New season announced at Schaumburg's Prairie Center
Tickets will go on sale Monday for the coming year's shows and events at Schaumburg's Prairie Center for the Arts, one of the top performing arts venues in the Northwest suburbs.
Mayor Al Larson announced the 2010-2011 season lineup at a morning reception Friday for the center's sponsors.
Among the most prominent acts scheduled are singer-songwriter Leon Russell on Oct. 2 and the band Los Lonely Boys on Oct. 17.
Also expected to sell quickly are tickets for Aimee Mann on Sept. 17 and Colin Hay on May 6. Both led radio-friendly pop groups during the 1980s - Mann with 'Til Tuesday and Hay with Men at Work - but have since received even greater artistic acclaim as solo performers.
Louise Harrison, the sister of the late former Beatle George Harrison, will be on hand to present the music of the tribute band Liverpool Legends on March 26.
Other late performers whose work will be celebrated are Ricky Nelson by his sons Matthew and Gunnar on Feb. 12 and Harry Chapin by the Steve Chapin Band on May 7.
The eighth version of the Prairie Center's Mystery at the Theatre, described as a "madcap whodunit" written and directed by the center's own production supervisor Rob Pileckis, will be performed March 4 and 5.
One of the Prairie Center's proudest signature events, the fifth annual Screen Test Student Fest, will run April 15 and 16. It features the work of stunningly talented young people in grades 5 through 12.
"These kids are so inventive and so talented, it is really a wonderful, wonderful evening," Larson said.
"Not only do the kids show their films, but they talk about them and their intentions," said Lucinda Flodin, executive director of the Prairie Center Arts Foundation. "It's treating the kids like artists, and that's awesome."
Another popular event is the foundation's big annual fundraiser, Celebration 2010, on Sept. 18. It takes place both outdoors and indoors and features a variety of food and music as well as dancing.
"All of the best restaurants in Schaumburg will be there," Flodin said. "It really is a fun evening, and bring your friends!"
The new season's earliest performers will be singers Liz Callaway and Ann Hampton Callaway - the daughters of the late, great Chicago broadcast journalist John Callaway - on Sept. 11.
"I think it's a wonderful season," Flodin. "I'm excited about this season."
The Prairie Center is located at 201 Schaumburg Court, next to Schaumburg's village hall. The box office can be reached at (847) 895-3600. More information is at prairiecenter.org.