Weekend picks: Clayton English brings comedy to Schaumburg
Comedy winner
Catch up with Clayton English, a winner of NBC's “Last Comic Standing,” when he performs a series of weekend shows starting on Thursday at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $22-$24 plus a two-item purchase; $60 Valentine's dinner package available for the first evening shows Friday through Sunday. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14
New ballet
A world premiere dance piece by choreographer Ashley Page is part of the Joffrey Ballet's “Bold Moves” concert, which also features the return of Yuri Possokhov's “RAKU” and Jiri Kylián's “Forgotten Land” starting Wednesday at the Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $32-$155. (800) 982-2787 or joffrey.org or auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14
Two-wheel transport
See the latest makes and models from manufacturers at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show starting Friday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $17. (847) 653-2907 or rosemont.com or motorcycleshows.com. 1 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14
25 years of Fish
Reel Big Fish busted out of the South California scene during the mid-'90s heyday of ska, propelled to popularity by the hit single “Sell Out.” Catch the current lineup, featuring founding member Aaron Barrett, as Reel Big Fish embarks on a 25th anniversary tour along with fellow Huntington Beach ska rockers Suburban Legends and Orange County power punk rock band The Maxies. Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $21 in advance, $23 at the door. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12
See exotic animals, death-defying stunts, amazing feats of balance and more when the Circus Spectacular returns on Friday to the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $18-$46; $16 for kids 12 and younger; $10 for parking. (847) 649-2270 or searscentre.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12; 10:30 a.m., 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; and 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14
Daredevil drivers
See oversize trucks including El Toro Loco, Grave Digger, Max D and more when the Monster Jam returns this weekend at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $22-$60. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14.
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to the songwriters of beloved Broadway classics such as “Carousel,” “South Pacific,” “Oklahoma!” and more in “A Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration” featuring theater vocalists Jenn Gambatese and Sean McLaughlin with Oscar Andy Hammerstein III as the host. The concerts play this weekend at two locations: first at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg; $30-$45; then at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $30-$65. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, in Schaumburg; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, in Elgin
Country vocalists
A cappella is not a new art form, and Minnesota-born Home Free are certainly not the newest kids on that block. Performing together in various incarnations since 2000, the a cappella group has developed a well-rounded brand with crisp-edged harmonies and full five-man arrangements. Winning the fourth season of NBC's “The Sing-Off” in 2013 further solidified a popularity that had already been swelling after years of live performances. The country-colored tunesters bring their love for pure vocal performance to Waukegan's Genesee Theatre Friday as part of their “Don't It Feel Good: Spring Tour 2016.” Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tickets start at $34.50. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12
If you love rock songs “Closer to Free,” “Good Things” and “Fadeaway,” then don't miss The BoDeans in concert on Friday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$99. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12
Eder encore
Fans of Broadway vocalist Linda Eder (“Jekyll and Hyde”) can see her in concert on Friday at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $68-$75. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12
A well-steered Ship
With five years playing together, Tinley Park's Ship Captain Crew hits the well-established tenets of pop punk with some spit and polish for a more refined look at the genre. Mike Reda's strong rhythms, Roy Coghill's driving bass, and frenetic guitar work courtesy of Ben Darling and Angelo Sakellaropoulos push the songs into party territory, with Roger Alexander Moreno's well-honed vocals drizzled like a sticky, sweet glaze over the top of it all, enticing to both pop punk fans and newcomers to the genre. Ship Captain Crew's just-released new album, “The Ocean Floor,” is laced with a maturity not often seen from an unsigned band and does the local scene proud. Catch this energetic crew when they team up with the Chicago and Northwest suburban pop punk rockers in The Linden Method, rock band On a High Wire and alternative rock band Commonweather for a 21-and-older show at Chicago's Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $5 in advance, $7 at the door. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com. 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12
Get an eyeful of nearly 1,000 vehicles ranging from the latest models to rare antiques at the 108th Chicago Auto Show starting this weekend at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago. $12; $7 seniors and kids ages 7 to 12; free admission for kids ages 6 and under. (630) 495-2282 or chicagoautoshow.com. 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, through Saturday, Feb. 20; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21
Blossom time
Take a colorful and fragrant trip to the tropics at The Orchid Show, which features more than 10,000 orchids in bloom starting Saturday at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $10; $8 students and seniors; $25-$30 parking per car or van. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily from Saturday, Feb. 13, through Sunday, March 13
Chinese spectacle
Centuries of Chinese music, dance and culture are showcased by the touring Shen Yun this weekend at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $60-$200. (800) 515-3468 or rosemonttheatre.com. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14
“Saturday Night Live” veteran Nora Dunn revives her comic one-woman show “Mythical Proportions” for a special engagement on Saturday at Theatre of Western Springs, 4384 Hampton Ave., Western Springs. $30. (708) 246-3380 or theatrewesternsprings.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13
Global culture
North Central College's Office of International Programs sponsors the 20th anniversary International Festival which features dances, food and other family-friendly activities today at the Gregory Arena at Merner Field House, 450 S. Brainard St., Naperville. $6. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. Noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14
See the beloved teenage drama “Pretty in Pink” starring Molly Ringwald, Jon Cryer and Andrew McCarthy in special 30th anniversary screenings this week at select suburban theaters today and Wednesday in Addison, Batavia, Crystal Lake, Deer Park, Elgin, Gurnee, Lincolnshire, Naperville and Woodridge. Ticket prices vary by venue, but largely $8. Visit fathomevents.com for exact locations. 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday, Feb. 14 and 17
Upcoming concerts
“Motown”: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, Wheaton College, Beamer Center Coray Alumni Gym, 421 N. Chase St., Wheaton. The Wheaton College Gospel Choir and the Office of Multicultural Development present performances of classic Motown songs. Students will celebrate the music of Motown through music and dance. Tickets are $3, and are available at the door. (630) 752-7056 or wheaton.edu.
Feed Me To Monsters, Kills Again, Fist to the Sky, Fire It Up, Face the Fire: 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. Rock, alternative rock. $10. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.
Elgin Symphony Orchestra with “A Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration”: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Concert includes songs from “Carousel,” “The King and I,” “The Sound of Music” and more. For ticket information, call (847) 888-4000 or visit elginsymphony.org.
BoDeans: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Rock. $49-$99. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com.
Steady Flow, Digeometric, The Dropper, Prichard Harter, The Funk Crusaders: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Funk, rock. $12-$22. (773) 489-3160 or doubledoor.com.
Linda Eder: 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Pop, jazz, Broadway tunes and more. $68-$75. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org.
Ross Benson: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, The Broken Oar, 614 Rawson Bridge Road, Port Barrington. Classic rock. No cover. (847) 639-9468 or brokenoar.com.
Mojo Window, Deep Shades of Purple: 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, Q-Bar Darien, 8109 S. Cass Ave, Darien. Blues, Deep Purple tribute. For information, call (630) 241-0970 or visit qbardarien.com.
Ron Sorin and The Blue Coast Band: 9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 South Harlem Ave., Berwyn. Chicago Blues Harmonica at it's best. $6. (708) 484-3610 or harlemavenuelounge.com.
The Okee Dokee Brothers: 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, in the Lily Reid Holt Memorial Chapel at Lake Forest College, 555 N. Sheridan Road, Lake Forest. Folk. $25 adults. Students are $10 with an ID. Free admission for children under age 10 with a paid adult admission. Visit lakeforest.edu.
Bury Me In Lights, Draft Week, Silverside: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, HVAC Pub, 3530 N. Clark St., Chicago. Punk, alternative. Free. (773) 789-8864 or hvacpub.com.
Black Oak Ensemble: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, Bethel United Church of Christ, 315 E. St. Charles Road, Elmhurst. Classical and more. $5-$20. Family pass available for $45 for two adults and up to five children. Visit bethel.ucc.org or eventbrite.com.
Textures of Lions, The Threads, The Great Fusilli, Ex Okays: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. Indie, progressive rock. $10. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.
Jonas Friddle and the Majority: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Elgin Community College's SecondSpace Theatre, Building H at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Folk. Eight-piece band performs with banjo, horns, strings, drums, keys, and electric guitar. $25. Call (847) 622-0300. or visit tickets.elgin.edu.
Elgin Symphony Orchestra with #8220;A Rodgers Hammerstein Celebration#8221;: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, The Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Concert includes songs from #8220;Carousel,#8221; #8220;The King and I,#8221; #8220;The Sound of Music#8221; and more. For ticket information call (847) 888-4000, or visit or elginsymphony.org.
James Lee Stanley: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, Maple Street Chapel, 220 S. Main St., Lombard. Folk, jazz and more. $15. Tickets at door or visit maplestreetchapelfolk.com.
Dirty Dozen Brass Band: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, Schaumburg Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $36-$38. (847) 923-3605 or prairiecenter.org.
Dennis DeYoung and The Music of Styx: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Pop/rock. $45-$95. (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com. Visit geneseetheatre.com.
Humphrey-McKeown: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, Fitz's Spare Keys, 119 N. York St., Elmhurst. Contemporary folk rock. $5. (630) 379-5007 or fitzs.publishpath.com.
AM Taxi, North by North: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. Alternative rock. $10. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.
#8220;Voices of Rock#8221; with Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night and Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Rock. $39-$89. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com.
Act of Defiance, Driven Under: 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb 13, Brauerhouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. Metal. $10-$12. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.
Harry Hmura Blues Band: 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn. $6. (708) 484-3610 or harlemavenuelounge.com.
Wheaton College Women's Chorale: 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 10 S. Lake St., Mundelein. Classical and more. A freewill offering will be taken. (847) 566-8081 or standrewmundelein.com.
Vocalist Maureen Christine, jazz saxophonist Michael Bazan and Don Stille on piano and accordion: 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, in Luecht Conference Center at McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14, Crystal Lake. Program features music from American composers from the 1940s through the 1980s. Free and open to public. Refreshments served after concert. (815) 479-7814 or mchenry.edu.
Andrew Ripp, Swear and Shake, Act As If: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Singer-songwriter. $15-$25. (847) 492-8860 or evanstonspace.com.
Drew Doepke the Red Delicious and Bobb Vylan at #8220;Hope for Haitians Night#8221;: 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16, Two Brothers Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway St., Aurora. Fundraising event with concerts, raffles and more. Donations go to Hope for Haitians organization. (630) 264-2739 or twobrothersbrewing.com.
AC/DC: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17, United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Rock. $95-$140. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.