Chicago Reader

The tofu tikka masala at Arya Bhavan tastes of sunsets melting on the tongue. bit.ly/4uLCLLL

Kyle Balda's The Sheep Detectives is a classic family mystery with pro-sheep propaganda and an all-star cast. bit.ly/4tHJKon

As a screenlife film, LifeHack struggles to bridge form and content into anything exceptional. bit.ly/43fHNo0

The Moviegoer is the diary of a local film buff, collecting the best of what Chicago's independent and underground film scene has to offer. bit.ly/4eQd8VG

Melissa Ross's world premiere at Rivendell is set in 1992 but feels depressingly on the nose over 30 years later. bit.ly/4udUN9B

York Walker's haunting drama at the Goodman centers the women in a story inspired in part by the legend of bluesman Robert Johnson. bit.ly/42C6Kdk

The Chicago City Council advances a portal that has been years in the making to a vote, as housing advocates from various groups have been campaigning for a streamlined process to help renters find affordable units since 2021. bit.ly/43angRT

The country star's songbook comes to life at American Blues in Harmony France's revival of the sturdy jukebox musical. bit.ly/492At2A

"Disposessions in the Americas" is an assemblage of diverse perspectives shaped by the forces of colonial violence. bit.ly/49PZNsR

Jessica Walks First of the Native Ketapanen Kitchen bears bison and wild blueberries at the next Monday Night Foodball. bit.ly/3Rb8Uht

The paintings of Nigerian artist Victor Olaoye are not easy to look at--they are beautiful but also grotesque. bit.ly/42yLmpk

Dave Malloy's a cappella musical Octet at Raven is one of the most engrossing pieces of theater onstage so far this year. bit.ly/4dEuwvo

A new musical set during the French Revolution delivers romance, adventure, and some theatrical in-jokes alongside a solid score. bit.ly/4nqkq4x

Free Street's new devised piece examines youth organizing and activism by using the stories and experiences of older activists. bit.ly/42xEU1H

The Hula Hoopin' Queen closes out the season at Young People's Theatre of Chicago with a joyous story of friendship and community. bit.ly/49w4s33

TUTA's Crime and Punishment offers a spare but effective take on Dostoevsky's novel--set in an onstage bed of soil. bit.ly/49tedPw

The new devised piece by Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble examines the ways places imprint on our memories, and a whole lot more. bit.ly/4uQIksB

Recently, at M House, Taiwanese curator Tzu Ying Cara Cheng organized an 11-artist exhibition, isolating humidity as a key aspect of place. bit.ly/4uaLR52

Plus: News about releases and concerts from veteran punks NIXD, underground rapper FyeNixx, indie-rock project Plant Matter, and more bit.ly/432WFWK

Labor and immigrant rights are central to Chicago's identity, making the Cesar Chavez news especially tragic to arts and organizing spaces. bit.ly/4wFWZZt