Best Bets: Alvin Ailey, KC & The Sunshine Band, Rita Rudner and more

Posted March 04, 2025 10:52 am

By Scott C. Morgan

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater brings the Chicago premiere of Lar Lubovitch's “Many Angels” to Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University Friday through Sunday, March 7-9. Courtesy of Paul Kolnik

Alvin Ailey returns

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to wow local audiences with the Chicago premieres of Hope Boykin’s “Finding Free,” Matthew Rushing’s “Sacred Songs” and Lar Lubovitch’s “Many Angels.” Plus, see classic works like Ailey’s “Cry” and “Revelations” at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. $39-$160. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 7; 1 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8; and 3 p.m. Sunday, March 9

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s classic “Revelations” concludes each performance at Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University Friday through Sunday, March 7-9. Courtesy of Paul Kolnik

Soul patrol

Hear vintage and recent hits by artists like Marvin Gaye, Bruno Mars and more in the touring show “Uptown: A Celebration of Motown and Soul” at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1250 W. Wilson St., Batavia. $45-$58 (dynamic pricing may come into effect). (630) 937-8930 or bataviafineartscentre.org/. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 7

‘Boogie Shoes’

Get ready to boogie to 1970s hits such as “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s the Way (I Like It)” and more when KC & Sunshine Band brings its “Doin’ It World Tour 2025” to the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $52-$90. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com/. 8 p.m. Friday, March 7

Mariachi Sirenas, Chicago’s first all-female mariachi group, performs as part of Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art’s Sor Juana Festival 2025 on Saturday, March 8. Courtesy of Mariachi Sirenas

Sister acts

The global legacy of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz is celebrated by Chicago’s National Museum of Mexican Art with the return of The Sor Juana Festival. This weekend features a Saturday performance by Mariachi Sirenas, Chicago’s first all-female mariachi group, and an online forum with Latina Frontwomen of Chicago on Sunday at 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago. Free museum admission, but $10 for the Mariachi Sirenas performance. (312) 738-1503 or nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org/. Mariachi Sirenas at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8; Latina Frontwomen of Chicago at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 9; Sor Juana Festival 2025 continues through April 26

Clowning around

If you love the renaissance festival performances of comedians Brian Howard and Philip Earl Johnson, then don’t miss them in person as part of the “MooNiE & Broon Show” at the Gorton Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. $35-$45. (847) 234-6060 or gortoncenter.org/. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 8

Swedish icons

Get a sense of the excitement surrounding Sweden’s most famous pop cultural export when “MANIA: The ABBA Tribute” plays the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $59-$69. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org/. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 8

Comedian Rita Rudner performs Saturday, March 8, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. Courtesy of Martin Bergman

Rita! Rita! Rita!

See why Rita Rudner has been such a showbiz stalwart from Broadway to Las Vegas when the beloved comedian, actress and bestselling author performs at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $39.50-$59.50. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org/. 8 p.m. Saturday, March 8

Bassoonist Monica Ellis is a featured soloist in the Chicago Sinfonietta’s performances of composer Valerie Coleman’s “Opus Serena” in Naperville and Chicago. Courtesy of Shervin Lainez/Imani Winds

Odes to and by women

Conductor Mei-Ann Chen leads the Chicago Sinfonietta in the concert “Love Letters” to time with Women’s History Month. Bassoonist Monica Ellis is featured in Valerie Coleman’s “Opus Serena” (inspired by tennis star Serena Williams), while Michelle Isaac’s “Moshe’s Dream” is a tribute to her Klezmer-loving grandfather. The concerts also include works by Brahms, Mahler and Mendelssohn. See it Thursday, March 13, at North Central College’s Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, (630) 637-7469, $57-$67. Then on Sunday, March 16, at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago, (312) 341-2300 or chicagosinfonietta.org/, $27-$82. In Naperville: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13; in Chicago: 3 p.m. Sunday, March 16

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Batavia Comedy Communities Dance Entertainment Lake Forest Music Naperville Performing Arts Theater Waukegan

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