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Best bets: Fall colors, Robin Williams on stage, Ed Asner as FDR

Fall color kickoff

Celebrate the autumn season with Morton Arboretum's Fall Color Festival. There's a special Scarecrow Trail, a taffy apple bar, a Fall Color 5K Run and Walk and so many more activities. The arboretum is at 4100 Route 53, Lisle. $8 admission. Call (630) 968-0074 or visit mortonarb.org for a full schedule of events. 7 a.m. to sunset daily from Saturday, Oct. 3, through Sunday, Nov. 1

Classical guitars

The Elgin Symphony Orchestra opens its 60th season this weekend by hosting a world-class guitar quartet, The Romeros, for a concert series featuring the music of Rossini, Resphigi and a special guitar piece by Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo. Hear them all at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $25-$63. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 1:30 and 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2; 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3; 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4

Ballet heat

The Miami City Ballet opens the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University's 2009-10 Dance Series this weekend with a mixed program including: Balanchine's "Symphony in Three Movements," Petipa's "Black Swan Pas De Deux" from "Swan Lake" and Twyla Tharp's "In the Upper Room." Get en pointe at 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $30-$89. (800) 982-2787 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2 and 3; 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4

Rapid-fire comedy

Academy Award-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams had to cancel his previously scheduled March dates at the Rosemont Theatre due to heart surgery. But now Williams is back touring his standup act this weekend at 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $49.50-$95. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 2 and 3

CSO gala opener

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra kicks off its 2009-10 season Saturday with superstar American soprano Renée Fleming. On the bill are songs by Richard Strauss, Bernstein's Divertimento for Orchestra and Barber's "Knoxville: Summer of 1915." Celebrate at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $55-$249. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3

Asner as FDR

Emmy award-winning actor Ed Asner ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Up") portrays President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in a one-man show "FDR" this Saturday at Elgin Community College's Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $41-$45. (847) 622-0300 or tickets.elgin.edu. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3

She will survive

Disco queen Gloria Gaynor, best known for the legendary hit song "I Will Survive," performs in concert Saturday at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $35-$55. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3

Canadian Celtic

Great Big Sea is a Celtic group based out of Newfoundland, Canada. Hear them pay tribute to their many influences ranging from Bob Marley to Johnny Cash Saturday at the College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $28-$38. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3

Croon for you

Chicago entertainer Ron Hawking takes on the vocal personas of artists like Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Billy Joel and more in his concert show "The Men and Their Music." Hawking performs twice this Tuesday at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. $38 (lunch and dinner packages available). (630) 530-0111 or drurylaneoakbrook.com. 1:30 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6

The Miami City Ballet opens the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University's 2009-10 Dance Series in Chicago.
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra begins its 2009-10 season with a special appearance by the guitar ensemble The Romeros.
Superstar opera soprano Renée Fleming opens the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's 2009-10 season with a special gala performance.
Canadian Celtic group Great Big Sea is set to perform at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.
Comedian and actor Robin Williams returns to Rosemont after his successful heart surgery. Associated Press file
Ed Asner plays President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the one-man show "FDR" in Elgin.
Greet the Halloween and autumn season with Morton Arboretum's Fall Color Festival in October.
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