Oracle scares up a seasonal spectacle
Oracle Productions presents its second annual multisensory Halloween scare, "Disturbed II," an adults-only event combining live action, multimedia and Grand Guignol-style gruesomeness that unfolds at the Oracle Theatre, 3809 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago.
Performances take place every 15 minutes from 8 to 11:30 p.m. today through Sunday, Oct. 18-21 and 25-31. Admission is $7 in advance, $9 at the door. See www.oracletheatre.org, or call (773) 244-2980 for information.
Annoyance reunion: The original cast of Annoyance Theatre's first production, the slasher movie parody "Splatter Theatre," reunites Saturday for a special 20th anniversary performance at 4830 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago.
Showtime is 10:01 p.m. (not a minute before) and tickets cost $15. Call the box office at (773) 561-4665 or see www.annoyanceproductions.com.
Gothicfest comes to Excalibur, 632 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, today and Saturday. The event features 30 bands from around the world, including headliners the darkwave band Black Tape for a Blue Girl along with Bella Morte, Attrition (from the United Kingdom), Red Flag, Pivot Man, Grigori 3, Regenerator Yluko (Germany), Outshine (Sweden), Ghost Orgy and others along with DJs Absynthesis and Genesis, plus performance artists and exhibitors.
Doors open at 3 p.m. today and at 11 a.m. Saturday. Tickets cost $32.50 per day, $55 for the weekend pass. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Call (312) 266-1944 or see www.excaliburchicago.com for information.
Cabaret artists salute local legends: Pianist/band leader Joe Vito, vocalist/pianist Judy Roberts and pianist Dave Green are among the Chicago jazz musicians to be honored with lifetime achievement awards Sunday at the Chicago Cabaret Professionals annual benefit at the Park West Theater, 322 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago.
Nan Mason, KT McCammond, Beckie Menzie, Bob Moreen, Daryl Nitz, Suzanne Petri and 3Girls3 (Heather Moran, Marymonica Thomas and Gail Becker) are among the singers saluting the honorees as part of the show, which also includes a tribute to longtime Vito collaborator, violinist Johnny Frigo.
Doors open at 6 p.m. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $50 (reserved), $30 (general admission). They're available at www.chicagocabaret.org or at (312) 409-3106.
"TAPethetically Speaking": M.A.D.D. Rhythms Inc. welcomes tap dancers from New York, St. Louis and Canada to its third annual Chicago Tap Summit this weekend.
The summit includes classes at the South Shore Cultural Center, 2059 S. South Shore Drive, Chicago, and an all-star performance at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago. Performers include M.A.D.D. Rhythms, Reggio McLaughlin, Mr. Taps, Robert Reed, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, the all-female group Flawless, Hip Hop ConnXion and B-Boy Crew.
Tickets cost $20; they're available at (773) 604-1899.