Schaumburg's Prairie Center for the Arts announces 2009-10 season

Posted July 15, 2009 11:00 pm

Eric Peterson

Comedy from Groucho Marx to Patti Vasquez and music ranging from a cappella to instrumental jazz are among the entertainment in store for Schaumburg's Prairie Center for the Arts throughout its upcoming season.

An annual midsummer tradition has been Mayor Al Larson's announcement of the new season's schedule before a morning gathering of center sponsors.

This morning, Larson described a season filled with such a variety of performing arts styles that it defies categorization.

Joking about the center's "economic stimulus package," Larson said this season also will include a series of nine specially affordable shows called "20-Dollar Bills," in which every seat is only $20.

A March show by Theatre San Fils will present J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" using large puppets manipulated by camouflaged performers.

Sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar, daughter of Ravi Shankar, will perform her World Music at an April show thanks to additional funding from the Schaumburg Business Association.

Meanwhile, the Schaumburg Dance Ensemble will stage "The Nutcracker" at Christmastime and "Aladdin" in the spring.

The award-winning Frank Ferrante will perform his 90-minute "Evening with Groucho" Feb. 6, followed two weeks later by an unscripted comedy show featuring Patti Vazquez and WGN radio host Steve Cochran.

The evolution of rock 'n' roll is chronicled by shows featuring The Neverly Brothers in January, DJ John Landecker and his band the Legends in April and Tish Oney's tribute to Peggy Lee in May.

Two very special events of the season are Powerhouse Productions' always new, original Black History Month Program Feb. 27, and the Screen Test Student Film Fest April 23.

The film fest, now in its fourth year, was inspired by a request from a seventh-grader. And last year's winner was a sixth-grader.

"It's really incredible what these kids are able to do these days," Schaumburg's Cultural Services Director Betsy Armistead said. "What Spielberg was probably doing when he started out, these kids are doing today."

The lineup Music and comedy (All seats $20) • Corky Siegel Chamber Blues with Howard Levy; 8 p.m. Oct. 3. • The Neverly Brothers; 8 p.m. Jan. 16. • Frank Ferrante in "An Evening with Groucho;" 8 p.m. Feb. 6. • Comedian Patti Vasquez and WGN's Steve Cochran; 8 p.m. Feb. 20. • International Chamber Artists; 3 p.m. Feb. 28. • Theatre Sans Fils' "The Hobbit;" 4 p.m. March 6. • Irish Heritage Singers; 8 p.m. March 20. • Landecker and the Legends; 8 p.m. April 17. • Tish Oney presents "The Peggy Lee Project;" 8 p.m. May 22. Featured Acts • Ralph Stanley with Jim Lauderdale; 7 p.m. Sept. 13. Tickets: $32 ($30 students/seniors) • Jump Jazz Rhythm Jazz Project; 8 p.m. Oct. 10. Tickets: $26 ($24) • Bill Risell Trio featuring Tony Scherr and Kenny Wollesen; 8 p.m. Oct. 17. Tickets: $32 ($30) • Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band; 8 p.m. March 27. Tickets: $36 ($34) • Anoushka Shankar; 8 p.m. April 24. Tickets: $34 ($32) Family Fun Ghost Stories featuring Dan Keding and Janice Del Negro; 7 p.m. for children and 9 p.m. for teens and adults; Oct. 30. Tickets: $10 ($5). • Cirque Voila! 3 and 7 p.m. April 25. Tickets: $32 ($12 children under 18) Special Programs • Celebration 2009; 7 p.m. Sept. 12. Admission: $50 ($55 at the door). • AcapellaFestTM with headlining guests The Bobs; 2 and 8 p.m. Oct. 24. Tickets: Day $15, Evening $20, Fest Pass $30. • Schaumburg Dance Ensemble's "The Nutcracker," Dec. 4-13. Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays at 1 and 5 p.m. Tickets: $26 ($18 students/seniors). • Presto! Holiday concert; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19. Tickets: $24 ($15) • Powerhouse Productions' Black History Month program; Feb. 27. Tickets: Call (847) 352-1801. • Schaumburg Dance Ensemble's "Aladdin." Noon and 4 p.m. April 10;1 and 5 p.m. April 11. Tickets: $22 ($12). • Screen Test Student Film Fest. 8 p.m. April 23. Tickets: $10 ($5). For tickets, call (847) 895-3600.

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