Weekend picks: The force is with C2E2 at McCormick Place

Comic confab

See why the word “fan” is derived from “fanatical” when costumed film and comic fans mingle with celebrities. Actors John Cusack, John Barrowman and author Anne Rice all make appearances at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo (C2E2 for short) this weekend at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. $25-$35 one-day pass; $50-$60 weekend pass. (800) 354-4003 or c2e2.com. 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, April 13; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 14; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Wines for a win?

It's officially baseball season. Celebrate the Sox home opener Friday, April 13, with penny wines at Carlucci Restaurant, 1801 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove. The special includes house glass pours with a limit of three. (630) 512-0990 or carluccirestaurant.com. Friday, April 13

Road trip!

Paramount Theatre presents a new production of the jukebox musical “Route 66,” by Roger Bean (“The Marvelous Wondrettes”), about a group of Chicago service-station attendants who take an imaginary road trip west to L.A. accompanied by a soundtrack that includes tunes by Willie Nelson, the Beach Boys and Woody Guthrie among others. The Paramount Theatre is at 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. The show opens April 21. $29. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. Previews continue at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday through April 20

‘Sleeping Beauty'

Children's Theatre of Elgin presents “Sleeping Beauty” at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. The production is based on the famed fairy tale of a beautiful, cursed princess, who is doomed to sleep until awakened by her true love. $10. (847) 931-5900 or hemmens.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 13-14, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15

LaBute's latest

Profiles Theatre continues to build on its relationship with playwright Neil LaBute, who in a prepared statement described the Chicago storefront theater as “everything an American playhouse should be: bold, fearless and constantly challenging the audience and itself.” To that end, Profiles presents the U.S. premiere of LaBute's psychological thriller “In a Forest, Dark and Deep” about a pair of siblings who discover some troubling truths while waiting out a storm. Joe Jahraus directs Joseph Jefferson Award winners Darrell W. Cox (“Killer Joe”) and Natasha Lowe (Writers' Theatre's “A Streetcar Named Desire”). See it at the Main Stage, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. The show opens April 19. $15-$40. (773) 549-1815 or profilestheatre.org. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Friday, April 13

Rick Neeley

Singer and musician Rick Neeley presents an evening of American folk, blues and gospel music at the Two Way Street Coffee House, 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. Neeley accompanies himself on the five-string banjo and the 12-string guitar and bass. $7. (630) 969-9720 or twowaystreet.org. 8:15 p.m. Friday, April 13

Fiery Ferrara

You may know actor and comedian Adam Ferrara from his TV stints on “Rescue Me” and “Top Gear,” but see him show off his standup comedy chops this weekend at The Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $19 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, April 13; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, April 14; and 7 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Undead lookers

Lovers of those good-looking undead bloodsuckers from “The Vampire Diaries” won't want to miss their chance to celebrate the CW TV series when The Vampire Diaries Fan Convention arrives this weekend at the Westin O'Hare, 6100 River Road, Rosemont. $20-$65; $10 parking. (818) 409-0960 or thevampirediariesconvention.com. 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 14, and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Extremely fun

Kids and parents can feast on many forms of family entertainment when the Extreme Block Party rises this weekend at the Libertyville Sports Complex, at Route 45 and Peterson Road, Libertyville. Free. (847) 680-0750 or glmvchamber.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 14

‘Swing Into Spring'

The Chicago chapter of the USA Dance group hosts its monthly dance party, Swing Into Spring, at The Centre at North Park, 10040 Addison, Franklin Park. An East Coast Swing dance lesson and social dancing (with mixers) are featured. Admission is $8 for members; $10 for nonmembers, and $6 for students with an ID. (847) 577-9014 or usadancechicago.org. Doors open at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 14

‘Moscow, Cheryomushki'

A Soviet housing shortage affects couples in love in Shostakovich's comic opera “Moscow, Cheryomushki,” now receiving its Chicago premiere in English courtesy of Chicago Opera Theater starting Saturday for four performances at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $45-$125. (312) 334-7777 or (312) 704-8414 or chicagooperatheater.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 14, Friday, April 20, and Wednesday, April 25; and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 22

Singing Disney

The New Philharmonic turns its attention to popular film music with “Disney in Concert: Magical Music From the Movies” with two weekend shows at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $55; $53 senior; $45 youth. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Illuminating glass

“Reinventing Radio: An Evening With Ira Glass” features that famed host of Chicago Public Radio's “This American Life” in conversation Saturday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$89. (888) 695-0888 or oshows.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 14

Remembering the Titanic

Re-enactor Shannon Ferguson-Munns portrays Titanic survivor Margaret Brown, known as the “Unsinkable Molly Brown,” at the Button Room Museum, 4072 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee. The museum is commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking. Museum staff and guests will also read the names of each Titanic passenger and crew member and place a button for each of them on a button string. $3-$6; children younger than 5 admitted free. (224) 399-9870 or thebuttonroom.org. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Brouwerij night

Get a taste of Belgium's Brouwerij Van Steenberge's beers at an event Sunday at the Bavarian Lodge, 1800 Ogden Ave., Lisle. Brewmaster and owner Jef Versele presents flights of the brewery's specialties: Gulden Draak 9000 Quadruple, Gulden Draak, Piraat, Monk's Cafe Flemish Sour Ale, Augustijn Blond, Augustijn Brune and Augustijn Grand Cru. (630) 241-4701 or bavarian-lodge.com. Beers are available at noon followed by a special presentation and tasting at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 15

‘Musica de las Americas'

The Arlington Heights Community Concert Band presents its spring concert, “Musica de las Americas,” at the Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights. Audience members are asked to bring nonperishable food and toiletry items to help support the Elk Grove Township Food Pantry. Free admission. To reserve tickets, call (847) 718-7702 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Author Linda Pressman

Linda Pressman, author of “Looking Up: A Memoir of Sisters, Survivors and Skokie,” discusses and signs copies of her book at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie. Free with paid museum admission. (847) 967-4800 or ilholocaustmuseum.org. 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Classical guitar

Classical guitarist Peter Fletcher presents a free concert at the Lisle Public Library, 777 Front St., Lisle. (630) 971-1675 or lislelibrary.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, April 15

BG Singers are ‘Goin' Places'

Buffalo Grove Park District's BG Singers present the group's 19th annual show, “Goin' Places,” at the Stevenson High School Performing Arts Center, 1 Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire. Selections include everything from contemporary rock to jazz and traditional songs. Tickets cost $18 at the door. (847) 850-2132 or bigdealproductions.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Northbrook Symphony

The Northbrook Symphony presents its “Olympian Genius” concert at the Sheely Center for the Performing Arts at Glenbrook North High School, 2300 Shermer Road, Northbrook. Classical. Tickets cost $25-$45 adults; $8 for children and students with an ID. Visit thenso.org. (847) 272-0755. 4 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Erik Larson comes to town

Historian and author Erik Larson discusses his latest book, “In the Garden of Beasts,” in the Frick Center at Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst. Larson is serving as the keynote speaker for the 22nd Annual Holocaust Education Project at Elmhurst College. A book-signing follows Larson's lecture. Free and open to the public. Visit elmhurst.edu/events. 7 p.m. Sunday, April 15

Elastic bodies

See the human form stretched to its artistic and limber limit when the world famous modern dance troupe Pilobolus performs at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $40-$42. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 8 p.m. Sunday, April 15