Get your tickets for CLC's Professional Touring Series

Subscription tickets are on sale now for the 21st Professional Touring Series season at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County in Grayslake.

The 2017-18 season will offer an array of national touring artists performing everything from political comedy by The Capitol Steps to displays of cultural heritage featuring Mexican dance, an African circus, Japanese drumming, Irish music and more.

Subscriptions will be on sale through Sept. 30 at the JLC Box Office. Single tickets are available too. For information, visit www.clcillinois.edu/tickets or call (847) 543-2300.

"It's so important to keep live performing arts accessible and available in our communities," said Gwethalyn Bronner, executive director of the James Lumber Center.

"The JLC professional touring series offers quality events of artistic and cultural diversity, with subscription prices providing the greatest discount all season. Our 21st season will be fun, so don't miss it."

The 2017-18 season includes:

• The Capitol Steps: 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, Mainstage. More than 30 years ago, The Capitol Steps began as a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize the very people and places that employed them. Today, most cast members have worked on Capitol Hill, using their day-to-day experiences and the headlines of the day to create satirical song parodies and skits. Visit www.capsteps.com.

• Sones de México Ensemble: 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, Studio. Chicago's pre-eminent folk music organization returns to the JLC for an evening of authentic music and storytelling, sharing their unique artistry and colorful heritage. The acclaimed musicians perform with more than 40 Mexican folk instruments, interweaving song, dance, story and improvisation to create a rich, cross-cultural banquet of regional Latin American music and featuring a traditional fandango.

Don't miss "Beyond the Music: A Musical Geography of México," a free lecture/demo on Mexican music with Sones de México Ensemble before the performance, followed by a preshow mingle in the JLC lobby with food concession sales.

This program is sponsored in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. Visit sonesdemexico.com.

• "Beginnings - The Ultimate Chicago Concert Experience": 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, Mainstage. Beginnings was born out of love and respect for the music of recent Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chicago. Visit www.beginningstributeband.com.

• Aquila Theatre "Sense and Sensibility": 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, Mainstage. Performed by the critically acclaimed Aquila Theatre, this production of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility" illustrates the effect of economic uncertainty brought about by the common practice of the firstborn male inheriting entire family fortunes. Visit www.aquilatheatre.com.

• Dan Zanes' Holiday Sing-Along: 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, Studio. This holiday-inspired song-and-dance party led by Grammy Award-winning artist Dan Zanes creates a relaxed and inviting atmosphere designed to entertain children or families with autism or other special needs. Featured on Sesame Street, Playhouse Disney, Nickelodeon and HBO, Zanes' music combines folk, rock 'n' roll and soul. Visit danzanes.com.

• Cirque Zuma Zuma: 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, Mainstage. The ultimate African circus. After enjoying sell-out seasons around the globe, this ensemble continues to wow audiences as they perform never-before-seen talents mixed with a unique variety of African visual arts. The audience will witness dance, balancing acts, juggling, contortionist acts and more. Visit www.zumazuma.com.

• Animaniacs Live!: 4 p.m. Sunday, March 4, Mainstage. The 1990s animated series starring the wacky Warner Bros. (and the Warner Sister, Dot) is back in live form. This show mixes wit, wordplay, slapstick, pop culture and music with iconic voices and characters, along with an original score for every cartoon. Visit robpaulsenlive.com/animaniacs-live.

• Rockin' Road to Dublin: 8 p.m. Friday, March 16, Mainstage. Irish dance meets rock 'n' roll in Rockin' Road to Dublin, a fusion of concert and stage show, complete with 14 Irish dancers, male and female lead vocals and an eight-piece band. World Champion Irish Dancer Scott Doherty joins forces with Celtic rocker Chris Smith in this production that showcases Irish dance with original choreography and Broadway flourish. Visit www.rockinrd2d.com.

• Taikoza: 4 p.m. Sunday, March 25, Mainstage. This group draws from Japan's rich tradition of music and performance to create a highly visual, energetic performance. The show's sound is derived from a variety of instruments, including drums of assorted sizes, the shakuhachi and fue (both bamboo flutes) and the Koto (a 13 string instrument). Visit taikoza.com.

• "Cool Heat of Peggy Lee," starring Spider Saloff: 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, Studio. In this intimate performance, Chicago-based jazz vocalist Spider Saloff performs her one-woman show and pays homage to the smoldering style of Peggy Lee. Visit spidersaloff.com.

The James Lumber Center will also present several children's shows created especially for school groups:

• The CLC Theatre department will present "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" Sept. 28-30 and Oct. 1.

• Lyric Opera of Chicago's 2017 Opera in the Neighborhoods production of "The Scorpions' Sting" Oct. 24 and 25.

• The acclaimed Virginia Repertory Theatre, a regional theater with national standing, will present two performances each of "Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad" March 14 and "The Three Little Pigs" April 20.

For more information and group tickets for the JLC's children's shows, call (847) 543-2431 or email jlcgroupsales@clcillinois.edu.

Subscriber ticket prices for JLC Professional Series shows range from $24 to $44, with two price levels available for most events. When purchased with an adult subscription, subscriptions for teens ages 12-17 are available at a discount. CLC student subscriptions are also available.

The deadline to purchase Professional Touring Subscriptions (three or more events) is Sept. 30. Subscribers can also purchase additional tickets throughout the 2017-18 season at the lower subscriber rate, in addition to getting the best seats available.

Subscribers also receive personalized assistance creating their subscription, handling and exchange fees waived and ticket exchanges up to 24 hours prior to the event during regular Box Office hours.

A dedicated subscriber line is available at (847) 986-1800. A $2 per ticket JLC facility fee will be added to each ticket at the time of purchase. Subscription tickets can be purchased at the Box Office in the James Lumber Center, Room P112, on the Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington St., or by phone. Subscriptions are not available for online purchase, but patrons can learn more about the 2017-2018 season by visiting www.clcillinois.edu/tickets.

For more information on JLC subscriptions, call the Box Office at (847) 543-2300 (option 5). During CLC's Summer Session, the Box Office is open noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.