Northwest suburban arts & entertainment

Includes plays, films, festivals, art exhibits and receptions, concerts, dance shows and more. Deadline is two weeks before the event.

Dec. 13

Holiday Songs with Joan King: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, Prospect Heights Public Library, 12 N. Elm St. Professional vocalist and former Chicago Symphony chorister performs holiday favorites. Register at (847) 259-3500, ext. 35 or phpl.info.

Maine West Holiday Prism Concert: Two performances, at 2 p.m. and 4:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13 at Maine West High School, Wolf Road at Oakton Street, Des Plaines. $5.

Des Plaines Concert Band Christmas Festival: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13 in the Prairie Lakes Theatre, 515 E. Thacker St. $5 adults; $3 seniors & students; $12 family (2 adults, 1 or 2 children); free under 6. (847) 391-5711.

Maine East Winter Concert: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13 in the Maine East High School auditorium, Dempster and Potter streets. Reception to follow in the cafeteria. Free. (847) 692-8500.

Living Nativity: Performances at 4 and 5 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 13 at Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, Elk Grove. Performers, musicians and petting pen with live animals, at the corner of Elk Grove Boulevard and Lions Drive. Refreshments and a tent to protect visitors and performers from the weather. (847) 437-5897.

Harper Symphony Orchestra: "'Tis the Season," 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, Harper College Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. $7 Harper students, faculty, staff and seniors; $8 other students; $10 general admission; children 12-under free. (847) 925-6100; harpercollege.edu.

Rolling Meadows High School Madrigal Dinners: 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, The Wellington of Arlington, 2121 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. Ticket reservations may be made by phone or bought at the door. $30 each; senior citizens and students, $26; children under 12, $18. (847) 718-5753.

Swim with Santa: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13 at the Elk Grove Park District Pavilion Aquatic Center, 1000 Wellington Ave., Elk Grove Village. Santa will visit the children while they swim, play games and make a holiday craft. Registration deadline Dec. 10. (847) 437-9494. elkgroveparks.org.

Christmas Glorias: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 720 Dundee Ave., Barrington. "Christmas Glorias" and The Christmas story will be told in a unique way through the combination of narration and song by the Senior Choir and Handbell Choir of St. Matthew. Free. (847) 382-7002 or stmatthewbarrington.org.

Lincoln Trio Young Artists: 2-2:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Pre-college musicians will have an opportunity to showcase their talents. Registration required; call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Hersey choir program concert: 1 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13 and Monday, Dec. 14, Hersey High School, 1900 E. Thomas St., Arlington Heights. $5. (847) 718-4942.

"Joy to the World": 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1320 W. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Evening of music and song. All invited to attend. Noel, (847) 827-8262.

Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band holiday concert: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, St. Mary's Church, 50 N. Buffalo Grove Road, Buffalo Grove. Holiday favorites. Free and open to the public.

Harper College Symphony Orchestra: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, Performing Arts Center at Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. "Tis the Season" performance. $10 general admission; discounts for students/seniors; free under age 12. (847) 925-6100 or harpercollege.edu/box office.

Holiday Feast: 12:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, Red Bar Winery, 74 S. Grove Ave., Elgin. Elgin's citywide Home for the Holidays partnership. Brunch and ESO's "Home for the Holidays" concert. $30 per person. (847) 695-1659 for reservations.

Greman-American Children's Chorus: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, Irish-American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago. Children's chorus team with the German-American Singers of Chicago to present a Christmas concert. $10 at the door; free under age 14. For information, dakinderchor.org.

Justin Roberts in concert: 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, Glenbrook South High School auditorium, 4000 W. Lake Ave., Glenview. Hosted by the Rotary clubs of Glenview-Sunset, Northbrook, Park Ridge and Barrington-Breakfast. Proceeds benefit "End Polio Now." For information/tickets, GSRC.org.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, Elgin Community College, Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. "A Creole Christmas,"the music of New Orleans. $28-$32. (847) 622-0300 or tickets.elgin.edu.

Dec. 14

Michael Ingersoll - But Once A Year: 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $40; $45 stage table. (847) 577-2121 or MetropolisArts.com.

Mad Science: 7-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Explore magnetic fields, learn about static and current electricity, have "hair-raising" fun with the Van de Graaff generator and make lightning. Registration required; call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Jan Peerce by Jack Diamond: 2-3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Musical historian Jack Diamond will discuss Jan Peerce, one of the three most important tenors at the Metropolitan Opera in the 1940s and '50s. Registration required; call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Holiday Harmony: 7-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, Vernon Area Public Library District, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. The Buffalo Grove Singers will perform favorites to new selections. For all ages. To register, call (847) 634-3650 or visit vapld.info.

Dec. 15

Metropolis Youth Symphony Holiday Concert: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15 at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $10. (847) 577-2121; www.metropolisarts.com.

Bruce Lund: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Visit with Bruce Lund, creator of games such as "Fireball Island," "Quack Shot," "Dragon Strike," "Slap Happy," "Thlink," "Escape the Blob" and more. To register, call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Hersey Orchestra's performance: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, Hersey High School, 1900 E. Thomas St., Arlington Heights. Also performing will be Hersey's Charles Dickens Carolers. $5. (847) 718-4941.

Winter Choral Showcase: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, Buffalo Grove High School Miller Theater, 1100 W. Dundee Road, Buffalo Grove. Choirs featured are: Treble Choir, Concert Choir, "By Popular Demand" Vocal Jazz Ensemble, the New Vibes and The Expressions as well as featured soloists. $3 adults; $1 students.

Winter Choir Concert: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, Wheeling High School. Choral department of Wheeling High School presents its Winter Choir Concert. $5 adults; $3 students/seniors. (847) 718-7067.

Dec. 16

The Johnny Gabor Band: 7:30-11:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, The Best Garden Cafe, 1090 S. Milwaukee Ave. Wheeling. Jazz, blues, big band, Latin, country, more.

Opera in Focus: 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1:30 and 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 and Sunday, Dec. 20, Park Central, 3000 Central Road, Rolling Meadows. Choreographed rod puppets perform to the music of more than 30 operas. $12 adults; $11 seniors; $7 children under age 12. Visit operainfocus.com. (847) 818-3220.

Buffalo Grove Symphonic Band holiday concert: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, Northwest Assembly of God, 900 N. Wolf Road, Mount Prospect. Holiday favorites. Free and open to the public.

"My Fair Lady": Opens Wednesday, Dec. 16, Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Runs through Feb. 14. For performance schedule, tickets or information call (847) 634-0200 or visit MarriottTheatre.com.

Dec. 17

Midwest Comedy Showcase: 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 117, Penny Road Pub, 545 S. Penny Road, South Barrington. $6. For a lineup of featured comedians, visit midwestcomedyshowcase.com or call Matt, (8165) 762-9749.

Holiday Constellation Concert: 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, Chester C. Alexander auditorium at Elgin High School, 1200 Maroon Drive, Elgin. Elgin High School Music Department presents holiday concert. $8 students/seniors; $10 adults. Portion of the proceeds benefit the Ecker Center in Elgin. Jonathan, (847) 888-5100, ext. 5138.

Murcia Youth Orchestra: 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, Maine East High School, 2601 Dempster Ave., Park Ridge. $3.

Dec. 18

Christmas program: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, and at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Buffalo Grove chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, at the corner of Prairie, Port Clinton and Buffalo Grove roads. Over 100 teens and young adults present "Christ: A Timeless Gift to All." Includes three stages of choirs, bands, dancing and acting.

Green Oaks Holiday Chorus: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 29700 N. St. Mary's Road, Libertyville. Twentieth annual concert to benefit P.A.D.S. of Lake County. Christmas choral music, carols, popular Christmas songs and sing along. Admission free, but any donation to P.A.D.S. of Lake County will be appreciated. (847) 362-3809.

Dec. 19

"A Manger Suite:" 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19; 9:15 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 200 N. Plum Grove Road, Palatine. A multifaceted musical, complete with narrators, multiple choirs, handbells, and a full, live orchestra. (847) 359-1936.

Schaumburg Youth Symphony holiday concert: 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19 at Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $24; $15 students & seniors. (847) 895-3600; www.prairiecenter.org.

"Christmas Around the World": 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, Harper College Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Brotherhood of Harmony, Choral-Aires Sweet Adelines Chorus, the Harper Students Steel Drum Ensemble and the St. John the Evangelisy Polish Choir perform Christmas concert. $15-$22. (888) 494-8705; (847) 985-9127; or brotherhoodofharmony.org.

Winter Spectacular 2009: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19; 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, Prairie Lake Theatre, 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines. Artistry in Motion and Rhythm in Motion, the in-house dance companies of the Des Plaines Park District present winter program featuring new choreography. $8; $5 students/dancers. (847) 391-5700 or desplainesparks.org.

Christmas program: 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, Grace Lutheran Church, 780 S. Bartlett Road, Streamwood. All church Christmas program in an old time radio format. Free.

Dec. 20

Corky Siegel & Megon McDonough: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $45. (847) 577-2121 or MetropolisArts.com.

Messiah: At 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, a group of graduate and postgraduate students from Roosevelt University's Chicago College of Performing Arts will present the Christmas portion of Handel's "Messiah" at St. Norbert Church, 1809 Walters Ave., Northbrook. The concert is free and open to the public. All are welcome.

Music Festival: Christmas Music Festival will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at Christus Victor Lutheran Church. Various music groups will share their special gift of music and the audience is invited to share in the singing of Christmas carols. Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 1045 S. Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village, (847) 437-2666.

Dec. 21

Holiday concert: The Chorus of St. Peter Damian Parish in Bartlett will perform a holiday concert, under the direction of Christine Bischoff, at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 21, at Victory Centre of Bartlett, 1101 W. Bartlett Road, Bartlett. Free and open to the public. Reservations encouraged. For information, contact (630) 213-0100 or rlopienski@pathwaysl.com.

Dec. 22

Graeme and Catherine Thomson: 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Join Graeme and Catherine Thomson of HL Games and play board and card games that focus on a combination of entertainment and education. To register, call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Robert Marionettes: 1-1:40 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, Indian Trails Public Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. The tale of "Beauty and the Beast" performed by Robert's Marionettes. For ages 3 and up. No registration required; tickets given out 30 minutes before the program. Call (847) 459-4100 or visit www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

Dec. 30

Mount Prospect New Year's Eve Family Bash: Two seatings, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at Blues Bar, 2 W. Busse Ave., Mount Prospect. . Preschoolers-5th graders (must be accompanied by an adult) have food, soda, Capannari's Ice Cream sundae bar, magician, DJ, countdown to "New Year's Eve" and balloon drop. $8 per person; get tickets at the Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St. (847) 259-8600.

Dec. 31

Gamin' Eve Bash: 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31 at GameWorks, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg. For ages 11-15. $30 until Dec. 6; $35 Dec. 7-22. Four hours of unlimited play on 220 interactive and virtual games; chips, salsa, mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, pizza, cookies; DJ, music, dancing. Preregistration is required by 5 p.m., Dec. 22. (847) 490-7020; www.parkfun.com.

Feb. 3

ECC Coffee house: 7-9 p.m. Wednesdays, Feb. 3, March 3 and April 7, Student Resource Center Alumni Room at ECC, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Creative writers share their work with others. For information, Rachael, (847) 214-7578.

March 13

Folk/Jazz Collision: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 13, Room A238 in Building A, on Harper's main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine. Rick Neeley and Ken Spurr combine talents and trios for an evening of music. Part of the college's "Made in America" concert series. $19 admission; discounts for students and seniors. (847) 925-6100; harpercollege.edu/box office. Advance ticket purchases recommended.

April 10

Chicago Jazz Party: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 10, Room A238 in Building A on Harper's main campus, 1200 W. Algonquin Road in Palatine. The Don Stiernberg Trio incorporates swing, bebop and Latin tunes. Part of the college's "Made in America" concert series. $19 general admission; discounts for students and seniors. (847) 925-6100; harpercollege.edu/box office. Advance ticket purchases recommended.

Opera in Focus: 4 p.m. Wednesdays; 1:30 and 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Park Central, 3000 Central Road, Rolling Meadows. Choreographed rod puppets perform to the music of operas. $12 adults; $11 seniors; $7 children under age 12. Visit operainfocus.com. (847) 818-3220.