Articles filed under Performing Arts

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Best bets: Miley, Charlie Murphy coming to townFeb 28, 2014 12:00 AM
See if Miley Cyrus is worth all of the tabloid ink when she brings her Bangerz Tour with Icona Pop tonight to the Allstate Arena. If you love comedian Charlie Murphy from TV’s “Chappelle’s Show,” “Boondocks” and more, then don’t miss his standup set this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase. Conductor Andrew Lewis leads the forces of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the Elgin Choral Union and the UIC Symphony Choir for the concert “Beethoven Inspired” this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center.
Steel Beam’s ‘Portugal’ needs workFeb 28, 2014 12:00 AM
One thing about Steel Beam Theatre, it’s not afraid to take a chance on a new work. Over the years, the St. Charles company has produced several new shows and for that, it deserves commendation. But premiering a new play involes risk: sometimes that risk pays off and the show’s a delight. Other times, it’s a disappointment. “The Bay of Portugal” falls into the latter category.
Elgin High School’s ‘The Music Man’ a family-friendly crowd pleaserFeb 26, 2014 12:00 AM
Take a trip back in time to the year 1912 in River City, Iowa, when Elgin High School brings the classic musical "The Music Man" to the stage this weekend. "This cast has so much energy and they are such great actors," director Jaclyn Offord said. "They take the stage and pull the audience in with the first scene."
Cutting Hall marks namesake’s birthday with March 1 open houseFeb 25, 2014 12:00 AM
The Palatine Park District will mark the 160th anniversary of the birth of Charles Cutting, namesake of the Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center, this Saturday with an open house at the historic theater. The event, which is free and open to the public, takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the theater, 150 E. Wood Street in Palatine. The open house will highlight recent renovations to the theater and guided tours will be available.
Weekend picks: Trash Martini rocks Mickey Finn'sFeb 25, 2014 12:00 AM
The party band Trash Martini headlines Friday at Mickey Finn's Brewery in Libertyville. See 20 running model railroads at the High Wheeler Train Show at Harper College in Palatine. And the Meltin' Blues Weekend brings all kinds of musical entertainment to downtown Long Grove.
Gentrification gets a going over in Goodman's 'Buzzer'Feb 21, 2014 12:00 AM
In a play called “Buzzer,” playing through March 9 at the Goodman Theatre, it's ironic that the intercom system doesn't actually work. Yet the broken buzzer in Tracey Scott Wilson's 2012 drama is a deliberate plot device. It sets up a highly symbolic (and uncomfortable) final tableaux for a play that already goes out of its way to push buttons over touchy issues of gentrification, class and American race relations in a so-called “post-racial Obama age.”
Harris Theater halts shows due to electrical fireFeb 21, 2014 12:00 AM
Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago has cancelled all performances through Thursday, March 6, in light of an electrical fire on Wednesday, Feb. 19.
Fire cancels Hamburg Ballet in ChicagoFeb 20, 2014 12:00 AM
An electrical fire at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago has forced the cancellation of Hamburg Ballet's two performances of "Third Symphony of Gustav Mahler" on Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 19 and 20.
Devo guitarist Bob Casale dies at age 61Feb 18, 2014 12:00 AM
Bob Casale, the guitarist for Devo, best known for the 1980 hit “Whip It,” died of heart failure, his brother and band member Gerald Casale said Tuesday. He was 61.
Best bets: Circus Spectacular wows at Sears CentreFeb 18, 2014 12:00 AM
Carden Entertainment brings its 51st Circus Spectacular with exotic animals, graceful aerialists, skilled acrobats and more to the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. See many groomed breeds of dogs, agility tests and new canine products at the International Kennel Club of Chicago 2014 International Cluster of Dog Shows this weekend at McCormick Place in Chicago. More than 120 craft beers by 60 different breweries can be tasted at the Naperville Winter Ale Fest Saturday at Frontier Park.
TimeLine's 'How and the Why' examines two women of scienceFeb 14, 2014 12:00 AM
Two female biologists hash out their differing views on scientific theories, feminism and work in TimeLine Theatre's engrossing production of "The How and the Why," now playing in its Chicago premiere through Sunday, April 6.
Insane Clown Posse again seeks new festival siteFeb 13, 2014 12:00 AM
A yearly festival headlined by the rap-metal group Insane Clown Posse won’t be staged this summer at a central Missouri town’s campground after all. Some two weeks after announcing the Gathering of the Juggalos was bound for CryBaby Campground in tiny Kaiser, Mo., organizers of the event say the campground has backed out.
Best bets: Swoon to sounds of The Midtown MenFeb 11, 2014 12:00 AM
The Midtown Men, featuring members from the original Broadway cast of "Jersey Boys," will serenade the audience at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora on Friday, Feb. 14. Or take your Valentine to see "Romeo and Juliet" this weekend at select movie theaters. Fans of Tony Award-winner Bernadette Peters won't want to miss her singing romantic song standards at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan Friday.
‘Motown the Musical’ tour to reach Detroit Feb 10, 2014 12:00 AM
The musical about the Motown sound is going home. Producers of “Motown the Musical” said Thursday that the show’s national tour will play Detroit’s Fisher Theatre for four weeks in October and November.
Eric Church returns with rich new albumFeb 10, 2014 12:00 AM
Eric Church is developing two separate and distinct personalities that seem to wrestle each other in a glorious battle royal on his fourth and best album, “The Outsiders.” There’s that guy Chief, with the hat and sunglasses and the love of rock ‘n’ roll, whiskey, stubborn streaks and fistfights. And then there’s the version of Church who wins (or loses) the girl, stirs moments of universal reverie and tickles the funny bone with program director-wooing hits that appeal to country music’s bedrock fan base.
Sunday picks: David Alan Grier cracks up ImprovFeb 9, 2014 12:00 AM
Comedian David Alan Grier ends his headlining weekend at Schaumburg's Improv Comedy Showcase. The Monster Jam leaves crushed cars and mayhem in its wake at the Allstate Arena. And the Brookfield Zoo's annual FREEze Day offers dog-sled demos and animal-themed zoo chats.
Weekend picks: A cappella group Chapter 6 visits LincolnshireFeb 8, 2014 12:00 AM
All-male vocal group Chapter 6 performs a set at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. Comedian David Alan Grier headlines Schaumburg's Improv Comedy Showcase this weekend. Monster Jam roars into the Allstate Arena this weekend, leaving crushed cars and mayhem in its wake. If you prefer vehicles that are more ... er, put together, check out the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in Rosemont.
Second Chicago Theatre Week celebrates city, suburban productions Feb 7, 2014 12:00 AM
With a national and international reputation as a theater center, it hardly seems necessary that Chicago devote a week to celebrating theater. In fact, “every night in Chicago is a theater festival,” says Eileen LaCario, vice-president of Broadway in Chicago, citing the 100 productions that take place every week, on average, in the city and suburbs. Which, says LaCario, is all the more reason to commemorate it during the second annual Chicago Theatre Week.
Odyssey fine arts festival an exciting experience for Stevenson High students Feb 6, 2014 12:00 AM
Despite an overnight snowstorm that snarled Wednesday morning commuter traffic, only a handful of performers and lecturers missed the 10th edition of the Odyssey biennial fine arts festival at Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire.
Best bets: Chicago Auto Show rolls into McCormick Place Feb 4, 2014 12:00 AM
North America's largest auto show is the Chicago Auto Show, which returns for its 106th edition this year starting this weekend at McCormick Place in Chicago. Or head to MB Financial Park in Rosemont to catch the Winter Frost Face Off Classic hockey matchup featuring select alumni from the Chicago Blackhawks Friday. While you're in Rosemont, don't miss the Progressive International Motorcycle Show this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.