Weekend picks: Ventriloquist Terry Fator brings his puppets to Paramount

Cast of characters

Famed comedian and ventriloquist Terry Fator tours with his menagerie of oddball puppets this weekend at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $79-$99. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20

French cooking class

Love French food? Learn how to make wild mushroom tartare with cheese toast, merguez burger with cream cheese spread and hand-cut frites, and malted chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches at a French cooking class from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 20, at Mon Ami Gabi in Oak Brook. Each course will be paired with boutique French wines. Each participant will receive a recipe booklet to take home. The class is $55, plus tax and gratuity. Mon Ami Gabi is at 260 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 472-1900 or monamigabi.com/home/?loc=oakbrook.

House and garden

Get ideas for making changes to your house and yard at the Oak Brook Home & Garden Show. The exhibitors set up over the weekend at the Drury Lane Convention Center, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. No admission charge. (630) 953-2500 or oakbrookhomeshow.com. 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 20 and 21

Abode alterations

More than 150 exhibitors are lined up to share renovation ideas at The Lake County Home Improvement Expo. The weekend event is at Lake County Fairgrounds, 1060 E. Peterson Road, Grayslake. No admission charge. (630) 468-2237 or homeshowevent.com. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 20 and 21

Auto occasions

Historian and archivist Mitch Frumkin hosts a multimedia presentation on the History of the Chicago Auto Show on Saturday at the Glen Ellyn History Center, 800 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn. $5. (630) 469-1867 or gehs.org. 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20

Go, go, go Joseph

Drury Lane Theatre concludes its season with a revival of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," the musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Adapted from the story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis, it centers on Jacob's youngest son Joseph, who was sold into slavery by his brothers to Potiphar. After rebuffing the advances of Potiphar's wife, Joseph is jailed until his ability to interpret dreams attracts the attention of the Pharoah. Evan Alexander Smith, who appeared in Chicago's pre-Broadway run of "Amazing Grace," stars as Joseph. Previews are at 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20; and 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, at 100 Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace. The show opens Jan. 25. $42-$62. (630) 530-0111 or drurylanetheatre.com.

Party time at Hofbrauhaus

Hofbrauhaus Chicago is turning 5, so the beer hall is throwing a celebration starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. The fun includes a traditional keg-tapping ceremony and music from a 40-piece German Bugle band and authentic "oompah" band direct from Germany. Oh, and traditional German fare and beer. The first 300 guests will receive a free T-shirt. Hofbrauhaus Chicago is at 5500 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 671-2739 or hofbrauhauschicago.com/events/#anniversary-party.

Tomorrow Never Knows continues

It's the last two nights for Tomorrow Never Knows, a five-day gathering of local indie artists, national performers and up-and-coming comedians at five Chicago venues: Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.; Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave.; The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia Ave.; Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.; and Smart Bar, 3730 N. Clark St. The fest runs through Sunday, Jan. 21. Five-day pass is $125; individual shows range from $10-$22. See tnkfest.com for full schedules and ticket info.

Standup with Titus

See comedian Christopher Titus mine humor from his rough upbringing and some of the more outrageous incidents of his life this weekend when he returns for another run at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $27 plus a two-drink minimum. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20; 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21

Russian 'Beauty'

The State Ballet Theatre of Russia brings its take on Tchaikovsky's classic ballet "Sleeping Beauty" to two area venues this weekend: first on Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $29.50-$52.50. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com; then on Sunday at Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $25-$85. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, in Waukegan; then at 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21, in Chicago

Soprano solidarity

Opera sopranos Nicole Cabell and Alyson Cambridge team up with the Lake Forest Symphony for the concert "Sisters in Song" this weekend at College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $15-$75. (847) 295-2135 or lakeforestsymphony.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20; 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21

Evanston Rocks with Buddy Holly

Ron Onesti and Onesti Entertainment are bringing music to a new market with the recent opening of the Evanston Rocks Music Hall, sharing a space in the former 27 Live building on Church Street with the Rock 'N Ravioli Italian Restaurant and Bourbon 'N Brass Speakeasy Bar. Visit the new space this weekend for Buddy Holly and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll Saturday. 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Evanston Rocks Music Hall, 1012 Church St., Evanston. $15. (630) 962-7000 or evanstonrocks.com.

Trolley tiger

Families who are fans of PBS Kids animated programs won't want to miss seeing the tour of "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood Live" on Sunday at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $25.75-$35.75. $15-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21

Raw talent

Lend your support to aspiring comedians at a Stand-up Open Mic night on Sunday at Laugh Out Loud, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg. $5 to perform and free for audiences. (847) 240-0386 or laughoutloudtheater.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 21

Concert highlights

• latenightsinmycar., High Wire, A Better Hand, Almost, Maine, Aiming For Average: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $10. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

• Arbor Creek, Starship Pilgrims, The Brass Kicks, IDK: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $6-$8. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

• 2018 Blizzard Bash, featuring Burned, Stars Aligned, Bullet to the Heart, Threatening the Order, Vent To Atmosphere: 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at LiveWire Lounge, 3394 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $10-$15. (773) 756-5363 or livewire.do312.com.

• Chris Young "Losing Sleep World Tour" with Kane Brown, LANCO: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Sears Centre, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $38-$58. (847) 649-2222 or searscentre.com.

• V Is for Villains, Colonel Gunn's Wild West Music Show, Bloodman: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $10. (312) 666-6775 or bottomlounge.com.

• Minds of Madness Vol. 5 w/ Linkin Experience, Jay-Z Tribute: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. $5-$7. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.

• Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Luther Dickinson: 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago. $39.50-$65. (773) 472-0449 or victheatre.com.

• Smarty Pants: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

• There Goes the Neighborhood, The Throwbacks: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Thirsty Whale, 1700 S. Randall Road, Algonquin. Free. (847) 458-8555 or thirstywhalebar.com.

• Fool House: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $8. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

• Terrapin Flyer - A Grateful Dead Tribute Band: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $10. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

• North of Eight: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Spot on 66, 6542 Joliet Road, Countryside. Check with venue for more information. (708) 588-1702 or spoton66.com.

• Twenty Over: 10 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at Lamplighter Inn, 60 N. Bothwell St., Palatine. $3. (847) 991-2420 or lamplighters.com.

• Johnny Don't at Manic Mondays: 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 22, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. No cover; dinner and drink specials available. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.

• MER's Music Showcase: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. Free. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

• David Hayes, Trick Shooter Social Club, Noah Gabriel, bluefront: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $8. (773) 278-6600 or subt.net.

• Ajúa Presenta LatIndie, featuring Karma Wears White Ties, You Are Here, Gaby Luna, Elia and more: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 24, at Emporium Arcade Bar, 1366 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Free with RSVP. (773) 697-7922 or emporiumchicago.com.

• Tedeschi Trucks Band with JJ Grey & Mofro: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $19-$60. (312) 462-6300 or msg.com.

• An Evening with the O'Jays: 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $38-$58. (847) 263-6300 or geneseetheatre.com.

• Ryan Powers & Daniel Wade acoustic: 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. Free. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

• Gin & Jokes comedy and hip-hop open mic hosted by Mikey to the P: 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at Rhyme or Reason, 1938 W. Division St., Chicago. Free; drink package is available. (773) 687-8240 or rhymeorreasonchicago.com.

• Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with the venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings or to add an event, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.