Best bets: Joffrey dances the season away
Ballet stars
The Joffrey Ballet wraps up its season with “Rising Stars,” a concert featuring world premieres of Edwaard Liang's “Woven Dreams” and Yuri Possokhov's “Bells,” plus the company premiere of Julia Adam's “Night.” Catch these repertory works starting Wednesday at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $25-$145. (800) 982-2787 or joffrey.org. 7:30 p.m. opening Wednesday May 4; continues through May 15 at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 12
Art aplenty
International and cutting edge art make up Artropolis, while The Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair focuses on worldwide rarities. Gawk or get your hands on these new and old artworks this weekend on the 8th and 12th floors of the Merchandise Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago. $20 daily or $25 multiday pass; $15 students/seniors. artropolischicago.com. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 1
‘Onion' alumna
Comedian Rachel Feinstein was not only a finalist on “Last Comic Standing,” but a writer for the comic newspaper “The Onion.” See Feinstein's odd sense of humor firsthand this weekend at The Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $17-$19. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, April 29; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, April 30; 7 p.m. Sunday, May 1
Electric violin
Violinist Rachel Barton Pine shows a distinctly different musical side of herself when she plays an extended range electric flying V violin with metal band Earthen Grave tonight at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $25-$35. Pine then performs a solo classical concert Saturday at Wentz Concert Hall 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $35-$40. (630) 637-7469 northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. Earthen Grave concert at 8 p.m. Friday, April 29; classical concert at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 30
Get involved
Hundreds of Chicago-area activists gather to show ways of helping others locally and around the world at the Global Activism Expo this Saturday at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago. Free admission. wbez.org/expo. Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 30
Symphonic zoo
Acclaimed children's poet Jack Prelutsky teams up with the DuPage Symphony Orchestra for a special concert featuring Camille Saint-Saens' kid-friendly concert suite “Carnival of the Animals” this Sunday at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. Concert/benefit: $30; $15 kids. Concert only: $10-$12; $8-$10 kids. (630) 637-7469 or dupagesymphony.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, May 1
Celtic solo
Formerly of Celtic Woman, Irish singer and harpist Órla Fallon has been performing solo since 2008. Catch Fallon's spirited Celtic singing and playing at Elgin Community College's Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $35. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 3
Fiesta splash
KeyLime Cove Water Resort opens its doors to non-resort guests to participate in Cinco de Mayo Fiesta activities including a sombrero parade, mariachi band music, salsa dancing and more. No admission charge. If you want to get wet on the resort's slides, then check out overnight packages at 1700 Nations Drive, Gurnee. (877) 360-0403 or keylimecove.com. 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, May 5