Entertainment

Best bets: Wynton Marsalis, jazz greats at NCC

Posted December 03, 2013 4:30 am

By Scott C. Morgan

The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis returns to North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville on Friday, Dec. 6. Courtesy of Elizabeth Leitzell

Top pick

Classic jazz

Some of the world's best and most experienced musicians in jazz have been brought together for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, which performs with its founder, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $100-$125. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6

This weekend

Sparkle time

Augment your holiday shopping with a new nightly Magical Light Show at Randhurst Village, Rand and Elmhurst roads, Mount Prospect. Free. (847) 259-0500 or randhurstvillage.com. 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, through Saturday, Dec. 21

Holiday pop

Pop fans of the DuPage natives inPlain White T's, as well as Colbie Caillat and the Backstreet Boys,won't want to miss the special concert Miracle on State Street this Friday at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $49.50-$75. (312) 462-6300 or thechicagotheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6

Singer/songwriter night

Revered singer/songwriters Don McLean and Judy Collins team up again after a previous local pairing at the Ravinia Festival for another go around at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $29-$89. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6

Northerly Nutcracker

Dancenter North's 25th anniversary production of “The Magic of the Nutcracker” returns for four performances divided among two locations: Libertyville High School, 708 W. Park Ave., Libertyville, $15-$33, then at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan, $15-$36. (847) 367-7970 or themagicofthenutcracker.com. 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 7-8, in Libertyville, and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 14-15, in Waukegan

Won't grow up

Comedian Steve Rannazzisi (“Punk'd,” “Paul Blart: Mall Cop”) shows off his immature side when he brings his Manchild Tour to two Zanies locations: 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, then at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $30 plus a two-item minimum from the menu. (312) 337-4027 or zanies.com. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, in Chicago and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in Rosemont

Raised voices

Hear holiday music from Germany, Great Britain and the U.S. when the a cappella chamber choir Acappellago performs its concert “Star in the East” at two suburban locations: Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st. St., Oak Brook, then at Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia. $17; $15 students and seniors. (708) 484-3797, ext. 2, or acappellago.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, in Oak Brook and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, in Batavia

Plan ahead

Hold on!

The top 35 bull riders compete at the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Built Ford Tough Series Chicago Invitational starting Saturday, Jan. 11, at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $20-$125. (800) 745-3000, pbr.com or allstatearena.com. 8 p.m. Saturday,Jan. 11, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12

Jake & Elwood

Relive a classic piece of Chicago comedy and music pop-culture history when “The Official Blues Brothers Revue” brings back memories of the classic 1980 film “The Blues Brothers” on Wednesday, April 2, at College of Lake County's James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $30-$38; $29-$37 seniors; $12-$15 kids. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 2

The Backstreet Boys appear on the bill of Miracle on State Street at the Chicago Theatre on Friday, Dec. 6. Associated Press

Colbie Caillat performs on the bill of Miracle on State Street at the Chicago Theatre on Friday, Dec. 6.

The Plain White Ts performs on the bill of Miracle on State Street at the Chicago Theatre on Friday, Dec. 6. Associated Press

Songwriter Judy Collins performs on the same bill as Don McLean at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. Associated Press

Don McLean plays on the same bill with Judy Collins at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.

Comedian Steve Rannazzisi appears at Zanies in Chicago and Rosemont. COURTESY OF DERICK HINGLE/COMEDY CENTRAL

Dancenter North stages The Magic of the Nutcracker at Libertyville High School and the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. Courtesy of Dancenter North

Dan Aykroyd, Judy Belushi and musical director Paul Shaffer present The Official Blues Brothers Revue on April 2, 2014, at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts in Grayslake.

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