 2/6: Eric Dufault’s comedy The Year of the Rooster is running at the Frontier (1106 W. Thorndale). Zac Thompson writes, “In Red Theater’s visceral production, director Carrie Lee Patterson and a fully committed cast capture the comic ferocity of the script as well as the desperate violence of the fights (choreographed by Will Bennett).” Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 7 PM; also Mon 1/25 and 2/1
Through 2/27: “Few Were Happy With Their Condition” at Gallery 400 (400 S. Peoria) is a group show exploring life in postcommunist Romania. Opening reception Fri 1/15, 5-8 PM.
Sat 1/16: El-P and Killer Mike, together known as Run the Jewels, talk musical collaboration with music journalist Jessica Hopper at the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E. Chicago) as part of the MCA’s “In Sight Out” series. 6 PM
Sat 1/16: This year Curious Theater will finally make the RhinoFest connection that never was: Beau O’Reilly himself will direct Rhinoceros (1/23-2/28, Sat-Sun 7 PM), and the fest’s fringe-y local participants have been invited to create pieces inspired by it. Tonight’s opening gala at Prop Thtr (3502 N. Elston) kicks off the festival. 8 PM
Sun 1/17: Pat Tomasulo hosts Laugh Your Face Off at Laugh Factory (3175 N. Broadway), a stand-up showcase benefiting the Facial Pain Research Foundation. Admission includes a preshow cocktail hour. 7 PM
For more stuff to do this weekend—and every day—check out our Agenda page.