Asia Today and Yesterday, History's Musical Crossroads Meet in Joy, in Memory This Week

Chicago (South Side)

Beverly Arts Center presents the exclusive premiere of an original cabaret musical, Last Night at the Piano Bar, based on the real-life exploits of piano bar artist Dan Gillogly, who also co-wrote the script with Jeff Award-winning Nate Herman. 

The musical tells the story of one night in the lives of four characters in a North Side lounge. There's Frank, a tough city worker who likes expensive clothes; Grace, a former beauty queen now known for her wifely housekeeping in a television ad; Rhonda, the brash bartender; and Jimmy, a wide-eyed kid from Iowa who before this night could never have imagined this big city adventure.

When: 8 p.m., April 29-30; 3 p.m., May 1.
Where: Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St.
Cost: $15, $12 members.
Tickets and information: 773-445-3838 and www.beverlyartcenter.org.

Chicago Heights

Dazzling costumes, a legendary and magnificent Rodgers and Hammerstein score and a cast of talent from throughout the Southland will turn the Bloom High School stage into Siam, the Thailand of the past, with a sumptuous Drama Group production of The King & I. 

Once again, Anna and the King of Siam will waltz across the floor, and sadly, the star-crossed lovers Tuptim and Lun Tha will discover the agony of forbidden romance.

Andy Leahy directs, Maria Barwegen portrays Anna, and Jay Espano steps into the Yul Brynner role of the King.

This is only a three-day run and tickets disappear quickly!

When: 7:30 p.m., April 29-30; 2 p.m., May 1.
Where: Bloom High School Auditorium, 101 W. 10th St. 
Cost: $18, $17 seniors and students.
Tickets and information: 708-755-3444 and www.dramagroup.org. 

Chicago Heights

Union Street Gallery brings the tiny Asian country of to Chicago Heights via the images by Cecily Hunt and her collaborative artwork with Nancy Frazier. The two women traveled to Bhutan in 2010, and their adventures, seen through this exhibit, reveal depth to a country little known beyond its borders. Hunt's photographs, a collection of jewelry and other items from the excursion as well as designs created by artist Frazier and Hunt for their exhibit, Into Bhutan, will remain on view through May 14.

This rare look at the distant country, its people and its treasures, can only be seen at USG. 

In Harmony, an exhibit of works by many other professional gallery artists, continues on the gallery's second level as well. 

When: Both exhibits continue through May 14. Gallery hours are noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; noon-6 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Union Street Gallery, 1527 Otto Blvd., Chicago Heights.
Cost: Free.
Information:  708-754-2601 and www.unionstreetgallery.org 

Chicago Heights

A group of striking art works by 22 graduating Prairie State College students remain on display in the school's Christopher Art Gallery.

"The diverse backgrounds and creative interests of our students bring vitality to our visual arts program," said Paul Rinaldi, professor of fine arts. "Some of the work emerges from an emotional reservoir rooted in memory, dream and fantasy while other pieces explore aspects of life and reality that are typically overlooked."

When: Through May 19. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.- 3 p.m Monday through Thursday; 5- 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and by appointment.
Where: Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights
Cost: Free
Information:  708-709-7801 and http://prairiestate.edu/artgallery/

Joliet

Vintage rock 'n roll rules the Rialto May 1 when Forever Doo-Wop! Starring the Diamonds and Billy Richard's Coasters bring the 1950s into the 21st century. Classic early rock hits including The Stroll and Little Darlin' from the Diamonds and good old Charlie Brown, Yakety Yak and of course, Searchin' from the Coasters all hit the charts and the sock hops like whirlwinds, new music for a new era of teens.

Oldies lovers won't want to miss the double decker musical treat.

When: 3 p.m., May 1
Where: Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet
Cost: $30 to $58
Tickets and information: www.rialtosquare.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and 815-726-6600.

Olympia Fields

Temple Anshe Sholom joins musicians from the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra for an extraordinary community concert, , in commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day.

The silent music, not to be heard, was composed by the countless talentsat Theresienstadt concentration camp in what is now the Czech Republic. Nazis built Theresienstadt, also called Terezin, with one goal, to hide the truth from Red Cross to convey the impression Nazi prisoners were treated humanely. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Most of the people who were at Terezin eventually died, either in the camp's dark and dank corners or in one of the other death camps.

Composed by the prisoners, the music, no longer hidden or forbidden, reveals the strength of the human spirit. The concert will honor that unending human strength in the face of unimaginable horrors, while remembering the millions who perished under the Nazi regime.

When: 4 p.m., May 1
Where: Temple Anshe Sholom, 20820 Western Ave., Olympia Fields
Cost: Free
Information: 708-748-6010 

Orland Park

The Orland Park Theatre Troupe goes green, as in the Emerald City of Oz, with its gala production of the beloved family musical, . More than 100 local actors perform someplace between Orland Park and Oz under the direction of resident artistic director, Frann Carnevele-Sidlow.

The audience will travel the Yellow Brick Road, head into a forest with Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!, and on to the Emerald City and its mysterious Wizard.

Alexis Lubienski of Frankfort portrays Dorothy and her real life mom, Colleen Lubienski, plays Auntie Em. Oak Lawn's Amanda Barclay morphs into the Wicked Witch, and Orland Park High Point School teacher Amy Stiehr glides around as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. 

The show runs this weekend only.

When: 7 p.m., April 29-30; 2 p.m. May 1.
Where: Carl Sandburg High School Performing Arts Center, 13300 S. LaGrange Road.
Cost: $18, $16 seniors and students, $14 children.
Tickets and information: 708-403-7275 and www.orland-park.il.us. 

Palos Heights

William Shakespeare's magical forest and fairyland are about to emerge on the Trinity Christian College Marg Kallemeyn Theater stage in the college's spring production, A Midsummer Night's Dream. 

This other-worldy Shakespearean comedy classic always opens new doors in the mind and reignites the question, "Could there really be a forest somewhere ... ?"

When: 7:30 p.m. April 29-30, May 5-7. Opening night dinner has been cancelled, but show tickets are separate and valid. Trinity College will contact those who purchased dinner tickets. 
Where: Marg Kallemeyn Theatre, Trinity Christian College, 6601 W. College Dr.
Cost: $11, $8 students and seniors. The April 29 dinner package is $30.
Tickets and information:  708-597-3000 and Trinity Christian College.

Palos Hills

Sexual Perversity in Chicago, the play, certainly grabs attention with its title. However, the 1970s early David Mamet script has no intention of dipping down into the stuff of prurience.  While Mamet's masterful works have no lack of humor, they also are packed with strong, vivid language and in this play, heavy sexual content.

One simply cannot leave a one of this brilliant Flossmoor-raised playwright's shows without a tough look at life's infinite shades of gray.

Moraine Valley Academic Theater, under the direction of Craig Rosen, takes on this vivid "representation of 20-somethings co-habiting and mating in urban America in 2011," the release states. 

Rosen, MVCC associate professor of theater, said, "Despite the graphic language and sexual content, this is a beloved Chicago play that is still respected in the theater." 

When: 7:30 p.m., April 29, 30, May 6-7; 3 p.m., May 1.
Where: John and Angeline Oremus Theater,  Center, 9000 W. College Pkwy.
Cost: $12, $10 for seniors and students.
Tickets and information: 708-974-5500 and morainevalley.edu/FPAC.

Palos Hills

Moraine Valley Community College's Academic Music concerts spring forth in early May. The series begins on May 6 with the Jazz Ensemble and guest guitarist John Moulder. Concert selections will include music by George Gershwin, Benny Carter, Oliver Nelson, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Michael Buble and more. 

Then on May 7, the Moraine Chorale and Chamber Singers present Broadway/Pop Motion Picture Spectacular featuring more than 65 singers and a 10-piece instrumental ensemble. The program will include music from Rent, Titanic, Evita, Sweeney Todd, legendary Beatle John Lennon and more.

By Request: An Evening of Audience Favorites will fill the theater on May 10. The Concert Band performance will include classic movie themes, Gershwin greats and so much more. Back by popular request, Joe Collins, WBBM 780 radio personality, will host the program.

The final concert in the series of four takes place May 12 with the 18-piece Percussion Ensemble. Yes, this will be percussion only but with a wide range of instruments including xylophone, marimba, vibraphone timpani, dums and steel pans. The program list includes works by Bela Fleck, Josh Gottry Nathan Daughtrey and many more.

When: 7:30 p.m. May 6, 7, 10 and 12; concert specifics above
Where: Dorothy Menker Theater, Moraine Valley Fine and Performing Arts Center, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills.
Cost: $12 per concert, $10 for seniors and students. Final concert free.
Tickets and information: 708-974-5500, www.morainevalley.edu/fpac and at box office 

Park Forest

Illinois Theatre Center closes its 2010-2011 season this weekend with the final performances of The Glorious Ones, a musical tribute to actors focused on a band of touring Italian comics in the 16th century.

When: 8 p.m., April 29, 30; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.,May 1
Where: Illinois Theatre Center, 371 Artists Walk, Park Forest
Cost: $20-$22, $1 discount for seniors and students
Tickets and information: 708-481-7774 and http://www.ilthctr.org 

South Holland

South Suburban College presents a string of musical events beginning at 7: 30 p.m. tonight, April 29, with a Band Concert featuring the SSC Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Andrew Hoeffle.

At 7 p.m., May 2, the Guitar Recital takes place followed at 2 p.m. May 3 with a Student Recital including various instruments and vocals.

At 7:30 p.m,. May 4, the Ensembles Concert will feature the SSC Jazz Combo, Jazz Band and SSC Voices.

At 7:30 p.m., May 6, the SSC Symphonic Band Concert will perform.

When: April 29 to May 6 as noted above
Where: Kindig Performing Arts Center, South Suburban College, 15800 S. State St., South Holland
Cost: Free
Information: 708-596-2000, ext. 2349 

University Park

With Mom in mind, the Center for Performing Arts presents Mama's Night Out, a humorous, often very funny look at trials and such of motherhood via skits and standup routines by three very funny women. The trio includes a Southern belle, sassy Brit and brassy New Yorker, also known as comedians Karen Morgan, Nancy Witter and Sherry Davey.

Nick at Night's Search for the Funniest Mom in America stars, each will bring on the laughs with her own standup and for a grand finale, wait till these women get together to rock the house with laughter.

A free pre-show party will include free drink specials and a variety of other treats for moms including beauty treatments (even though mom is beautiful already), door prizes and more. 

When: 8 p.m., May 7
Where: Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park
Cost: $15
Tickets and information: 708-235-2222 and www.centertickets.net 

University Park

Governors State University graduate art student Diana Lynch's thesis exhibition in printmaking, Le Nouveau Cirque, opens May 1 in the Visual Arts Gallery. An artist's reception May 5, open to the public, will celebrate the Orland Park resident's achievement. Lynch will talk about her works and the print processes she has employed for the project.

When: Gallery show from May 1 to May 7; reception 5 to 8 p.m., May 5. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 12 to 9 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday.
Where: Visual Arts Gallery, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park
Cost: Free
Information: www.GSUVisualArtsGallery.blogspot.com or 708-534-4021