Best Bets: Comedian shares his life’s stories, Cantigny fetes French culture

Posted July 14, 2025 12:48 pm

Steve Solomon brings his show “My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm in Therapy!” to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts.

Comedian tells all

Comedian and impersonator Steve Solomon brings his autobiographical, solo show, “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy,” to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, for two shows. $36-$69. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, July 19

For movie lovers

The Wheaton Public Library’s free outdoor film series continues at 225 N. Cross St., Wheaton. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to screenings of “Inside Out 2” and “Wicked.” visitdowntownwheaton.org. 8 p.m. Friday, July 18, (“Inside Out 2”) and 8 p.m. Aug. 8 (“Wicked”)

• Speaking of films, the Fox Valley Orchestra continues its summer pops series with “John Williams: The GOAT (Greatest of All Time),” a showcase of the composer’s music from such films as “Raiders of the Lost Arc,” “E.T.,” “Superman,” “Star Wars” and “Schindler's List,” among others. The performance takes place at Crimi Auditorium, Aurora University, 1347 Prairie St., Aurora. Online advance tickets are $24 for adults, $20 for students and seniors, and $16 for kids 8 and younger through noon Saturday, July 19. At-the-door tickets are $28 for adults, $24 for students and seniors, and $18 for kids 8 and younger. foxvalleyorchestra.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, July 20

‘Intoxication From music’

Khumariyaan, Pakistan’s celebrated Pashtun band whose name translates to “the state of intoxication from music,” performs a traditional and modern acoustic folk-fusion concert at the South Asia Institute, 1925 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Band members play traditional instruments such as the lute-like Pashto rubab and sehtar, as well as the djembe-like zerbaghali. Performances also feature modern acoustic guitars and vocals. $33.85-$55.20. saichicago.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 19

Cantigny Park in Wheaton welcomes Francophiles this weekend for a celebration of French culture that includes activities for families and for adults only. Courtesy of Cantigny

Calling all Francophiles

Cantigny Park, 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton, hosts Voyage en France, an annual celebration of French culture that includes en plein air artists at work; performances by The Salt Creek Ballet, the band Stirred Not Shaken and I Cancan Dance; family activities and a French market. $15 before Saturday, $20 at the door. cantigny.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 20

Cantigny also hosts Rendezvous: Splendor of Versailles, a 21-and-older event that includes a light show, music, burlesque, aerialists and other performers. Dress to impress. $65 in advance, $75 at the door. cantigny.org. 7:30-11 p.m. Saturday, July 19

The Gesualdo Six perform William Byrd's “Mass for 5 Voices” as the composer intended — sung for private worship in strictest secrecy — this weekend in Chicago. Courtesy of Mark Allan

Renaissance immersion

The British ensemble The Gesualdo Six, accompanied by local favorites Viol Medium and Second City Musick, present the Chicago premiere of “Secret Byrd,” an immersive re-creation of a clandestine 16th-century English Catholic Mass featuring William Byrd’s “Mass for Five Voices.” The vocalists play a group of Catholics who gather in secret to practice their faith, which 16th-century law prohibited. It takes place at the Salvage One, an architectural salvage store at 1840 W. Hubbard St., Chicago. Tickets start at $60. concerttheatreworks.com. 6 and 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday, July 20-21

Immersive ‘Clue’

The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts makes a board game come to life as part of its family-friendly, immersive, mystery-solving activity “Clue: The Walking Mystery.” The event takes place at Skokie’s Village Green Park, located off Oakton Street, between the Skokie Public Library, 5215 Oakton St., Skokie, and the village hall, 5127 Oakton St., Skokie. Timed, dated tickets are $41.60 for adults and $25.30 for kids. Games last about 20 minutes. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. Games are at 1-4 p.m. Wednesday, July 23; 4:30-8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 24-25; 1-8 p.m. Saturday, July 26; and 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, July 27, through Aug. 17

“Saturday Night Live” alum Chris Kattan performs with Andy Bolduc and Joey Nuñez during iO Theater’s second annual improv comedy festival. AP, Feb. 16, 2025

iO sketch comedy fest returns

Headliners scheduled to appear at iO Theater’s second annual improv comedy festival include “Saturday Night Live” veteran Chris Kattan with Andy Bolduc and Joey Nuñez in “Idiotically Speaking”; comedian Neil Hamburger; Improvised Shakespeare Chicago; party rock band The Sloppy Boys; sketch comedy group Simple Town; 3PEAT made up of iO and Second City veterans and other performers. The four-day iO Fest takes place at 1501 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago, and features more than 120 performances by improvisers from around the country. Four-day pass to general admission shows $55; headliner tickets $20-$35; single-day tickets $35. ioimprov.com/io-fest. Various times Thursday through Sunday, July 24-27

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