Performing Arts
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Things to do Oct. 10-16: Glass Pumpkin Patch, St. Charles Scarecrow Fest, Lumenaura and moreOct 06, 2025 4:01 pm - Mark your calendar for Glass Pumpkin Patch at The Morton Arboretum, St. Charles Scarecrow Fest, Lumenaura in Aurora, “Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience” in Ingleside, Fall Festival at Danada, Boo at the Zoo at Brookfield Zoo Chicago and more.
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Best bets: MAC welcomes Capitol Fools comedy and ESO opens its seasonOct 06, 2025 3:59 pm - The Capitol Fools send up politicians and politics at the McAninch Arts Center, the Elgin Symphony Orchestra opens its 76th season, and Berwyn native Sondra Radvanovsky plays the scorned sorceress in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s season-opening production of “Medea.”
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New horizons: Rare premieres, new works, concert experiments dominating the Chicago, suburban opera sceneOct 03, 2025 4:01 pm - Opera companies around Chicago are reexamining aspects of the art form’s more than 400-year-old history this fall season. There are several intriguing opera rarities receiving Chicago premieres, plus new works and concert experiments that blend genres of music and storytelling.
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Bodies in motion: Chicago dance season filled with anniversaries and milestonesOct 03, 2025 2:56 pm - The 2025-26 dance season around Chicago is full of notable milestones and anniversaries. There are several premieres and revivals among the Windy City’s famed dance companies that specialize in ballet, modern and folk dance traditions.
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Wanna see something really scary? Suburban haunted attractions deliver thrills, chills this HalloweenOct 02, 2025 1:25 pm - “We’re the one and only outdoor scream park,” says Grayslake resident Jason Wright about his haunted venue American Nightmare Scream Park opening this weekend in Spring Grove. “It’s something nobody has done in the Chicago area.”
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Be popular, come sing along with ‘Wicked’ at the Des Plaines Public LibraryOct 01, 2025 3:52 pm - Fans of the musical “Wicked” can enjoy a sing-along showing of the 2024 film version this month at the Des Plaines Public Library.
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Maine South to present teen version of ‘SIX: The Musical’Oct 01, 2025 11:38 am - Maine South High School will present "SIX: The Musical: Teen Edition" with performances Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 2-5, in Park Ridge.
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Best Bets: ‘Forbidden Forest’ welcomes Harry Potter fans and Naper Settlement celebrates OktoberfestOct 01, 2025 9:41 am - “Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience” thrills fans starting this weekend, Naper Settlement hosts Oktoberfest, Karen Mason headlines a special tribute to Davenport’s at the Skokie Theatre, and “Carmina Burana” comes to the MAC.
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Spotlight: ‘Revolution(s)’ by Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello premieres at GoodmanSep 30, 2025 12:34 pm - Premieres of the punk/metal/hip-hop tuner “Revolution(s)” at Goodman and Sandra Delgado’s “Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars” at TimeLine open this week. Plus, Morton Arboretum’s Walking Hikes series salutes Edgar Allan Poe and “The Lion King” returns to Chicago for a brief run.
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Things to do Oct. 3-9: Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, Cider and Ale Festival, Oktoberfests and moreSep 30, 2025 9:47 am - Mark your calendar for the Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival, Harmony Fest Featuring the Taste of Arlington Heights, the Morton Arboretum’s Cider and Ale Festival, Oktoberfests, Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns at Chicago Botanic Garden and more.