Thursday April 23, 2009: Aardman Animations; A Brief History; 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.; Browning Cinema

Did you grow up loving classics like “Wallace and Gromit” or “Chicken Run?” Meet the one of the genius directors and animators behind it all, Merlin Crossingham, Thursday evening as he presents a brief history of the Academy Award-winning company he works under, Aardman Animations. The British animation studio was founded in 1976, brought to life by their first clay character, “Morph,” and has since gone on to add feature films and computer animations to their repertoire. Take advantage of this one-time opportunity to journey behind the scenes of the Aardman Animations studio and learn the inner workings of clay animation.

Friday April 24, 2009: “Luna Negra Dance Theater;” 7 p.m.; Decio Mainstage Theatre

Spirit, passion, power and a little bit of Latino magic is dancing its way onto the Decio Mainstage Theatre this weekend in a performance known for its freeness of expression and revitalization of the Latino culture. The Luna Negra Dance Theater, one of the most prominent forces of contemporary dance in Chicago, was established 10 years ago and has since gone on to perform for thousands of audience members worldwide. Don’t miss the chance to watch as ballet merges with Latin and Afro-Caribbean dance forms in a unique act stealing the stage Friday night.

Saturday April 25, 2009: The Comedy Relief Package with Sommore; Morris Performing Arts Center; 8 p.m.

What do Sommore (a.k.a. the “Queen of Comedy”), Mike Brooks from BET’s Comic View and Huggy Low Down The Celebrity Snitch have in common? They will all be spitting jokes and cracking up audiences Saturday night at the Morris Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. Known for her witty and sarcastic way of telling it like it is, she’ll burn through laughs and will prove that, as dear old Oprah says, she’s “a force to be reckoned with in the new millennium.”

Sunday April 26, 2009: Notre Dame University Band and Brass Ensemble, Spring 2009; Leighton Concert Hall; 3 p.m.

Twenty brass instrument players and members of the Notre Dame, Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross students, staff, faculty and alumni will meet on stage in Leighton Concert Hall to deliver an unforgettable concert Sunday afternoon. What could be a more perfect way to bring an end to your fun and exciting weekend and refocus for the upcoming finals than listening to a classical performance including music by Verdi, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Richard Strauss and von Suppe? Relax for an hour and 15 minutes before you have to jump back to reality and start hitting the books.