Fight the winter blahs with these nearby entertainment options

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Air Supply will be at NCC this spring. | Courtesy of Air Supply

NORTH CENTRAL COLLEGE

30 N. Brainard St., Naperville

(630) 637-5100

Northcentralcollege.edu

PARAMOUNT
ARTS CENTRE

23 E. Galena Boulevard, Aurora

(630) 896-6666

Paramountaurora.com

RIALTO SQUARE THEATRE

102 N. Chicago St., Joliet

(815) 726-6066.

Rialtosquare.com

ELGIN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin

(847) 622-0300

Elgin.edu

THE HEMMENS

45 Symphony Way, Elgin

(847) 931-5900

Hemmens.org

Article Extras

Updated: January 16, 2012 3:46PM

With Old Man Winter bearing down, it’s time to venture indoors to see what local stages have to offer.

North Central College

Brian Lynch, fine arts director at North Central College, thinks that if the first half of the year is any indication, 2012 will be a banner year for the college.

January kicks off with Chicago Sinfonietta’s third concert of the season, its annual tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“This concert will sell out. They’ve sold out their first two concerts,” he said.

Tenors UnLimited, known as “The Rat Pack of Opera,” performs Jan. 18.

Vibraphonist professor Brad Stirtz performs Jan. 20, and pianist Philip Fortenberry performs Jan. 22.

Contemporary pianist Jim Brickman delivers an early celebration of Valentine’s Day with “An Evening of Romance” on Jan. 28. “It’s the perfect combination of the artist and the room. A solo piano will be amazing in there.”

The Cabaret series includes Fortenberry, Sally Mayes on Feb. 12, and Naperville’s own Joan Curto on Feb. 26.

“On Feb. 11, we have ‘Julius Caesar’ presented by The Acting Company in Pfeiffer Hall. It is one of the finest acting companies in the world. It will be an amazing performance of Shakespeare.”

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones perform March 3, he said. They may open seats in the choral balcony soon.

“Another amazing event will be the Wroclaw Philharmonic Feb. 19,” he said. “We are the only Chicago-area appearance of this group. The fact we can get them here is a real coup. We are their farewell performance in the United States.”

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” March 1-4 is a student production from top to bottom.

BrightSide Theatre Company presents several performances of Neil Simon’s “The Dinner Party” March 2-18, and Organic Theatre Company presents four performances of “Bartelby the Scrivener” March 22-25.

For the first time ever, North Central has booked a female impersonator. On March 25, Steven Brinberg does “Simply Barbra.” “He does an amazing Barbra Streisand,” Lynch said. “He gives an amazing performance. You would swear he is Barbra Streisand.”

The Campus Jazz program continues March 30 when guitar professor John McClean performs in the Madden Theater.

And the big concert of the spring is 1980s adult-contemporary staple Air Supply on March 31.

“(It hits) that demographic from 30 to 55 who might be a bit nostalgic and will come see them,” he said. “They are still going strong. It will be an icon of American performance onstage in Pfeiffer Hall. That will definitely be a ‘don’t miss.’”

Canadian Brass returns after two years for two powerhouse shows on April 14. “They are such amazing performers,” he said.

Charlie Daniels Band comes to town April 28. “The entire show is absolutely phenomenal,” he said. “The entire show is up for grabs by the encore. It will be so much fun to have him here.”

On May 10-12, Threepenny Opera is directed by theater faculty member Kelly Howe, featuring the musical direction of music faculty Jeordano Martinez.

It’s an unusual regional theater piece, Lynch said of the show. “It’s not your traditional musical. It’s kind of in-your-face musical,” he said. “There is a definite message to it.”

The season ends formally with Charlie Daniels, but there are still many year-end student performances and some rental productions coming in, he said.

In addition, the Chicago Sinfonietta performs one last time in June, and then the summer shows begin.

The community theater production of “The Wizard of Oz” will be June 29-30, July 1 and 6-8. Auditions will be in early May, he said.

Paramount Arts Centre

The New Year begins with the annual Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular on Jan. 6.

“This year, they’re featuring four different Elvises,” said marketing manager Melissa Mercado. “They always do a spectacular job. If you’re an Elvis fan, you don’t want to miss this show.”

The cool, hip band from Chicago, Poi Dog Pondering, comes on Jan. 14; and on Jan. 18, “A Chorus Line” begins its three-week run.

“We’ve had great reviews on our Broadway shows,” she said. “’A Chorus Line’ won’t be any different. (It has) fantastic costuming, top-notch actors, and we’ve brought in some dancers from New York that are the crème de la crème of the dance world.”

As part of the theater’s 80th anniversary, they are showing 80-cent classic movies every Monday night.

“We’re showing these classic movies Monday nights on the big screen, the way they were originally intended. Every week features a different genre of movie.”

February is packed, she said. Celtic Fire is Feb. 10 and features traditional Irish dance with gorgeous songs and costuming, she said.

“We’ve got Chinese acrobats, the Peking Acrobats, which is always a crowd pleaser, on Feb. 11,” she said. “There’s a lot of movement and dance and music combined. They push the physical possibilities of the human body.”

Lorna Luft, Judy Garland’s daughter, performs a show on Feb. 12 that celebrates her mother’s legacy.

“She’s amazing. Judy did a lot of stage shows in New York and could belt out a song, and Lorna is no different. Liza Minnelli is her daughter too, and she gets all the accolades, and became a star in her own right. Lorna is kind of the quiet one, but is equally talented and is an amazing performer.”

The gorgeous members of Il Voce come in on Feb. 19 with their brand of pop-opera.

“Their voices are so melodic and rich,” she said. “They do classical, pop, opera.”

The perennially cool band Los Lobos closes out the month with a show on Feb. 23.

The Southern Fried Chicks perform a “hilarious take on life” on March 3.

“They have a lot of anecdotes and self-deprecating humor, and have a super-good time on stage,” Mercado said.

The fourth and final Broadway musical is “Hair,” running March 14 through April 1.

“It’s going to be spectacular, and possibly controversial,” she said. “We have an R rating on it. It has a brief, 20-second nude scene. It may raise a couple of eyebrows, but I think it’s going to be a fine piece of theater.”

The Pink Floyd Experience takes music fans back to the era of flying pink pigs on March 20.

“The show focuses on the Wish You Were Here tour,” she said. “If you’re a Floyd lover, you’ll feel right at home.”

Another musical comes into the Copley Theater for a four-week run. It’s a self-produced show called “Route 66.”

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s about four guys that take off across Route 66 on a cross-country road trip. It has great songs that a lot of people will be familiar with.”

Frank Ferrante performs “An Evening With Groucho” on April 20.

“It’s a great family show. It’s super-hilarious, he gets the audience involved,” she said.

Dance troupe Burn the Floor comes in on April 21.

“They label themselves as ballroom re-invented. Very theatrical, lavish costumes, passionate tangos and really hot, sizzling dance.”

One of the last shows of the season is Almost Elton John on May 18.

“He’s amazing. He looks and sounds so much like Elton it’s scary,” she said.

“C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters” on May 19 with actor Max McLean.

The remainder of the season is exciting and healthy, she said.

“We’ve got a lot of great and interesting shows,” she said. “There’s a lot of variety. I think there’s something here for everybody of all ages — a lot of music, dance and comedy.”

Rialto Square Theatre

A country music legend on his last tour highlights the remainder of Joliet’s Rialto Square Theatre season.

Glen Campbell performs two shows in January, but not before a few other exciting events, said Rialto marketing manager Annette Parker.

“Young Frankenstein” kicks off 2012 on Jan. 11, as part of the four remaining shows in the Broadway at the Rialto series.

“It’s the classic Mel Brooks movie turned into a Broadway production,” Parker said. “It has all the show-stopping hits everyone is familiar with.”

The Bridal Expo returns for its 20th year Jan. 22.

“This is one of the largest bridal expos in the Will County area,” she said. “We have over 60 vendors and they range from photographer, caterers, invitations, gowns, tuxedos, DJs — you name it. You could literally plan your entire wedding. All of the vendors offer discounts if you book with them that day. There’s a spectacular amount of information.”

You can buy a ticket to the expo only, or a combo ticket that will get you into see David Tutera. Also, one lucky bride will get a consult one-on-one with Tutera.

The classic ballet “Swan Lake” performed by the State Ballet Theatre of Russia is Jan. 25.

Next is perhaps the Rialto’s biggest coup for the winter months: two performances on the “goodbye tour” of the legendary country singer Glen Campbell Jan. 26 and 27.

“He was confirmed for Jan. 26. We put the show on sale and it sold like crazy,” she said. “We added a second show Jan. 27.”

February opens with new country singer Justin Moore on Feb. 2.

“He is about to break through. He’s young, good looking, and a current country guy with current hits. We’re happy we got him,” she said.

On Feb. 10, Bill Cosby, one of the most beloved comedians of all time, returns to the Rialto.

“He does a comedy routine and talks about everyday life. He involves the audience. It’s Bill Cosby at his best.”

Mardi Gras returns to the Rialto on Feb. 18 with Mojo and the Bayou Gypsies.

“We are bringing in Mojo and the Bayou Gypsies. This is an all-inclusive event.” When the concert starts at 7 p.m., the party moves into the theater. Drinks are still included throughout the show.

Next is the show “Drum” on Feb. 24.

“Probably the best way to describe ‘Drum’ is that it’s part ‘Stomp’ and part ‘Riverdance,’” she said. “It’s four rhythms coming together for one show: Black, Acadian, Aboriginal and Celtic.”

March is a big month, opening with the Australian Bee Gees.

“This is a show we’ve been trying to get for a couple of years,” she said. “It’s a multimedia concert, a tribute to the Bee Gees.”

She hears some complaints about the tribute shows, but defends the programming by pointing out that people enjoy hearing the music they like, without paying the top dollar.

“People enjoy coming here. It’s intimate. Some people may get upset we’re not bringing in the real deal, but people are coming in,” she said.

The Official Blues Brothers Revue comes March 5, on the anniversary of the death of actor John Belushi.

“This show is the only sanctioned show by Dan Aykroyd and the Belushi estate,” she said. “We are going to be doing special things with this show … tied in to the city of Joliet, the prison, the movie and Dan Aykroyd.”

Tributes continue March 16 with One Night of Queen performed by Gary Mullen and the Works. “It’s the music of Queen, identical.”

On March 17, comedian and actor Jim Gaffigan performs two shows at 7 and 9:30 p.m.

The third winter entry in the Broadway Series, “Cats,” comes to the Rialto March 19.

The Broadway Series closes out April 3 with the timely baseball-themed show, “Damn Yankees.”

Bruce in the USA is a tribute to Bruce Springsteen on April 13.

“The tribute shows that come out perfect everything from their look to their movement to their sound to their stage,” she said.

Organ Extravaganza XVI — Battle of the Big Bands featuring the John Burnett Orchestra is April 28. “This is an event people from all over the United States come to,” she said. “It’s centered on organ music and the Barton Grand Theatre Pipe Organ that we have here at the Rialto. The organ we have is an original from 1926.”

A group called JATOE — Joliet Area Theater Organ Enthusiasts — work on the organ and help put the show on.

May ushers in the sounds of singer Bobby Vinton on May 5.

“He was a singer and an actor. He’s had so many hits, it’s crazy,” she said.

The winter and spring season closes out May 11 with a show any 30-something would be excited about.

“Hairball is going to be awesome,” she said. “It’s over 20 1980s glam-rock bands (portrayed) in one show.”

The show features the music and signature looks of ‘80s staples such as Guns ‘n’ Roses, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Kiss, Van Halen, Twisted Sister, Alice Cooper, Poison, Bon Jovi, Judas Priest and more, she said.

That wraps up the season.

She urged people to check the web site often, because they are always adding shows.

Elgin Community College

Elgin Community College’s fine arts director, Steve Duchrow, said they “do art differently.”

“We try to offer things that other art centers don’t. We try to provide a really unique experience.”

The New Year kicks off ECC’s Center Stage Club series, which pairs two great arts together.

“Baker Brownell, the philosopher from Northwestern, said there are nine great arts in the world, and one of them was music and one of them was cooking,” he said.

The club series runs throughout February and March and matches world-class performers with world-class cuisine, he said. Often, menus are created to fit the theme of the show. It’s a three course meal with entrée, appetizer and dessert. Wine is available for purchase that has been selected to pair with the entrée offering.

“What’s created in that room, with the music or the food that the culinary program creates, is something any restaurant or club in Chicago or New York would be envious of,” he said. “I just think it’s that good.”

Tickets are priced around $45 for dinner and the show.

He tries to select artists that work well in that environment.

White Ghost Shivers perform Feb. 4-5 in the club.

“They’re like a ‘20s, ‘30s, madcap musical revue,” he said of the band. “They have mixed blues and jazz and hillbilly swing and vaudeville and there’s this circus sideshow element. It’s a real unique melding of musical traditions that gives them a special flair.”

Another is Nellie McKay, who is doing a musical called “I Want to Live” Feb. 10-11.

“She’s referring to it as a musical death row revue,” he said. “It tells the story of the life of Barbara Graham. She takes some of her own music and some of the music of The Beatles.”

Country artist Ruth Moody performs Feb. 24-25 and ECC jazz instructor Mark Bettcher will put on two evenings of hot jazz March 2-3.

“The Drowsy Chaperone” is performed by ECC’s musical theater group Friday, Saturday and Sunday Feb. 17-26.

“You can see a Broadway musical re-done by us for a nice price,” he said. “There’s so much happening here.”

Moving away from the club, on March 2 is “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass” performed by bluegrass group Monroe Crossing and Elgin’s own Heartland Voices choir, which is directed by ECC instructor John Slosson.

“That is taking a super bluegrass group, which opens the first half with a great bluegrass set, and then there’s a choral work written for Mass, with the bluegrass group and a chorus.”

Red Baraat performs April 20. They will be in Elgin for two days doing outreach work as well.

“The best way to describe Red Baraat — the show starts before they hit the stage,” he said. “They literally march right in through the audience with their instruments. It puts all those percussion and horns together and it’s really fun.”

“Cocktails with Larry Miller” is April 14.

“That show is really fabulous,” Duchrow said. “He does standup and it’s called ‘Cocktails with Larry Miller: Little League, Adultery and Other Bad Ideas.’”

The season closes out with folk singer Peter Yarrow. He will do a words and music about his time with the 1960s folk group Peter, Paul and Mary.

“There’s a dinner with that one, and with Larry Miller.”

The Hemmens

The big show at the Hemmens Cultural Arts Center this spring is Dennis DeYoung, formerly of the rock band Styx on March 16.

Before that, there are three delightful children’s shows.

“Are You My Mother?” is on Feb. 14, and “The Color of Justice” is on Feb. 22. There are two shows each day.

“Fancy Nancy and Other Stories” will entertain children of all ages on March 9, also with two shows.

Dennis DeYoung performs the music of Styx on March 16. The show will feature the greatest hits spanning the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s, performed live with DeYoung and his six-member band. The set includes all eight Top 10 hits including “Lady,” “Babe,” “Come Sail Away,” “Too Much Time On My Hands” plus Classic Rock Anthems “Grand Illusion,” “Renegade,” “Blue Collar Man,” “Suite Madame Blue,” “Rockin’ the Paradise” and more.

DeYoung is a founding member of Styx.

In addition, GreenRoom Theater Company makes the Hemmens its home for its improv show.

For more than 10 years, GreenRoom has been performing family-friendly improv shows. This season, they have brought the shows to the Hemmens’ lower level 200-seat cabaret theater in the round.

Remaining show dates are Feb. 4 and March 4.

A live band completes the night.