Best bets: Bollywood, Beethoven and Broadway
Bollywood baby!"The Merchants of Bollywood," an international musical theater and dance spectacular that tells the tale of the powerful Indian filmmaking family known as the Merchants, makes its North American debut this weekend at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $47-$77; $87-$100 VIP box seating. (800) 982-2787 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 1 and 2Ode to JoyThe Elgin Symphony Orchestra opens its season with a major masterpiece: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Also on this bill is Brahms' Variations on a Theme of Haydn and a new piece by Daniel Brewbaker. Catch all this classical action this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $16-$66. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1; 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2; 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3Pride of placeDisney's 1998 hit musical "The Lion King" makes a roaring return to the Windy City at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $25-$94.50. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com. Now through Saturday, Nov. 27Color-fall funMorton Arboretum's Fall Color Festival is back complete with multiple activities ranging from this Sunday's Fall Color 5K Run and Walk to the ever-popular Scarecrow Trail designed and decorated by local Girl Scout troops. Soak in the season's color starting Saturday at 4100 Route 53, Lisle. $7-$11; $6-$10 seniors; $58-$8 kids. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, through Sunday, Oct. 31Prairie homesGet a peek at the interiors of historic Prairie-style homes in Oak Park when The Pleasant Home Foundation presents the tour "Pleasant Homes: A Tour of Oak Park Arts Crafts Interiors." Registration begins Saturday at the Unity Church of Oak Park, 405 N. Euclid Ave., Oak Park. $35. (708) 383-2654 or pleasanthome.org. 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 2Twister trailerIf you're a fan of the Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers," then you won't want to miss "Extreme Storm Chasing with Reed Timmer" at two locations: Waubonsee Community College, Route 47 at Waubonsee Drive, Sugar Grove. $23. (630) 466-2360 or waubonseetickets.com; also at Harper College's Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. $5-$9. (847) 925-6100 or hapercollege.edu. 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, in Sugar Grove; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, in PalatineWowing watercolorSee which of the state's best watercolor artists take the top prizes this month at the Illinois Watercolor Society Annual Members' Show at the American Academy of Art, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 461-0600 or fabartstudios.com. Oct. 2 through Oct. 30; 5 p.m. reception Friday, Oct. 8Ace of bassSee one of one of the greatest living jazz bassists perform this Saturday when Charlie Haden and Quartet West take the stage at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $45-$55. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2False20001500"Trick or Trees" is one of the highlights of Morton Arboretum's Fall Color Festival in October. False