Just for laughs, you can try out for comedy show
The search is on for the nation's 21 funniest comedians to perform alongside the likes of Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld at The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas.
Chicago area comedians John Roy and Michael Palascak join stand-ups from St. Louis, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Cedar Rapids and Royal Oak to compete in the semi-finals Tuesday at Zanies Comedy Club where one or more may move on to the finals held in November at Caesars Palace.
The competition begins at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Zanies, 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago. Tickets are $22 and are available online at www.chicagozanies.com or by phone at (312) 337-4027.
• Close your eyes and you'd think it was John Madden or Terry Bradshaw cracking wise onstage at Aurora's Paramount Theater when it's really comedian Frank Caliendo, known for impersonating the Hall of Famers.
A former MadTV cast member, Chicago native Caliendo has been a frequent guest on "Fox NFL Sunday," "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" and late night talk shows. Besides sports legends, his repertoire also includes presidents Bush and Clinton, and celebrities Jay Leno, Christopher Walken and Bill Cosby.
Caliendo performs at 8 p.m. today at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Tickets are $35.50 and $40.50. They're available at the box office, by phone at (630) 896-6666 or online at www.the paramounttheatre.com.
• Fox TV's "Family Guy" goes live on stage at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. Stars of the animated series -- Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Mila Kunis, Seth Green and Mike Henry -- perform an episode, followed by an audience Q&A at 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $39.50 to $69.50. They're available at the box office, by phone at (312) 902-1500 or online at www.ticketmaster.com.
• Former educator turned comedian Steve Solomon, whose talent for impersonation and whose youth spent living in a multi-cultural Brooklyn neighborhood inspired his one-man show "My Mother's Italian, My Father is Jewish and I'm In Therapy," brings his newest family-centered show, "My Sister's An Only Child" to Centre East on Saturday.
Solomon performs at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday at Centre East, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Tickets are $40. They're available at the box office, by phone at (847) 673-6300 or online at www.centreeast.org.
Toast to tequila. Salud Tequila Lounge, 1471 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, hosts its fourth annual tequila fest beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday on the patio. The party includes live music, drink specials and giveaways. (773) 235-5577.
Ellington tribute. The Chicago Jazz Ensemble and the Chicago Sinfonietta team up for a tribute to Duke Ellington Sunday at Dominican University's Lund Auditorium, 7900 W. Division St., River Forest, and Monday at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.
The program pairs Edvard Grieg's "Peer Gynt Suite," performed by the Chicago Sinfonietta with Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's 1960 adaptation of the same name. It also includes Russell Peck's "Harmonic Rhythm: Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra" and Ellington's "Harlem," a symphonic work for jazz ensemble and orchestra.
Sunday's concert is at 2:30 p.m. and tickets range from $26 to $40. Monday's concert is at 7:30 p.m. and tickets range from $26-$96. Tickets are available by phone at (312) 236-3681 or www.chicagosinfonietta.org.
Monday night live. Petterino's, the theater district dining spot hosts an open mic featuring Chicago area cabaret and theater stars from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Mondays at p.m. at 151 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. There's no cover. (312) 422-0150.