The Five
Don’t-miss picks for Wednesday, July 1 through July 7, 2015
1 Bent
Theater: Martin Sherman’s intense drama about two gay men sentenced to hard labor in a Nazi death camp is both emotionally devastating and profoundly inspirational. Two-time Jeff winner Alex Weisman stars, and Keira Fromm directs.
7/1–7/26. $25. Other Theatre Company at Strawdog Theatre. 3829 N. Broadway. theothertheatrecompany.com
2 Yundi
Classical: In China, the number-one classical music star is not Lang Lang. It’s the Elvis-haired, one-named 30-something pianist Yundi, whose every finger-lift makes tabloid headlines. In his Ravinia debut, he plans Chopin, Liszt, Beethoven’s “Appassionata” Sonata, and Schumann’s Fantasy in C Major.
7/5 at 2. $10–$60. Ravinia, 200 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park. ravinia.org
3 Grant Park Music Festival
Classical: In addition to the conductor Christopher Bell’s outlandish outfits, this year’s Independence Day celebration features Terrence Wilson playing Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, and if you don’t pay attention, you’ll swear it was Rhapsody in Blue when you get home.
7/4 at 7:30. $25–$73. Grant Park Music Festival, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph. grantparkmusicfestival.com
4 Fucked Up
Rock: Of the many strange venues the punk rockers Fucked Up have fucked up over 14 years together (including the men’s room on ‘MTV Live’), the Garfield Park Conservatory might be the strangest. Here they’ll join fellow Canadians Doomsquad to form a nine-person band and perform music from their “zodiac” albums, an ongoing cycle that sets each Chinese zodiac year to music.
7/6 at 7:30. $4–$25. Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park. ticketfly.com
5 Limbo
Art: With an eye for the surreal, young photographer Nicholas Pinto takes his camera into the streets of Chicago, capturing exposed mannequin bodies in store windows, lonely lost gloves, and the surprised expressions of passersby—all in black and white.
7/3–8/1. Free. Rangefinder Gallery, 300 W. Superior. tamarkin.com/leicagallery/limbo
What I’m Doing This Weekend
“What I’m Doing This Weekend” is taking a break for the holiday weekend.
Freebie of the Week
Congrats on Your Success
Comedy: The best stand-up showcase in a bookstore features comedians Tom Brady [https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/May-2014/You-Should-Know-Comedian-Tom-Brady/ ] and Brendan McGowan.
7/2 at 7. Free. Uncharted Books, 2620 N. Milwaukee. facebook.com/events/1018641381510048