The Five

Don’t-miss picks for Wednesday, May 14 through Tuesday, May 20

1 Manifest

Festivals: In a stroke of serendipity, Chance the Rapper played at Manifest last year just as he was becoming the rapper of the moment. The music acts at this Columbia College shindig aren’t quite as high profile this year (The Hood Internet headlines), but with tons of art shows, puppetry, dance showcases, and food trucks, this free shindig is still worth attending.
5/16 at noon. Free. Columbia College, 600 S Michigan. colum.edu/manifest

2 Paul Taylor Dance Company

Dance: Celebrating its 60th year, the respected contemporary dance company performs three works, including Taylor’s Depression era–set Black Tuesday.
5/17 to 5/18. $25–$68. Auditorium Theatre, 50 E Congress Pkwy. auditoriumtheatre.org/pages/home/performances-events/performances.php?event_id=449

3 Look Back in Anger

Theatre: Jonathan Berry directs John Osbourne’s 1956 drama about a cruel young man of working-class roots, his upper class wife, and her bombshell best friend.
5/14 to 6/15. $25–$35. Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W Bryn Mawr. redtwist.org

4 Mogwai

Rock: Scottish post-rock royalty tour behind Rave Tapes, a deeper dive into the band’s increasing interest in analog electronics and soundtrack work.
5/16 at 8. $25. Vic Theatre, 3145 N Sheffield. jamusa.com

5 Nairy Baghramian

Art: The minimalist sculptress debuts a large-scale artwork, French Curve, for the Art Institute of Chicago’s Modern Wing rooftop series. Born in Iran but based in Berline, Baghramian make relaxed abstract objects.
5/14–10/5. $12–$15. Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan. artic.edu

What I’m Doing This Weekend

Up next in our series of weekend plans from notable, in-the-know locals—a.k.a. people we like: Will Bishop, associate producer at Redmoon Theatre. Spring Spectacle: Bellboys, Bears and Baggage runs through June 8.

“Friday night is our work night for the Spring Spectacle. Instead of a traditional theatre experience where the audience sits down and sees the narrative, they get to walk through our 18,000-square-foot space and experience all the different installations and performances at their own pace. We’ll be putting the finishing touches on that and then we’ll probably go to my favorite bar in the city, Skylark. They have an amazing selection of craft beer and the tater tots there are like a third of my diet.

“Saturday, I’m also going to an event at the Museum of Contemporary Art called 21Minus. For the past few months, some of the most talented artists under 21 in dance, music, and art have been working on this showcase event. The whole museum is going to be activated by these artists. That happens from noon to five.

“Then from there, I’m going to be running Tollbooth: A Clown Show, the all-ages [play] I devised and directed, loosely inspired by The Phantom Tollbooth. We’ve been running it successfully for three weeks. Our closing night party for the show is at the California Clipper. I love genuine dive bars and they always have honky tonk music. It feels like something out of a David Lynch movie.

“Sunday is our opening night at Redmoon. Hopefully I’ll have a chance to swing by one of my favorite restaurants in Pilsen, Dia de Los Tamales; it’s a tamale restaurant with a wide range of fillings. And they have vegan options.” —As told to Tomi Obaro

Freebie of the Week

University of Chicago Presents

Classical: Hear original compositions from the burgeoning composers of the future. Top chamber musicians, including Eighth Blackbird and the Pacific Quartet, play new works by U. of C. doctoral students.
5/16 at 7:30. Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University, 430 S Michigan. chicagopresents.uchicago.edu