Entertainment

Best Bets: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus, 'HYPROV,' 'Sinatra Forever' and more

Posted November 01, 2023 6:00 am

Barbara Vitello

Brian Shamie

Follow @ThatShamieGuy

Equivokee, a comedic trio from Ukraine, introduces a unique blend of physical comedy and a modern take on circus classics like dance, juggling and mime as part of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus performances this weekend at Rosemont's Allstate Arena. Courtesy of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Let's go to the circus

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey brings its re-imagined circus to the Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Performers — including acrobats, high-wire artists, BMX riders, comedians, aerialists and musicians — hail from 18 countries. $20-$142. ringling.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3; 11 a.m. and 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4; and 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5

Deeply Rooted premiere

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater premieres its new work “Madonna Anno Domini” — set to the music of Culoe De Song and Aretha Franklin and choreographed by artistic director Nicole Clarke-Springer — along with revivals of “Ulysses Dove's Vespers” and other works at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. $25-$85. auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3

‘HYPROV' returns

Actor/improviser Colin Mochrie (“Who's Line Is It, Anyway?”) and hypnotist Asad Mecci bring “HYPROV,” their interactive show combining improv and hypnosis, to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $48-$68. northshorecenter.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3

Children's film festival

Facets hosts the 40th annual Chicago International Children's Film Festival for kids 2-18 and their families. In-person screenings take place at Facets Cinema, 1517 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago; The Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at the University of Chicago, 915 E. 60th St., Chicago; Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., Chicago; and The Kehrein Center for the Arts, 5628 W. Washington Ave., Chicago, with some selections available via streaming. $12. facets.org. Friday, Nov. 3 through Nov. 19

Sinatra salute

Las Vegas vocalist Rick Michel joins The New Philharmonic for “Sinatra Forever: A Salute to Frank Sinatra” at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Kirk Muspratt conducts Michel and the orchestra in “New York, New York,” “My Way,” “Luck be a Lady” and “Summer Wind,” among other Sinatra classics. $67-$77. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5

Play time

The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont, hosts the 20th Chicago Toy & Game Fair, an event whose interactive exhibits and immersive events are open to children and their families. $6-$16. rosemont.com/desconvention/event-calendar. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 4-5

‘Beetlejuice' on tour

“Beetlejuice,” the musical adapted from Tim Burton's 1988 film about a deceased couple who hire a malicious spirit to drive out the obnoxious family that moved into their home, has a limited run at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. $35-$105. broadwayinchicago.com. Tuesday, Nov. 7, through Nov. 19

The cast of "The Greatest Show On Earth" takes center stage during the opening of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, which takes over Rosemont's Allstate Arena this weekend. Courtesy of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater premieres its new work "Madonna Anno Domini" Friday at the Auditorium Theatre. Courtesy of Todd Rosenberg Photography

Rick Michel joins The New Philharmonic to perform some of Frank Sinatra's classic tunes during "Sinatra Forever: A Salute to Frank Sinatra" Saturday and Sunday at the McAninch Arts Center. Courtesy of the McAninch Arts Center

Britney Coleman, left, plays Barbara, Will Burton plays Adam, Isabella Esler plays Lydia and Justin Collette stars as the titular malevolent spirit in the national tour of the musical "Beetlejuice," which comes to Chicago's Auditorium Theatre starting Tuesday, Nov. 7. Courtesy of Matthew Murphy

Hypnotist Asad Mecci, left, and improviser Colin Mochrie bring "HYPROV" to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts Friday, Nov. 3. Courtesy of Aaron Cobb

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.