THU 5/3
A good beating
MC Rove’s recent debut is about as appealing as the Meow Mix jingle. But hip-hop will survive. Check out a few reasons why at the Hip-Hop Theater Festival. The sixth annual New York-based showcase returns to Chicago with local, national and international artists in tow. Thursday: Chicago Bears player Brendan Ayanbadejo hosts a performance of “Low” by poet Rha Goddess (7:30 p.m.) and “Live From the Front” by Jerry Quickley (10 p.m.). Through Sunday. $10-$20. Complete schedule: mcachicago.org. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. 312-397-4010.
Five comes alive
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo a little early with Luna Negra Dance Theater’s presentation of “Viajes” (Journeys), reflecting on themes of identity, immigration, tradition and pop culture. Mexican-American choreographer Michelle Manzanales’ world-premiere work “Sugar in the Raw (Azucar Cruda)” highlights the program; works by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano and founding director Eduardo Vilaro round out the evening. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday. $15-$45. Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. 312-902-1500.
Focus-pocus
Spring fever’s given you a whopper of a short attention span, but that’s not a problem at the Chicago “Really” Short Film Fest. See a whirlwind of short flicks, music videos, comedy sketches and animated works, each with a runtime of less than 15 minutes. 7 p.m. $10. Portage Theater, 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-736-4050.
FRI 5/4
The doc is in
Long before “An Inconvenient Truth” and Al Gore grabbed everyone’s attention, you were a bona fide fan of documentaries. Don’t miss Split Pillow’s “Chicago360 v.2,” the next-of-kin series to volume one (v.1) about local subcultures, ranging from struggling hip-hop artistry, slam poetry, Chicago Avenue’s commercial growth, swing dance and even Santa. 8 p.m. $4-$8. Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N. Clark St. 773-293-1447.
SAT 5/5
Ol’ Navy
It’s worth dodging the skyline-snapping out-of-towners at Navy Pier to reach BeerFest 2007: Beer on the Pier II. Why? Your efforts are rewarded with hundreds of sudsy samples from Boston Beer Company, Great Lakes Brewing, Goose Island Beer Company, Browar Okocim and others. Includes live music. Two sessions: noon and 6 p.m. 37.50-$47.50. Tickets: beeronthepier.com. Festival Hall A, 600 E. Grand Ave. 888-695-0888.
Shock rock
The saga continues in “Scotty Iseri and The Big Rock Show: Big Rock Death,” the story of the award-winning “musical daredevil” and his sidekick Tim the Roadie, who attempt to boost album sales by faking onstage deaths. Will it be a plane crash? Vomit? A lake drowning? Find out while listening to catchy, satirical songs during what could be the last show by the rocker duo. (We suspect they’ll survive.) 10:30 p.m. Through May 26. $12 plus a two-drink minimum. Davenport’s Piano Bar and Cabaret, 1383 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-278-1830.
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rkpalmore@tribune.com
