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The crew and background actors take their places during filming Wednesday of “Christmas at the Zoo” at Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters in downtown Libertyville. Lead actress Brittany Underwood walks into the scene at left.

‘Cool when it’s recognized’: Rom-com filmmakers return to Libertyville

The team that created the romantic-comedy “The Exes of Christmas Past” have returned to Libertyville for its latest feature, “Christmas at the Zoo.”

Vince Zampella, one of the creators behind bestselling video games such as Call of Duty, has died.

Vince Zampella, video game pioneer behind Call of Duty, dies at 55

Vince Zampella, one of the creators behind bestselling video games such as Call of Duty, has died. He was 55.

Barry Manilow will be having surgery to remove a cancerous spot on his lung, he announced Monday.

Barry Manilow to have surgery for early-stage lung cancer, postpones January concerts

Barry Manilow will be having surgery to remove a cancerous spot on his lung and will reschedule his January concerts, the singer announced Monday.

This image released by 20th Century Studios shows Varang, performed by Oona Chaplin, in a scene from "Avatar: Fire and Ash."

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ launches with $88M domestically, $345M worldwide

NEW YORK — “Avatar: Fire and Ash” opened with $345 million in worldwide sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, notching the second-best global debut of the year and...

Alex Warren, here performing during iHeartRadio’s Jingle Ball Monday, Dec. 15, in Philadelphia, has had quite a year, including his first Grammy nomination.

Alex Warren’s year has been anything but ‘Ordinary.’ Now, the Grammys are calling.

It jolted the winter, came alive in the spring, dominated the summer and went three-times platinum in the fall. Alex Warren’s bombastic ballad “Ordinary” is a defining song of 2025. The song has fast-tracked the 25-year-old singer/songwriter into mainstream musical fame, coming to a head in November when he earned his first Grammy nomination.

Looking for a rockin’ Yuletide treat? The cast of Marriott Theatre’s “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas” welcomes 2026 rockabilly style during special New Year’s Eve performances.

Best Bets: Marriott, Raue Center, Navy Pier will be rockin’ New Year’s Eve

What are you doing New Year’s Eve? Marriott hosts a rockin’ party with the cast of “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,” American English headline the Raue Center’s celebration and The New Philharmonic performs a pops concert at the McAninch Arts Center, while Navy Pier hosts a couple of dance parties.

“Swoon” by Bea Martinez-Gatell

Please don’t call fangirls silly. They have more power than you think.

Superfans, in particular fangirls, are nothing new. Think of the photographs of young women screaming and fainting at the sight of the Beatles or Elvis. In her exuberant historical romp, “Swoon,” Bea Martinez-Gatell goes back even further, to the overheated admirers of the attractively unavailable Lord Byron.