Best bets: Dorothy Hamill, Scooby and Hulk Hogan hit the spotlight
Skate stars
Olympic gold medal champion (and future “Dancing With the Stars” contestant) Dorothy Hamill joins with Kurt Browning, Ekaterina Gordeeva, Joannie Rochette and skating celebrities in the national tour of “Stars on Ice: Now and Then” at theAllstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $25-$85. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 8
Comic Caponera
Chicago comedian John Caponera returns this weekend to do local standup after many appearances on HBO, Comedy Central and ESPN. He will be at Zanies, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $25 plus a two-item menu purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 8 and 9
Bending genres
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra welcomes guest conductor Alastair Willis and the classically trained garage band Time for Three for performances of music by Estacio, Higdon and Tchaikovsky at two locations this weekend: the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg, then at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $18-$68. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 8 p.m. Friday, March 8, in Schaumburg; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 9, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10 in Elgin
Kidding around
The 11th annual Chicagoland Kids Expo & Fun Fair returns this weekend with inflatable rides, a climbing wall, face painting, a petting zoo and more at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $10; $5 kids ages 3 to 12; kids ages 3 and under admitted free. (847) 303-4100 orchicagokidsexpo.com. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 9; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 10
Spring preview
Turn your thoughts to a blossom-filled spring when the Chicago Flower & Garden Show sprouts up again at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $15-$17 weekday tickets; $17-$19 weekend tickets; $5 kids ages 4 to 12. (312) 595-7437 or chicagoflower.com. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, from March 9 to 17
Yoinks!
See animated characters like Shaggy, Daphne, Velma and that always-hungry dog Scooby-Doo come to life in song when “Scooby-Doo Live Musical Mysteries” plays two times Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $20-$65. (847) 543-2300 or geneseetheatre.com. Noon and 3 p.m. Saturday, March 9
Broadway lady
Five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway star and TV actress Audra McDonald (“Ragtime,” “Private Practice”) appears Saturday for the 33rd Annual Trustee Benefit Concert at Lund Auditorium in Dominican University's Fine Arts Building, 7900 W. Division St., River Forest. $25-$75 show only; $350 concert, cocktail reception and dinner. (708) 488-5000 or dom.edu/pac. 5 p.m. Saturday, March 9
Timely topic
WGN-TV entertainment reporter Dean Richards and actress Megan Cavanagh take part in the Oak Park Festival Theatre, Circle Theatre and 16th Street Theater's presentation of the Oak Park Area Lesbian & Gay Association's reading of Dustin Lance Black's gay marriage play “8” this Sunday at the Oak Park Visitors Center, 1010 N. Lake St., Oak Park. $20; $15 seniors and students. $10 youth. (708) 445-4440 or oakparkfestival.com. 7:30 Sunday, March 10
Hogan 'Impact'
Fans of the Spike-TV reality series “Impact Wrestling” won't want to miss being a part of a live taping of the show with Hulk Hogan as host at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 7 p.m. Thursday, March 14