Entertainment

Weekend picks: William Beckett to rock the Raue

Posted November 13, 2013 5:00 am

By Laura Milbrath Stewart and Scott C. Morgan

William Beckett is set to perform at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake.

Catch William Beckett (formerly of The Academy is ...) as he appears as part of the Raue Center for the Arts' Lucy's Music Sessions series this Friday at 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $20. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15

FRIDAY

Antiques aplenty

The Chicagoland Antique Advertising, Slot-Machine & Jukebox Show returns for its 34th year this weekend at the Pheasant Run Resort Mega Center, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $50 three-day admission; $7 daily admission for Saturday and Sunday. (630) 584-6300 or chicagolandshow.com. 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. early bird preview Friday, Nov. 15; 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16; 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17

Up to their gills

Whether your aquariums feature freshwater or saltwater fish, the Aquatic Experience Chicago brings all of them together (plus an exclusive Live Shark Encounter) this weekend at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 North Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $10-$30 daily ticket; $25 daily family pass; $99 weekend pass; Kids ages 5 and under admitted free. (847) 303-4100 or aquaticexperience.org. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15; 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16; 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17

'The Nutcracker'

See a new one-hour musical production for young audiences of the holiday classic “The Nutcracker” at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Tickets are $15. Call (847) 634-0200 or visit marriotttheatre.com. Showtimes at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15; and Saturday, Nov. 16

Weed Ladies' florals

The Weed Ladies, a local volunteer floral designing group, hosts its annual Winter Show and Sale with holiday floral arrangements, wreaths and swags in a variety of styles and sizes. It's at the historic Daniels House at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Many items are nature-themed, with dried grasses and flowers. Proceeds will benefit programming at Naper Settlement. Admission to the sale is free. For information, call (630) 305-5289. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16; and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17

Sugar and spice

Celebrity chefs like Duff Goldman, Gale Gand, Brian Emmett and more are featured atAmerica's Baking and Sweets Show, which this year features a theme of “Alice in Wonderland” for die-hard fans of baking and do-it-yourself confectionary creations. Bring your sweet tooth this weekend to the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 North Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $16; $10 seniors; $6-$10 students; kids ages 12 and under admitted free; $30 three-day pass. (847) 303-4100 or americasbakingandsweetsshow.com. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17

'Carl Sandburg in Elmhurst'

Get an up-close look at the life of the late Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Carl Sandburg, and his life in suburban Elmhurst in the 1920s, at the new “Carl Sandburg in Elmhurst” exhibit at the Elmhurst Historical Museum, 120 E. Park Ave., Elmhurst. The exhibit features artifacts, rare photos and video footage. Free admission. Visit elmhursthistory.org. 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, through Sunday, April 20

Big band stand

Relive the music and dance styles popular in the 1940s with the musical revue “In the Mood,” which plays at two area venues this Thursday and Friday. First it stops at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $25-$45. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. Then it heads to the Coronado Theatre, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. $25-$45 (815) 968-5222 or coronadopac.org. 2 and 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15

Like a light bulb!

If your family loves stop-motion holiday TV specials from the 1960s, then they won't want to miss Emerald City Theatre's “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical,” which starts a run this weekend at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. $30. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com. Various dates between Thursday, Nov. 14, through Sunday, Dec. 29

TBS' Byrne at Improv

Standup comedian Steve Byrne, a veteran of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “Conan” and “The Tonight Show” and star of the TBS sitcom, “Sullivan & Son,” headlines the Chicago Improv, 5 Woodfield Road, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg. $22. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16; 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17

Thrash pioneers

The “thrash metal” genre emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s. It combined the heavy sound and guitar-based athleticism of heavy metal with the speed and anger of hard-core punk. Slayer, a group formed in California in 1981, is considered one of the key architects of the sound (the others being Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax). The future of the acclaimed band seemed in doubt earlier this year when guitarist and songwriter Jeff Hanneman died after battling a liver disease. But the band decided to soldier on, and it's on the road now, focusing on songs from its first decade of existence. Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. $45. Go to jamusa.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15

Seeing America

America, the classic pop-rock band behind such hits as “Horse With No Name” and “Sister Golden Hair,” formed in the early 1970s in London, England. (The members all had American fathers and British mothers.) The band was originally a trio, but now only Gerry Buckley and Dewey Bunnell remain — both of them original members. They'll appear this weekend in the suburbs to run through all the hits that America racked up during the band's long career. Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main Street, St. Charles. Tickets start at $59. Go to oshows.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15

Full neuroses

Get an insight into the mind of comedian Richard Lewis (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) when he performs live this Friday at Zanies Comedy Club in MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $35 plus a two-item menu purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15

'The Heiress'

The Harper Ensemble Theatre Company showcases its production of the Tony Award-winning drama “The Heiress” in the Performing Arts Center (Building R) at Harper College, 1200 Algonquin Road, Palatine. The story focuses on society and status in 1850s New York, as the sheltered daughter of a doctor faces losing her inheritance when she is pursued by a gentleman. $12-$15. (847) 925-6100 or harpercollege.edu. Showtimes at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17

Grunt, laugh

Laugh at perceived differences between men and women traced back to prehistoric times in the one-man show “Rob Becker's Defending the Caveman.” It features actor Ben Tedder this weekend at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $36. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15; 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16

Phidget plays Peggy Kinnane's

Catch Phidget playing '80s classic rock to today's hits at Peggy Kinnane's Irish Restaurant and Pub, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. No cover. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com. 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15

SATURDAY

Arts and crafts on parade

Browse through 175 booths of items, including jewelry, country decor, artwork, holiday crafts and more at the Festival of Fine Arts & Crafts at the DuPage Expo, 4050 North Ave., St. Charles. Admission is $3. Visit stepbysteppromotions.com. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17

Holiday bazaar

The DuPage County Historical Museum Guild hosts its 30th Annual Holiday Bazaar at the DuPage County Historical Museum, 102 E. Wesley St., Wheaton. Guests can purchase everything from holiday ornaments and wreaths to scrapbooking cards and homemade crochet items. Another highlight is a performance by the vocal group Beyond Glee. Admission is free. Proceeds from sales will benefit the museum. (630) 510-4941 or dupagemuseum.org. 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16

Fall engagement

River North Dance Chicago returns for a hometown concert this weekend featuring world premieres by choreographers Ashley Roland, Kevin Iega Jeff and a Chicago premiere by Adam Barruch at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $30-$75. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16; 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17

SUNDAY

Meet 'Emily Dickinson'

Actress Betsey Means of WomanLore stars as famed American poet Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) in the “I Dwell in Possibility: An Intimate Evening with Emily Dickinson” program at the Byron Colby Barn at Prairie Crossing, 1561 Jones Point Road, Grayslake. Admission is $10 per person and is available at door only (cash or check). Visit prairiecrossing.com/bcbarn. 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17

Hot Blooded

Hear rock hits like “Jukebox Hero,” “Say You Will,” “Cold as Ice” and “I Want To Know What Love Is” when Foreigner performs Sunday at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $70-$85. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17

Blues guitar

Enjoy some genuine blues when the Grammy Award-winning Robert Cray Band and special guest Gary Hoey perform Sunday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$69. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17

Going Baroque

Music of the Baroque music director Jane Glover will make her Metropolitan Opera debut next month. In the mean time, catch her locally in the concert “Classical Vienna: Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert” at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. (847) 673-6300. $25-$75. baroque.org. 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17

Actress Betsey Means, pictured, will portray American poet Emily Dickinson in the I Dwell in Possibility: An Intimate Evening with Emily Dickinson program at the Byron Colby Barn in Prairie Crossing in Grayslake. Courtesy of Scott Wills

Ben Tedder stars in "Rob Becker's Defending the Caveman" at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights.

See discus fish and more creatures at the Aquatic Experience Chicago at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center in Schaumburg the weekend of Friday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, Nov. 17. Courtesy of World Pet Association

Richard Lewis is set to headline at Zanies in Rosemont. Courtesy of Zanies Comedy Club

See a variety of photos and artifacts relating to the late poet Carl Sandburg in the Carl Sandburg in Elmhurst exhibit at the Elmhurst Historical Museum. Picttured above, clockwise from left, Carl Sandburgs mother Clara, Carl Sandburg, and two of his daughters, Janet and Helga, at their Elmhurst home in 1922. Used by Permission, Carl Sandburg Collection, Rare

Cathi Schumacher, a member of the Weed Ladies volunteer floral designing group, looks over some floral arrangements, as the group prepares for its annual Winter Show and Sale at the Naper Settlement. Courtesy of Donna DeFalco/Naper Settlement

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