Best bets: Circus comes to town, storytelling fest, 'thunder drums'
Join the circus
The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus goes "ZING, ZANG, ZOOM" in its latest spectacular featuring exotic animals, trapeze artists, clowns and many more performers. The circus stays locally first at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Then it moves to the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. $13-$24; $35-$85 VIP seats. (800) 745-3000 or ringling.com. 7 p.m. opening Thursday, Nov. 5. In Rosemont through Nov. 15, then in Chicago from Nov. 17-29
What's the story?
The 4th Annual Ray Bradbury Storytelling Festival features Megan Wells, Carol Birch, Jim May and more exhuming "Literary Ghosts" at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $17. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. Friday, Oct. 30.
Regional dance
Long associated with Chicago's Athenaeum Theatre, Dance Chicago now shifts its festival to multiple locations in Chicago and the suburbs. Things kick off with three performances at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The festival continues through Dec. 12. (847) 673-6300 or dancechicago.com. 7:30 p.m. Dance Slam Friday, Oct. 30 ($19); 1 p.m. Dance for Kids, Too! concert Saturday, Oct. 31 ($25); 8 p.m. 15th Anniversary Spectacular Saturday, Oct. 31 ($35).
Everyday opera
Most operas are big historical spectacles. The newly formed Petite Opera Productions aims instead to make opera applicable to everyday life in the revue "Al Fresco: Life Through Opera Colored Glasses." Hear new English lyrics to classic opera tunes at Beyer Auditorium, 306 S. Prospect Ave., Park Ridge. $25; $12 students. (847) 553-4442 or petiteopera.org. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Oct. 30 through Nov. 14. Also 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8
Juggling fun
The juggling masters known as The Flying Karamazov Brothers bring their soaring brand of silliness and comedy to the College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $38-$63; $36-$61 seniors; $28-$53 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30
Vienna visitors
The Hugo Wolf Quartet traces its origins back to students at the Vienna University of Music. They've since gone on to be a much-sought-after chamber ensemble the world over. Catch them locally at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $15-$25. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30
Thunder drums
Centuries of traditional Chinese "thunder drumming" get distilled into "Jigu!" See this percussion spectacle complete with lavish costumes at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $44; $42 seniors; $34 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1
Decorative art
The 16th annual Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair (aka SOFA Chicago) returns to the Navy Pier Festival Hall, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Get first crack at the participating art galleries via the Opening Night Gala Preview ($50). $15 for daily general admission. $25 for a three-day pass. (800) 563-7632 or sofaexpo.com. 7 p.m. Preview Thursday, Nov. 5; Regular show: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6-7; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8
Chappelle compadre
Charlie Murphy may be most famous for his turn on Comedy Central's "Chappelle's Show," but this comedian has also worked steadily in the past two decades as an actor and writer. Now see Murphy do standup comedy next week at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $32. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7; 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8