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In the psychological thriller “The Surfer,” a stressed former Australian (Nicolas Cage) runs into pushback when he tries to surf on a public beach.

Cage’s commitment to edgy acting shores up a quirky, confounding tale touting toxic masculinity

Like fingerprints, no two Nicolas Cage characters are exactly the same. Which brings us to the actor’s latest showcase, the psychological thriller “The Surfer,” in which Cage plays a down-on-his-luck dad who takes his son to Australia to surf his childhood beach, only to be stopped by some rough-and-tumble territorial locals.

George Clooney stars in “Good Night, and Good Luck” on Broadway.

‘Buena Vista Social Club,’ ‘Death Becomes Her’ and ‘Maybe Happy Ending’ lead Tony Award nominations

Three Broadway shows — “Buena Vista Social Club,” “Death Becomes Her” (which premiered in Chicago) and “Maybe Happy Ending” — each earned a leading 10 Tony Award nominations Thursday, as nominators gave nods to George Clooney, Sarah Snook and Naperville native Bob Odenkirk in their debuts.

Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), left, Ava Starr (Hannah John-Kamen), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), John Walker (Wyatt Russell) and Red Guardian (David Harbour) can’t believe what they’re seeing in “Thunderbolts*.”

‘Thunderbolts*’ is Marvel, and Florence Pugh, in high gear

As they so often do in Marvel Land, worlds collide in “Thunderbolts*.” But in this refreshingly earthbound iteration of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the collision isn’t a matter of interplanetary strife. It’s the unlikely meeting of Marvel and A24.

The Richardson Farm Tulip Festival will feature about 1 million tulip blooms, plus thousands of daffodils.

Things to do May 2-8: Tulip festivals, Nightmare Weekend Chicago, Naperville Food Truck Festival and more

Mark your calendar for tulip festivals in Spring Grove and Maple Park, D.L. Hughley, the Naperville Food Truck Festival and more happening this week.

Vintage Blonde Chicago — Nina Talia, left, Linda Martin, top, Leslie “Rez” Gaeth, center, and Kim Swinton — releases its debut album, “Afterlife,” Sunday, May 4, at Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago.

Best Bets: Vintage Blonde Chicago’s record release, ESO performs ‘The Planets,’ artists gather in Elmhurst’s Wilder Park

This week, suburban rocker band Vintage Blonde Chicago releases its debut record with a Sunday concert at Schuba’s, art returns to Elmhurst’s Wilder Park, and the ESO concludes its season with “The Planets.”

Jose Contreras, right, plays Orpheus and Megan Colton plays his beloved Eurydice in the North American tour of the Tony Award-winning musical “Hadestown.”

Spotlight: Tony-winning tuner ‘Hadestown’ returns to Chicago for a brief run

The Tony Award-winning musical “Hadestown,” inspired by the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, returns to Chicago for a brief run, and Avalanche Theatre makes its Chicago debut with a new work.

Dweezil Zappa will perform Friday, May 2, at the Des Plaines Theatre and Saturday, May 3, at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.

Concerts May 2-8: Dweezil Zappa, Spyro Gyra, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and more

Upcoming concerts this week include Dweezil Zappa, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Boy Band Night, Spyro Gyra and more.