Entertainment

Best bets: 'Light in the Dark' premieres

Posted February 12, 2013 5:00 am

By Scott C. Morgan

Jessica Miller Tomlinson (in white) and Alissa Tollefson star in Thodos Dance Chicago's premiere of “A Light in the Dark,” based upon the story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, co-choreographed by Melissa Thodos and Ann Reinking. Courtesy of Cheryl Mann

Kinetic Keller

The true-life tale of Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan is retold through movement by co-choreographers Melissa Thodos and Ann Reinking when Thodos Dance Chicago presents the premiere of “A Light in the Dark,” this Saturday, Feb. 16, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $36-$46. (847) 673-6300; then at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $30-$60. (312) 334-7777 or thodosdancechicago.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 in Skokie; 8 p.m. Saturday, March 2, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3, in Chicago

Scuba duba

Anyone who is interested in scuba diving shouldn't miss the Our World Underwater show, which features displays, seminars, travel information and more this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont: (847) 692-2222 or ourworldunderwater.com. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15; 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17

Heather, ha ha ha

Comedian Heather McDonald has made a name for herself as a writer and performer on “Chelsea Lately,” but her roots are in improv and sketch comedy. Catch McDonald this weekend at two Zanies locations: 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 584-6342; then at 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $25 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 and 9:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15, in St. Charles; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in Rosemont

Canvas attack

See how abstract painters in the mid-20th century assaulted their canvasses in the new exhibit Destroy the Picture: Painting the Void, 1949-1962, starting Saturday at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. $12; $7 students/seniors; Free for Illinois residents Tuesdays. (312) 280-2660 or mcachicago.org. From Saturday, Feb. 16, through Sunday, June 2: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday

Winter fun

Embrace the winter weather by attending the Chicago Park District's 8th Annual Polar Adventure Days this Saturday. On tap are dog sled demonstrations, hot cocoa and more activities at Northerly Island, 1400 S. Lynn White Drive, Chicago. Free admission. (312) 742-4907 or chicagoparkdistrict.com. Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16

Sister act

Sisters and Broadway veterans Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway return to town to perform their acclaimed show “Sibling Revelry” Saturday at Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. $20-$50. (847) 499-5000 or viper-alley.com. 6:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16

African harmony

Though most people were first exposed to Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Paul Simon's “Graceland” album, the South African a cappella group has been around since the 1960s. Hear this acclaimed ensemble this Saturday at the Elgin Community College Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $35. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16

Hit the road

The Chicago Jazz Orchestra plays “A Tribute to Ray Charles” with soloists like singer/songwriter/composer Allan Harris and Chicago favorites, Dee Alexander, Joan Collaso and Yvonne Gage as the fierce “Raelettes” this Saturday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $30-$35 (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16

East-West exchange

Hear classical music by Western and Eastern composers when the China National Symphony Orchestra performs pieces like Rachmaninoff's “Symphony No. 2” and Xia Guan's “Earth Requiem, Movement I” Thursday, Feb. 21, at Wheaton College's Edman Memorial Chapel, 401 E. Franklin Ave., Wheaton. $37-$50. (630) 752-5010 or artistseries.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21

The Our World-Underwater Show returns to Rosemont. Courtesy of Thinkstock.com

Comedian Heather McDonald performs at Zanies in St. Charles and Rosemont.

Lee Bontecous 1962 Untitled work is on loan as part of the Museum of Contemporary Arts exhibit Destroy the Picture: Painting the Void, 1949-1962. Photo by Brian Forrest

The Chicago Park Districts 8th annual Polar Adventure Days winds down at Northerly Island near the Museum Campus in Chicago.

Sisters Liz Callaway, left, and Ann Hampton Callaway sing in Sibling Revelry at Viper Alley in Lincolnshire.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is set to perform at the Elgin Community College Arts Center.

Singer Dee Alexander is one of the featured soloists with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra and its concert A Tribute to Ray Charles at North Central Colleges Wentz Concert Hall.

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Communities Elgin Entertainment Lincolnshire Naperville Rosemont St. Charles Wheaton

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