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Arts & Entertainment

'Famous Fives,' Emerald City, Peter Noone, Extraordinary Art Shows Color the Coming Week

This week with events in Chicago Heights, Frankfort, Joliet, Mokena, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Palos Hills, Park Forest, Tinley Park and University Park.

Chicago Heights

Union Street Gallery unveils a new, national juried exhibit, Word and Numbers, with a “smart, city gallery feel," according to gallery information. Union Street Gallery exhibits always are free.

When: A reception is 6-9 p.m. March 4. Show runs March 2 through April 2. Gallery hours are noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, noon-6 p.m. Friday, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
Where: , 1527 Otto Blvd.
Cost: Free
More info: Call 708-754-2601.

Frankfort

Under the direction of celebrated guest conductor Victor Yampolsky, the continues its performance season with Famous Fives, a program of Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major and Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5 in D-minor. Read our preview story .

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When: The concert is 8 p.m. March 5. A free discussion beforehand will be at 7:15 p.m. 
Where: , 19900 S. Harlem Ave.
Cost: $30-$50, $15 for students
More info: Call 708-481-7774 or go to the IPO's website

Frankfort

Lincoln-Way North High School kicks off the St. Patrick’s Day week with the Three Irish Sopranos, billed as “la crème of Irish classical vocal talent.” The three women, Wendy Dwyer, Kay Lynch and Deirdre Masterson, all have extensive classical training and varied experiences, including lead singer in Riverdance and performances on international operatic stages, according to District 210.

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When: 7:30 p.m., March 12
Where: , 19900 S. Harlem Ave.
Cost: $20, $15 seniors 65 and older, students in grades K-12
More info: 815-534-3240; order forms for download at www.lw210.org.spotlightseries

Joliet

The Rialto Square Theatre magically transforms into Emerald City of Oz with Dorothy, the Wizard, Wicked Witch of the East, Good Witch Glinda of the north and of course, Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion, all in a March 8 production of perhaps the greatest family musical of all time, The Wizard Of Oz. A group of as yet unnamed Will County youngsters will become Munchkins for one performance only. Lavish sets, classic songs include Over the Rainbow and Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead, are only part of what makes this ageless music a show for all times.

When: 8 p.m., March 7
Where: Rialto Square Theatre, 15 E. Van Buren St., Joliet
Cost: $25 to $55
More info: www.rialtosquare.com, 815-726-6600 and all Ticketmaster outlets. 

Joliet

The Rialto Square Theatre takes the audience backs to the British Invasion of the 1960s with Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone. The legendary Noone, now 63, and his Hermits hit the top 10 lists over and over with hits such as I’m into Something Good and Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter. Of course, there's also I’m Henry the Eighth, I Am and so many more.

It will be a night of musical memories from nearly a half-century ago, a sobering thought for those who lived through that decade, huh?

When: 8 p.m., March 12
Where: Rialto Square Theatre, 15 E. Van Buren St., Joliet
Cost: $25 to $55
More info: www.rialtosquare.com, 815-726-6600 and all Ticketmaster outlets 

Mokena

In its ongoing adult afternoon concert series, the Mokena Community Public Library District presents the Frank Ross Duo with jazz numbers, standard 20th century pop tunes and Italian-flavored musical favorites. Rossi and Tom Skorups also accompany themselves on a keyboard, accordion and drums.

When: 1 to 2 p.m., March 5
Where: , 11327 W. 195th St.
Cost: Free
More info: 708-479-9684 and www.mokena.lib.il.us

Oak Lawn

The Legacy Girls take Oak Lawn Public Library guests back to the 1940s and '50s with the Andrews Sisters Musical Review starring the Legacy Girls. This tribute performance honors "America's Wartime Sweethearts" with their three-part harmony, period costumes and choreography. This should be a delightful program for those seeking nostalgia and those who want to hear great music from the annals of history.

When: 2 p.m. March 13
Where: , 5300 W. 95th St.
Cost: Free
More info: 709-422-4990 and www.oaklawnlibrary.org

Palos Heights

The Southwest Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Helen Van Wyck, presents its annual spring concert. This year, it's An Afternoon with Lerner & Lowe, which includes favorites from classic musicals Camelot, Paint Your Wagon and My Fair Lady. Tickets are on sale now.

When: 4 p.m. March 6
Where: , Ozinga Auditorium, 6601 W. College Drive
Cost: $20, $15 students and seniors
More info: Call 708-802-0686

Palos Hills

Think about what little tricks help you remember how to spell difficult words. Did you ever try to “write” the word on the floor with your big toe? One character in delightful, fast-paced musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee finds the toe technique works for him.

The Moraine Valley Community College Academic Theater Department, under the direction of Craig Rosen, presents the fun-for-all, award-winning show.

When: Through March 6. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday.
Where: John and Angeline Oremus Theater, Fine and Performing Arts Center, , 9000 W. College Parkway
Cost: $12, $10 seniors and students
More info: Call 708-974-5500 or go to the center's website.

Palos Hills

Plots and Ploys: Laser Engravings by artist Christie Nuell continues through March 10 in the Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery at Moraine Valley Fine and Performing Arts Center. A closing reception on the final day is open to all as is the gallery.

Nuell combines printmaking processes and technology in her works and also uses a variety of media. The results are striking.

When: Through March 10 with 2 to 4 p.m. reception on final day. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday, Monday through next Thursday and during and usually during performances in one of the theaters.
Where: Robert F. DeCaprio Gallery, Fine and Performing Arts Center, , 9000 W. College Parkway
Cost: Free
More info: 708-974-5500 and www.morainevalley.edu/pfac

Park Forest

Illinois Theatre Center takes off this weekend with Marc Camoletti’s Boeing Boeing, a fast-paced comedy with the requisite hiding behind doors, people just missing others leaving or arriving and all the other well-timed elements of a wacky farce.

This humorous script premiered in Paris in 1960 and has soared since then with numerous stage productions, as well a 1965 U.S. feature film version starring Tony Curtis and Jerry Lewis. Other adaptations have hit the big screen in India, Netherlands, Norway and Germany. The show garnered a 2008 Tony Award for Best Revival.

Set in the early years of passenger jet flight, the nutty plot revolves around a Parisian architect who manages three simultaneous affairs with “air hostesses” who, of course, work for three different airlines and have no clue the others exist.

No surprise, faster jet engines eventually trigger a major problem when the three women wind up in town at the same time.

Ross Lehman stars in the ITC  production directed by David Boettcher. Comedies on the intimate stage featuring Jonathan Roark’s sets are an ITC specialty, and this should be tons of fun.

When: March 4 to March 20; show times 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Illinois Theatre Center, 371 Artists Walk, Downtown Park Forest.
Cost: $22 Friday and Saturday; $20 all other performances, $1 discount for students and seniors
More info: 708-481-3510 

Park Forest

Tall Grass Arts Association Gallery this weekend unveils its new exhibit, Half the Sky, in celebration of Women’s History Month. The exhibit title is based on a Chinese proverb, “Women hold up half the sky,” according to Tall Grass show details.

A walk through the gallery's show reveals surprise after surprise, each glorious. The various media, the colors, the bold spirit expressed in the potpourri of art works reflect the artists’ looks at the strength of women.

When: The show runs through May 8. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
Where: Tall Grass Arts Association Gallery, 367 Artists Walk, Downtown Park Forest.
Cost: Receptions and exhibits are always free.
More info: Call 708-748-3377.

Tinley Park

The Tinley Park Public Library welcomes March featured artist, photographer Cousandra Armstrong. Her work is described as “a series of color photographs showing the splendor and trees and flowers from bone to bud ...” Armstrong experiments with light, shadow and focus as she takes viewers on visual hikes through natural wonders.

When: 7 to 8:30 p.m., March 9
Where: , 7851 Timber Drive
Cost: Free, registration encouraged
More info: www.tplibrary.org and 708-532-0160, ext. 3 

Tinley Park

High tea, Irish style, and a photography exhibit featuring works by many of the region’s most accomplished imagists come together from noon to 2 p.m. at the Vogt Visual Arts Center, operated by local artists and the Tinley Park Park District, near the Oak Park Avenue Metra station.

When: 12 to 2 p.m., March 13
Where: , 17420 67th Court
Cost: Free, registration encouraged
More info: 708-342-4200

University Park

Regard—Resist—React, an all new art exhibit at Governors State University, reflects the “artists’ creative reactions to the issues that affect them personally, emotionally and/or intellectually,” gallery director and exhibit co-curator Jeff Stevenson said.

“One of our goals of this exhibit is to give artists and the public an opportunity for discourse around otherwise-avoided issues like war, politics, religion, immigration,” Stevenson said.

“We hope the show will tour to other campuses and venues when it leaves GSU,” he said.

When: 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.  March 5, opening reception. Exhibit opens March 4 and continues to March 25. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 12 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
Where: Visual Arts Gallery, Governors State University, 1 University Pkwy.
Cost: reception and gallery free, open to all
More info: www.gsuvisualartsgallery.blogspot.com and 708-534-4021

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