1. RIHANNA
Catch the pop diva at her Diamonds concert—part of her fifth world tour—at the United Center. Rapper-on-the-rise A$AP Rocky opens.
DETAILS:
3/22 Mixing reggae with R&B and dancehall with diva hits, Jay-Z’s protégé is ceremoniously taking her throne. She’s one of the best-selling artists of all time, so expect a full-on production here to match the monster songs from her seven albums. At 7:30. $55–$95. United Center, 1908 W Madison. ticketmaster.com.
2. PERIMETER GALLERY
Sorry, Ryan Lochte. New sculptures by local artist Jeffrey Forsythe critique competitive culture by depicting awards for the common man.
DETAILS:
3/1–4/13 The triumphal stylings of medals and prizes inspired Jeffrey Forsythe to fashion his own laurels for the common man out of gold leaf, velvet, and faux fur. The message ingrained in these heroic sculptures: defeat the craving for approval and make your own victories known. 210 W Superior. perimetergallery.com.
3. BRANFORD MARSALIS QUARTET
Naperville plays host to the Grammy-winning jazz group, now featuring wunderkind drummer Justin Faulkner (far right).
DETAILS:
3/1 After the longtime drummer Jeff Watts left the saxophonist’s quartet, the group released Four MFs Playin’ Tunes, a coming-out party for his replacement, Justin Faulkner. The 22-year-old Faulkner has an energy and inventiveness that will certainly propel the group forward. At 8. $50–$60. Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College, 171 E Chicago, Naperville. finearts.northcentralcollege.edu.
4. THE DANCE CENTER
Columbia College’s dance troupe rings in 40 years with revivals and new works crafted from such eclectic source material as the Egyptian Book of the Dead.
DETAILS:
3/21–3/23 Drawing on uncommon sources, such as The Egyptian Book of the Dead and the music of the Magnetic Fields, the Chicago Moving Company’s 40th-anniversary program features revivals and a new work by Nana Shineflug. $26–30. 1306 S Michigan. colum.edu/dancecenter.
5. CREATURES OF LIGHT
Take a virtual trek through New Zealand’s glowing Waitomo Caves and marvel at the lambent creatures of the deep at the Field Museum.
DETAILS:
3/5–9/8 Wander through the re-created environments of light-producing organisms. From fireflies to deep-sea fish, this new show illuminates the many ways creatures use self-produced light in nature. Open daily 9–5. General admission free (kids under 3) to $15; all-access passes $21–$30. 1400 S Lake Shore. fieldmuseum.org.
Photography: (Perimeter Gallery) We Don’t Need Another Hero, 2008 by Jeff Forsythe; (Branford Marsalis Quartet) Eric Ryan Anderson; (The Dance Center) William Frederking; (Creatures of Light) ©AMNHD. Finnin