April Arts Preview

By Amy Cavanaugh

There aren't enough hours in the day to check out every noteworthy event in Chicago. Check out our quick guide to five can't-miss picks for April.

What: Rashid Johnson: Message to Our Folks

When: April 14-August 5

Why: The former Chicago artist explores black identity through photographs, installations, and video.

What: The Act of Drinking Beer with Friends is the Highest Form of Art

When: April 5

Why: Participate in a work of art by drinking free beer in the Smart's galleries as part of Feast: Radical Hospitality in Contemporary Art.

What: Being Shakespeare

When: April 18-29

Why: British actor Simon Callow performs a one-man show with excerpts from Shakespeare's plays and poems.

What: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra: Wynton Marsalis at 50

When: April 27

Why: The jazz orchestra celebrates the legendary musician with a retrospective of his musical compositions for big band.

What: Jindřich Heisler: Surrealism Under Pressure

When: Through July 2

Why: The Czech poet and artist created work while in hiding during World War II.