Weekend picks: Loni Love brings comedy to Woodfield Improv
All you need is ...
Actress and comedian Loni Love ("Kickin' It," "America's Sister") returns for a run of standup shows at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $24 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, March 3
Child's play
Plenty of fun is promised for the Kids Expo 2018. It features face-painting, costumed character appearances, inflatable play areas and more this weekend at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $9; $6 kids ages 12 and under. (847) 303-4100 or chicagolandkidsexpo.com. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 3; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 4
Leaps and bounds
Rally behind the star gymnasts of tomorrow at the USA Gymnastics Triple Cup Weekend at the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $59-$79 American Cup; $29-$39 for Elite Team Cup. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. American Cup 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 3; Elite Team Cup 5 p.m. Saturday, March 3
Trucks aloft
Cheer on your favorite oversized trucks at the Monster Jam Triple Threat Series this weekend at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $25-$75; $15-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, March 3; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 4; 7 p.m. Monday, March 5
Henson fantasy
Before a restored print is released on Blu-ray later this year, the 1982 Jim Henson fantasy film "The Dark Crystal" will return to theaters nationally for a series of special screenings. Prices vary by venue, but largely $14. For locations and prices, visit fathomevents.com. 2 p.m. Saturday, March 3
Taste of Cairo
WAMI Live and McLeod Media Company present a night of punk rock and metal from the Chicago area with Taste of Cairo at West Chicago's Cairo Ale House. The Beta Waves headlines the lineup, which includes Silent Redemption, Marwood Falls, Welcome to Jonestown, Guardsman and Jury of Fears. Don't miss the band giveaways, food and a special tapping of Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA, too. Cairo Ale House, 2009 Franciscan Way, West Chicago. $7-$10; craft beer flight package also available. (630) 876-9600 or events.wamilive.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, March 3
Gift Theatre premiere
Residents of a small Southern town are forced to confront their complicity in an African-American man's lynching in The Gift Theatre's world premiere of "Hang Man" by Stacy Amma Osei-Kuffour. Described as both heartbreaking and humorous, Osei-Kuffour's play examines American history, racism and sexism. Victory Gardens and "Hamilton" resident director Jess McLeod helms the production, which inaugurates The Gift Theatre's 17th season. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show opens Thursday, March 8. $30-$40. (773) 283-7071 or thegifttheatre.org.
Bean before
The Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan returns to be adjacent to Millennium Park's "Cloud Gate" sculpture to perform Lin Hwai-min's evening-length work "Formosa!" this weekend at Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $22-$65. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3
On stage at Zanies
Chicago-area native Mike Lebovitz, who first got laughs when he took clowning classes at a local Jewish Community Center, headlines Zanies St. Charles this weekend. A contestant on the 2015 season of NBC's "Last Comic Standing," Lebovitz also contributed regularly to WBEZ's weekly current events-inspired "The Paper Machete" featuring stand-up, improv, sketch comedy and more. Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. 21-and-older show. $22, plus a two-item food or beverage minimum. (630) 524-0001 or zanies.com. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, March 3
Objects d'art
See Swiss puppeteers blend surrealism with odd objects in the tour of "Mummenschanz: You & Me," which plays on Saturday at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $44-$52. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3
New 'Beauty'
Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo presents a new twist on Tchaikovsky's "The Sleeping Beauty" with "La Belle" this weekend at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $41-$120. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4
Symphonic pairing
Guest conductor Edwin Outwater and pianist William Wolfram team up with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for performances of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 12 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, March 3; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 4
Rosemont Restaurant Week
Get your taste buds ready: Rosemont Restaurant Week is here. From Sunday to Sunday, March 4-11, special deals on three-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus will be available at 13 restaurants in Rosemont. Participating eateries are: Adobe Gila's, Bub City Rosemont, Five Roses Pub, Fogo de Chão, Gino's East, Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse, Hofbräuhaus Chicago, Kings Dining & Entertainment, Liberty Tavern, Moretti's, Morton's Steakhouse, Park Tavern and RAM Restaurant & Brewery. Menus start as low as $11.99 per person. Learn more at rosemontrestaurantweek.com/.
Iron Chef + Lake County Restaurant Week
Lake County Restaurant Week, which runs through Sunday, March 11, kicks off with the Sedgebrook Iron Chef Invitational, a cooking competition between the retirement community's executive chef Kira Eggert, Eddie Merlot's executive chef Aric Spiczka and Fleming's chef partner Steve McCarty on Sunday, March 4. During the competition, the executive chef and sous chef will prepare an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. Three judges, including State Rep. Carol Sente, will determine the winner. Lake County Restaurant Week features prix fixe menus and special offers over 10 days at almost 60 restaurants including fine dining, casual, family-friendly, brew pubs, sports bars and more. Sedgebrook is at 800 Audubon Way, Lincolnshire, (847) 876-2151. For details on Lake County Restaurant Week, see visitlakecounty.org/restaurantweek-2018.
Border wars
Sideshow Theatre Company begins its 11th season with the Chicago-area premiere of "You for Me for You," Mia Chung's comedy about North Korean sisters who are separated at the border when they try to escape. Their attempts to reunite are confounded by bureaucracy, language barriers and cultural incompatibility. Artistic associate Elly Green directs the production, which features Helen Joo Lee and Jin Park as sisters Minhee and Junhee. Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Thursday, March 8. $20-$30. (773) 871-3000, victorygardens.org or sideshowtheatre.org. Previews at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 4, and 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 7.
Zany to the max
Fans of the animated series "Animaniacs" won't want to miss seeing voice actors Rob Paulsen and songwriter Randy Rogel in the tour of "Animaniacs in Concert" on Sunday at College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $33-$38; $32-$37 seniors; $12-$15 youth. (847) 543-2300 or jlcenter.clcillinois.edu. 4 p.m. Sunday, March 4
Oscar gathering
Attend a special Awards Viewing Party unofficially tied to tonight's broadcast of the Academy Awards. The event features a silent auction and an Oscar ballot contest. It's a benefit for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Get glammed up at the Hollywood Blvd. Cinema, 1001 W. 75th St., Woodridge. $40. (630) 427-1880 or hollywoodblvdcinema.com. 6 p.m. Sunday, March 4
Animal carnival
The Chicago Philharmonic concert "Bows and Beasts" features Saint-Saens' "The Carnival of the Animals," Tchaikovsky's "Serenade for Strings" and more tonight at Northwestern University's Pick-Staiger Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. $25-$75. (866) 811-4111 or chicagophilharmonic.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, March 4
Pricey talent
"Million Dollar Quartet" finds inspiration from that historic night in 1956 when Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash all recorded together at Sun Records. The hit Chicago and Broadway musical plays one show only tonight at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $30-$75.50. (847) 263-6300 or genesee.com. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 4
Concert highlights
• Bach Around the Clock: 9 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Avenue, Elgin. Concerts for a Cause ministry presents a 12-hour concert of Bach's music, performed by more than 200 musicians throughout the day in celebration of J.S. Bach's 333rd birthday. Free, but donations will benefit Ecker Center for Mental Health. (847) 741-0038 or fumcelgin.org.
• Taste the Town with David Paige Band: 6 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Rolling Meadows Community Center, 3705 Pheasant Drive, Rolling Meadows. $15. www.ci.rolling-meadows.il.us.
• Woven In Hiatus, Parachute Day, Ledges, Like Language, Candid: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Evolution Music, 923 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. $10. (630) 541-5022 or ticketfly.com.
• VoicePlay: 7 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $20-$35; $6 for students. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.
• Y&T: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$59. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com.
• Genr8r: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $5. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.
• Get The Led Out: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $19.50. (847) 671-5100 or rosemont.com/theatre/.
• Donnie Biggins with Ryan Joseph Anderson, Ben White and more: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $8. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.
• Cowboy Jukebox: 8 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. Free. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.
• Smarty Pants: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.
• Mr. Blotto: 9 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $7-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.
• Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers, The Black Moods: 9 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $23. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.
• Steady Flow, The North 41, Willy Dynomite: 9 p.m. Saturday, March 3, at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $10-$12. (773) 404-9494 or martyrslive.com.
• Kowloon Bay: 5:30 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at Wire, 6815 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $10-$12. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.
• Disco Inc., Old Jaw, latenightsinmycar, Jaclyn Heuser, Noah Majerczyk: 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at Evolution Music, 923 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. $10. (630) 541-5022 or evolutionmusicstore.com.
• MGMT, Cola Boyy: 8 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. $45. (773) 275-6800 or rivieratheatre.com.
• Beach Bunny, Greet Death, Mover Shaker, Bosley Mongo: 8 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at Subterranean (downstairs), 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $8. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.
• Backwood Jones "Tunnel Vision": 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 6, at Wire, 6815 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $10-$15. (708) 669-9473 or wireismusic.com.
• Disco Inc. (EP release), Darkle, GIRL K, Mt. Pocono: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7, at Subterranean (downstairs), 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.
• Knuckle Puck, Boston Manor, Free Throw, Hot Mulligan, Jetty Bones: 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $19-$23; $30 for reserved seats. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.
• Icon for Hire, Makeout: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $15. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.
• REO Speedwagon: 8 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet. $44.50-$92.50. (815) 726-6600 or rialtosquare.com.
• Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with the venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings or to add an event, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.