Out & About
"Playhouse Disney Live," at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Friday, 2 and 5 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets are $15-$33.50, with a limited number of $45 VIP seats available. Call (312) 559-1212 or (847) 671-5100 or www.ticketmaster.com.
Tigger and Pooh, Handy Manny, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Little Einsteins are all featured in this Disney stage show, aimed at the preschool and kindergarten crowd. These Playhouse Disney characters have never been part of a live show before, so here's your chance to see their first-ever tour.
-- Jamie Sotonoff, staff writer
"Jersey Boys," previews at 7:30 p.m. today, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday. The musical opens at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at the LaSalle Bank Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., Chicago. $30-$150. (312) 902-1400 or www.broadwayinchicago.com.
The touring version of the Tony Award-winning musical chronicling the life and times of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons -- four blue-collar guys from the wrong part of town who became one of the biggest pop groups of the 1960s -- opens this weekend for a six-month run. The show stars Jarrod Spector as Valli, Drew Gehling as Bob Gaudio, Jeremy Kushnier as Tommy DeVito and Chicago resident Michael Ingersoll as Nick Massi.
-- Barbara Vitello, critic at large
"Sibling Celebration," at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Saturday at Orland Square, 228 Orland Square Drive, Orland Park. (708) 349-1646. Free admission.
Charlie & Lola, the popular Playhouse Disney brother-and-sister duo, stops here as part of a 10-city mall tour to perform three free puppet shows. The shows are based on their book, "I Will Never NOT EVER Eat a Tomato." The visual, comedic show will be done in Bunraku style, which means the puppeteers are in plain view. Kids will receive free Charlie & Lola masks and coloring pages.
-- Jamie Sotonoff, staff writer
Music Box Massacre III, noon Saturday to noon Oct. 14 at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 W. Southport Ave., Chicago. Tickets $24 in advance, $29 at the door. (773) 871-6604 or www.musicboxtheatre.com.
This 24-hour horror movie marathon boasts a good mix of genre classics ("The Shining," "Videodrome," "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein" and "The Cat and the Canary" with live organ accompaniment) and under-loved cult favorites (Bob Clark's "Deathdream," Michael Powell's "Peeping Tom," once-buried '80s kids' flick "The Monster Squad" and insane Italian gorefest "Demons 2"). Celebrity appearances, live music, a costume contest, vintage horror movie trailers and more spooky treats await.
-- Jeff Pizek, staff writer
"Jan Brett Book Signing," 2 to 3:45 p.m. Oct. 14 at Brookfield Zoo, First Avenue at 31st Street, Brookfield. Free with zoo admission. (708) 688-8361.www.brookfieldzoo.org.
If you love reading delightfully illustrated books to your kids, meet author and illustrator Jan Brett. For years my kids and I have turned the pages of her books, searching out the playful illustrations she creates on the borders of the pages. And we love the stories, about mischievous trolls, rebellious reindeer and clear-thinking kids. Brett will talk about the art for her new book, "The Three Snow Bears," then sign books afterward.
-- Pam DeFiglio, staff writer