Performing Arts
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Best Bets: Great America opening, Long Grove Craft Beer Fest and Hannibal BuressApr 21, 2026 12:01 pm - Great America opens for its 50th season, Long Grove hosts its annual craft beer festival, Aurora’s Venue salutes storied Chicago blues label Delmark Records, and comedian Hannibal Buress headlines the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts.
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Things to do April 24-30: Cirque Italia, Fear No Art Festival, final performances of ‘Hamilton’ and moreApr 21, 2026 9:17 am - Mark your calendar for Cirque Italia’s Atlantis Water Circus in Aurora, College of Lake County’s Fear No Art Festival, the last weekend of “Hamilton” at Chicago’s CIBC Theatre, the Central States Numismatic Society Convention in Schaumburg and more.
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Aurora’s RiverEdge Park expands summer lineupApr 20, 2026 4:43 pm - The bands Third Eye Blind and Six One Five Collected have been added to RiverEdge Park’s summer concert series.
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Elgin Community College Theatre to present Ray Bradbury’s ‘Fahrenheit 451’Apr 20, 2026 12:18 pm - Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” will ignite the stage this spring in Elgin Community College Theatre’s adaptation of the 1953 novel, running Friday, April 24, to Sunday, May 3, in the college’s SecondSpace Theatre.
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‘Stay gold, Ponyboy’: Maine West to present ‘The Outsiders’Apr 20, 2026 11:36 am - Maine West High School’s Fine Arts Department will present its spring play, “The Outsiders,” April 23-25 in Des Plaines.
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Marriott’s ‘Heartbreak Hotel’ a rockin’ tribute to the KingApr 17, 2026 2:51 pm - Elvis Presley’s greatest hits, zestfully performed by Marriott Theatre’s ensemble, and Taylor Hanes’ thoughtful interpretation of the King of Rock ‘n Roll, “Heartbreak Hotel” for the music, stay for Taylor Hanes’ thoughtful interpretation of the King of Rock ‘n Roll.
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Elgin Theatre Company’s ‘Fade’ explores culture and ambitionApr 16, 2026 12:05 am - Elgin Theatre Company wraps up its season with “Fade” by award-winning playwright Tanya Saracho. It follows Lucia, a Mexican-born novelist navigating the hurdles of a L.A. television writers' room, who strikes up a friendship with Abel, the building's custodian.
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‘The Winner Takes It All’ in Neuqua Valley’s spring musical ‘Mamma Mia!’Apr 15, 2026 11:02 pm - Neuqua Valley High School presents the hit musical “Mamma Mia!” from April 23-25, featuring a 55-person cast and a 27-piece live pit band. Director Johnathan Pontarelli promises a high-energy, collaborative production that celebrates friendship and unconventional families.
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Say ‘I do’ to Drury Lane’s ‘Father of the Bride’Apr 15, 2026 1:28 pm - Two hours of gags and meltdowns in “Father of the Bride” comes down to that one moment when dad Stanley Banks (Joe Dempsey) and his just-wed daughter Kay (Aurora Penepacker) exchange a look, which is a lovely and poignant coda to the bouncy comedy playing at Drury Lane Theatre though May 31.
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Spotlight: Chicago Shakes, Shattered Globe, Facility and Steppenwolf stage premieresApr 15, 2026 8:11 am - Jason Alexander directs Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s premiere of “Fault” starring Enrico Colantoni, Strawdog Theatre stages a play about Shakespeare’s Ophelia, and the national tour of “The Great Gatsby” stops at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre.