Theater
Patti LuPone, one of Broadway’s greatest, comes to town for an intimate evening filled with the music that has defined her storied career in roles such as Eva Perón in “Evita” and Mama Rose in “Gypsy.” She’s joined on stage by her musical collaborator Joseph Thalken and multi-instrumentalist Brad Phillips. At 7 p.m. Oct. 4 at Lyric Opera, 20 N. Wacker. Tickets: $69+. Visit lyricopera.org.
In Eboni Booth’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Primary Trust,” a bookstore worker (Namir Smallwood) is perfectly content with his after-work routine — a mai tai or two at the local tiki bar — but when his employer decides to close the store, he must step into a world he has evaded. Malkia Stampley directs. From Oct. 5-Nov. 3 at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn. Tickets: $20-$65. Visit goodmantheatre.org.
Shattered Globe Theatre presents “Becky Nurse of Salem,” Sarah Ruhl’s drama about a descendant of Becky Nurse, a woman executed for witchcraft in 1692, who questions whether things have truly changed for women. Linda Reiter, Rebecca Jordan and Isabella Maria Valdés star; Polly Noonan directs. From Oct. 4-Nov. 16 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont. Tickets: $10-$52. Visit sgtheatre.org.
“She the People” is a satirical sketch comedy with original songs that celebrates the strength and resilience of women everywhere. From Oct. 5-Nov. 23 at The Second City’s UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North. Tickets: $29+. Visit secondcity.com.
Cody Lee Walker’s “Love at Stake” follows a family composed of a vampire father, a human mother and their half-vampire son as they navigate what love looks like for vampires. Walker directs. From Oct. 4-25 at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont. Tickets: $20. Visit theannoyance.com.
Comedy
Steve Martin and Martin Short’s “The Dukes of Funnytown!” reflects a friendship forged over three decades between the two comedy masters who first met on the set of the 1986 film “Three Amigos.” It’s a mix of jokes, stories, songs, impressions and even some bluegrass with The Steep Canyon Rangers. At 8 p.m. Oct. 5 at Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Rd., Rosemont. Tickets: $86+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Comedian Tim Murray’s spooky and hilarious comedy routine “Witches” is a mix of personal stories about growing up gay and closeted, and original songs about his favorite pop culture sorceresses from “Wicked,” “The Craft,” “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” and more. At 7 p.m. Oct. 8-9 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee. Tickets: $26. Visit thedentheatre.com.
Latina Comedy Festival features a dozen new faces in Latina comedy from around the country including Alejandra Jimenez, Christina Gutierrez, Courtney Zelazny, Hilary Jimenez, Laura Bolivar, Monica Andrade and more. At 6:30, 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee. Tickets: $30. Visit thedentheatre.com.
Dance
M.A.D.D. Rhythms’ Chicago Tap Summit welcomes performers from Chicago and around the world for three days of dance, discussion and classes. Also included is the world premiere of “To Love You All Ways,” choreographed by M.A.D.D. Rhythms company member Andrew Carr. From Oct. 4-6 at Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. King. For more information, visit maddrhythms.com.
The 17th annual Dance Divas, a benefit for the Chicago Dance Health Fund, is a one-of-a-kind showcase combining the technical skills of concert dance and the artistry and glamor of drag. Featured are artists from Chicago dance companies performing numbers from popular musical revivals and paying homage to iconic performances of stage and screen. At 8 p.m. Oct. 5 and 3, 8 p.m. Oct. 6 at Rhapsody Theater, 1328 W. Morse. Tickets: $50-$150. Visit dancedivaschicago.com.
Music
Alabama Shakes’ Brittany Howard and British singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka share this double bill. The two both broke onto the music scene in 2011 and have become good friends. Howard says the tour is “a dream come true.” Composer and finger-style guitarist Yasmin Williams opens at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State. Tickets: $47+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Grammy winner Meghan Trainor released her sixth studio album, “Timeless,” in June and is on tour sharing those new songs with her legion of fans. Now the mother of two young boys, she’s on her first tour in seven years. At 6:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim. Tickets: $49+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
English singer-songwriter and political activist Billy Bragg performs fan favorites featured in 2023’s acclaimed box set, “The Roaring Forty 1983-2023.” His is a potent blend of folk, punk and protest songs. Canadian singer-songwriter Steven Page opens at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield. Tickets: $49-50-$69.50. Visit jamusa.com.
New Philharmonic opens a new season with performances of Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major (with guest pianist Winston Choi) and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in D Major. Kirk Muspratt conducts. At 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 and 3 p.m. Oct. 6 at McAninch Arts Center, 425 Falwell, Glen Ellyn. Tickets: $57. Visit atthemac.org.
The all-woman brass band Brass Queens (David Byrne is a big fan), comes to town for a show at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 9 (Black Bear Combo opens) at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Tickets: $15. Visit hideoutchicago.com.
Icelandic blues rock band Kaleo (a recent opener for the Rolling Stones) and roots-rock sister duo Larkin Poe perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 3 at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State. Tickets: $39+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Museums
“John Akomfrah: Four Nocturnes” features two installations by the London-based artist and filmmaker. “Four Nocturnes” is an immersive, three-channel video installation which explores the complex relationship between humanity’s destruction of the natural world and the destruction of mankind. To Feb. 15 at Wrightwood 659, 659 W. Wrightwood. Admission: $15, tickets available online only. Visit wrightwood659.org.
Family fun
Satisfy your sweet tooth at “Hershey Super Sweet Adventure,” a story-based play experience filled with hands-on, candy-inspired activities that celebrate iconic brands including Hershey’s Kisses, Twizzlers and Jolly Rancher candies. Opens Oct. 4 at Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan. Tickets: $24 to Oct. 17, $29.99 beginning Oct. 18. Visit hersheysupersweetadventure.com.
Three days of fall fun can be found at the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, which features pumpkin carving, music, contests for costumes and pumpkin-pie eating, art vendors, carnival rides, hayrides and more. Throughout October, the popular Skeletons on Display showcase finds these Halloween visitors set in scenes from superhero movies. From Oct. 4-6 throughout Highwood. Admission is free. For more information, visit celebratehighwood.org.
An annual public art and architecture exhibition, Chicago Sukkah Design Festival, pairs community organization in North Lawndale with architectural designers to create and construct sukkahs — small outdoor pavilions built for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. From Oct. 6-26 with an opening celebration from 1-5 p.m. Oct. 6 in James Stone Freedom Square, 3615 W. Douglas Blvd. Visit chicagosukkahfestival.org.
The family concert series Rock and Roll Playhouse offers children fun games, stories and the opportunity to rock out. This time around the band performs tunes from Taylor Swift’s songbook and more. At 11:30 a.m. Oct. 6 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport. Tickets: $16, $18. Visit thaliahallchicago.com.