The Seldoms’ Monument
Photo by William Frederking

Talking Trash

April is Earth month, which means the onslaught of green talk has just begun. But don’t turn a deaf ear yet; amid the lip service and Al Gore sightings comes a truly inventive show examining society’s wastefulness. Dance troupe The Seldoms performs Monument, inspired by Staten Island’s Fresh Kills landfill—a site taller than the Statue of Liberty and visible from space. This inauspicious human “monument” served as the jumping-off point for artistic director Carrie Hanson, who has turned something decidedly unpretty into a graceful, athletic performance—and a reminder that our trash reflects who we are. The show runs 8 p.m. Friday the 4th, Saturday the 5th, and the 10th through 12th at Ruth Page Center for the Arts (1016 N. Dearborn Pkwy.; 312-328-0303). Tickets are $18.

Best Bets for Things to Do This Week Rock

  • The kids these days: Even chamber music has gone hard rock. Bang on a Can All-Stars—an amplified chamber ensemble made up of clarinets, cello, keyboard, electric guitar, bass, and drums—scores an indie-rock coup when Wilco drummer Glenn Kotche and The National guitarist Bryce Dessner sit in with the band. The concert, part of Northwestern’s Sonic Divergence Music Festival, begins 7:30 p.m. Sunday the 6th at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall (50 Arts Circle Dr., Northwestern University, Evanston; 847-467-4000). Tickets are $15.

Preview

  • Hot tip: Check out the Tony-winning Nine at Theatre Building Chicago (1225 W. Belmont Ave.; 312-902-1500) before director Rob Marshall (Chicago) turns it into yet another blockbuster film. The musical, based on Fellini’s classic biopic, 8 ½, depicts the midlife crisis of a director obsessed with his past relationships. The show previews 8 p.m. Friday the 4th and runs through May 18th. Tickets are $34 and $35.

Watch

  • Obamarama shows no signs of waning, so indulge in the frenzy with a screening of the documentary Senator Obama Goes to Africa, 8 p.m. Saturday the 5th or 2 p.m. Sunday the 6th at Skokie Theatre (7924 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie; 847-677-7761). Tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the door.

Heal

  • Most of us have a few episodes from our past we wish we could do over. In an attempt to move beyond those humiliating experiences, Oops! reading series’ latest installment, Unlucky in Love, works through tales of woo and woe. Purge vicariously as No Touching magazine’s Molly Each and Oops! Founder Jaime Calder, among others, read from their works. Group therapy begins 7 p.m. Saturday the 5th at Heaven Gallery (1550 N. Milwaukee Ave., 2nd floor; 773-342-4597). Admission is $5 or pay what you can.

Craft

  • BYO smock. Amy Sedaris—the tour-de-force comedian, sister of David, and author of I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence—will demonstrate craft projects as part of her hostessing duties at a benefit for Lifeline Theatre, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday the 10th at the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.; 773-761-4477). Tickets are $100.

Snicker

  • If there was an award for best-in-stoner humor—and Cheech and Chong weren’t available—Doug Benson would surely win it. See him live when the comedian, known for his commentary on VH1’s Best Week Ever and for his Marijuana-Logues, performs at the Lakeshore Theater (3175 N. Broadway; 773-472-3492) 8 p.m. Friday the 4th and Saturday the 5th. Tickets run $18 to $23.