Lake Co. arts & entertainment

Includes plays, films, festivals, art exhibits and receptions, concerts, dance shows and more. Deadline is two weeks before event.

Dec. 14

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 at the Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Way. Improv Playhouse Showstoppers will present the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice based on the story of Joseph from the Bible. Tickets are $10 for general public, $7 for seniors and students. Call Improv Playhouse at (847) 968-4529 or visit improvplayhouse.com.

The Magic of the Nutcracker: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Dancenter North's 20th edition of its version of Tchaikovsky's classic ballet. $12-$20. Call Libertyville High School, at (847) 367-7970, or Genesee Theater, at (847) 406-3152.

Winter Christmas Tale: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, Wheeling High School Auditorium, 900 S. Elmhurst Road, Wheeling. The holiday show combines folk characters from American and Russian traditions, and is danced by 60 performers ages 5 to 50, most members of the Mazurdance School in Buffalo Grove and the Art of Dance School from Cleveland, Ohio. Tickets are $25, and are at the Mazurdance School and online at bomond.com. For information, call (847) 506-9390.

Shalom and Campanella Holiday Choirs: 2-3:15 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 14, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. The adults' Shalom Choir and the children's Campanella Choir will present a repertoire of Russian, Ukrainian, Yiddish, Hebrew and American holiday music. For information or to register, call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Polonia Polish Folk Dance Ensemble of Chicago: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 Lake Villa District Library, 1001 E. Grand Ave., Lake Villa. Traditional Polish folk songs and dances. For information, call (847) 356-7711 or visit lvdl.org.

Cookie Walk: Noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, Station Square in Prairie Crossing, 970 Harris Road, Grayslake. Buy home baked cookies to support A Safe Place for Help shelter for abused women and children. There will also be shopping opportunities. All proceeds benefit A Safe Place.

Handel's "Messiah": 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, St. Peter Church, 557 Lake St., Antioch. The Antioch Community Chorus will perform Handel's "Messiah." Free. For information, call Ken Smouse, at (847) 395-1333, or Mable Lou Weber, at (847) 265-3152.

Celtic Christmas Celebration: 3-4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Janet and John Gaffney will share traditions of a Celtic Christmas and perform on folk harp and uilleann pipes, with Irish step dances performed by the Gaffney's daughters. Registration is required for this free program. To register call (847) 438-3433, e-mail infodesk@eapl.org or visit eapl.org.

Nate the Great Party: 2 to 2:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, Fremont Public Library, 1170 N. Midlothian Road, Mundelein. Children in second and third grade are invited to play detective at party focusing on Marjorie Sharmat's sleuth Nate and his dog, Slugde. Register in person, at fremontlibrary.org, or by calling (847) 918-3218.

The Lake County Reptile Show: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, VFW Hall, 75 W. North Ave., Antioch. View or purchase reptiles including geckos, snakes and bearded dragons. Visitors can also purchase reptile food and other care supplies. Admission is $2-$5. Children ages 10 and under are free. Visit lakecountyreptileshow.com.

The Bowery Boys: Previews through Dec. 14. 8 p.m. opening Wednesday, Dec. 17. Regular run: 1 and 8 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 2:30 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 5 p.m. Sundays, through Feb. 15, Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire: World premiere of a musical inspired by the works of Horatio Alger Jr. and George M. Cohan by David H. Bell and Jeremy Cohen. $45-$55 (excludes taxes and handling fees). $5 discount for students/seniors for matinees on Wednesdays and Sunday. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

Coriolis with Claudine Cappelle-Harig: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, Byron Colby Barn at Prairie Crossing, 1561 Jones Point Road, Grayslake: Coriolis with Claudine Cappelle-Harig on harp perform seasonal chamber works by Britten, Warlock and more. $15. (847) 869-0223.

Dec. 15

Hunchback of Notre Dame auditions: 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15 at Improv Playhouse in Libertyville. Improv Playhouse Young Actors Workshop will audition for roles in Victor Hugo's "Hunchback of Notre Dame." Actors ages 10 to 17 are encouraged to audition. Performances will be March 14 and 15. Call (847) 968-4529 or look at the Web site at improvplayhouse.com.

Dec. 16

Edizon Dayao's Big Band Holiday Concert: 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Keyboard artist Edizon Dayao will perform the unforgettable songs of the Big Band era shows. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Dec. 17

Candlebox: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, The Fuel Room at Austin's Saloon and Eatery, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville. Hard/pop rock. $20. (312) 559-1212 or austinsaloon.com.

CLC Concert Band: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17. Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Classical and modern works for wind band, plus holiday music. $3-$4. (847) 543-2300 or jlcenter.clcillinois.edu.

Dec. 18

Kevin McCaffrey: 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18; 8 and 9:45 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, Zanies, 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills. Comedy. $23. (847) 549-6030 or zanies.com.

Dec. 20

"It's a Wonderful Life" Radio Play: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Way, Round Lake Beach. Improv Playhouse will perform this family classic complete with sound effects, live commercials and period costume. Tickets are $10 for general public, $7 for seniors and students. Call Improv Playhouse at (847) 968-4529 or visit improvplayhouse.com.

The Nutcracker: 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, Lake Zurich High School's Performing Arts Center, 300 Church St. The Illinois Youth Dance Theatre presents the holiday classic. Cost is $25. Call (815) 675-9359 for tickets starting Oct. 25.

The Hipmas Carol: 11 a.m. to noon Saturday, Dec. 20, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. A rhyming retelling of the Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," accompanied by a jazz guitarist. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Shwayze, Cisco Adler, DJ Skeet Skeet: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, The Fuel Room at Austin's Saloon and Eatery, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville: Hip-hop/pop/rock. $18. (312) 559-1212 or austinsaloon.com.

Dec. 21

Idols in Concert for the Holidays: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21. Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan: Former "American Idol" contestants perform holiday songs, featuring Chikezie Eze, Diana DeGarmo, Kimberley Locke, David Hernandez and Gina Glocksen. $28-$53. (312) 559-1212 or geneseetheatre.com.

Dec. 22

Benjamin Franklin: 1-2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Kindergartners through fifth-graders can listen to "Benjamin Franklin" share what life was like for him and how his inventions came about. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Dec. 29

Peggy Lee: 2-3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29, Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Jack Diamond will discuss composer and arranger Peggy Lee. Registration is required. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Through Jan. 4

Disney's "Aladdin": 10 a.m. Mondays through Fridays, 11 a.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. select Sundays, through Jan. 4, Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents a stage adaptation of Disney's 1992 animated feature about a boy who discovers a magical lamp. $12. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

Keep 'Em Flying - How the Homefront Helped the Frontlines: Through Jan. 4, Lake County Discovery Museum, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Drive, Wauconda. An exhibition of postcards, photographs, uniforms, Civil Defense booklets and wedding dresses from the World War II era illustrating America's role in the war from the home front to the front line. (847) 968-3400 or lakecountydiscoverymuseum.org.

Jan. 24

Wizard of Oz: 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Jan. 24 and 31 at the Wixom Theater on Washington and Jackson in Waukegan. Wizard of Oz will be performed by CmJ Productions, made up of individuals who live across Lake County. Tickets cost $6 for adults and $5 for children and seniors. For reservations, call (847) 360-1336.

Through Feb. 15

The American Soldier - A Photographic Tribute: Through Feb. 15, Lake County Discovery Museum, 27277 N. Forest Preserve Drive, Wauconda. An exhibition of photographs that captures the essence of American soldiering over more than 150 years. Admission is $6, $2.50 for children. (847) 968-3400 or lakecountydiscoverymuseum.org.

Ongoing

Walk-In Craft Projects: All December and Jan. 16-19, Feb. 13-14, and March 6-9 and 23-29, Cook Park Library, 413 Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville and Evergreen Interim Library, 290 Evergreen Drive, Vernon Hills (Evergreen is closed Sundays). Look for creative holiday and winter fun for all ages. For information, call (847) 362-2330 or visit cooklib.org.

Lost Not Stolen: 8 to 9 p.m. Saturdays, Improv Playhouse Studio Theater, 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. The Improv Playhouse Improv Comedy House Team performs its sketch comedy and games show. All tickets are $5 at the door. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com.