Entertainment

Best bets: MAC welcomes Capitol Fools comedy and ESO opens its season

Posted October 06, 2025 3:59 pm

Barbara Vitello

The Capitol Fools perform two shows Sunday, Oct. 12, at the College of DuPage’s McAninch Arts Center. Courtesy of The Capitol Fools

Funny business

• The Capitol Fools, a comedy ensemble that specializes in musical political satire, performs at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. The show may contain adult themes and language. $39-$49. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 3 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12

Comedian/actor/activist Janeane Garofalo headlines The Den Theatre Oct. 15-17. Courtesy of Steven Dewell

• Actor/comedian Janeane Garofalo headlines The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $22-$40, plus a two-drink minimum. (773) 697-3830 or thedentheatre.com. 7:15 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 15-17

The Morton Arboretum's 15th annual Glass Pumpkin Patch takes place this weekend in Lisle. Courtesy of The Morton Arboretum

It’s the glass pumpkin

Celebrate fall at the Morton Arboretum’s 15th annual Glass Pumpkin Patch consisting of more than 7,000 blown glass pumpkins in traditional and unusual colors, shapes and sizes. The fest, which includes glassblowing demonstrations, takes place at 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, and is included in the price of admission starting at $19.95 for adults and $13.95 for seniors and kids 4-17. mortonarb.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 10-12

Art openings

• Works by some of Mexico’s most acclaimed folk artists will be on display at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago, as part of its annual Festival del Arte Popular, which also includes live demonstrations. Free. nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, through Oct. 19

“The Ladder” by sculptor Andi Crist is among the works included in her first exhibition, “Live, Laugh, Labor: Reflections on Usefulness,” at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art. Courtesy of Andi Crist

• Sculptor Andi Crist’s first exhibition, “Live, Laugh, Labor: Reflections on Usefulness,” takes place at the Cleve Carney Museum of Art, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Her works, which pair humor and traditional techniques, “navigate the blurry boundaries and integral relationships between work, play and practice.” Free. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. (630) 942-4000 or theccma.org. Thursday, Oct. 16, through Jan. 11, 2026

Pianist Orion Weiss joins the Elgin Symphony Orchestra this weekend for the opening of its 76th season. Courtesy of Lisa-Marie Mazzucco

ESO opens its season

Pianist Orion Weiss joins the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for the opening of its 76th season at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Music director Chad Goodman conducts the program that includes George Gershwin’s Concerto in F, Howard Hanson’s Symphony No. 2 (“Romantic”), and Carlos Simon’s “Motherboxx Connection,” which incorporates modern classical, gospel and jazz. Tickets start at $20. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12

Celebration of Latinx/e dance

Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre presents the inaugural Chicago Latinx/e Contemporary Movement Festival at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. A celebration of contemporary Latino artistry, the evening begins at 6:30 p.m. with a community gathering hosted by CRDT co-founder and artistic director Wilfredo Rivera and ensemble member Brennen Renteria. $32-$72. cerquarivera.org. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11

Berwyn native Sondra Radvanovsky stars in the title role of Cherubini’s “Medea” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago Oct. 11-26. Courtesy of John Shaw/Lyric Opera of Chicago

Opening weekend at Lyric Opera

• Berwyn native Sondra Radvanovsky plays the scorned sorceress in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s season-opening production of Luigi Cherubini’s “Medea,” who betrayed her family to help Jason steal the Golden Fleece only to be abandoned by him for another woman. Music director Enrique Mazzola conducts Sir David McVicar’s staging at 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tickets start at $47. (312) 827-5600 or lyricopera.org. Saturday, Oct. 11, through Oct. 26

• Also at Lyric, Broadway stars and Tony Award-winners Brian Stokes Mitchell (“Ragtime,” “Kiss Me, Kate,” “Man of La Mancha”) and Laura Benanti (“Gypsy,” “Into the Woods,” “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown”) perform Broadway showstoppers, jazz standards and classics from the Great American Songbook during the season-opening concert. Tickets start at $59. lyricopera.org/opening-concert. 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10

The Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra performs “Disney and Pixar’s ‘Coco’ in Concert Live to Film” on Oct. 16 and 18. Courtesy of Disney and Pixar

• Lastly, the Movie Nights at Lyric series continues with Gonzalo Farias conducting the Lyric Opera Orchestra performing the score to Disney and Pixar’s animated film “Coco” as it plays on a screen above the stage. Tickets start at $43. lyricopera.org/coco. 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18

Former Vice President Kamala Harris discusses her book “107 Days” Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Auditorium. AP, Sept. 24, 2025

A conversation with Kamala Harris

Former Vice President Kamala Harris discusses her bestselling book “107 Days,” chronicling her 2024 presidential campaign, at the Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. Harris will share what she saw and learned and what it will take to move forward. Tickets include a copy of the book. $284-$1,525. auditoriumtheatre.org. 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11

Director Mary Bronstein’s film “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You,” starring Rose Byrne, is among the films that will be screened during the 61st Chicago International Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institute

Chicago film fest

The 61st Chicago International Film Festival, showcasing international and independent filmmaking, takes place at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave.; the Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State St.; and AMC NewCity 14, 1500 N. Clybourn Ave., among other venues. Featured films include Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet”; Mary Bronstein’s “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”; Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless” and Richard Linklater’s reimagined version of “Nouvelle Vague”; Yorgos Lanthimos’ “Bugonia”; Gus Van Sant’s “Dead Man’s Wire”; Guillermo del Toro’s “Frankenstein”; Sepideh Farsi’s documentary “Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk”; Kaouther Ben Hania’s “The Voice of Hind Rajab”; and Bradley Cooper’s “Is This Thing On?” Single screenings for Cinema Chicago members: $17-$35; general admission: $17-$42. chicagofilmfestival.com. Wednesday, Oct. 15, through Oct. 26

Paris duo plays Raue Center

Rosaway, a Paris-based duo consisting of flutist/vocalist Rachel Ombredane and drummer Stéphane “SteF” Avellaneda, bring their combination of jazz and retro electro-pop to the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Tickets start at $19, $10.50 for RaueNOW members. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15

‘Gatsby’ ballet

The World Ballet Company performs the Broadway-style “The Great Gatsby Ballet” at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s tale of a mysterious millionaire determined to reunite with his first love, the ballet has a score by film and TV composer Anna Drubich. Ilya Zhivoy choreographs. $58.50-$119.05. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16

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Comedy Communities Crystal Lake Dance Elgin Entertainment Glen Ellyn Lisle Music Opera Performing Arts Waukegan