Friday, April 22

Poet and professor Nikki Giovanni will be at the I-House for the Organization of Black Students’ Annual George E. Kent Lecture. (7 p.m., free, International House, Assembly Hall)

Haven’t seen Tommy recently? Go to the Music Box to check out the Who’s rock opera about a boy who is deaf, dumb, and blind. Or, if you failed to watch it last week in celebration of Jenn’s birthday, relive your youth with The Goonies. (Midnight, 3733 North Southport Avenue)

If you haven’t listened to Indian pop recently, tonight’s concert at UIC Pavilion with Adnan Sami, Amisha Patel, and others will get you up to date. One look at Raghav’s dance moves and you’ll realize you just “Can’t Get Enough.” (8 p.m., $35-$125, UIC Pavilion, 1150 West Harrison Street)

Check out some original plays by U of C students on the fourth day of UT’s New Work Week. Tonight’s shows are Addison, Jim, and Until I Find What I Have Lost. (7 p.m., $5 for three plays, Bartlett Arts Space)

If you don’t get enough of Neil Flynn (a.k.a. The Janitor on Scrubs) on Tuesday nights, you can see him live tonight. He and the rest of improv group Beer Shark Mice kick off the Chicago Improv Festival, which continues until May 1. Check them and SNL Writers out at the Athenaeum. The festival schedule is available online at cif.com. (7:30 p.m., $25, 2936 North Southport Avenue)

University of Chicago Presents mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung as part of the Chamber Music Series. (8 p.m., $11 for students/$30 general, Mandel Hall)

Chicago Filmmakers presents Gentlemen’s Queer Quarterly. Meet filmmaker H.D. Motyl in person and see his new, enticingly titled work-in-progress Oh Michael/Oh Jesus. (8 p.m., $7, 5243 North Clark Street)

The Axis Dance Company, which features disabled and able-bodied dancers, performs at the Museum of Contemporary Art through Sunday. (7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday, $22, 220 East Chicago Street)

Saturday, April 23

Watch Rhythmic Bodies in Motion’s diversity in dancing at their show Brushstrokes tonight and tomorrow night. (7 p.m., $7, Mandel Hall)

Smart Museum curator tour of exhibit Shepherds and Plowhands led by Anne Leonard, Smart Museum Mellon Projects Curator. There will be a U of C docent-led tour at the same time on Sunday. (1:30 p.m., Smart Museum)

New Work Week ends with Two-Fisted Tales from the Four-Color City. (7 p.m., $5, Bartlett Arts Space)

Asha for Education presents Notes of Hope: A Concert to Support Education in India featuring musicians Vishwa Mohan Bhatt and Kushal Das. (6 p.m., $12 for students/$20 general, International House, Assembly Hall)

Kasey Chambers plays the Vic with Matthew Ryan. (7:30 p.m., $25, 18+, 3145 North Sheffield Avenue)

Sunday, April 24

Andru Bemis, the Train-Traveling Troubadour, performs at the Red Line Tap in Rogers Park. (9 p.m., $5, 7006 North Glenwood)

Bone up on your jazz (hmm, that sounded kinda dirty) with Brad Mehldau Trio, Mike Allemana, and Gingi Lahera at the Old Town School of Music. (7 and 9:30 p.m., $22, 4544 North Lincoln Avenue)

Monday, April 25

Q and Not U will be at the Logan Square Auditorium with the Apes, Food For Animals, and Manhunter. (7 p.m., $10, 2539 North Kedzie Avenue)

What? A Lot Like Love opened three days ago, and you still haven’t seen it? Get your ass to a movie theater, quick! Wow, we almost kept our faces straight while writing that. Almost. Seriously, you might want to check out The Interpreter—maybe at the 3 Penny Cinema? (6:40 and 9:15 p.m., $7.50, 2424 North Lincoln Avenue)

Tuesday, April 26

If you can’t get enough Ethan Hawke (and honestly, other than Uma, who can?) check out another showing of Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. (8:15 p.m., free, 21+, Smartbar, 3730 North Clark Street)

Head to Women and Children First for I Want to Be Told. Young women will read poetry about gender discrimination, cultural identity, domestic violence, racism, and sexuality. Or, you know, you could just stay home and listen to misogynistic rap CDs. Your call. (4:30 p.m., free, 5233 North Clark Street)

Come to a record release show for Mass Shivers at the Empty Bottle. Also appearing will be Italy’s Franklin Delano and Brief Candles. (9:30 p.m., $8, 1035 North Western Avenue)

Alix Olsen plays with Pamela Means at Schuba’s. We’ve never heard Olsen’s music, but if she’s anything like Ashley and Mary-Kate, this will be money well spent. (8 p.m., $12, 3159 North Southport Avenue)

Wednesday, April 27

Even if you missed the Guy Maddin double feature on Saturday, be sure not to miss the free screening of Maddin’s The Saddest Music in the World, introduced by Maddin and followed by a question and answer session with the director. There will also be a reception to follow. (7 p.m., Max Palevsky Cinema)

Devil Doll play the Subterranean, with Franky & Michelle’s Star and Garter Burlesque. We’re not sure what a devil doll is—maybe a Cabbage Patch Kid?—so you should go and find out. (9 p.m., $8, 2011 North Avenue)

The Abbey Pub presents This Is a Takeover. The roster includes people with names like “DJ Lego,” “MC Kid Entropy,” and “the Human Beatbox.” We are so in. (8:30 p.m. doors, 9:30 p.m. show, $7 in advance, $10 door, 21+, 3420 West Grace at Elston)

The Gene Siskel Film Center plays the 32nd Annual Student Academy Awards Regional Winners, as well as two screenings of The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till. (6, 6:30, and 8:30 p.m., $9 general, $7 for students, 164 North State Street)

Juliette & the Licks play the Bottom Lounge. As in Juliette Lewis. If she’s half as creepy here as she was in Kalifornia, this should be one kick-ass show. Cobra Verde and Busy Signals open. (8 p.m., $10, 3206 North Wilton Avenue)

Thursday, April 28

Maddin returns to Doc today for “Goat Glands, Carpet Underlay, and Cinema Sat Backwards—A Talk by Guy Maddin.” Reception to follow. (5 p.m., Max Palevsky Cinema)

Think Nanny Diaries with a Latina twist. Living Art begins its run at the American Theater Company. It runs until May 22, but all the cool kids are going to see it early. Mention the code words “Teddy Bear” for $5 off. (8 p.m., $20, 1909 West Byron)

The Groovie Ghoulies, Walking Concert, the Dollyrots, and the Actual play the Bottom Lounge. (6 p.m., $10, 3206 North Wilton Avenue)

And Women and Children First gets the last word. Wendy McClure discusses her new book, I’m Not the New Me: A Memoir, begging the question: If she’s not the new her, who is? The mind boggles. (7:30 p.m., free, 5233 North Clark Street)