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Best bets: Ringling Bros. circus returns with 'Dragons'

Circus flight

In this lunar Year of the Dragon, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus presents a spectacular that brings together mythological lore with authentic circus feats in “Dragons,” which starts Thursday first at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont, before moving to the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. $13-$25; $45 VIP tickets; $50-$60 front-row seats; $90 Circus Celebrity packages also available. (800) 745-3000 or ringling.com. Various times from Thursday, Nov. 1, through Sunday, Nov. 11, in Rosemont; Wednesday, Nov. 14, through Sunday, Nov. 25, in Chicago

Spooky tales

Storytellers like Megan Wells, Jim May, Bill Oberst Jr. and Charlotte Blake Alston gather to tell some spine-tingling tales for the seventh annual Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival, which carries the theme of October Country this weekend at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $17 evening session. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. 10:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26

Defying gravity

The amazing acrobatic actor Tobias Wegner deftly moves among video projections and other stage technologies in Circle of Eleven's award-winning Edinburgh Festival one-man show “LEO,” playing this weekend at Elgin Community College's Visual & Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $33; $20 kids ages 12 and younger. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27

Hard-knock life

Before he found fame and success as a standup comic and a FOX sitcom star, Christopher Titus endured quite a lot of abuse and betrayals in life. See how he mines his life for great comic material when he returns this weekend to the The Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28

Taste it all

Local restaurants, chefs, vendors and food trucks converge for the Culinary Tasting Expo this weekend at Arlington Park, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights. $20-$25; $6 parking. (847) 385-7500 or chicagocookingexpo.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 27-28

Displaying talent

Top finalists from this past summer's Suburban Chicago's Got Talent contest, including Algonquin comedian AJ Lubecker and his brother yo-yo artist Shane Lubecker, are back in action this Saturday as part of a Family Variety Hour at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $7; $5 kids 12 and younger. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27

Tricks as treats

The magic tricks of Dr. Mark Kaschube and the amazing “Quick Change” costume changing act of David Mass and Dania Kaseeva are just some of performers on the bill for “Halloween Magic 2,” a family-friendly show that also benefits the nonprofit Salute, Inc. that provides support for military families. Catch it Sunday at the Akoo Theatre at Rosemont, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $15-$99. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28

Dead man's party

The Chicago Sinfonietta celebrates the Latin American holiday Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) with concerts featuring Uruguayan guest conductor Gisele Ben-Dor and Grammy Award-winning bandoneón master Raul Jaurena performing a selection of tangos and other music from de Falla, Marquez and others. The concerts are at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago, then at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Tickets cost $40-$50 in Naperville and $26-$50 in Chicago. (312) 236-3681 or chicagosinfonietta.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, in Chicago, and 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2 in Naperville

Jonathon Lee is the ringmaster in “Dragons,” the latest show from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus coming to the Allstate Arena in Rosemont and the United Center in Chicago.
Tobias Wegner stars in Circle of Eleven’s tour of “LEO,” which plays at the Elgin Community College Friday and Saturday, Oct. 26-27.
Comedian/actor Christopher Titus stars at the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg.
  Yo-yo artist Shane Lubecker of Algonquin, a final five finalist in Suburban Chicago’s Got Talent, is set to appear as part of the Family Variety Hour at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Yo-yo artist Shane Lubecker of Algonquin, a final five finalist in Suburban Chicago’s Got Talent, will appear as part of the Family Variety Hour at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
"Halloween Magic 2" comes to the Akoo Theatre at Rosemont on Sunday, Oct. 28.
Bandoneón master Raul Jaurena performs with the Chicago Sinfonietta in Chicago and Naperville as part of a concert for Día de los Muertos.
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