Lifestyle

Best bets: Viennese NYE, Hard Rock Christmas, last Nutcracker

Posted December 21, 2009 10:00 pm

Daily Herald Staff Report

Trumpeter Geoffry Gallante is one of the featured performers with the New Philharmonic concert "Viennese Pops with an American Twist" at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.

Viennese NYE

Conductor Kirk Muspratt and the New Philharmonic usher in the New Year with traditional American and Austrian waltzes, polkas and more music in the concert "Viennese Pops with an American Twist" at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Afternoon concert: $50; $48 seniors; $40 kids. Evening concert: $65. $63 seniors; $55 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 4 and 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31

Tunes for tots

Children's singer/songwriter Ralph's World performs two special concerts Saturday (no word yet if they celebrate Boxing Day or not) at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $14. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26

Last Nutcracker standing

Missed out on sweet sugarplum and svelte snowflake dancers this holiday season? Then they're just two more chances to catch Tchaikovsky's classic ballet when The Joffrey Ballet's "The Nutcracker" concludes this weekend at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $25-$100. (800) 982-2787 or joffrey.org. 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 26 and 27

Hard rock Christmas

There's still time to seriously rock out to the season since The Trans-Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour 2009 stops for two performances Saturday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $25-$57; $20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26

Clowning around

Former clowns from famous circus troupes create havoc in their own irreverent show, "Aga-Boom" playing Saturday through Monday at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd. Skokie. $37. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 26; 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27; 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28

Fit kids ... GO!

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois and the Mayor's Office of Special Events brings back the Chicago Sports Fest at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Give your kids a chance to try on equipment and play all sorts of sports indoors. Free admission (except for volleyball tournament). (877) 244-2246 or explorechicago.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Dec. 27 and 28

Globe-trotting guys

The world-famous jokesters of basketball, the Harlem Globetrotters, return to town Monday and Tuesday to make some mischief at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $21.50-$171.50; $11 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28; 2 and 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29

Gingerly laughs

Comedian Claude Stewart is the featured act at multiple Zanies locations starting Tuesday. See Stewart at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $25. (630) 584-6342; Also at 230 Hawthorne Village Commons, Vernon Hills. $25. (847) 549-6030; Also at 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago. $30-$40 (plus two menu items). (312) 337-4027 or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, in St. Charles; 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 30, in Vernon Hills; 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, in Chicago

Sleepy-time NYE

Not every kid gets to stay up late on New Year's Eve, so bring the little ones to celebrate the New Year (in Newfoundland) with a special family-friendly show featuring comedians Steve Cochran, Tim Clue, Patty Vasquez and John DaCosse in "New Year's Eve Show for People Who Can't Stay Awake Until Midnight." It's Thursday at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $35-$50. (847) 931-5900 or hemmens.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31

Thomas Nichols as the Snow King and Megan Quiroz as the Snow Queen dance in the Joffrey Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker" at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago.

"Big Easy Lofton" plays with the Harlem Globetrotters at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont.

"Flight Time Lang" plays with the Harlem Globetrotters at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont.

Watch out for high-spirited waltzers at the New Philharmonic concert "Viennese Pops with an American Twist" at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn.

Ralph's World performs at the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn.

Crazy clowns create chaos in the touring show "Aga-Boom" at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie.

Comedian Claude Stuart commutes to multiple Zanies locations leading up to New Year's Eve.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour 2009 plays the Allstate Arena in Rosemont on Saturday, Dec. 26.

WGN's Steve Cochran is one of the comedians involved with the "New Year's Eve Show for People Who Can't Stay Awake Until Midnight" at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra Winter Tour 2009 plays the Allstate Arena in Rosemont on Saturday, Dec. 26.

Snowflakes swirl in the Joffrey Ballet's production of "The Nutcracker" at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University in Chicago.

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