Best Bets: Ailyn Pérez returns to the Lyric for ‘La Bohème’
La Vie Bohème
Former Elk Grove Village resident and internationally acclaimed soprano Ailyn Pérez stars as Mimi in the return of Puccini’s beloved 1896 romantic opera “La Bohème,” famously the inspiration for the hit 1996 Broadway musical “Rent.” “La Bohème” runs for 10 performances at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Sung in Italian with projected English translations. $59-$369. (312) 827-5600 or lyricopera.org/. Various times and dates from 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15, to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12
Green river, too
Stretch out your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations with McHenry Sham-Rocks the Fox 2025. There’s music, merchants and a parade at noon Saturday. See the dyeing of the Fox River (in partnership with Blarney Island) at 10 a.m. Saturday near the bridge at Pearl Street and evening fireworks Sunday. Events are concentrated at Miller Point Park, 1202 Riverside Drive, McHenry. (815) 893-6280 or naturallymchenrycounty.com/. Noon to 11 p.m. Friday, March 14; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, March 15; and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, March 16
Precious stones
The Earth Science Club of Northern Illinois sponsors the 2025 Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at the DuPage County Fairgrounds, 2015 Manchester Road, Wheaton. Free admission to see demonstrations, merchants and more. (630) 668-6636, dupagecountyfair.org/ or esconi.org/. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 15, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 16
Bygone empire
Save on travel to Italy by catching the North American premiere of “Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture From the Torlonia Collection.” This exhibit of 58 works spanning nine centuries of antiquity opens at the Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Included with general admission of $32 (discounts available for seniors, students, Chicago and Illinois residents). (312) 443-3600 or artic.edu/. Exhibit runs Saturday, March 15, through Sunday, June 29; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Monday and Wednesday (closed Tuesday) and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday
Indoor crawl
Six Navy Pier restaurants and bars (plus a docked cruise ship) offer drink specials, music, games and more during the inaugural “Shamrockin’ at the Pier” pub crawl. There’s also a separate “House Calls St. Patrick’s Day with Obskür” concert that same day in the AON Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $40 “Shamrockin’” package includes a T-shirt, necklace and more. Concert: $53-$73. (312) 595-7437 or navypier.org/. Crawl: 2-7 p.m. Saturday, March 15; concert: noon to 6 p.m.
Folk gathering
Hear bluegrass and folk hits like “Wagon Wheel,” “Paint This Town” and more when the Grammy-winning Old Crow Medicine Show performs at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $40-$70. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com/. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15
Icy rainbow
Author L. Frank Baum’s beloved American fairy tale goes icy when the national tour of “Wizard of Oz On Ice” takes over the Des Plaines Theatre, 1476 Miner St., Des Plaines, (224) 354-2333, desplainestheatre.com/, $19-$49, and the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 962-7000, arcadalive.com/, $19-$29. In Des Plaines: 3 p.m. Sunday, March 16; in St. Charles: 7 p.m. Monday, March 17
‘SNL’ alum
Get ready to laugh when “Saturday Night Live” alum and “Invincible” star Jay Pharoah returns for a series of five standup comedy shows at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $30-$40. For ages 21 and over. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com/chicago/. 7 p.m. Thursday, March 20, and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 21-22