Entertainment

Best Bets: Paul Reiser at The MAC and Chicago Sinfonietta opens season

Posted October 15, 2025 10:28 am

Barbara Vitello

Actor/comedian Paul Reiser headlines the McAninch Arts Center Friday, Oct. 17. Courtesy of the artist

TV fave in concert

A few tickets remain for veteran actor/comedian Paul Reiser’s (“Stranger Things,” “Mad About You”) stand-up show at the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $70-$80. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17

Grammy Award nominees Southern Avenue perform Saturday at the Al Larsen Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg. Courtesy of Rory Doyle

Soul power

Southern Avenue, the Memphis-based roots rock, blues and soul band that toured with Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp during 2024’s Outlaw Music Tour, headline the Al Larsen Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $45-$53. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18

Indian vocalist Anuradha “Juju” Palakurthi joins conductor and composer Roger Kalia and the Chicago Sinfonietta in performances of Kalia’s “Symphony Marsala” in Naperville and Chicago.

Bollywood salute

The Chicago Sinfonietta launches its 38th season showcasing music from and inspired by Indian composers. Former Freeman Conducting Fellow Roger Kalia conducts the orchestra in selections from his “Symphony Marsala” featuring Indian vocalist Anuradha “Juju” Palakurthi. The symphony, which consists of select Bollywood songs from the last 70 years, marks the first time Bollywood music has been set to Western instrumentation. Additionally, Chicago Sinfonietta music director Mei-Ann Chen conducts works by composers with South Asian connections — Tyzen Hsiao, Reena Esmail and An-Lun Huang — as well as Maurice Ravel’s “Mother Goose Suite.” $24-$45. chicagosinfonietta.org. 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, and 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Studebaker Theatre, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago

Erina Ueda performs with Giordano Dance Chicago this weekend at Skokie's North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. Courtesy of Anderson Photography

Giordano Dance Chicago ignites Skokie

Giordano Dance Chicago resident choreographer Al Blackstone’s “Gershwin in B” is among the works the Chicago company performs this weekend at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, as part of its “Ignite the Soul” season. The program also includes “Give & Take” by Brock Clawson and “Interlinked” by ensemble member Simon Schuh. $40.30-$83.40. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19

Also at the North Shore Center

• Bluesman Tab Benoit brings his “I Hear Thunder! Tour” to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, for one performance. Known for his signature Telecaster twang and Delta blues, the singer/guitarist has been a mainstay for more than 30 years. $34.50-$59.50. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 21

• Guitarist Jesse Cook, known for fusing flamenco, jazz, classical and world music, headlines North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets start at $39. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23

Yoko Ono's installation “Helmets (Pieces of Sky)” is among more than 200 of the artist/activist/musician's works included in the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago's career retrospective titled “Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind.” Courtesy of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

Yoko Ono solo at the MCA

“Yoko Ono: Music of the Mind,” a comprehensive solo exhibition devoted to artist/activist/musician Yoko Ono, opens this weekend at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. The retrospective covers Ono’s 70-year career as a member of art’s avant garde with more than 200 works, including installations, films, music and photography. Additionally, because participation is an important part of Ono’s artistic vision, visitors can add to her work titled “Add Color (Refugee Boat),” share thoughts about their mothers as part of her installation “My Mommy is Beautiful,” and share wishes for the future with “Wish Tree.” Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Chicago residents: $19 adults; $10 students, seniors, teachers. Non-residents: $22 adults; $14 students, seniors, teachers. mcachicago.org. Saturday, Oct. 18, through Feb. 22, 2026

Arts in the dark parade

Chicago’s 11th annual Arts in the Dark family-friendly Halloween parade, consisting of floats, spectacle puppets and performance artists, steps off at Randolph Street and travels along State Street. This year’s parade features eight creative guilds made up of creative professionals (architects, photographers, audio makers, writers, poets, visual artists, filmmakers and theater artists) who unite in a celebration of solidarity. artsinthedark.com. 6-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18

Comedian Patti Vasquez will perform during Comedy Plex’s first Funny is Female Comedy Festival Oct. 23-26 in Oak Park.

Funny is Female

The inaugural Funny is Female Comedy Festival, a four-day event featuring more than 50 female comedians from around the world, takes over The Comedy Plex, 1128 Lake St., lower level, Oak Park. Headliners include Chicago’s Patti Vasquez, Comedy Central veteran Megan Gailey, Kenya native Nthenya and Los Angeles-based Maxi Witrak. Performances also take place at the Dragon Lounge at the Sushi House, 1107 Lake St., Oak Park. Tickets start at $15. comedyplex.com/fif-festival. Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 23-26