North by Northwestern

It’s week five, and midterms are rearing their heads again. While most of us will probably be burying our heads in notes and textbooks, make sure to take an occasional breath to check out all of the cool events scheduled on campus for this week.

April 24

Leon Forrest Lecture: Anna Deavere Smith

Anna Deavere Smith, known for her roles on The West Wing and Nurse Jackie, will speak about her work on the Pipeline Project, a program where Smith brings theater to students who are affected by the school-to-prison pipeline. Smith conducts several interviews and uses the content from these interviews to portray several different characters on stage. 5 p.m., Galvin Recital Hall. Free.

April 26

Reparations in Native American & Japanese American Contexts

As part of the Debt Dialogues, an Alice Kaplan Institute for the Humanities series on the topic of debt, this lecture will discuss the complexities of reparations, or the making of amends following a wrongdoing. Artist Kristine Aono, whose work is featured in the Block exhibition "If You Remember, I’ll Remember," will be joined by Smith University Women and Gender Studies Professor Laura Fugikawa, Northwestern English Professor Kelly Wisecup and History Professor Ji-Yeon Yuh for a conversation about reparations in American history from a Native American and Japanese American perspective. 6 p.m., Mary & Leigh Block Museum of Art. Free with ticket.

April 27

Shelter in Place

Spectrum Theater Company’s annual spring mainstage, Project NU, turns issues that Northwestern students face into a play through student interviews and a student-led writing process. Support other students by seeing a relatable work of theater, because we’re all in this college thing together. Time TBA, Shanley Pavilion. Also April 28-29. Free.

Passion Play

A perfect play to watch with your uncle, Passion Play tackles the completely uncontroversial topics of politics and religion along with art’s relationship to both. The play focuses on three different communities in three different times, all trying to stage the popular and contentious dramatization of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. 7:30 p.m., Wallis Theater. Also April 28-29, 7:30 p.m.; April 30, 2 p.m. $6 advance, $10 door for students.

April 28

Beyond Belief: A Superhero Story

Can’t wait for Guardians of the Galaxy 2? Fortunately, Waa-Mu’s annual show can satisfy your superhero craving while you wait to see Baby Groot. In this year’s musical, two sisters create a world of superheroes based on people in their everyday lives. The longest running theater tradition at Northwestern, the Waa-Mu Show is entirely produced and written by current students. 7:30 p.m., Cahn Auditorium. Also April 29 and May 4-6, 7:30 p.m.; April 30 and May 6-7, 2 p.m. May 6 at 2 p.m. will be an American Sign Language and sensory-friendly performance. $10-$30 for students.

Art, Publics, Politics: Legacies of the Wall of Respect

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Wall of Respect, a mural of Black heroes and heroines in the South Side of Chicago, the Block Museum will host several artists and scholars to discuss connections between their works and the wall. The exhibition will be student-curated, so make sure to support our future art scholars. Events from 9 a.m., April 28, to 5 p.m., April 29. Block Museum. Free with ticket.

tick, tick … BOOM!

Have you ever wanted to see more of Rent creator Jonathan Larson’s work? Lucky for you, the Struble Project Series will stage tick, tick … BOOM!, by Larson. Like Rent, tick, tick ... BOOM! is a rock musical about struggling artists in New York, based on Larson’s own life. 8 p.m., Mussetter-Struble Theater. Also April 29 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Free.

BLAST Never Sleeps

Northwestern's Ballroom Latin and Swing dance team's (BLAST) spring show brings New York to you, taking on the Big Apple and giving it a Latin groove. While most students probably aren’t sleeping enough already, get ready to be transported to a city where sleeping is discouraged. 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., Tech auditorium. Also April 29, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.; April 30, 3 p.m. $5 for students.

Lego Batman

Relive your childhood with A&O Films’ third film of the quarter, Lego Batman. Maybe you like superhero stories or maybe you have great memories of playing with Legos – regardless, you’ll find something to enjoy in this movie (probably).7 p.m. and 10 p.m., McCormick Auditorium. Also April 29, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Free.