Carmel Catholic's Street Scenes celebrates Mardi Gras

Posted February 02, 2016 10:00 pm

Street Scenes submission

A highlight of Carmel Catholic High School's Street Scenes event is the cabaret-style Student Show, starring talented Carmel students in a professionally choreographed one-hour performance. Courtesy of Street Scenes

The words "Mardi Gras" and "celebration" go hand-in-hand, so this year's Carmel Catholic High School Street Scenes extravaganza should be bigger and better than ever.

This year's theme is "Carmel Street Scenes Toasts Mardi Gras." The 42nd annual event takes place Friday and Saturday, Feb. 12 and 13. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. each evening.

The fundraiser is open to the general public ages 21 and older. Tickets cost $20 in advance, available by calling (847) 566-3000, and $25 at the door. No smoking is allowed in the buildings at Carmel Catholic High School.

This year, more than 50 live bands will entertain guests and there will be food and drink, comedy showrooms, and a Las Vegas-style casino. An additional highlight of the evening will be the cabaret-style Student Show in the auditorium featuring a professionally choreographed, one-hour performance with singing, dancing and costumes. All proceeds benefit Carmel Catholic High School.

"Carmel Street Scenes is the best thing that ever happened to February," General Chair Bob Knudson said. "We like to say it is Lake County's much needed winter break. For one weekend per year, Carmel Catholic High School is completely transformed into a party town atmosphere with live music, a great casino, comedy clubs, food and drink from popular area restaurants, pancake breakfast in the wee hours of the morning.

"It's really an event you have to experience to understand why it has stood the test of time over the span of four decades."

A senior citizens performance will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7. This sneak peek performance is free to senior citizens and features Carmel students kicking up a storm in the dress rehearsal of the Student Show, which provides a small taste of Street Scenes weekend festivities. The show will last approximately one hour.

"Everyone in Lake County is cordially invited to participate in Street Scenes. It's a one-of-a-kind event, there's really nothing else like it in Lake County, and on behalf of the Street Scenes' all-volunteer committee, we can basically guarantee everyone a great time," Knudson said.

During Street Scenes, more than 30 rooms of show venues and concessions will spotlight bands and acts such as: Blind Logic, Johnny Bee and the Stingers, Wichita Jacks, Stuck at Zero, Chick Repellent, PlanB, Silver Machine, Two Easy, Elvis, Get Back, Blue Eyed Leo, Bob Musial and Friends, Blues Monkeys, Prairie Fogg, Brass From The Past, Joe Powers Country Band, The Mojo Daddies, Blush, 3 If By Air, Furious Fuzz, Manic Impressive, Bryan Vyborny, Sagebrush, Six Speed Tranny, Stu-The Piano Guy, Not Even Trying, the Irish Pub and many more.

This year's showrooms include The Grayslake Show, Lake Zurich Show, Waukegan Show, Improv Playhouse and more. The Carmel cafeteria will feature entertainment from Brass from the Past. The school gymnasium is transformed into the Las Vegas-style casino with blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, wheel of fortune and many other games. The casino opens at 8 p.m. both nights and is traditionally one of the hottest spots during Street Scenes weekend.

Food available for purchase includes gourmet corned beef sandwiches, tenderloin sandwiches, pizza, gourmet pastries, Italian beef and more.

Lake and McHenry County seventh- and eighth-graders, along with Carmel Catholic High School students, are invited to Street Scenes Student Night from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11. Admission is $5 in advance, $6 at the door. Students will be able to enjoy several of the shows - including the Student Show - along with food and games at reduced prices.

The Street Scenes annual gala takes the collective effort of more than 1,000 adult and student volunteers to ensure success. For Carmel Catholic students, their major focus is to make the Ad Drive a success.

Carmel Catholic parents and other adult friends lend their support to Street Scenes as entertainers, artists, bartenders, stage crews, electricians, short-order cooks, ticket sellers, printers, seamstresses, waiters and waitresses, setup and take down crews and in many other ways. Proceeds support Carmel Catholic educational programs.

For more information on 2016 Street Scenes, visit www.carmelstreetscenes.com or call (847) 566-3000.

Abbey Bond, left, and Abby Schliksup dance in the student show at last year's Carmel Catholic High School Street Scenes. Courtesy of Street Scenes

Hasanna Huff sings in a previous Street Scenes Student Show at Carmel Catholic High School. Courtesy of Street Scenes

Carmel Catholic High School students, from left, Kevin Kadawaki, Erik Berrones and Ryan Jones perform in a previous Street Scenes Student Show. Courtesy of Street Scenes

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