Weekly picks: Well-Strung brings classical, pop hits to Ravinia
Hunky quartet
The classical and crossover string quartet Well-Strung performs music ranging from the Romantic era to contemporary pop. See the ensemble perform Thursday in the Ravinia Festival Martin Theatre, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $40-$60 pavilion seating; $10 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21
Midsommar mirth
Geneva presents its own Midsommar festival called Swedish Days. There will be a parade, rides, food and lots of Scandinavian displays in the vicinity of 8 S. 3rd St., Geneva. Free admission. (630) 232-6060 or genevachamber.com. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 20; 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, June 21; 9 a.m. to midnight Friday, June 22; 7:15 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 23; and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 24
Showy cars
Get ready for lots of classic cars, music and kids' activities for one of three Daily Herald-sponsored summer Cruise Nights at Stratford Square Mall, 152 Stratford Square, Bloomingdale. Free admission. (630) 539-1000 or events.dailyherald.com. 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 20
Cross-cultural laughs
Comedian Jason Cheny draws from his Taiwanese background and time living in North America to create his standup routines. Catch Cheny at Zanies at Parkway Bank Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 813-0484, zanies.com. $25 plus a two-item purchase. 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, June 20-22, and 10:30 p.m. Friday, June 22
Rossini masterpiece
Maestro Ricardo Muti leads the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with international opera stars for concert performances of Rossini's “Stabat Mater” starting Thursday at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $43-$250. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, June 21- 23, and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 24
Comedy guys
Get a heavy dose of testosterone-fueled comedy when Bert Kreischer, Sal Vulcano, Nate Bargatz and Kyle Kinane share a standup comedy bill tonight at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $39.50-$87.10. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, June 22
Outdoor movie
Families can catch a free outdoor park screening of animated film “Despicable Me 3” Friday at Willow Stream Park, 651 Old Checker Road, Buffalo Grove. Free. (847) 850-2146 or bgparks.org. Dusk Friday, June 22
Sideshow premiere
Sideshow Theatre Company concludes its season with the premiere of the theater piece “Tilikum” by Kristiana Rae Colon, a member of Goodman Theatre's playwrights unit and a resident playwright at Chicago Dramatists. It centers on the onetime king of the oceans now held captive in an aquatic amusement park. Reminded by his fellow prisoners of how freedom feels, the emboldened Tilikum (Gregory Geffrard) commences a rebellion that “threatens to consume everything.” Previews are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 22-23, and Wednesday, June 27, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 24, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 28. $20-$30. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org or sideshowtheatre.org.
Brews & views
More than 45 breweries will be on tap for the fifth-annual Craft Beer Festival on Saturday at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. $50 general admission; $70 VIP admission; $15 designated driver. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 23 (early VIP admission at noon)
Latin celebration
The bands Mariachi Sol de Mexico and the Sonora Santanera are just two of the featured bands at this Saturday's Tequila & Mariachi Festival on Saturday at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. $25-$37. (630) 896-6666 or riveredgeaurora.com. 3 to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 23
See Me!
Roger Daltrey, one of the original band members of The Who, performs two concert performances of the 1969 British rock opera “Tommy” on Saturday and Monday at the Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $125-$140 pavilion seating; $49-$54 lawn seating. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. 8 p.m. Saturday and Monday, June 23 and 25
'Mack the Knife'
The Artists Lounge Live series presents former “Jersey Boys” and Under the Streetlamp star Christopher Kale Jones in the tribute concert “DARIN: Bobby's Biggest Hits” for two shows this weekend at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. $50. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, June 23; 2 p.m. sold out Sunday, June 24
Men's club
Goodman Theatre heralds the start of summer with some laughs courtesy of “Support Group for Men” by Ellen Fairey (“Nurse Jackie,” “Masters of Sex”). Fairey's comedy examines social and gender roles through the eyes of four regular guys from Chicago who gather weekly in a Wrigleyville apartment to share their middle-aged angst. Kimberly Senior directs Anthony Irons, Ryan Kitley, Keith Kupferer and Tommy Rivera-Veg, who play characters confronting what it means to be a man in 21st-century America. Previews at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 23; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, June 24 and July 1; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, June 27-28; and 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 29-30, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The show opens July 5. $25-$80. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.
Rock on
Relive memorable hit songs from the 1970s and '80s when the bands Chicago and REO Speedwagon share a concert bill on Sunday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $39.50-$375; $15-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 24