ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

The Soul of the Ukraine!

Immersive Shevchenko: Soul of Ukraine

In support of Ukraine, Lighthouse Immersive, North America’s leading producer of experiential art exhibits that brought you the Immersive Frida Kahlo and Van Gogh experience, has partnered with Ukrainian producers in Kyiv and Odessa to present the "Immersive Shevchenko: Soul of Ukraine" after raising $200,000 with their initial presentation. This exhibit is in honor of Taras Shevchenko, literary icon, artist, patriot, and bard who sought to encapsulate the soul of Ukraine: everyday people, their lives and struggles set against Ukraine’s rich natural scenery. His poems and paintings are the genetic code of every Ukrainian and showcase the Ukrainian spirit of endurance and resilience as they defend their land. 100% of the ticket proceeds will be donated to the Red Cross Emergency Relief Fund for Ukraine and the National Bank of Ukraine Fund to charities dedicated to supporting Ukraine throughout Russian aggressions. Ticket buyers may select which charity to allocate their contribution to. The exhibit will be April 8 at three different one-hour time slots – 6, 7, and 8 p.m. – at 108 W. Germania Place. Tickets are $30+ and include the Immersive Frida Kahlo experience. They can be purchased at lighthouseimmersive.com.

A Film Legend!

David Lynch: A Complete Retrospective

From April 7-14, The Music Box, 3733 N. Southport Ave., will present “David Lynch: A Complete Retrospective - The Return” series passes and individual tickets. With a full week of programming by Daniel Knox centered on the film art of David Lynch, Music Box will screen the film and shorts, documentaries, music videos and his other important works. Special guests like Charlotte Stewart ("Eraserhead"), Richard Green ("I Don’t Know Jack"), Duwayne Dunham ("Blue Velvet" + "Wild at Heart") and Scott Ryan ("Blue Rose Magazine"). Each screening will be preceded by a 20-minute pre-show of Lynch material. Single tickets are $12.50 and a series pass that guarantees admission to each screening and a commemorative stamp book is available as well. For more information and schedule, visit musicboxtheatre.com.

A Space Odyssey!

Spektral Quartet presents world premiere ENIGMA

Embrace the enigmas of our world and beyond by visiting the Adler Planetarium, 1300 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, for a mesmerizing new work by Spektral String Quartet. Enigma is a multi-disciplinary work by composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir, winner of The New York Philharmonic’s prestigious Kravis Emerging Composer Award, and video artist Sigurdur Gudjonsson. The performance is inspired by the 2017 solar eclipse and created specifically for planetarium spaces. The piece asks the audience to contemplate their relationship to the vast cosmos throughout, the infinite universe within, and the sublime unknown, by immersing themselves in a synthetic space that links visual and aural elements to enhance the experience. Performances are April 7 and 8 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $30 at spektralquartet.com or adlerplanetarium.org.

A Broadway Superstar!

An Evening with Renée Elise Goldsberry

The Auditorium Theatre, 500 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, presents "An Evening with Renee Elise Goldsberry," at 7 p.m. April 9. Goldsberry is a Tony Award winner for her role as Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway hit "Hamilton" and currently stars in Tina Fey's "Girls5Eva." A benefit for the non-profit Auditorium Theatre, a National Historic Landmark, the performance will encompass old-fashioned revival, pop, soul, and Broadway classics. A post-show celebration on the theatre's iconic stage will include cocktails, buffet, dessert and live music. Tickets $68+ at auditoriumtheatre.org

Coming Back Together!

'Laced'

Three bartenders arrive at a queer bar. The rest you have to see for yourself. Head over to The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., to witness the story of three friends who must piece together the events of the previous night after their beloved queer bar has been vandalized and grapple with the ultimate question: is it better to understand what happened or just move on. The play is dedicated to Stonewall, Pulse and every bar before and after. “Laced” is written by Sam Mueller and directed by Lexi Saunders and is an important queer-positive story that contemplates what it takes to come back together after your world has been dramatically shaken. Performances continue through April 16 every Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Full-priced tickets are $36, but $26, $16 and $6 pay-your-price tickets are available to keep the play accessible for all. For more information, please see aboutfacetheatre.com.

The OG Status Update!

'Postcards: The Rise and Fall of the World’s First Social Network'

You’ve got mail. The Newberry library is extending an open invitation to the public to meet Lydia Pyne, author of “Postcards: The Rise and Fall of the World’s First Social Network,” as she examines the sophisticated and personal history of postcards and their roles as artifacts of the first global social network. She will be joined by Will Hasen, Newberry’s Curator of Americana, who oversaw the recent acquisition and processing of the Curt Teich Postcard Archives Collection, which includes more than 500,000 unique postcard images as well as their production and company records. The virtual event swill be 5-6 p.m. April 7. Register today at newberry.org.

Movie Night + Giving Back!

Crushers Club Movie Night Fundraiser

On April 7 from 6-9:30 p.m., join the Crushers Club as it presents its movie night fundraiser at the Harper Theater, 5238 S. Harper Ave., with a screening of "Creed," (2015) in which Rocky Balboa mentors the son of his late friend and rival, Apollo Creed. Crushers Club is a non-profit that aims to be the strongest alternative to gangs by providing employment, boxing, mentoring, music, life skills and more -- at no charge -- to arm young people in Englewood with the supports and skills they need to restore and support their community. Tickets for the evening of fellowship and fun are $100 at Eventbrite. For more information, see crushersclub.org.

Celebrating Wicker Park's Role!

'56/Milwaukee' at Oliva Gallery

Oliva Gallery celebrates its sixth anniversary with "56/Milwaukee," an exhibition inspired by the name of the CTA bus that gallery owner Kimberly Oliva took to high school. Oliva describes Milwaukee Avenue as the roadmap/timeline of her life, punctuated by the "electric energy" of Around the Coyote Festival, dancing at Medusa/Congress Theatre and hanging out at Earwax renting movies and meeting songwriter/artist Wesley Willis. Oliva calls Wicker Park of the 1990s and 2000s a catalyst of the Midwest art scene; the exhibit features 22 2D and 3D artists of that period -- artists who inspired her to open her gallery. "56/Milwaukee" is open through April 16 during gallery hours, Fridays 5-8 p.m., Saturdays 12-4 p.m., and by appointment. More information at olivagallery.com

Returning to Navy Pier!

EXPO Chicago 2022

For its ninth edition, join EXPO Chicago (The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art) for a diverse and inventive program featuring leading international galleries alongside the highest quality platform for contemporary art and culture. This year’s exhibit will mark its first in-person return since 2019 and will welcome more than 140 leading galleries representing 25 countries and 65 cities from around the world. Programming will include /Dialogues and In/SITU and a commitment to hosts initiatives including the Curatorial Forum in partnership with Independent Curators International who bring together diverse groups of emerging art museum leaders from across the States. EXPO Chicago will take place at Navy Pier Festival Hall, 600 E. Grand Ave. General Admission will be available April 8-9 from 11-7 p.m. and April 10 from 11-6 p.m. Single day admission starts at $30. For more information on exhibitors and programs, see expochicago.com.