Best bets: Macabre magic, 'Star Trek' convention
Macabre magic
He makes people levitate! He makes people disappear! Find out what other tricks Illusionist David Caserta has up his sleeve in his appropriately timed Halloween show “Haunted Illusions” tonight at the College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $20-$25; $18-$23 seniors; $12 kids ages 12 and under. (847) 543-2300 or jlcenter.clcillinois.edu. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22
Treat for Trekkies
Local sci-fi fans won't want to miss the “Official Star Trek Convention” this weekend, which brings stars like Leonard Nimoy, Christopher Lloyd and a whole bunch of other “Star Trek” TV series actors to the Westin O'Hare Hotel, 6100 N. River Road, Rosemont. General admission ranges from $20-$40; $199 for Friday night Nimoy Photography Seminar. (818) 409-0960 or creationent.com. Noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24
Raised voices
More than a dozen singers perform Broadway standards, pop hits and other songs in the fundraising revue, “Harmony, Heart and Hope,” for Hope United Church of Christ at Rosary High School, 901 N. Edgelawn Drive, Aurora. $25; $15 kids ages 12 and under. (630) 922-0470 or sharehope.org. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 22 and 23
Political potshots
Tired of all the negative political attack ads? Then laugh out some of your election season exhaustion with The Capitol Steps, which performs its revue “Liberal Shop of Horrors” at two locations this weekend: Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park. $15-$4. (708) 235-2222 or centertickets.net. Also at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $40-$42. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, in University Park; 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24 in Schaumburg
Laughing stock
Perhaps you've seen comedian Brian Regan on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” Or maybe on one of his many “Comedy Central Presents” specials. Either way, prepare to laugh tonight if you catch Regan at the Paramount Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $39.50. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22
‘Jersey' original
Why boast about seeing the Broadway hit musical “Jersey Boys” when one of the original guys who inspired the show is still singing his heart out? Catch “An Evening with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons” this weekend at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $80-$95. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23; 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24
Opera ghosts
Come in costume to compete for prizes, dine on an Italian dinner, bid on silent auction items and hear some great operatic singing all at Elgin Opera's 6th Annual Benefit Event this Sunday at Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano, 13 Douglas Ave., Elgin. $50. (847) 695-5014 or elginopera.org. 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24
Reality TV ‘Dance'
Scream your approval for the top reality TV contestants of “So You Think You Can Dance” when its 2010 Live Tour hits this Tuesday at the Allstate Arena, 6930 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $37.50-$55. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26
Lively Latinas
Catch a glimpse of Cuban culture when Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba brings its 17-member all-female dance troupe and a live band to perform starting Thursday at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $30-$69. (800) 982-2787 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 28; 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29
Measha sings Mahler
Canadian soprano Measha Brueggergosman makes her debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra performing Mahler's settings of traditional German folk poetry. Dutch conductor Jaap van Zweden also leads J.L. Adams' “Dark Waves” and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 8 starting Thursday at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $28-$101. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 28 and 29