Best bets: Elmo, Phish in 3-D, Ryan Stiles
Sunny daysGardens literally loom large in Sesame Street Live's "Elmo's Green Thumb," in which the beloved TV characters get shrunk to ant-size thanks to a misguided spell by Abby Cadabby. See if they can grow back to normal height at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 River Road, Rosemont. $15-$35 ($15 all seats on opening night). (800) 745-3000 or sesamestreetlive.com. WTTW night: 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 5. Regular run: 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 6 and 7; 10:30 a.m., 2 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 8; 1 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 9Dimensional PhishIt's not just the Na'vi of "Avatar" who get to frolic on-screen in 3-D. See the jam band Phish pop out of the big screen in concert this week in "Phish 3-D" at the Muvico Rosemont 18, 9701 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont. $18-$21.50. (847) 447-1030 or phish3dmovie.com. 1, 4, 7 and 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday, April 30, through May 2; 4, 7 and 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, May 3 through May 6Hollywood exilesThe Elgin Symphony Orchestra celebrates the late Romantic composers like Korngold, Waxman and Rozsa who pioneered the sound of movie music in the concert "Exiles in Hollywood" this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $25-$63. (847) 931-5900 or hemmens.org. 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 30; 8 p.m. Saturday, May 1; 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 2Currently jazzThe Monterey Jazz Festival in California goes on tour with such luminaries as Kenny Barron, Regina Carter, Russell Malone, Kiyoshi Kitagawa and more making a local stop this Friday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $45-$55. (630) 637-7469 or montereyjazzfestival.org. 8 p.m. Friday, April 30.Whose lineup?Improv comedians Ryan Stiles ("The Drew Carey Show"), Jeff B. Davis, Chip Esten and Greg Proops tour together in "Whose Live Anyway," which stops locally this weekend at three locations: Center for Performing Arts, 1 University Parkway, University Park. $45-$56 (708) 235-2222; also at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $58. (847) 673-6300; Also at Elgin Community College Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $36-$46. (847) 697-1000. 8 p.m. Friday, April 30 at University Park; 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 1 in Skokie; 4 and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 2 in Elgin.Golden laughsComedian Judy Gold mines laughs from her Jewish heritage, her life as a lesbian and much more in performances this weekend at two locations of Zanies: 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago. (312) 337-4027; also at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills. (847) 549-6030. $25 plus a two-menu item purchase. zanies.com. 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, April 30, in Chicago; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, May 1, in Vernon Hills.Opera enchantressAmerican soprano Ren#233;e Fleming stars along with six tenors in a new Metropolitan Opera staging of Rossini's magical tale "Armida" directed by Lookingglass Theatre ensemble member Mary Zimmerman. The live high-definition screening is beamed to movie theaters worldwide on Saturday, including select local theaters ranging from Gurnee to Batavia. $22; $20 seniors; $18 kids. metopera.org. Noon Saturday, May 1.Big trucks totsLet kids get their hands on some heavy equipment while helping out the Kohl's Children's Museum at the Touch a Truck family festival fundraiser Sunday at Fields Chrysler Jeep Dodge, 670 Frontage Road, Northfield. $25 for a family of six. $35 VIP access at 10 a.m. (847) 832-6600 or kohlchildrensmuseum.org/truck. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 2.Cop turned tenorNew York police officer Daniel Rodriguez gained fame as "The Singing Policeman" for his operatic tenor voice at ceremonies following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Now see Rodriguez live on Sunday at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $36-$46. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, May 2.False20001329Trey Anastasio hits local cineplexes in Chicago and Rosemont as part of "Phish 3-D."Associated Press photoFalse