Need some ideas for what to do this weekend? Chicago Tonight knows what’s going on!
Take part in one of the country’s largest sketch comedy festivals, Chicago Sketch Fest. Started in 2002 by accident—producer Brian Posen’s original musical fell through, so he called his sketch comedy friends to help fulfill his bookings—the festival features 138 groups performing in the newly renovated Stage 773. Make sure to check their website ahead of time, because with four groups performing each hour, you won’t be able to catch everything. The festival runs through Jan. 15, but this Saturday is teens and kids day. Admission is $12-13 per show, or $150 for a festival pass.
Stage 773
1225 West Belmont
Chicago, IL 60657
The Chicago Film Critics/Comedy Awards
Kick off the Hollywood awards season early with the Chicago Film Critics Awards and Second City’s Chicago Comedy Awards. Instead of watching at home, be a part of the audience at the combined awards show Saturday at 6:00 pm, where James Earl Jones, Dennis Farina, and Jason Segal will accept honors, and Richard Roeper will help present. There’s also a Second City performance before the show and an after-party at the Ritz-Carlton if you’re willing to spend a little more. Admission is $125 for just the show, but can be up to $300.
Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place
175 E. Chestnut St.
Chicago, IL 60611
GlitterGuts' Underground Dollar Store
GlitterGuts, a roving party photobooth, will be hosting a party Saturday of its own in honor of its fourth anniversary. With over a dozen juke/hip-hop bands like 18andCounting, Qbot and Starfoxxx, the party will also feature the Underground Dollar Store, a collection of pop-up shops with music, food, art and clothes. Admission is $3 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm and $8 after; everything at the (slightly mislabeled) Dollar Store will be less than $20.
Lincoln Hall
242 North Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
Been waiting to check out the latest post-war Japanese photography at The Art Institute, but been avoiding the $18 admission fee? This month, the museum is letting Illinois residents in free every weekday before February 10. Other new exhibits include a look at Conceptual Art's influence on photography, a collection of Japanese Creative Prints from the 1960s and 1970s, and a film by Alfredo Jaar.
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60603
If you caught this week's music performances on Chicago Tonight and wanted to hear more, both the Marimba Ensemble and the Megitza Quartet are playing this weekend. The Marimba Ensemble, playing their namesake instrument, will perform at El Milagro Christmas Festival on Saturday at 4:30 pm. Watch performances and hear audio from Marimba Ensemble.
Sabre Room
8900 W. 95th St.
Hickory Hills, IL 60457
The Megitza Quartet, an energetic mash-up of traditional eastern and southern European folk music and original compositions, are playing a charity event Sunday from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm at the Copernicus Center, joined by the Great Orchestra of Holiday Help. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. Watch performances and hear audio from Megitza.
Copernicus Center
5216 W. Lawrence Ave.
Chicago, IL 60630
