CLASSICAL
CUBE CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLE
The group concludes its Spring New Music Festival with a concert of recent and classic contemporary works by composers from seven European Union member nations; guest artists include guitarist Maria Vittoria Jedlowski and mezzo-soprano Julia Bentley; 7:30 p.m. Friday; Sherwood Conservatory Concert Hall, 1312 S. Michigan Ave.; $10-$18; 312-554-1133.
NEWBERRY CONSORT
“The Courtesan’s Voice in the Time of Machiavelli” explores the important contributions of 16th Century Italian courtesan performers and poets, along with works by the composers they inspired, in a fascinating theme-concert at 8 p.m. Friday at the Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton St.; $25-$35; 312-255-3700.
FULCRUM POINT
Stephen Burns’ innovative ensemble examines the junction between classical music and literature in “Bowles, Brecht, Blues and Burlesque,” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Columbus Auditorium, 280 S. Columbus Drive; $20; 773-722-5463.
— John von Rhein
ARCHITECTURE
WRIGHT HOUSE TOUR
Tickets are now on sale for The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust’s annual “Wright Plus” house tour, which will be held May 18 and will feature interior tours of eight private homes in Oak Park and River Forest. The homes include Wright’s masterful 1902 Arthur B. Heurtley House. The tour runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (find out more at www.wrightplus.org); $70-$85; 708-848-9518.
— Blair Kamin
ROCK
MOONEY SUZUKI
One of the best of the new wave of garage bands pays homage to the early ’70s Detroit sound; Monday at Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave.; $8; 773-276-3600.
NELLY FURTADO
This Portuguese-Canadian’s brand of multi-culti pop refreshes the top 40; Thursday at Riviera, 4746 N. Racine; $28-$30.50; 312-559-1212.
BONNIE RAITT
A new album finds Raitt still stretching her blues roots, this time back to their African origins; Thursday at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; $29.50-$39.50; 847-869-7650.
— Greg Kot
JAZZ
THE CLAUDIA QUINTET
Percussionist John Hollenbeck leads the noteworthy ensemble; 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Claudia Cassidy Theater of the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St.; free; 312-744-6630.
WILLIE PICKENS
The pianist owns two of the mightiest hands in jazz; 9 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. Saturday in the Green Mill Jazz Club, 4802 N. Broadway; $8; 773-878-5552.
— Howard Reich
ART
M.W. BURNS
“A Sound Installation by M.W. Burns,” a commissioned site-specific piece; opens Thursday, College of DuPage, 425 22nd St., Glen Ellyn; Free; 630-942-2321.
TODD SLAUGHTER
“Protected Comforts: Sculpture by Todd Slaughter,” four installations on excess in self-protection and consumerism; opens Saturday, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.; free; 312-744-6630.
— Alan G. Artner
THEATER
`CHILDREN OF EDEN’
Stephen Schwartz’s biblically themed musical is a good-hearted, well-sung production; through May 5 at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.; $23; 773-327-5252.
— Chris Jones
`HEARTS: THE FORWARD OBSERVER’
Mike Nussbaum plays a veteran haunted by long-ago events. Northlight Theatre’s staging is fluidly staged by BJ Jones and finely acted all around; through April 28 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie; $34-$42; 847-673-6300.
`PROOF’
If your father’s an inspired but mentally rickety math whiz, is that your destiny, too? The authorship of a radical mathematical proof lies at the core of David Auburn’s play. But such a description makes it sound Important and Challenging; it’s not. It’s witty, well-made and, in this top-shelf national touring edition, extremely well-acted; through April 7 at the Shubert Theatre, 22 W. Monroe St.; $22-$65; 312-902-1400.
— Michael Phillips
DANCE
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER
This popular troupe returns with Judith Jamison’s “Here . . . Now” and major talent Ronald K. Dawson’s “Serving Nia” as part of its sizable lineup; Wednesday through April 7 at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy.; $18-$52; 312-902-1500.
JOHN JASPERSE COMPANY
Rising young choreographer brings “Giant Empty” for his troupe’s Chicago debut; Friday through April 7 at the MCA Theater, 220 E. Chicago Ave.; $18; 312-397-4010.
— Sid Smith
