March 2023 events calendar for Chicago

Get ready to show off your most creative and exquisite cosplay outfit when the Chicago
Comic & Entertainment Expo, one of the largest pop culture conventions in the country,
returns to its annual stomping grounds at McCormick Place. You'll be able to wander through a massive wonderland filled with comics, toys, games, movies and television. Mingle with fellow fans, search for one-of-a-kind merch or attend live panels featuring some of biggest names in the industry. This year’s guest lineup includes Tom Welling, Matt Lanter, Chris Evans and more.

From the team that created Immersive Van Gogh, Mozart Immersive: The Soul of a Genius is a new production that brings the famous Classical composer’s brilliant works to life with  captivating visuals built around the auditory experience. Audiences will be surrounded by bustling city streets, ornate royal auditoriums, lavish paintings and otherworldly dreamscapes, all accompanied by some of Mozart’s most beloved melodies. Some of Mozart’s best compositions will be featured, including Symphony No. 40, Requiem, Turkish March, Ave Verum Corpus and selections from his acclaimed operas.

The smash hit musical comedy returns to Chicago for a limited run through March and April. The irreverent show created by South Park honchos Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Frozen composer Robert Lopez is equal parts foul-mouthed, gleefully blasphemous and sweet-natured, and still knows just how to ring our bells with its culture clash of Mormon missionaries out of their depth in deeply depressed northern Uganda.

Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, this new musical focuses on Tina Turner’s journey from humble beginnings to global stardom. Set to the soundtrack of Turner’s greatest hits, the production tells the story of how she broke racial, gender and age barriers to become the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, Replay Lincoln Park has transformed into Paddy’s Pub from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Patrons will have plenty of photo ops, an extensive drink list and weekly trivia inspired by the hit FX sitcom. The bar will host ticketed express entry from March 11-17 in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, and there will be a “Flipadelphia” flip cup tournament for a $500 prize taking place throughout the month of March.

Yer a wizard, Harry! Or at least, you can pretend to be one at this immersive Harry Potter experience that’s popping up at Water Tower Place through May 2023. Visitors are invited to step into Harry’s life at Hogwarts with interactive features like Quidditch lessons, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, sipping sweet drinks at the Butterbeer Bar, Patronus-seeking in the Forbidden Forest and learning their Hogwarts house via the Sorting Hat, among other magical experiences. FYI: In addition to regular operating hours, the exhibition is open on “select” Tuesdays and Wednesdays and may offer different hours around holidays. 

Dr. Ricardo Rosenkranz, a Northwestern Hospital/University physician and professor, is back with a new version of his hit production Physician Magician. Blending magic and medicine, he captivates audiences with mesmerizing illusions in an intimate setting. The new show includes several never-before-seen numbers and brings back many signature classics. 

Tap into feelings of childhood nostalgia at the Museum of Science and Industry’s newest exhibit, a colorful glimpse into the world of Mold-A-Rama™ machines. Explore a collection of popular, rare and experimental souvenirs, learn about the history of the machines’ production and breathe in the iconic scent of their plastic toymaking—you can even take home a few new Mold-A-Rama™ souvenirs if you’re looking to expand your collection. 

Delve into the often-mystifying process of death in this surprisingly life-affirming exhibit at the Field Museum, which explores dying through a variety of natural and cultural processes. Attendees can explore highlights like a full-sized ofrenda made by Chicago artist Norma Rios-Sierra, a replica of a whale's body on the ocean floor and check out a variety of interactive media and soundscapes to help ponder some of life's big questions about death. 

This weekly “live magazine” is a cavalcade of culture, politics and wit featuring journalists, actors, comedians and musicians offering idiosyncratic reports on the news of the day. Head to Uptown’s iconic Green Mill for drinks, hot takes and laughs; the longstanding Saturday afternoon edition tends to run about two and a half hours.

What does “Caribbean art” look like? This new group exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art takes a diasporic approach to answering that question, using weather—and all its changeability and unpredictability—as a metaphor for exploring artistic practices and identity-making within Caribbean art communities across the world. With the tumultuous geopolitical climate of the 1990s as its backdrop, the exhibit highlights work from 37 international artists; it’s also the first major MCA exhibition to presented in both Spanish and English. 

Working in partnership with the Museo de Arte de Ponce in Puerto Rico, the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture is bringing a stunning selection of paintings to Chicago—some of which have never been shown outside of Puerto Rico—for an exhibition highlighting several of the island's most important artists. Centered around three curatorial themes (“My Home,” “My People” and “My Island”), the works span from the 18th century to the first half of the 20th century, showcasing artists like José Campeche, Francisco Oller, Miguel Pou and Myrna Báez, among others. Tickets to the exhibition are free, but you might consider a small online donation to the Museo de Arte de Ponce, which is still recovering from damage sustained in a 2020 earthquake.