Best bets: '39 Steps' spoofs Hitchcock at ECC
Four-play
Four actors play all the parts in the hit London and Broadway comedy “The 39 Steps,” which lovingly spoofs the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock thriller. See the current national tour for one night only at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $39. $35 extra for Hitchcock-theme dinner at 5:30 p.m. (847) 622-0300 or tickets.elgin.edu. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 7
Fools sing in
See the sillier side of opera when members of the Elgin Opera Training and Performing Ensemble perform comic numbers in the concert “Opera Fools” tonight at the Garlands of Barrington, 1000 Garlands Lane, Barrington. Free, but reservations required. (847) 304-1996 or elginopera.org. 7 p.m. Friday, April 1
Time warp again
Does the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” succeed because it makes fun of 1950s sci-fi movies, or because the audience has traditionally made fun of the film itself? See for yourself by participating in an adults-only screening tonight at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $10. (630) 587-8400 or oshows.com. 11 p.m. Friday, April 1
Operatic robots
Can a person attain immortality via technology? Find out when Chicago Opera Theater presents the Midwest premiere of Tod Machover's high-tech 2010 opera “Death and the Powers, The Robots' Opera” at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $30-$120. (312) 334-7777 or chicagooperatheater.org. 7:30 p.m. April 2, 6 and 8; 3 p.m. April 10
Balancing acts
Get ready to “ooh” and “aah” at the amazing physical feats performed by the tumblers, cyclists and jugglers who comprise The Peking Acrobats tonight at the College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $46; $44 seniors; $36 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Friday, April 1
Symphonic scenery
Violin soloist Chee Yun teams with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra to explore sonic landscapes like Copland's “Appalachian Spring,” Lalo's “Symphonie Espangnole” and other works this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $25-$75. (847) 931-5900 or elginsymphony.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 2; 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 3
Joy of sax
Fans of contemporary urban jazz won't want to miss famed tenor saxophonist Richard Elliot in concert this Saturday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $30-$42. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu/showtix. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 2
Dribble, dribble
The country's best high school basketball players get to shine in the nationally televised NeXt All-American Classic game this Sunday at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $12-$22; $100 courtside; $5 parking. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, April 3
Wry Sedaris
Expect best-selling author and National Public Radio personality David Sedaris to read from his popular observational books and maybe even try out some new material when he appears this Wednesday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $28-$45.50. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 6