Weekend picks: Musicians honor jazz great Billy Strayhorn

Jazz great

"Lush Life: The Music of Billy Strayhorn" is the culminating concert of Chicago's Billy Strayhorn Festival honoring the late great jazz songwriter who had a close collaboration with Duke Ellington. On the bill are Broadway star Darius de Haas, cabaret artist Joan Curto, arranger/orchestrator/pianist Alan Broadbent with the Too Hot to Handel orchestra, The Rookery Festival Chorus and the Joel Hall Dancers. See it Saturday at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $29-$68. (800) 982-2787 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21

Colorful nature

Get dazzled in the great outdoors with the return of the interactive sight and sound holiday experience Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. $17-$20; $11-$13 kids. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. nightly through Saturday, Jan. 2 (final admission at 8:30 p.m.; closed most holidays and select Mondays)

Customized cars

Ogle plenty of shiny and customized vehicles at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $20. (847) 692-2220 or rosemont.com or mcacn.com. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

The Great Train Show

Model railroad enthusiasts can see items from 40 exhibitors from across the country at The Great Train Show, a national traveling show at the Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. Hundreds of tables will be filled with train-related items, including HO Scale and American flyer pieces to train whistles, books, railroad gifts and more. See a large Lego train display and speak with model railroading experts. $7 adults; free for kids 11 and younger. greattrainexpo.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21-22

Squeaky stars

Hear high-pitched and speedy takes on current pop and rock classics when "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Musical" plays this weekend at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $25-$75. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 10 a.m., 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21

Choo choo

The Lake County Model Railroad Club hosts its Fall Open House at 107 S. Main St. (rear entrance), Wauconda. The club operates an HO scale permanent operating model railroad. Kids can take part in a scavenger hunt. Free; bring an item for donation to the Wauconda Food Pantry to receive a raffle ticket for a door prize. lcmrr.org. 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21-22

Fatal female

See how acclaimed South African artist William Kentridge illuminated Alban Berg's controversial final opera "Lulu" when it is screened Saturday as part of the Metropolitan Opera Live in HD series at select movie theaters in Deer Park, Mount Prospect, Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills, Gurnee, Crystal Lake, Bloomingdale, Addison, Batavia, Warrenville, Naperville, Woodridge and other cities. Prices vary by venue, but largely $17-$25. In German with English subtitles. For mature audiences only. fathomevents.com. 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21; encore screening at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 2

Gallic greats

Violinist Isabella Lippi is the featured soloist for the Elgin Symphony Orchestra concerts "French Connection" with music by Chausson, Berlioz and more this weekend at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $30-$65; $10 students. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 20, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21

Comic Boosler

Elayne Boosler is known for being a comedian, writer and animal activist. See what she has to say when she performs standup comedy Saturday at the Comedy Shrine, 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $30 plus a two-item purchase. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com. 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21

Rock on

If you love radio hits such as "Ride Like the Wind," "Sailing," "Say You'll Be Mine" and more, then don't miss Christopher Cross in concert this weekend. Saturday he'll be at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com, $39-$79. On Sunday he'll perform at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan, (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com, $33-$73. 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, in St. Charles; 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, in Waukegan

Strike up the band

Get ready for a musical afternoon when the MCC Concert Band and Chorus perform in McHenry County College's Luecht Conference Center, 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. The band will perform selections including "The Glory of the Yankee Navy" by John Philip Sousa and "Missouri Shindig" by H. Owen Reed. The chorus performs music from the Renaissance to the present, with folk, gospel and classical selections. Free. For details, call Michael Hillstrom at (815) 479-7814. 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

Guest trio

The Lysander Piano Trio teams up with the DuPage Symphony Orchestra to perform Beethoven's Triple Concerto, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 and more on Sunday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $14.50-$37.50. (630) 637-7469 or dupagesymphony.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

Harpeth Rising

The folk trio Harpeth Rising performs folk, bluegrass, roots, classical and rock songs on the violin, cello and banjo, along with three-part vocals, at the Maple Street Chapel, 220 S. Main St., Lombard. $15. (630) 627-0171 or maplestreetchapel.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

CLC Jazz Ensembles

Musicians from the College of Lake County's Monday and Tuesday Night Jazz Ensembles present an afternoon concert of big-band jazz classics and contemporary selections in the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the CLC campus, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $5-$6. (847) 543-2300 or jlc.clcillinois.edu. 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

Classic Latin

Panamanian pianist, educator and social activist Danilo Pérez performs with the Oistrakh Symphony Orchestra of Chicago and the Recycled Instruments Orchestra of Cateura as part of the Latino Music Festival on Sunday, at the Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive, Chicago. $20-$35. (312) 922-1999 or latinomusicfest.org. 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

Forgettable duo?

Comedians Steve Martin and Martin Short ("Three Amigos") share the bill with the bluegrass band Steep Canyon Rangers for the sarcastically titled music and comedy concert "An Evening You Will Forget For the Rest of Your Life" tonight at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 River Road, Rosemont. $49.50-$156. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22

Upcoming concerts

Jimmy Nick & Don't Tell Mama: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Raue Center For The Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Blues and more. $15 Advance; $20 at the door. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

Glen Hansard: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. Folk, rock, Irish tunes and more. $39.50-$49.50. (312) 462-6300 or thechicagotheatre.com.

Julian Bliss Septet with "A Tribute to Benny Goodman": 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville, Swing, featuring tunes from the swing era of the 1930s and 1940s. $25-$40. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu.

Christopher Cross: 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Pop, rock. $39-$79. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com.

The Mizzerables, Horrible, Death and Memphis, This Obsession: 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, Quencher's, 2401 North Western Ave., Chicago. Break:Hunger fund-raiser to raise food, money and awareness for the hungry. Rock, punk. $10. (773) 276-9730, quenchers.com or phantomnote.com.

Lake Forest College Lyrica presents The Core Barbershop Quartet: 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, Lake Forest College, 555 N. Sheridan Road, Lake Forest. $10-$25. lakeforest.edu.

Harpeth Rising: 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, Maple Street Chapel, 220 S. Main St., Lombard. Folk, roots, classical bluegrass and rock. $15. (630) 627-0171 or maplestreetchapel.org.

Xtension Chords: 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, Trinity United Methodist Church, 605 W. Golf Road, Mt. Prospect. The Prospect High School Boys' a cappella Ensemble, One-Stop, also performs. Freewill offering taken. (847) 439-0950 or trinitymp.org.

Knuckle Puck, Seaway, Sorority Noise, Head North: 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, Double Door, 1551 N. Damen Ave., Chicago. Pop punk. $15-$18. (773) 489-3160 or doubledoor.com.

Christopher Cross: 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22, Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Pop, rock. $33-$73. (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com. Visit geneseetheatre.com.

Robbie Fulks, Mini Mekons: 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23, The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave., Chicago. Folk. $10. (773) 227-4433 or hideoutchicago.com.

Local H, JIP: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, Q Bar, 2240 Bloomingdale Road, Glendale Heights. $15-$30. Alternative rock. (630) 893-9346 or qbarglendaleheights.com.

Carl Palmer with "The Legacy of Emerson, Lake & Palmer": 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $29-$59. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com.

Starstruck, PGS, Burn Rebuild, Post Script: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, Cobra Lounge, 235 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. Rock, pop punk. $10-$15. (312) 226-6300 or cobralounge.com.

Expo '76: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, FitzGerald's, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, Rock. Family show. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

T-Pain, Miss DJ Meg, Kings of Class: 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 25, H.O.M.E. Bar, 1227 N. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. Rap, house, DJs. $25-$45. (847) 577-4663 or homebarchicago.com.

Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings visit dailyherald.com/calendar.