Around Town
This section is for all of the wonderful things we have in the Southwest Suburbs or nearby. We just touched the surface on our list, please send us all of the little hidden gems that make you feel at home.
Editor's Picks
Below you will see our editor's picks for the month.
THEATRE
AMERICAN PLAYERS THEATRE in Spring Green, Wisconsin, has set a second weekend, Sept. 10-12, for theater lovers in Illinois. Special theater packages can be purchased for two or more plays at a significant discount. Productions in repertory include Shakespeare's "As You Like It" and "All's Well that Ends Well" and Somerset Maugham's "The Circle" -- a few of several titles. The theater complex is at 5950 Golf Course Road. Those heading into southern and western parts of the state may want to take a side trip to APT. All the details are at www.americanplayers.org.
CHICAGO DRAMATISTS, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., presents the premiere production of playwright Steven Peterson's "The Invasion of Skokie," Sept. 2-Oct. 11. Almost every Chicagoan old enough to remember the episode cannot forget the neo-Nazis' successful 1978 Supreme Court fight to win the right to march in Skokie. The event touched off a firestorm of opposition across the country, especially in Skokie where an eclectic and sizable Jewish community, including many Holocaust survivors and children of survivors, had settled. "Invasion ..." is described as the story of a Jewish man, Morry Kaplan, who scrambles to locate a gun and confront the marchers. Sylvia Kaplan meanwhile struggles to keep the peace and protect her husband. Daughter Debbie, meanwhile, is about to announce her plans to marry a non-Jew. Mixing both comedy and drama, the story unfolds on a backyard patio on the infamous day of conflict. Tickets are $32; student tickets at $15 are available on Thursdays; (312) 633-0630 and www.chicagodramatists.org.
DRURY LANE THEATRE, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace lights up the town through Oct. 3 with a spectacular production of David Bell's "Hot Mikado." This award-winning, clever and riotous take-off on the Gilbert and Sullivan classic will leave you laughing, exhilarated, stunned and reluctant to leave your seat until you've seen it again. The stellar cast, includes Ted Louis Levy as the powerful Mikado (pictured), Stephen Schellhardt as the love-struck KoKo and Aurelia Williams as one heckuva Katisha. The absolutely stunning Japanese themed set, exquisite costumes for women and men, awesome band, great sound and lighting all work together to showcase an extraordinarily talented cast. This is an absolute do not miss! Tickets are $31-$45, dinner packages available; special rates for seniors and students, (630) 530-0111 and Ticketmaster or visit www.drurylaneoakbrook.com.
ELGIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE ARTS CENTER, 1700 Spartan Drive, presents a new musical, "Under the Streetlamps," a retrospective of great hits from the 1950s and '60s woven into an intimate show by the Chicago cast of "Jersey Boys." The production will be staged Nov. 13, 14; tickets are $48 at (847) 622-0300 and at tickets.elgin.edu.
MARRIOTT THEATRE in Lincolnshire, 10 Marriott Drive, continues its 35th season with a summer fairy tale, a musical love story set in the Caribbean. Aptly titled, "Once on this Island," the onetime Broadway production follows the story of a poor peasant girl who falls in love with an upper class gentleman. Their romance is treated with a calypso-flavored score and influence of the gods of love, earth, water and death. "Once ... Island" runs through Aug. 29. Tickets are $35-$48 and dinner packages are available; box office (847) 634-0200 and ticketmaster. More show details are at www.MarriottTheatre.com. Opening Sept. 1, "A Chorus Line."
Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences gives new life to the beloved wooden puppet "Pinocchio," composer/director/choreographer Marc Robin's musical production for all ages running through Aug. 29. Performances will be at 10 a.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. All tickets are $15 at the box office, (847) 634-0200 and at www.MarriottTheatre.com.
ORLAND PARK THEATRE TROUPE takes the stage at the Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 Ravinia Ave., with its next production, "You Can't Beat the House," Sept. 17-19. Tickets are $13, $11 students and seniors, $9 age 12 and younger; (708) 403-7275 and www.orland-park.il.us.
PHEASANT RUN RESORT MAINSTAGE, home of Noble Fool Theatricals at 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles in the Fox Valley invites you to the nuptials that close the summer stage season. "Tony n' Tina's Wedding," at 7 p.m. Aug. 27, and if you've never seen Tony and Tina get hitched before, you're missing one heckuva madcap interactive wedding that includes an Italian buffet style dinner and an evening of dancing and some very convincing characters who will never tell you whether they are cast members or guests like you. Here's to Tina and Tony ... again! Pheasant Run ticket prices vary depending on the act, but all tickets are at the box office, (630) 584-6342, www.noblefool.org and Ticketmaster. Overnight theater packages at the resort are available. NOBLE FOOL kicks off the fall with award-winning playwright Michael Hollinger's who-dunnit, "Red Herring," Sept. 2 - Oct. 24. Tickets are $29-$39.
PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE, Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, Chicago, brings the Stephen Sondheim classic musical, "Sunday in the Park with George," to life Sept. 10-Oct. 31. Tickets are $38 with discounts for seniors, students and groups; (773) 327-5252 and at www.stage773.com. Incidentally, the musical was inspired by Georges Seurat's masterpiece, "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte," a visual treasure owned and exhibited by Chicago's own Art Institute.
If you live in a condo or apartment, you might want to seriously think about keeping your window shades down or curtains closed just in case one of your neighbors is like the character in "Obscura: A Voyeuristic Love Story" Sept. 23-Oct. 23 at RED TAPE THEATRE, 621 W. Belmont, Chicago. The tantalizing description in the press release notes, "Behind the walls of an aging apartment building, the reclusive neighbors' lives are being monitored. Amidst the Orwellian atmosphere, Ned invents a story to win his neighbor's heart. But the arrival of a stranger threatens to unveil some dark secrets." Tickets are $25, $15 student and industry; www.redtapetheatre.org and at the box office.
STEEL BEAM THEATRE, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles, kicks off its 10th season with a return production of the musical "Fairways," featuring sounds of rock, jazz, ballads and even rap. Tickets are $25, $23 seniors and students at (630) 587-8521 and at www.steelbeamtheatre.com.
STEPPENWOLF THEATRE, 1650 N. Halsted, Chicago, (312) 335-1650, continues the Bruce Norris premiere, "A Parallelogram," as the final production in the 2009-2010. The show runs through Aug. 29. Like those before it this season, this new play explores the theme of belief. Imagine you have the ability to backtrack through your life with a click of what would pass for a TV remote. Now take this one step further. In "Parallelogram" Bee and her future self sit around talking about events and possibilities on her timeline of life which goes backward and forward in this dark, funny world directed by ensemble member Anna D. Shapiro. Tickets are $20-$70 at (312) 335-1650 and at www.steppenwolf.org.
Opening Sept. 9, "Detroit," which I'm told in fact has nothing to do with my Michigan hometown. More in next blog update.
THEATRE AT THE CENTER, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, presents the musical, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" Sept. 9-Oct. 10. Based on the 1988 film about two con men on the French Riviera who wager which one of them can swindle $50,000 from a young heiress and send the other guy packing, the show is billed as an "uproarious musical masterpiece." Tickets are $36-$40 at (219) 836-3255, www.tickets.com and at www.theatreatthecenter.com.
THEATRE OF WESTERN SPRINGS, 4384 Hampton Ave. opens its 82nd season Sept. 10-19 with "Sleuth," a mystery stunner with a game-within-a-game killer twist. Tickets are $18-$20 at (708) 246-3380 and at www.theatreatwesternsprings.com.
MUSIC, DANCE AND MORE
BEVERLY ARTS CENTER, 2407 W. 111th St. (at Western Avenue), Chicago, presents "Tim O'Malley's Super Fun Comedy Extravaganza II" at 8 p.m. Sept. 24. Tickets are $18, $15 for BAC members, (773) 445-3838 and through the BAC website at http://www.beverlyartcenter.org/calendar.php. O'Malley is at right.
The HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR PARK DISTRICT ends the summer, kicks off the academic fall with "H-F Music Fest," a free grassroots event from noon to 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at Irwin Park, Highland Avenue and Ridge Road, Homewood. Full event details, including the mega band lineup, is at http://www.hfparks.com/Events/Event.aspx?Event_ID=210. The Irwin Bandshell will be divided so one band can perform while another sets up.
At 8 p.m. Sept. 2 the NEVERLY BROTHERS bring their rock 'n' roll retro time trip to Frankfort Fall Festival Lion's Club Night, Beer Tent Stage at 8 p.m. Sept. 2 at Kansas and White streets.
A jazz concert starring accomplished vocalist Ava Logan (at right) will take place from 2-3:30 p.m. Sept. 26 at the ORLAND PARK CULTURAL ARTS CENTER, 14760 Park Lane. Tickets are $20 at the Frederick Owens Village Hall, 14700 S. Ravinia Ave. More details are at (708) 403-6140. Check out Logan's website at www.avalogan.com. Incidentally, the talented artist by night is a veterinarian by day. Check out her website and listen to her amazing voice. This vocalist has tons of talent.
Blue grass music livens up Tinley Park as Special Consensus heads to the TINLEY PARK PUBLIC LIBRARY, 7851 Timber Drive (just east of 80th Avenue, South of the Metra station) for a free concert at 7 p.m. Sept. 10. Greg Cahill still headlines this phenomenal quartet! Concert is on library grounds and moves inside if it rains. More information is at (708) 532-0160. You don't need to be a resident of the village named as Best Place to Raise Your Kids by Money Magazine. For a full overview of library events, check out http://host6.evanced.info/tinleypark/evanced/eventcalendar.asp
POTPOURRI OF GALLERIES AND MORE
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY ART MUSEUM, 2350 N. Kenmore Ave., Chicago, brings art to life with the interactive "The Nomadic Studio" exhibit through Nov. 21. This exhibit event is a "collaborative workplace for DePaul and the surrounding community." Photo: Ian Bennett spray paints "Musical Chairs" at the Nomadic Studio. All the details are at http://museums.depaul.edu/artwebsite/ and at (773) 325-7506. Gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, to 7 p.m. Friday, noon- 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
HYDE PARK ART CENTER, 5020 S. Cornell Ave., features "Roger Brown: Calif: USA" an exhibit showcasing what is described as "rare artwork and collections of the famed Chicago imagist." The exhibit of works by the acclaimed graduate of the School of the Art Institute runs through Oct. 3 and gallery admission is always free. For hours and other details: (773) 324-5520 and www.hydeparkart.org.