The Five
Don’t-miss picks for Wednesday, May 20 through May 26, 2015
1 The 2nd Annual 26th Comedy Festival
Comedy: The second edition of this fest from The Onion/The A.V. Club is a real doozy: Comedians John Mulaney, Kyle Kinane, and Eric Andre perform stand-up sets; Weird Al Yankovic presents a screening of his film UHF; and The Simpsons TV writers will be on hand to talk shop with Onion writers. Feast, comedy nerds, feast.
5/26–30. $8–$40. Various locations. 26comedy.com
2 Guts & Glory: Farewell Show
Readings: Catch the last show of this popular, gritty live lit series.
5/20 at 5:30. Free. Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport. facebook.com/gutsandgloryshow
3 Third Coast Percussion
Music: The virtuosic quartet presents a concert of original Glenn Kotche (yep, as in Wilco’s drummer) compositions that rely on unorthodox instruments.
5/21–5/22. $10–$28. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago. mcachicago.org
4 Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Theater: AstonRep sets this Christopher Hampton’s adaptation of Frenchman Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’s twisted story of sex, power, manipulation, and mind games among decadent nobles in 20th century Russia. Charlie Marie McGrath directs.
5/21–6/1. $10–$20. AstonRep Theatre Company at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark. astonrep.com
5 Intimism
Art: One of today’s most forward-thinking artists, Frances Stark, from Los Angeles, works with video and digital tools. This survey reveals her critical take on culture, leaving everything vulnerable, including herself.
Through 5/21–8/30. $18. Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan. artic.edu
What I’m Doing This Weekend
“What I’m Doing This Weekend” is taking a break, but will return next week. —Tomi Obaro
Freebie of the Week
Grown Folk Stories
Readings: Newbies and vets have five minutes to tell a story at this monthly open mic series, now in Hyde Park.
5/21 at 8. Free. The Silver Room, 1506 E. 53rd. thesilverroom.com/pages/grown-folks-stories