Best Bets: Rosemont’s EXP delivers new virtual reality experience

Posted February 17, 2026 5:01 pm

EXP, Rosemont’s virtual reality venue, invites visitors to experience life in 14th-century France during its new immersive experience “The Last Stronghold.” Courtesy of Excurio CMN

Virtual medieval times

“The Last Stronghold,” a new immersive medieval experience, opened earlier this month at EXP, the virtual reality venue at 9900 Berwyn Ave., Rosemont. This experience transports visitors to the 14th century, where they are tasked with defending the medieval French city of Carcassonne. The 45-minute VR experience is for ages 8 and older. Kids 8-12 must be accompanied by an adult. Timed/dated admission starts at $27. EXPRosemont.com. 1-7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Buddy Holly remembered

The Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, welcomes John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party, a re-creation of the final tour Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper played before they died in a Feb. 3, 1959, plane crash en route from Clear Lake, Iowa, to Fargo, North Dakota. Mueller, who starred in “Buddy … The Buddy Holly Story,” plays Holly; Linwood Sasser plays the Big Bopper; and Ray Anthony plays Valens. The set includes hits such as “That’ll Be the Day,” “Peggy Sue,” “Rave On,” “La Bamba” and “Chantilly Lace,” among others. $34.30-$69. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20

Music and more music

• Local jazz artists Bobbi Wilsyn, Robert Irving III, Gustavo Cortiñas and the Jazz Links Ensemble will perform during the Jazz Institute of Chicago’s Chicago Winter Jazz Fair at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago. The mini-fest also includes panel discussions, vendors and a closing performance honoring Miles Davis on the centennial of his birth. $10 suggested donation. Jazzinchicago.org. 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20

Chicago-based dancer Misha Talapatra, a specialist in the Indian classical dance form Odissi, performs during the Mandala South Asian Performing Arts season-opening showcase “Śiva Bhāva: Love, Care, and the Cosmos.” Courtesy of the artist

• Mandala South Asian Performing Arts opens its 11th season with the premiere of “Śiva Bhāva: Love, Care, and the Cosmos” at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. A fusion of three styles of South Asian classical dance — Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Odissi — Śiva Bhāva explores how the deity “Shiva embodies both collective and individual expressions of love as conveyed through sacred art forms.” $25. mandalaarts.org. 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20; 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21; and 11 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 22

• Tony Award-winners Joaquina Kalukango (“Paradise Square”) and Kecia Lewis (“Hell’s Kitchen”), Tony nominee Eden Espinosa (“Wicked”) and Christine Sherrill (currently starring in “Mamma Mia!” on Broadway) are among the Broadway veterans performing during the Illinois Conservatory for the Arts’ benefit concert and gala titled “A Night of Broadway.” Joseph Jefferson Award winner (“The Color Purple”) and Broadway star Brittney Mack (“Six”) hosts the event, which features Broadway favorites and takes place at Hotel Arista, 2139 City Gate Lane, Naperville. Full gala tickets start at $250 and include cocktails, dinner, an auction and an open-bar after-party with a DJ and dancing. Concert-only tickets are $100 and include the after-party. ilconservatory.org/events. 5 p.m. (full gala) and 7:30 p.m. (concert only) Saturday, Feb. 21

Blues and rock guitarist Tinsley Ellis celebrates the release of his new acoustic album Monday, Feb. 23, at Evanston’s Space. Courtesy of Jackie Dorsey

• Georgia blues and rock guitarist Tinsley Ellis celebrates the release of his second acoustic album, “Labor of Love,” featuring all-original material, at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $27.27-$47.17. (847) 492-8860 or evanstonspacemusic.com. 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23

A circus tale

The Actors Gymnasium presents “AQUÍ O ALLÁ: a circus story,” an original circus theater production created and directed by Raquel Torre, in cooperation with circus director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi and composer Satya Chavez. The show features Jean Carlos Claudio, Kat Hoil, Kaitlyn Andrews, Glenna Broderick and members of the Actors Gym’s Teen Ensemble playing misfit clowns who build a house (and home) out of nothing. Performances take place at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. For ages 5 and older. $5-$45. actorsgymnasium.org. 4 and 7 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 21 through March 22

Members of Hubbard Street Dance perform “As the Wind Blows” during its winter residency at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance beginning Thursday, Feb. 26. Courtesy of Danica Paulos

Hubbard Street Dance’s winter series

Members of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago perform Amy Hall Garner’s “As the Wind Blows,” “Touch & Agree” by Juel D. Lane and “Gnawa” during its winter residency at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St., Chicago. $23-$128.80. (312) 850-9744, ext. 5, or hubbartstreetdance.com. 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 26-28, and 2 p.m. March 1

American Writers Museum salutes Oscar Brown Jr.

Throughout Black History Month, the American Writers Museum, 180 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, showcases the lives, artistry and impact of Black writers. Africa and Maggie Brown, daughters of singer/composer/writer/activist Oscar Brown Jr., celebrate their father’s legacy and perform his works as part of the museum’s current exhibit, “American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture.” $8. americanwritersmuseum.org. 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26