Arts and entertainment calendar for Jan. 26

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Updated: January 24, 2012 9:09PM

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.

“The Drowsy Chaperone” will be presented by ECC Musical Theatre Feb. 17-26 at Elgin Community College’s Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $20; $18 students and senior citizens. Call (847) 622-0300 or visit www.elgin.edu/arts.

“Freedom Bound,” the story of an escaped slave traveling on the Underground Railroad, will be presented by Mad River Theatre Works at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 3 at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $19, $22, $25. Call (815) 356-9212 or visit www.rauecenter.org.

“I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change,” presented by Williams Street Repertory at 8 p.m. Feb. 10 and 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Raue Center For The Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $33, $36, $39. Call (815) 356-9212 or visit www.rauecenter.org.

“Leaving Iowa” will be presented by Elgin Theatre Company at 8 p.m. Jan. 27-28 and 2 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Kimball Street Theater of Elgin Academy, Kimball Street and Dundee Avenue, downtown Elgin. 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.

“The Odd Couple” will be presented by TownSquare Players March 2-18 at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. Curtain at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 3 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $23; $20 students and seniors. Call (815) 338-5300 or visit www.woodstockoperahouse.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.

Harper Symphony Orchestra presents “A Concert in Contrasts” at 3 p.m. Feb. 12 in the Harper College Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. The program includes Elgar’s String Serenade, Walton’s Viola Concerto with soloist Maria Ritzenthaler, and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8. Tickets: $10; $8 students; $7 seniors; free for children 12 and under. Call (847) 925-6100 or visit www.harpercollege.edu/boxoffice.

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. 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.”

Villa Verone, 13 Douglas Ave., downtown Elgin. 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. 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. 27, 9 p.m.: Dueling Pianos, no cover. Jan. 28: Friction, $6.

Durty Nellie’s, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. www.durtynellies.com. (847) 358-9150. Music at 10 p.m. unless otherwise noted. March 2, 9 p.m.: Zoso: The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience. 21 and over show. $15.

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. Feb. 24, 8 p.m.: Ruth Moody, a founding member of the folk group The Wailin’ Jennys, plays a concert in support of “The Garden,” her first full-length solo album. $20-$25.

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. 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.

“Into the ‘70s,” featuring music of James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Van Morrison, Steely Dan and others, will be presented by the Don Stiernberg Trio at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 11 in Room A238, Building A at Harper College, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine. Tickets: $14-$19. Call (847) 925-6100 or visit www.harpercollege.edu/arts.

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. 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. Feb. 26: Song Circle, hosted by Marcia Krieger. 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. 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.

Schaumburg Jazz Fest, featuring Norman Brown, Larry Carlton and Shilts, March 24 at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Tickets: $59-$99. Call (312) 725-0740 or visit www.schaumburgjazz.com.

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.

Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. www.viper-alley.com. (866) 463-3401. Shows are for ages 21-plus, unless noted otherwise. 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. Opera House Tribute Series, $35 per concert; $78 for a three-show package — Feb. 11, 8 p.m.: Tribute to Neil Young performed by Dennis Neil & the Neil Deal; Feb. 18, 8 p.m.: Tribute to Santana performed by Abraxas; Feb. 25, 8 p.m., and Feb. 26, 1 p.m.: Tribute to Simon & Garfunkel performed by A.J. Sweringen and Jonathan Beedle.

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.

Indian Trails Public Library, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Feb. 1-29: Works by members of the Buffalo Grove Artists’ League. An opening reception will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Feb. 3.

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

Woodstock Musical Theatre Company announces open auditions for its production of “Annie Get Your Gun.” Auditions for children ages 10-14 will be held from 6-7 p.m. Jan. 29; auditions for adults ages 16 and up will be from 7-9 p.m. Jan. 29-30. Auditions are held at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St. Those auditioning will be asked to read from the script, sing 32 bars of an up-tempo song from a musical of their choice, and dance. No appointment is necessary. Cast members pay a refundable deposit of $25 for their script and supply their own make-up and shoes. Production dates are April 13-May 5. For information, e-mail rogerzawacki@comcast.net or visit www.woodstocktheatre.org.

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.

Benefits

Youth Summit for the Arts, presented by dancers from Barrington’s Midwest Dance Collective, under the direction of Ellen Werksman, and in collaboration with Inaside Chicago Dance, will be presented at 5 p.m. Jan. 29 in the Richard Johnson Auditorium at Barrington High School, 616 W. Main St., Barrington. Singers, actors and dancers from 15 area arts organizations will perform to benefit Gigi’s Playhouse, supporting Down Syndrome awareness. $15; $10 for students and senior citizens. Call (773) 960-4909 or visit www.brownpapertickets.com.

New Orleans brunch, with music by guest artist Ron Swanson and his students, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 5 at Salem United Methodist Church, 115 W. Lincoln, Barrington. $7 per person. Proceeds benefit the 9th ward in New Orleans, which was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Call (847) 381-0524 or visit www.salemchurchbarrington.com.

Judson University’s Department of Music will host the “Magic of Music” benefit concert and magic show at 4 p.m. Feb. 11 in the college’s Herrick Chapel, 1151 N. State St., Elgin. The family-friendly event will feature Judson music faculty and The Amazing Carringtons, a group of master musician-magicians. $10; free for ages 18 and under. Visit www.judsonu.edu/magicofmusic or call (847) 628-1119.

Books & poetry

Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway, Barrington. (847) 382-1300. www.barringtonarealibrary.org. Registration required for programs, unless otherwise noted. Jan. 27, 7-9 p.m.: Local authors will share their poems, short stories and memoirs in a bistro-like setting. Complimentary coffee and treats. The ongoing series is co-sponsored by the Barrington Writers Workshop. Feb. 12, 1-2:30 p.m.: One Book, One Barrington: Hunger Games, a panel discussion featuring local authors. Gene Wolfe, Bill Fawcett and Jody Lynn Nye will discuss their work, favorite titles and genres and take questions from the audience.

Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. (847) 438-3433. www.eapl.org. Feb. 1, 7-8 p.m.: Local author Jim Proebstle will discuss his historical novel, Fatal Incident. 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.

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.

“James and the Giant Peach” will be presented by ArtReach Educational Theatre, in partnership with Spotlite Theatrix Production Company, at 7 p.m. Feb. 10-11 at Bethel Lutheran Church, 3839 West Frontage Road, Palatine. $10 in advance; $12 at the door. Call (630) 808-5852 or visit www.artreachspotlite.com.

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.

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. 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. Feb. 18, 8 p.m.: “Defending the Caveman.” $41.55-$72.30. March 3, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.: Jerry Seinfeld. $45-$75. 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 Tavola, 208 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. (847) 394-3950. www.miafrancesca.com. Feb. 16, 7 p.m.: Aphrodisiac Wine Dinner, featuring the wines of Buglioni Vineyards paired with aphrodisiac foods. $55 per person; reservations are required.

Le Titi De Paris, 1015 W. Dundee Road, Arlington Heights. (847) 506-0222. www.letitideparis.com. Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m.: Tour De France Gastronomique Regional Dinner featuring “Champagne & Sparkling Wines,” hosted by Marcel Flori. $72 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations required.

Film

Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. (847) 438-3433. www.eapl.org. Feb. 8, 7 p.m.: Film lecturer Reid Schultz presents his 2012 Academy Award predictions.

Lectures

Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. (847) 438-3433. www.eapl.org. Feb. 27, 7 p.m.: “Art of the 1970s.” Jeff Mishur of Art Excursions presents a slide lecture exploring Pop Art, Op Art and abstract art.

Organizations

The Arlington Camera Club will meet at 7:15 p.m. Feb. 1 at the Christian Church of Arlington Heights (Jordan Hall on the main floor), 333 W. Thomas, Arlington Heights. The evening includes a photo contest for color and monochrome printed images. For information, visit www.arlingtoncameraclub.org or call (847) 438-5284.

Barrington/Northwest Community Associates of the Art Institute of Chicago will host a luncheon and lecture by artist Pamela Bannos from 10:45 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Feb. 15 at Lovell’s of Lake Forest. Bannos, a senior lecturer at Northwestern University, manipulates light and focus to produce photograph-based artwork. $60 for members; $75 guests. To register, call Harlene Perozzi, (847) 842-1960.

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. 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. Feb. 11, 7 p.m.-1 a.m.: “World’s Largest Valentines Singles Party” at the Hyatt Woodfield Hotel, 1800 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, with dancing to music by a DJ, contests and raffles. $7.

Workshops &
classes

Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Highway, Barrington. (847) 382-1300. www.barringtonarealibrary.org. Registration required for programs, unless otherwise noted. Feb. 12, 3-4 p.m.: “Laying Groundwork for Your Novel” will be presented by author Jody Lynn Nye. The event is co-sponsored by the Barrington Writers Workshop.

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.

Theatre in the Woods offers an acting workshop led by James M. Lynch of Highland Park and focusing on monologues, open to all levels of experience, 7-9:30 p.m. Mondays, Feb. 6-March 26, at Zion Lutheran Church, 10 Deerfield Road, Deerfield. Fee is $160. To register, call (847) 604-1990 or e-mail at tiw300@comcast.net.

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.

“Leonardo Live,” a cinematic tour of the sold-out UK National Gallery exhibition “Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan,” will be broadcast at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in local movie theaters, including South Barrington 30 with IMAX, 175 Studio Drive, Barrington; Century 16 Deer Park, 21600 W. Field Parkway, Deer Park; and Lincolnshire 21 with IMAX, 300 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. For information, visit www.FathomEvents.com.

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.