Weekend picks: Orbert Davis jazzes things up at CLC

Jazz, man

The award-winning title trumpeter of the Orbert Davis Quintet performs a jazz concert at College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $22-$28; $21-$27 seniors; $12-$15 kids and teens. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 8 p.m. Friday, April 12

An 'Instant Mom'

Actress, producer and author Nia Vardalos, writer and star of the 2002 film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” discusses her new book, “Instant Mom,” Friday at Anderson's Bookshop, 123 W. Jefferson Ave., Naperville. (630) 355-2665 or andersonsbookshop.com. Vardalos also discusses and signs copies of her book Saturday at The Book Market at Hangar One, The Glen Town Center, 2651 Navy Blvd., Glenview. “Instant Mom” follows Vardalos' journey of adopting a preschool-age girl with just 14 hours notice. Admission for the author's discussion is free. Vardalos will sign copies of her book, available for purchase, after the presentation. (847) 724-2025 or theglentowncenter.com. 7 p.m. Friday, April 12, in Naperville, and noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13, in Glenview

I think I can fly

Four leading Chicago contemporary dance companies, The Dance COLEctive, Hedwig Dances, Same Planet Different World Dance Theatre and Zephyr Dance, have formed a new partnership called FlySpace to engage audiences in contemporary dance. The new project launches publicly this spring with the FlySpace Dance Series at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph Drive, Millennium Park, Chicago. Tickets cost $15. (773) 871-0872 or brownpapertickets.com. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 12-13, and 5 p.m. Sunday, April 14

Soulful pop

Boz Scaggs, the singer, songwriter and musician who scored a number of soulful pop hits in the 1970s, will make a stop at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Scaggs has remained active since his commercial heyday, recording new material and touring extensively. Tickets start at $59. Go to oshows.com. 8 p.m. Friday, April 12

'South Pacific'

Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical “South Pacific,” awarded the Pulitzer Prize for drama, comes to life on the stage of the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. $40-$55. Dinner packages are available. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, April 12, and 4:30 and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13

Tivoli hosts Rachel Maddow

MSNBC television talk-show host Rachel Maddow discusses her New York Times best-selling book “Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power” in an author event at the Tivoli Theatre, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. Maddow will also take part in a question-and-answer session with the audience. Tickets are available with the purchase of “Drift” from Anderson's Bookshop at 5112 Main St., Downers Grove. Attendees will receive an autographed copy of the book at the event. Call (630) 963-2665 or visit andersonsbookshop.com. 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13

Helpful twanging

The Brass Buckle Band, The Hillbilly Rockstarz and The Suburban Cowboys are the featured acts for Saturday's 5th Annual St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Country Music Benefit at Cadillac Ranch, 1175 W. Lake St., Bartlett. $15 (for patrons 21 and older only). (630) 830-7200 or cadranch.com. 6 p.m. doors open with music beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 13

Stepping to it

The Lake County Pan Hellenic Council presents plenty of great stepping groups at the 2nd Annual Lake County Greek Stompfest Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $15-$25. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13

Mason Jennings

Pop/folk singer Mason Jennings headlines at Evanston SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $25-$40. Jennings will perform some of his most popular songs, including those from his newest album “Minnesota.” (847) 492-8860 or evanstonaspace.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, April 13

Salsa Saturdays at Esteban's

Come for dinner, stay for dancing at Esteban's Dining and Dancing, 1550 N. Route 59, Naperville. A free dance lesson and an evening of dance comes with every meal. Dinner favorites include tilapia for $16 and chicken enchiladas for $13.95. Or come after dinner and, for a $10 cover charge, join the one-hour dance lesson and dance the rest of the night away. Every Saturday is Salsa night. (630) 579-3262 or estebansdiningdancing.com. Saturday, April 14

Stomping ground

Tickets sold so quickly for the return engagement of “Stomp” that an extra noon performance was added this weekend for the internationally acclaimed percussion revue at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $39.50-$49.50. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13; noon and 4 p.m. Sunday, April 14

Mac tonight

Fleetwood Mac headlines the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago, on Saturday. Tickets cost $49.50-$149.50. Visit unitedcenter.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13

'Force' be with you

Del Dominguez's Latin ballroom dance work “Sabroso” and Autumn Eckman's “G-Force” are just two of the seven pieces on the bill for the Saturday engagement of Giordano Dance Chicago at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $10-$25. (630) 637-7469 or giordanodance.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13

Leftward laughs

The Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour featuring Stephanie Miller and guest comedians like Hal Sparks is back for a third engagement Saturday at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $38.50-$175. (312) 462-6300 or thechicagotheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13

American made

Lakeside Singers, a vocal ensemble of 26, celebrate the works of American and Windy City musicians in the concert “Home Grown: Music From Chicago and the U.S.” Saturday and Monday at two suburban locations: North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, (630) 637-7469. Tickets cost $30; $20 seniors/students; $10 kids 12 and younger. See it also at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, (847) 577-2121. $35; $25 seniors/students. lakesidesingers.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13, in Naperville; 8 p.m. Monday, April 15, in Arlington Heights

Hudes' trilogy concludes

Goodman Theatre premieres “The Happiest Song Plays Last,” the latest from 2012 Pulitzer Prize winner Quiara Alegría Hudes, whose Goodman commission completes her “Elliot Trilogy” examining war through the eyes of the members of an extended Puerto Rican family. In this final chapter, Iraq War veteran Elliott (Armando Riesco) turns action film star while his cousin Yaz (Sandra Marquez) tries to save her crumbling neighborhood. See it at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The show opens April 22. $14-$45. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 13, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 14

World's Fair Memorabilia Show

Collectors and dealers can buy, sell and trade items related to world's fairs from 1876 to the present at the 19th annual World's Fair Memorabilia Show at the Elk Grove Holiday Inn, 1000 Busse Road, Elk Grove Village. More than 20 tables of items will be featured. Other highlights include continuous showings of home movies and newsreels from the 1933-34 Chicago World's Fair. $5-$6. Visit worldsfairshow.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 14

Springtime on the Farm

Experience a busy spring day working on a 19th-century farm at the Springtime on the Farm event at Spring Valley, 1111 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Help with spring planting in the large kitchen garden, sow oats in the fields or wash clothes in a washtub. Authentic demonstrations include blacksmithing, plowing with the horses, milking a cow and visiting newborn animals. Plus, there will be craft activities, refreshments and games. $3 per person ($12 per family); kids 3 and younger admitted free. (847) 985-2100 or parkfun.com. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 14

Claudia Hommel

Cabaret singer Claudia Hommel presents “April in Paris,” a concert featuring both French and American songs, at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14, at the Wheaton Public Library, 225 N. Cross St., Wheaton. Hommel will be accompanied by Pat Spaeth on the accordion. Born in Paris, Hommel now calls Chicago home. Free admission. For tickets, call (630) 668-1374 or wheatonlibrary.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14

Three B's

Members of the Chicago Philharmonic perform string quartets in the concert “Brahms, Beethoven, Bartok” 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, April 14

Poets in the spotlight

The Waukegan Park District Cultural Arts Division celebrates National Poetry Month by hosting an “open mic” poetry reading at the Schornick Theatre, 39 Jack Benny Drive, Waukegan. Poets of all ages are invited to read their poetry — or to simply attend and listen to the readings. Free. (847) 360-4740 or waukeganparks.org. 6 p.m. Sunday, April 14

Ike Reilly residency shows

Libertyville native Ike Reilly and his band, the Ike Reilly Assassination, are in the midst of a performance “residency” at Chicago's Schuba's Tavern, 3159 N. Southport, Chicago. The band will play on Sunday and then three additional times this spring — April 28, May 12 and May 26. The band is putting the finishing touches on its sixth full-length album, and fans will get previews of the new songs at all the Schuba's shows. This is a great chance to see a local favorite in one of Chicago's best rock venues. $10. Go to schubas.com. 8 p.m. Sunday, April 14