Arts and entertainment calendar for Jan. 19

• Reprints

Updated: January 17, 2012 9:33PM

Stage

“The Complete History of America (Abridged),” through Feb. 12 at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., downtown Arlington Heights. Everything you know about American history is distorted through hilarious sketches, songs and parodies, from the birth of Bob Dole before Christ to the assassination of JFK by Lucy Ricardo. Tickets: $39-$43. Call (847) 577-2121 or visit www.MetropolisArts.com.

“Leaving Iowa” will be presented by Elgin Theatre Company through Jan. 29 at the Kimball Street Theater of Elgin Academy, Kimball Street and Dundee Avenue, downtown Elgin. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $15; $12 for senior citizens and youth. Call (847) 741-0532 or visit www.elgin-theatre.org.

“Legally Blonde,” through March 25 at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The performance schedule is 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $40-$48, plus tax and handling fees. Discounts available for students and senior citizens. Call (847) 634-0200 or visit www.marriotttheatre.com.

“Zora,” an American Place Theatre Literature to Life stage presentation, 7 p.m. Feb. 1 at the College of Lake County’s James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. The dramatic biography of Zora Neale Hurston, an African-American writer of the 1930s and celebrated figure from the Harlem Renaissance, is performed by Cheryl Howard. Tickets: $25; $23 senior citizens; $15 teens; $12 children under 12. Visit www.clcillinois.edu/tickets or call (847) 543-2300.

Classical

The Barrington Chapter Lyric Opera of Chicago sponsors lectures provided by Lyric Opera of Chicago Lecture Corps at The Garlands of Barrington, 1000 Garlands Lane, Barrington. Each of the lectures, with musical illustrations, will precede the featured operas in the upcoming season at Lyric Opera Chicago. Admission is free. To reserve a seat, call (847) 304-1996. For information, visit www.lyricopera.org. Feb. 8, 1:30 p.m.: “Show Boat.”

Early Music at the Byron Colby Barn at Prairie Crossing, 1561 Jones Point Road, Grayslake. All concerts are at 4 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $15. To order tickets or for more information, call (847) 543-1202. Jan. 29: “British Invasion.” Callipygian Players, featuring Martin Davids, violin, Craig Trompeter, cello, and David Schrader, harpsichord, will perform a concert of music from Great Britain, including works by Henry Eccles, Purcell and Handel. Feb. 26: Amy Conn, soprano, with Trevor Stephenson, fortepiano. March 18: Alison Attar, Stephanie Sheffield and Joel Spears, “La Harpe de Melodie.” April 15: Ensemble Musical Offering, J.S. Bach: “Coffee Cantata.”

Elgin Community College, Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. (847) 622-0300. www.elgin.edu/arts. Jan. 28, 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.: American Grands XVII, a group piano performance featuring 500-plus pianists playing 12 grand pianos. $22; $15 for children 12.

Elgin Symphony Orchestra. All concerts except the Schaumburg series are at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ESO box office at (847) 888-4000, or online at www.elginsymphony.org. Feb. 3, 1:30 p.m., Feb. 4, 8 p.m., and Feb. 5, 3:30 p.m.: “My Passionate Valentine,” with guest soloist Jason Vieaux, guitar, at the Hemmens Cultural Center. The program includes Bizet: Symphony No. 1 in C major; Joaquin Rodrigo: “Concierto de Aranjuez”; and Ravel: “Bolero.” $24-$70. Feb. 17, 1:30 p.m., Feb. 18, 8 p.m., and Feb. 19, 3:30 p.m.: “How the West Was Won,” with harmonica virtuoso Mike Runyan, at the Hemmens Cultural Center. The orchestra will perform a wide selection of themes from television and movie Westerns. $25-$74.

Elgin Symphony Orchestra Family Fun Series - Performances are held at the Hemmens Theatre at 3:30 p.m., preceded at 2 p.m. by activities. Jan. 29: “Many Strings Attached.” $15; $10 for children.

Harper College Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. www.harpercollege.edu/boxoffice. (847) 925-6100. Feb. 4, 7:30 p.m.: Harper College Music Department’s seventh annual Chamber Music Festival. $15; $12 students; $10 senior citizens.

Lake Forest Symphony, conducted by Alan Heatherington, performs at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts on the College of Lake County campus in Grayslake. All concerts begin at 8 p.m.; pre-concert talks by musicologist Jim Kendros at 7 p.m. Tickets are $32-$54, with discounts for senior citizens and students. For tickets, call (847) 295-2135 or visit www.lakeforestsymphony.org. Jan. 20-21: “Italian Fest,” with guest soloist guitarist Adam Levin. The program includes two guitar concerts, the Vivaldi Concerto in D and the Castelnuovo-Tedesco Concerto No. 1 in D, as well as Rossini’s overtures to Il Signor Bruschino and L’Italiana in Algeri, and Respighi’s Ancient Airs and Dances Suite III and Gli Uccelli (The Birds).

The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera’s series of live performance transmissions into movie theaters, including South Barrington 30 with IMAX, 175 Studio Drive, Barrington; Century 16 Deer Park, 21600 W. Field Pkwy., Deer Park; and Lincolnshire 20 plus IMAX, 300 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. Tickets are available at the theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com. Jan. 21, 11:55 a.m.: “The Enchanted Island,” a showcase of arias and ensembles by Handel, Vivaldi, Rameau and others. Feb. 11, 11 a.m.: Wagner’s “Gotterdammerung.” Feb. 25, 11:55 a.m.: Verdi’s “Ernani.” April 7, 11 a.m.: Massenet’s “Manon.” April 14, 11:55 a.m.: Verdi’s “La Traviata.”

Ryerson Woods, 21850 N. Riverwoods Road, Deerfield. (847) 968-3345. www.ryersonwoods.org. Jan. 22, 1-2:30 p.m.: Students from the Academy of the Music Institute of Chicago will perform nature-themed chamber and solo pieces from the classical repertoire. Free.

Villa Verone, 13 Douglas Ave., downtown Elgin. Jan. 22, Feb. 12 and 26, March 18 and 25, April 15, 6-8 p.m.: Elgin Opera’s Festival of Singers, featuring opera and musical theatre favorites. Admission is free. Call (847) 742-0263 for dinner reservations. For information, visit www.elginopera.org.

Pop/folk/jazz

Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000; the ticket prices listed below do not include service fees. The information line is (847) 635-6601. March 9, 7:30 p.m.: Lady Antebellum — Own the Night 2012 World Tour, with Darius Rucker and special guest Thompson Square. $29.50, $45, $59.50. April 1, 7:30 p.m.: Van Halen. $49.50, $79.50, $149.50. May 4: Rammstein — “Made in Germany 1995-2011 Tour.” May 30, 6 p.m.: Nickelback with special guests Bush, Seether and My Darkest Days. $51.50, $65, $87.50, $96.50.

Beans & Leaves Coffee & Tea Cafe, 320 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. (847) 821-0011. No cover, unless noted otherwise. Jan. 21, 3-5 p.m.: Jazzy Blue jazz blues duo. Jan. 22, 2-4 p.m.: Steve Justman (folk/Americana). Jan. 29, 2-4 p.m.: Fingerstyle guitarist Merv Collins.

Cubby Bear North, 21661 N. Milwaukee Ave., Lincolnshire. (847) 541-4700. www.cubbynorth.com. Shows are at 10 p.m., unless noted otherwise. Jan. 20 and 27, 9 p.m.: Dueling Pianos, no cover. Jan. 21: Ordinary Outcast, $5. Jan. 28: Friction, $6.

Elgin Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. (847) 622-0300. www.elgin.edu/arts. Feb. 4, 8 p.m., and Feb. 5, 4 p.m.: White Ghost Shivers performs string band music of the 1920s and ‘30s, including swing, blues and jazz. $25 Saturday; $20 Sunday. Feb. 10-11, 8 p.m.: Nellie McKay (cabaret/pop). $20 Friday; $25 Saturday.

The Goat Rodeo Sessions Live will be broadcast from the House of Blues Boston at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 31 to local movie theaters, including Century 16 Deer Park, 21600 W. Field Parkway, Deer Park, and Lincolnshire 21 with IMAX, 300 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. Four string virtuosos — cellist Yo-Yo Ma, bluegrass fiddler Stuart Duncan, bassist Edgar Meyer and mandolin player Chris Thile — will perform songs from their collaborative album, “The Goat Rodeo Sessions.” Tickets are available at the theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.

Grammy Award-winning electronic music duo The Chemical Brothers bring their concert event to local movie theaters, including South Barrington 30 with IMAX, 175 Studio Drive, Barrington, and Lincolnshire 21 with IMAX, 300 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1. Tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.

InterContinental Chicago O’Hare Hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. (847) 544-5300. Friday Nights Live, featuring music from 8:30 p.m.-midnight in the Montrose Room, $5. Ticket prices for other shows vary. For information, visit www.montroseroom.com. Jan. 20: Disconnected, The Root Cause. $5. Jan. 21: August. Jan. 27: Cypress Groove Project, Mosquitoes. $5. Feb. 11: Jim Peterik’s Lifeforce (smooth jazz). $20 general admission; $30 VIP. Feb. 18: Wayne and Marty from the Freddy Jones Band. $18 general admission; $25 VIP. Feb. 25: Lucky Boys Confusion (rock, punk, ska and hip-hop). $12. March 3: Coco Montoya (blues guitar). $10 general admission; $15 VIP. March 9: Local H. $15. March 10: Ides of March. $20 general admission; $30 VIP. March 14: Buckwheat Zydeco. $18 general admission; $25 VIP.

Lake County Folk Club events are held at 7 p.m. Sundays at Aleks’ Restaurant, 525 Rockland Road, Lake Bluff. Concert admission is $12; $10 for Lake County Folk Club members, students and senior citizens. No admission charge for Open Stage and Song Circle. Reservations encouraged for all concerts; call (847) 271-1584. For information, visit www.thelakecountyfolkclub.org. Jan. 22 and Feb. 26: Song Circle, hosted by Marcia Krieger. Jan. 29: Concert Stage features Dennis Stroughmatt et L’Esprit Créole (old-style Cajun and African Creole fiddling). Jim Schramm opens. Feb. 12: Open Stage, hosted by Scott Engstrom. Feb. 19: Concert Stage features Michael P. Smith; Sue Fink opens. March 18: Mustard’s Retreat; Cath Kasmer opens. April 1: Lee Murdock; Jim Gary opens.

The Lucky Monk, 105 Hollywood Blvd., South Barrington. (847) 898-0500. www.theluckymonk.com. Live music from 9:30 p.m-midnight. Jan. 20: 31 Flavors (classic to current pop rock). Jan. 27: The Redmonds (rock).

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. www.metropolisarts.com. (847) 577-2121. Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.: “Brooks Sings Barbra.” Cabaret performer, writer, lyricist and actress Charlene Brooks performs songs of Barbra Streisand. $30; $35 for stage tables.

Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. (815) 356-9212. www.rauecenter.org. Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m.: The Irish House Party, a show presented by All-Ireland champion musicians and dancers. $20.

Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000; the ticket prices listed below do not include service fees. For more information about the theater, call (847) 671-5100 or visit www.rosemonttheatre.com. Feb. 4, 7 p.m.: ELVIS LIVES, featuring four finalists from Elvis Presley Enterprises’ annual worldwide Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest. Bill Cherry, Ben Klein, Kevin Mills and Victor Trevino Jr. will each represent Elvis during different stages in his career. The Elvis tribute artists will be joined by a live band, back-up singers, dancers, and an Ann-Margret tribute artist, as well as iconic imagery made available from the Graceland archives. Tickets: $24.50-$49.50. Feb. 24: Big Time Rush — “Better With U Tour.” March 30-31, 8 p.m.: Celtic Woman. $32-$72.

Sears Centre, located in the Prairie Stone Complex on Interstate 90 between the I-59 and Beverly Road exits, Hoffman Estates. (888) 732-7784. www.SearsCentre.com. Feb. 2, 7 p.m.: Rock and Worship Roadshow, featuring MercyMe, Tenth Avenue North, Lecrae, Hawk Nelson, Disciple, Sidewalk Prophets, and The Rend Collective Experiment. $10 at the door. May 11, 7:30 p.m.: Eric Church: The Blood, Sweat & Beers Tour, with special guests Brantley Gilbert and Blackberry Smoke. $39.75, $47.50; parking costs $20.

Stained Glass Coffeehouse features live music at the Congregational Church of Deerfield, 225 Wilmot Road. Performances begin at 7 p.m. $15 donation; proceeds benefit local and international charities. Visit www.stainedglasscoffeehouse.com. Jan. 21: Sons of the Never Wrong; Jeanne Arrigo opens.

Adlai Stevenson High School Performing Arts Center, 1 Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire. Call (847) 415-4121 or visit www.d125.org. Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m.: “Under The Streetlamp,” a concert by the four original Chicago cast members of “Jersey Boys.” Tickets are $40.

Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. www.viper-alley.com. (866) 463-3401. Shows are for ages 21-plus, unless noted otherwise. Jan. 20, 9 p.m.: Mr. Blotto: Recreating Pink Floyd, $10-$15. Jan. 26, 8 p.m.: Little River Band. Jan. 28, 9 p.m.: Jordan Knight: Live and Unfinished. $35-$50. Feb. 3, 9 p.m.: Arra (classic rock). $10-$15. Feb. 4, 9 p.m.: Fuel (rock). $20-$35. Feb. 22, 7 p.m.: Rehab. March 3, 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.: An Evening with Rachelle Ferrell (contemporary jazz and pop). March 10, 7 p.m.: Lee DeWyze. All-ages show. Tickets start at $20.

Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. (815) 338-5300. www.woodstockoperahouse.com. Jan. 20, 8 p.m.: Judy Collins. Tickets are $65.

Art galleries

Arlington Heights Memorial Library, 500 N. Dunton Ave., Arlington Heights. Through January: “Anything Arlington,” photographs by members of the Arlington Camera Club. The club meets the first and third Wednesday of the month at the Christian Church of Arlington Heights. Membership is open to anyone interested in photography. For information, visit www.arlingtoncameraclub.org.

College of Lake County Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. Call (847) 543-2240 or visit http://gallery.clcillinois.edu. Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fridays; 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 1-5 p.m. Sundays. Through Feb. 19: Members Exhibition, featuring a diverse collection of 101 works by artist members of the Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art.

Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Art Exhibition Space, Building C, Room C200. Open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. Through Feb. 9: Faculty Exhibition. An artists’ reception will be held at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 2.

Red School House, 220 Robert Parker Coffin Road, Long Grove. www.longgroveonline.com. Through Jan. 31: “The Howard Finster Vision House,” works by “outsider” artist Howard Finster.

Ryerson Woods, 21850 N. Riverwoods Road, Deerfield. (847) 968-3345. www.ryersonwoods.org. Through Feb. 29: “Flora: Photographs by Jessica Tampas,” featuring large-scale images of calla lilies and other plants photographed in a hothouse in rural Michigan.

Auditions &
opportunities

The Village Singers of Lake Zurich, a non-audition adult choral group, is seeking new singers, especially tenor and bass voices, for its spring concert, under the direction of Sara Pardo. Rehearsals are at 7 p.m. Mondays at the Alpine Chapel, 23151 Miller Road, Lake Zurich. For more information, call Juel Lea, (847) 223-2383.

The Brotherhood of Harmony a cappella chorus has openings for male singers 18 and older. Rehearsals are held from 7:30-10:30 p.m. every Thursday in the Friendship Village Assembly Hall, 350 W. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. Call Al Anderson, (847) 985-9127 or visit www.brotherhoodofharmony.org.

The Fox Valley Men of Harmony meet from 7:15-9:30 p.m. every Monday at the First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland, Elgin. Visitors are welcome. For information, call (630) 377-2521.

Benefits

Youth Arts Alive!, a benefit concert presented by the Barrington Area Drug Prevention Coalition, will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20 at the Barrington High School auditorium, 616 W. Main St., Barrington. Admission is free. For information, e-mail info@badpc.org.

Books & poetry

Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. (847) 438-3433. www.eapl.org. Jan. 25, 7-8 p.m.: Local author Chris Lindbergh will discuss his newly released first novel, Code of Darkness. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. April 20-22: Friends of the Indian Trails Public Library District used book sale. Members-only preview sale from 5-8:30 p.m. Friday; dues are $3 for an individual and $6 for a family membership. Numbered entry tickets will be available beginning at 3:30 p.m. Admission is free to the separate children’s used book sale in the Small Meeting Room. Free admission to the sale from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday and noon-3 p.m. Sunday.

Love Is Murder 13, a mystery and romance conference for authors, readers and fans, will be held Feb. 3-5 at the Intercontinental Chicago O’Hare Hotel, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. The event includes author panels, workshops, pitch sessions with agents and editors, and entertainment. Also, a pre-conference book signing will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. Feb 2, featuring authors David Morrell, Donald Bain, Juli James, Hank Phillippi Ryan and Julie Hyzy. For more information or to register, visit www.loveismurder.net.

Ryerson Woods, Riverwoods Road, between Deerfield Road and Route 22, Deerfield. (847) 968-3321. www.ryersonwoods.org. Friends of Ryerson Woods sponsor Ryerson Reads, a book discussion series focused on environmental literary classics. Book talks are held from 7:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays and are led by Ben Goluboff, professor of English at Lake Forest College. Fee per discussion is $15; $10 for Friends of Ryerson Woods members. March 14: American Chestnut: The Life, Death and Rebirth of a Perfect Tree by Susan Freinkel.

Vernon Area Public Library, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. (847) 634-3650. www.vapld.info. Jan. 22, 2 p.m.: New York Times bestselling author Sally Bedell Smith discusses and signs Elizabeth the Queen. Volo Bog,

28478 W. Brandenburg Road, west of Highway 12 between State Routes 120 and 134, Ingleside. Of Bogs & Books Reading Group meets from 10-11:30 a.m. the second Saturday of the month. The small, informal book discussion group is for adults interested in environmental, outdoor and natural history literature. Books selected for discussion range from classic to contemporary. Reservations are requested at dnr.volobog@illinois.gov or (815) 344-1294. Feb. 11: Becoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology by David Abram.

Child’s play

“Annie Jr.” will be presented by Christian Youth Theater Feb. 9-12 at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Performances are at 9:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Thursday; 9:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $9-$12 in advance; $11-$14 at the door. Call (847) 516-2298 or visit www.cytchicago.org.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago, 601 N. Martingale Road, in the Streets of Woodfield, Schaumburg. (847) 592-9708. www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/chicago. Adult admission is $19; child admission is $15. Jan. 27-29: LEGO Friends Weekend, featuring scavenger hunts, karaoke and prizes. Feb. 10-12: Star Wars Days.

Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000 ; the ticket prices listed below do not include service fees. For more information about the theater, call (847) 671-5100 or visit www.rosemonttheatre.com. March 4, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.: The Fresh Beat Band, Nickelodeon’s preschool music group and stars of the television series of the same name. Tickets: $22, $27, $32. Fresh Beat Band Party packages, which include a meet and greet with the band also available.

Adlai Stevenson High School Performing Arts Center, 1 Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire. Call (847) 415-4121 or visit www.d125.org. Feb. 19, 2 p.m.: “Ralph’s World,” featuring children’s musician Ralph Covert. $15; $10 for children.

Vernon Area Public Library, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. (847) 634-3650. www.vapld.info. Jan. 24 or Jan. 25, 7-8:15 p.m.: Parent/Child Book Discussion featuring 11 Birthdays by Wendy Mass. For grades 4 and up.

Comedy

Elgin Community College Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. (847) 622-0300. www.elgin.edu/arts. April 14, 7:30 p.m.: “Cocktails with Larry Miller: Little League, Adultery & Other Bad Ideas.” Tickets: $35; $32 if purchased online. A three-course, pre-show dinner prepared by ECC’s Culinary Arts and Hospitality program can be purchased online for an additional $35. Dinners include wine and are served at 5:30 p.m. in the Spartan Terrace Restaurant, located in the lobby of the ECC Arts Center. Dinners must be ordered by April 9.

GreenRoom Productions presents family-friendly improv at 7 p.m. Feb. 4 and March 3 in the Cabaret Theater in the Round at the Hemmens Cultural Center, Symphony Way and North Grove Avenue, Elgin. General admission tickets are $12; $8 for students and senior citizens. For information, visit www.greenroomtheater.com.

The Improv Comedy Showcase and Restaurant, in Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. (847) 240-2001. www.improv.com. Showtimes at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays; 8 p.m. and 10:15 p.m. Fridays; 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. Saturdays; 7 p.m. Sundays. Must be 18 or older. Two-item minimum per person in showroom. Jan. 19-22: Greg Behrendt, $22. Jan. 26-29: Pablo Francisco, $24. Feb. 2-4: Charlie Murphy, $32. Feb. 9-12: Lynne Koplitz. Feb. 17-19: Bobby Lee, $22.

Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000; the ticket prices listed below do not include service fees. For more information about the theater, call (847) 671-5100. March 10: Gabriel Iglesias Stand-Up Revolution Tour, presented by Comedy Central.

Dance

Barrington High School, Richard C. Johnson Auditorium, 616 W. Main St., Barrington. Feb. 4, 7 p.m.: Barrington High School Orchesis will host its annual Dance Invite: The Giordano Project, an evening of collaborative dance performance featuring students from neighboring high schools. During a week-long fall residency, choreographers from Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago taught new works to members of the Barrington High School Orchesis Dance Company, Adlai S. Stevenson High School, Bataille’s Integrity Dancers, John Hersey High School, McDonald Dance Academy, Midwest Dance Collective, Rolling Meadows High School, Trilogy Dancers and State Street Dancers. The dances will premiere during the performance. General admission tickets are $15. For information, call the BHS Fine Arts Department, (847) 842-3214.

Dance World presents dances at the Hoffman Estates Park District’s Triphahn Community Center, 1685 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. An optional one-hour lesson is offered at 7:30 p.m., followed by open dancing from 8:30-11:30 p.m. A variety of recorded music is played for ballroom, Latin, swing and hustle dance styles. Dress code is dressy casual; no jeans or athletic shoes. Adults of all ages and dancing abilities are welcome. Admission is $10; $5 for members. There is an additional $3 charge for guests participating in the lesson. Membership is $20 per year. For information, call (847) 429-5922 or visit www.ballroomchicago.com/dance_world.htm. Feb. 11: Rumba. March 10: Hustle. April 14: Cha Cha.

Dining

Francesca’s Famiglia, 100 E. Station St., Barrington. (847) 277-1027. Jan. 24, 7 p.m.: Italian Piedmont Wine Dinner, featuring a five-course menu paired with wines of Michele Chiarlo. $65 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Reservations are required.

Francesca’s Tavola, 208 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. (847) 394-3950. www.miafrancesca.com. Jan. 26, 7 p.m.: Winter Beer Dinner, featuring a four-course menu paired with beers from Two Brothers Brewing Company. $35 per person, excluding tax and gratuity.

Le Titi De Paris, 1015 W. Dundee Road, Arlington Heights. (847) 506-0222. www.letitideparis.com. Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m.: World Wine Series wine dinner with the theme of “America’s Cup.” $72 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

Film

Ryerson Woods, 21850 N. Riverwoods Road, Deerfield. (847) 968-3345. www.ryersonwoods.org. Jan. 19, 7-9 p.m.: Screening of the documentary, “Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us?” $10; $5 Friends of Ryerson Woods members. Registration required.

Vernon Area Public Library, 300 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire. (847) 634-3650. www.vapld.info. Jan. 21, 2 p.m.: “Midnight in Paris,” rated PG.

Organizations

Shutter Bugs Camera Club meets from 7-9 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month, except December, at Volo Bog, 28478 W. Brandenburg Road, west of Highway 12 between State Routes 120 and 134, Ingleside. Meetings include how-to workshops, members’ photos and competitions. Membership is $15. Ages 13 to adult are welcome. Call (815) 344-1294 or e-mail dnr.volobog@illinois.gov.

Singles

New Beginnings, a nondenominational social support organization for the divorced, widowed, separated, remarried and single. Meetings at 7 p.m. every Monday (except holidays) at St. Hubert’s Church, 729 Grand Canyon St., Hoffman Estates. Donation is $3-$5 per meeting. Call (847) 965-8072. Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m.: New Beginnings Winter Wonderland Sock Hop Dance at St. Matthew Church’s Hughes Center, 1001 E. Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg. $8. Jan. 22, 5:30 p.m.: Dinner at Chambers Seafood and Chop House, 6881 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles. Reservations by Jan. 20 to (630) 253-3787. Jan. 23, 7 p.m.: Meeting at St. Hubert’s, Hoffman Estates. A guest speaker will present “All About Divorce.” Jan. 26, 6 p.m.: Dinner at Uncle Bill’s Diner, 845 N. Roselle Road, Roselle. Reservations by Jan. 24 to (630) 894-8554. Jan. 27, 6:30 p.m.: Dinner and dancing at the Elks Club, 495 Lee St., Des Plaines. Reservations to (630) 253-3787. Jan. 27, 7 p.m.: Free dance lessons at St. Hubert Church, 729 Grand Canyon St., Hoffman Estates. Jan. 28, 6:30 p.m.: Dinner at Ti Amo Café Italiano, 1001 W. Golf Road, Hoffman Estates. Reservations by Jan. 26 to (630) 253-3787. Jan. 30, 7 p.m.: Meeting at St. Hubert’s, Hoffman Estates — Game Night. Jan. 31, 6 p.m.: Dinner at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, Roselle and Schaumburg roads, Schaumburg. Reservations by Jan. 29 to (630) 307-0095. Feb. 4, 7 p.m.: Dinner at Jameson’s Char House, 2601 Navy Blvd., Glenview.

Thunderbird Singles, (847) 266-2706 or www.thunderbirdsingles.com. Jan. 27, 8 p.m.: Ultimate Party Mixer at the Hyatt Woodfield Hotel, 1800 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg. $7.

Workshops &
classes

Barrington Writers Workshop meets weekly at the Barrington Area Public Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway, Barrington. The morning group meets from 9:30 a.m.-noon Tuesdays, and the evening group from 6:30-9 p.m. Wednesdays. The group is dedicated to improving and promoting the writing craft through the reading, critique and discussion of members’ work, with workshops and classes offered throughout the year. For information, contact Beverly Ottaviano, (847) 394-3129 (morning group), or Janet Souter, (847) 398-1087 (evening group), or visit www.barringtonwriters.org.

Northwest Cultural Council presents poetry workshops from 9 a.m.-noon the second Saturday of the month at the Palatine Public Library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine. Cost is $15 per session. Participants are encouraged to bring 12 copies of their own work to share with the group. Register by calling (847) 991-7966 or e-mailing nwcc@northwestculturalcouncil.org.

Et cetera

Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000; the ticket prices listed below do not include service fees. The information line is (847) 635-6601. Jan. 25-29: Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream. $11-$75. March 11, 5 p.m.: Stars on Ice, featuring Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen, Canadian National Champion Kurt Browning, U.S. National Champion Todd Eldredge and other skaters. Tickets: $25-$150.

Kevin Smith: Live From Behind Featuring “Jay and Silent Bob Get Old” will be broadcast to select movie theaters, including AMC South Barrington 30 with IMAX, 175 Studio Drive, Barrington; Century 16 Deer Park, 21600 W. Field Parkway, Deer Park; and Lincolnshire 20 plus IMAX, 300 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire, at 8:30 p.m. Feb. 2. Director/writer Kevin Smith and frequent co-star Jason “Jay” Mewes will host their podcast and participate in an interactive, fan-generated Q&A session. Tickets are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.

Schaumburg CD and Record Show, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Radisson Hotel Schaumburg, 1725 E. Algonquin Road. Dealers from across the Midwest will offer albums, 45s, CDs, DVDs and more. For information, call (847) 409-9656.

Sears Centre, located in the Prairie Stone Complex on Interstate 90 between the I-59 and Beverly Road exits, Hoffman Estates. (888) 732-7784. www.SearsCentre.com. Feb. 3-4, 7:30 p.m.: Professional Championship Bullriders: World Tour Finale VI, plus Divas of the Dirt World Class Barrel Racing. Post-show concert by country music duo Montgomery Gentry on Friday. Tickets are $17, $22, $37 and $52 in advance; $19, $24, $39 and $54 at the door. Youth 12 and under: $10. Feb. 8-12: Cirque du Soleil: Quidam. Performances at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $38-$103; parking: $15. Woodstock Opera House,

121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. (815) 338-5300. www.woodstockoperahouse.com. Feb. 4, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.: The Cashore Marionettes in “Simple Gifts,” a performance of scenes set to music by Beethoven, Vivaldi, Strauss and others. Tickets: $10-$20.

Museums

Lake County Discovery Museum, located in the Lakewood Forest Preserve, Route 176, west of Fairfield Road, near Wauconda. (847) 968-3400. www.LCFPD.org. Hours are 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday; and 1-4:30 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $6; $3 for senior citizens; $2.50 for children ages 4-17; free for children 3 and younger. Through Jan. 29: Postcard Art Competition/Exhibition 2011. The biannual event celebrates the postcard as an art form and challenges artists to create original works in a 4” x 6” format. Thirty-six artworks comprise the exhibition, and 12 are available as a set of reproduction postcards. Feb. 18-Aug. 19: “The Blues: From the Heart and Soul,” featuring playbills and autographs, as well as the original musical instrument that created some of the most influential music in American history.