The Five

Don’t-miss picks for Wednesday, October 28 through November 3, 2015

1 Wozzeck

Opera The most compelling reason to put on a pair of fancy pants this weekend? Composer Alban Berg’s stunner. The soldier’s tale contains all the trappings of great opera—murder, heartbreak, and a sublime score.
11/1–11/21. $20–$299. Civic Opera House, 20 N. Upper Wacker. lyricopera.org

2 Roxane Gay and Gloria Steinem

Readings The Bad Feminist author interviews Steinem about her new memoir, My Life on the Road.
10/29 at 7. $28. The People’s Church of Chicago, 941 W. Laurence. womenandchildrenfirst.com

3 Anais Mitchell

Music The indie folk darling tells complex stories through haunting, guitar-driven songs.
10/30 at 8. $40–$45. Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chicago. ticketweb.com

4 Chapter Two

Theater Jessica Thebus directs the story of a man who vows never to date again after the death of his wife—a solemn promise that a smart, gorgeous, and single soap star upends.
10/28–12/6. $15–$60. Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park. windycityplayhouse.com

5 Against Being

Dance Avant-garde choreographer Adam Rose mounts this spooky production that explores nihilism through movement.
10/30–11/1. $10–$12. Links Hall, 3111 N. Western. linkshall.org

What I’m Doing This Weekend

Maxx McGathey
Maxx McGathey Photo: Courtesy of Maxx McGathey

Up next in our series of weekend plans from notable, in-the-know locals: Maxx McGathey, keyboardist for the band Gramps the Vamp.

“Friday, I plan on going out to Emporium Arcade in Wicker Park. There’s a very cool band called Terrible Spaceship that’s playing. They’ve got a sci-fi influenced, synth horror pop sound. Very fun for Halloween. I’ll also probably drain a couple of dollars on the bar’s BurgerTime machine. I once got the third highest score.

“Saturday, before I return to Emporium to play with my own band, we’ll grab dinner at Antique Taco. It’s one of my favorite taco places in the city. The chili cheese curd fries are just unbelievably decadent and delicious. Then we’ll be holing up in Emporium for our fifth annual Halloween party. The jazz-fusion band Spare Parts will be opening for us as well as the Vivacious Miss Audacious. She does fire-eating burlesque dance. Then we’ll be performing our signature doom funk style of music.

“Sunday, I’ll be nursing my pumpkin beer hangover with a pumpkin pie from Bang Bang Pie Shop. Then later, I’ll go to Logan Theatre and see Crimson Peak, one of the creepy movies the theater is playing for the holiday.” —As told to Tomi Obaro

Freebie of the Week

How Much Can You Carry?

Art See this series by Parisian photographer Floriane de Lassée before it closes. The exhibition features portraits of people from Indonesia, Ethiopia, and other developing nations balancing groceries on top of their heads.
Through 10/31. Free. Catherine Edelman Gallery, 300 W. Superior. edelmangallery.com