Sunday picks: 'Too Hot to Handel' in tribute to MLK

Grand gospel

After a month of traditional “Messiahs,” get warmed up with the return of “Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah.” It features soloists Rodrick Dixon, Alfreda Burke and Karen Marie Richardson backed up by a 150-voice choir and a 50-piece orchestra and jazz ensemble. Catch it as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $30-$74. (800) 982-2787 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20

'Charlie Brown and the Great Exhibit'

Get an up-close look at the life of “Peanuts” creator Charles M. Schulz and the legendary comic strip characters that he created in "Charlie Brown and the Great Exhibit" at the Museum of Science and Industry, at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. General museum admission is $9-$15; the special exhibit requires an additional $3-$5 timed ticket. (773) 684-1414 or msichicago.org. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Monday, Feb. 18

Walk with the dinosaurs

More than 60 museum-quality prehistoric beasts are on display in the family-friendly Discover the Dinosaurs experience, which returns this weekend to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $17; $12 seniors and kids ages 2-11. (847) 692-2220 or discoverthedinosaurs.com. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Jan. 20-21

Social satire at BTE

Next up at Buffalo Theatre, Carl Sternheim's early 20th-century farce “The Underpants,” adapted by actor/comedian Steve Martin. The satire centers on a beautiful young wife living in Germany who to the chagrin of her husband, drops her drawers while watching the king's parade. Ensemble member Kurt Naebig stars in director Amelia Barrett's revival of this satirical examination of the price of fame. See it at Building K Theatre, northwest end of the College of DuPage campus, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Tickets cost $25-$33. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20

Meet 'Super Immunity' author

Physician and best-selling author Dr. Joel Fuhrman discusses and signs copies of his book “Super Immunity: The End of Diabetes” at Pfeiffer Hall at North Central College, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. The event is sponsored by Anderson's Bookshop of Naperville. Tickets are available with the purchase of Fuhrman's book at Anderson's Bookshop at 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. (630) 355-2665 or andersonsbookshop.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20

Puppet play

Audiences can get a behind-the-scenes look at how theater productions come together when Blair Thomas and Company present excerpts from “Moby Dick” through a family-friendly puppet play at the Storefront Theatre, 66 E. Randolph St., Chicago. The presentation is part of In the Works, a Chicago arts residency program. Free, but reservations recommended. (312) 742-8497. 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20

Music for MLK Day

Opera bass-baritone Eric Owens sings and makes his conducting debut at the Chicago Sinfonietta Annual Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Also on the bill is Metropolitan Opera clarinetist Anthony McGill and the Mosaic Choir.Catch this concert at two locations: Symphony Center's Orchestra Hall, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, ($26-$50), then at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, ($40-$50). Special $10 tickets available for students. (312) 236-3681, ext. 2, or chicagosinfonietta.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, in Chicago, and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 21, in Naperville

Chamber music

The Chicago Philharmonic Chamber Players perform Schoenfield's Cafe Music for Piano Trio and Faure's Piano Quartet No. 1 in a concert Sunday at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 205 N. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge. $15-$20; $10-$15 seniors. (866) 811-4111 or chicagophilharmonic.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20

Musical tribute to MLK

The Brotherhood Chorale of the Apostolic Church of God presents a concert in tribute to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. at Nichols Concert Hall at the Music Institute of Chicago, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. The concert features traditional and contemporary gospel and jazz. Free. (847) 905-1500, ext. 108, or visit musicinst.org. 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20

New plays showcase

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, unveils the winning submissions to its New Play Festival with staged readings beginning with Chris Swanson's “The Principle of the Thing,” about marriage and counseling; followed by Scott Glander's “Shakespeare Restored.” Next up, is “Grin and Bear it” about three scouts attempting to earn a merit badge by teen winner Naomi Rawitz, of Buffalo Grove, followed by fellow teen winner Joey Lubelfeld's “Not Far from the Tree” a coming-of-age-story about a boy struggling with loss. The festival concludes with first-place winner Norma Simon's “Griffiths,” about a boy's acceptance into an exclusive school. $15. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. Live readings at 7 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 20-Feb. 17