Lizzie MacKenzie in "Forbidden Boundaries"/Photo: Erika Dufour

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True to form, River North hits us with everything they’ve got for a weekend at the Harris: a five-buck “Eat to the Beat” lunchtime show on Friday, a family matinee Saturday afternoon and a packed program of favorites at prime time. The grown-up show includes a piece by Deeply Rooted’s Kevin Iega Jeff, rhythmic powerhouse “Three” by Robert Battle and two of artistic director Frank Chaves’ more popular works. The real jump-out-of-your-seat fun is to be had at the 1pm “Street Beat—Dance through the Decades” matinee: a montage of the evolution of jazz and the popular dances it inspired, from the Charleston to hip-hop, complete with period-appropriate costumes. It’s sure to be eye-popping confectionery for anyone who eats musical theater like cotton candy. And let’s face it, we all do. (Sharon Hoyer)

At the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 East Randolph, (312)334-7777. Eat to the Beat performance November 12 at noon, $5. Street Beat matinee performance November 13 at 1pm. Fall Engagement November 13 at 8pm.