Best Bets: Carrie Underwood, D.L. Hughley, Tony Danza and Gladys Knight
Stage 'boss'
With a dash of wit laced with musical charm, TV's Tony Danza (“Taxi,” “Who's the Boss?”) brings his “Tony Danza: Standards & Stories” show to the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Danza presents a look behind the scenes of his TV and stage experiences, along with a collection of favorites from the great American songbook (plus a little soft shoe). $29-$99 at arcadalive.com. 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21
Death examined
The Field Museum, 1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, opens “Death: Life's Greatest Mystery,” a new, multisensory, interactive exhibition examining death's impact on human culture and on the natural world. “Death can be hard to talk about, so we're excited that this exhibition will be a safe and welcoming place for visitors to get curious, ask some questions and explore all the different answers offered by the natural world as well as human cultures,” said exhibition developer Meredith Whitfield in a prepared statement. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission ranges from $27 to $114. (312) 922-910 or fieldmuseum.org. Opens Friday, Oct. 21
D.L. Hughley on stage
Comedian, author, sitcom star, syndicated radio and game show host D.L. Hughley headlines the Chicago Improv, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. Tickets cost $44-$54. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com/chicago. 3, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23
'God, Family, Country'
Craig Morgan - country star, Army veteran and more recently TV personality on the CBS/Paramount+ series “Beyond the Edge” - visits the Des Plaines Theatre, 1476 Miner St., Des Plaines, with his “God, Family, Country Tour.” Morgan will share songs from his upcoming album and stories from his just-released memoir, “God, Family, Country.” $49 at desplainestheatre.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22
Carrie Underwood
Multiplatinum country artist Carrie Underwood brings “The Denim & Rhinestones Tour” to the Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Special guest Jimmie Allen joins her Saturday. $39-$150 at rosemont.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22
Halloween Spooktacular
The New Philharmonic celebrates the season with a couple of bewitching performances at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. The spooktacular program includes: J.S. Bach and Leopold Stokowski's “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor,” popularized in the film adaptation of “Phantom of the Opera”; Hector Berlioz's “March to the Scaffold” from “Symphonie Fantastique”; Richard Wagner's “Ride of the Valkyries,” used in the film “Apocalypse Now”; and selections from Jacques Offenbach's comic operetta “Orpheus in the Underworld.” Kirk Muspratt conducts. $53. atthemac.org or (630) 942-4000. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23
A night with Gladys Knight
The Empress of Soul Gladys Knight (“Midnight Train to Georgia,” “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” “That's What Friends Are For”) presents an intimate evening of timeless classics when the seven-time Grammy winner takes the stage at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $49-$149 at arcadalive.com. 8:30 p.m. Saturday. Oct 22
Why do birds ...
“Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters,” the longest-running tribute to the chart-topping group, brings its touring act to The James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake, for a matinee of classic pop. $30; $28 for seniors and military; $15 for students at jlcenter.clcillinois.edu or (847) 543-2300. 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23
Midweek metal
With blistering guitar solos and a stage show that embodies metal's rise, Judas Priest blows into town next week for a show at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. The “50 Heavy Metal Years” tour also features special guest Queensrÿche. $99-$199 at geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25