Lifestyle

'Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy' coming to Aurora

Posted May 04, 2009 11:00 pm

Daily Herald Staff Report

Eugene Peabody of Danceworks Chicago is a featured performer in "The Best of Dance Chicago," playing at the Ramsey Auditorium of Fermilab's Wilson Hall in Batavia.

After playing a prime engagement on Broadway, "Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy" jumps back into the Chicago area with a stop at the Paramount Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. See aerialists, contortionists, acrobats and more. $55.50; $35.50-$40.50 kids. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 7 p.m. Friday, May 8; 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday, May 9

Viking pride

Want to help with the preservation of the famed replica Viking ship that traveled from Norway across the Atlantic Ocean for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition? Then take a gander at the ship as part of Viking Visitors Day at Good Templar Park, 528 East Side Drive, Geneva. The admission costs of $5 and $3 for kids ages 4-17 will go toward the ship's preservation. (630) 232-4208 or vikingship.us. 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 9

Anime action

Fans of all things tied to Japanese comics and animation better not miss Anime Central 2009: The Midwest Anime and Magma Convention. The 12th annual edition is at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $55 three-day pass; $30-$35 single day admission; $15 kids ages 6-12. (847) 692-2222. 10 a.m. Friday, May 8, through 4 p.m. Sunday, May 10

Choo-choo! or Rolling his eyes again

The beloved train and his friends return in person with "Thomas and Friends Live! On Stage: A Circus Comes to Town." Bring your kids to see these personable trains at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $17-$40. (312) 559-1212 or searscentre.com. 7 p.m. Friday, May 8; 11 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9; 2 p.m. Sunday, May 10

Chatty comedian

Comedian Caroline Rhea tackles topics ranging from dating a younger man to trying to become pregnant after age 40 in her latest show. Chuckle at what Rhea has to say at the Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $16-$39. (847) 543-2300 or jlcenter.clcillinois.edu. 8 p.m. Friday, May 8

A cinder girl

When Rossini's operatic version of Cinderella, "La Cenerentola," premiered in 1817, showing a bare woman's foot on stage was too risque. So matching bracelets replaced glass slippers. See if things end happily ever after when Latvian mezzo-soprano Elina Garanca and American tenor Lawrence Brownlee co-star in the Metropolitan Opera's live high-definition simulcast of "La Cenerentola" in area movie theaters. $22; $20 seniors; $15 kids. Visit fathomevents.com for individual theater locations. 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 9

King of comedy

Long before Jerry Lewis received a special Academy Award for his humanitarian efforts for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, he was famed for his singing and comedy routines with Dean Martin. Revel in some of that old magic when Lewis performs with a 24-piece orchestra at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $59-$75. (630) 587-8400 or onestientertainment.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 9

'Best of' in Batavia

The annual festival Dance Chicago ventures out to the suburbs with a program titled "The Best of Dance Chicago." See some dynamic modern dancing at the Ramsey Auditorium of Fermilab's Wilson Hall, Kirk Road and Pine Street, Batavia. $22. $22 kids ages 18 and under. (630) 840-2787 or dancechicago.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, May 9

Beach blanket beau

Most kids know Frankie Avalon for crooning "Beauty School Dropout" in the 1978 film of "Grease." But Avalon got his start as a teen heartthrob with pop hits like "Cupid" and starring in a series of "Beach Blanket Bingo" films in the 1950s. See Avalon croon anew for a special Mother's Day performance at the Paramount Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $35.50-$60.50. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 4 p.m. Sunday, May 10

A Magritte-inspired production of Rossini's "La Cenerentola" closes out the Metropolitan Opera's 2008-09 series of live HD simulcasts.

Sir Topham Hat and Thomas anticipate the arrival of the circus in "Thomas and Friends Live! On Stage: A Circus Comes to Town" at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

It's a jungle on stage in "Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy" at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora.

Visitors examine the famed Norwegian Viking Ship that sailed across the Atlantic Ocean for Chicago's 1893 Columbian Exposition. See the ship's restoration in progress as part of Viking Visitors Day in Geneva.

It's a jungle on stage in "Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy" at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora.

Comedian Caroline Rhea appears at the College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts in Grayslake.

Jerry Lewis sings at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. associated press

It's a jungle on stage in "Cirque Dreams: Jungle Fantasy" at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora.

Elina Garanca sings the title role of Cinderella in Rossini's "La Cenerentola" as part of the Metropolitan Opera's live HD simulcast series. Photo by Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

Former Joffrey Ballet dancer Julianne Kepley is a featured performer in "The Best of Dance Chicago," playing at the Ramsey Auditorium of Fermilab's Wilson Hall in Batavia.

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