Bailiwick Directors' Fest

Bailiwick Repertory Theatre presents the second phase of its 16th annual Directors' Festival. Chicago Works features world premieres by Chicago authors or Chicago premieres by authors with strong Chicago connections. Performance starts at 7:30pm; tickets are $10. Call 773-883-1090. Tonight's schedule:

Liberty: "the story of two lonely individuals who find comfort in a glitter-packaged pop star icon. It is a tale of desire and the want for companionship in the world of cyberspace and carefully crafted media icons." Written by Sarah Warner, directed by Nathan Robbel.

Things: "A young woman speaks candidly to her ex-partner about their failed relationship in this look at the concepts of closure and tact." Written and directed by Jennifer Dobby.

Kichel: "What starts as a misunderstanding, a difference in etymology, ends in a respectful friendship between a Jewish man and an African-American man at the zoo sharing kichel, a Jewish pastry." Written by David Alex, directed by Libya Pugh.

bell hooks @ Washington Library

bell hooks, author of We Real Cool: Black Men and Masculinity among other books, will speak at the Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St., at 6pm. Free, but space will be limited, so get there early.

Rintaro @ Japanese Info Center

Famed Japanese anime director Rintaro/Taro Rin (you know him from such anime as Metropolis) will present a free lecture at the Japanese Information Center,737 N. Michigan, 10th floor, from 6-8pm today with a reception after. A must for fans of anime. More info here.