Weekend picks: Local comedian hits Shrine
Blue-collar guy: Rising comedian Danny Kallas is from Elmwood Park, so expect some hometown flavor when he performs this weekend at The Comedy Shrine, 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $20 plus a two-drink minimum. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 12
SATURDAY
Spring Festival: More than 350 artists and arts and crafts vendors will be on hand at the Spring Festival at the Odeum Expo Center, 1033 N. Villa Ave., Villa Park. Entertainment and food are also featured. $8-$9. Kids younger than 10 are free. Visit odeumexpo.com. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 12; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 13
Wheat be gone: The Gluten & Allergen Free Expo promises lots of vendors, educational sessions and other events to aid members of the celiac community and more this weekend at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $15-$20 one day pass; $25-$35 weekend pass. (847) 303-4100 or gfafexpo.com. 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 12 and 13
Extreme Block Party: The Green Oaks, Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills (GLMV) Chamber of Commerce hosts its fourth annual Extreme Block Party Consumer Expo & Taste at the Libertyville Sports Complex, 1950 Hwy. 45, Libertyville. Highlights include more than 100 local vendors, food samples, live entertainment, a reptile show, kids' activities and more. Free admission. (847) 223-6688 or glmvchamber.org. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 12
Going green: Celebrate Mother Nature with the Hoffman Estates Park District as it hosts its Earth Day Celebration in Vogelei Park, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. The community event looks at ways to be green and to support the environment. Highlights include kids' crafts, a look at local birds of prey with the Northern Illinois Raptors Association and much more. In the event of rain, activities will move into the Vogelei Barn. Free. (847) 885-7500 or heparks.org. 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12
Beethoven bash: Conductor Kirk Muspratt leads the New Philharmonic in performances of Beethoven's Fifth and Seventh Symphonies for the concert “The Ultimate Rebel — Ludwig Van!” this weekend at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $42; $40 seniors; $32 youth. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 12
Who's talking?: Comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham brings his puppet pals to perform in the “Disorderly Conduct Tour” this weekend at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $43. (312) 462-6300 or thechicagotheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 12
Manic 'Monty': Theatre-on-the-Hill presents a tribute to the zany antics of the “Monty Python” television shows and films in “Another Evening of Monty Python's Flying Circus” at the Bolingbrook Performing Arts Center, 325 Briarcliff Road, Bolingbrook. $15. (630) 908-2538 or tothbolingbrook.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 12; 3 p.m. Sunday, April 13
Gender divide: Clockwise Theatre, a Waukegan-based company dedicated to the work of Midwestern playwrights, presents Rob Winn Anderson's world premiere drama “A Fine Line” starting on Friday. Equity actor Doug McDate stars as an intersex installation artist facing death and an attempted reconciliation with a foster son. Catch the show at Clockwise Theatre, 221 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $20. (847) 838-3006 or clockwisetheatre.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 12; 7 p.m. Sunday, April 13
Magic to do: With the musical “Pippin” successfully back on Broadway and set to tour later this year, check out its original Tony Award-winning star from the 1973 production via the show “Steppin' Out Live with Ben Vereen” this Saturday at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $30-$45. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 12
Oldies weekend: Fans of pop music from the 1950s and 1960s have two key shows to choose from this weekend. Little Anthony & the Imperials will play at 8 p.m. at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles, Saturday. Paul Revere & the Raiders will hit the same stage at 8 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets for each show start at $39; oshows.com. Little Anthony & the Imperials will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 12, and Paul Revere and the Raiders perform at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 13
SUNDAY
Illuminated dance: The touring show “LUMA” features performers shrouded in black balancing and dancing with a number of illuminated and luminescent object in dazzling configurations today at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $30; $28 students/seniors. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13
Jazzy afternoon: The Sessions Jazz Quartet performs as part of the Second Sunday Concert Series in the Luecht Conference Center at McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Hwy. 14, Crystal Lake. Selections include works by Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Cannonball Adderly and others. Free. For information, contact Michael Hillstrom at (815) 479-7814. 3 p.m. Sunday, April 13
In residence: Eleventh Dream Day, the acclaimed local band led by Northbrook native Rick Rizzo, is currently in the midst of a Sunday-night “residency” at the intimate Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, Chicago. Eleventh Dream Day emerged in the late 1980s with the beloved record “Prairie School Freakout,” which delivered a blistering combination of punk and classic guitar rock. In later releases, the group adding experimental sounds and song structures to its rock 'n' roll attack. $10, hideoutchicago.com. 8 p.m. Sunday, April 13