Weekend picks: Circus Spectacular, Shen Yun, Orchid Show
Indoor big top
See exotic animals, death-defying stunts, amazing feats of balance and more when the Circus Spectacular returns 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. 10:30 a.m., 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; and 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14
Cars of tomorrow
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
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. 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14
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
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. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; and 2 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. 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14.
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 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14
Broadway greats
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 the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $30-$65. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14
'SNL' alumna
“Saturday Night Live” veteran Nora Dunn revives her comic one-woman show “Mythical Proportions” for a special engagement on Saturday at the 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
'Pretty in Pink'
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 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, Feb. 14
Upcoming shows
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 “A Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration”: 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 “Carousel,” “The King and I,” “The Sound of Music” 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.
“Voices of Rock” 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 “Hope for Haitians Night”: 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.