Best bets: Diavolo, ski show, Kevin Pollak, Kremlin chamber orchestra
Balancing actDescribed as part-dance, part-gymnastics and with plenty of spectacle, Diavolo makes an area return with a finely balanced performance amid huge set pieces this Saturday at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $48; $46 seniors; $38 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9Ski to shining skiWinter sports enthusiasts can get a jump on the season by checking out the latest equipment and trendy resorts by catching the Windy City Ski and Snowboard Show this weekend at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. $12 daily admission. (847) 303-4100 or windycityskiandsnowboardshow.com. 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10Russian stringsVisiting from Russia, the Chamber Orchestra Kremlin performs music of Mozart, Piazzolla, Schnittke and more with guest cellist Borislav Strulev tonight at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $35-$60. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8Funny, ha, haBe it serious drama or standup comedy, Kevin Pollak knows how to be devastatingly effective in whatever genre he works in. Catch this comedian and character actor this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $25. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 8; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9Blooming beautyThe Illinois Orchid Society gives flower enthusiasts something to gawk at with its "Fall into Orchids" seasonal show this weekend at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe. Free admission, but $20 parking fee per car. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10HD Opera 'Ring'Rumored to have a budget of up to $16 million, the Metropolitan Opera's new Robert Lepage staging of Wagner's monumental "Der Ring des Nibelungen" kicks off with the first opera in the cycle, "Das Rheingold." Catch it this Saturday at local movie theaters ranging from Batavia to Gurnee via a worldwide live high-definition simulcast. $22; $20 seniors; $18 kids. Visit fathomevents.com for a list of participating theaters. noon Saturday, Oct. 9Unfettered FlecktoneGrammy Award-winning bassist Victor Wooten (famously a member of B#233;la Fleck and the Flecktones) shows off his funky and jazzy style on his own terms this Saturday at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $32-$35. Additional $35 for preshow dinner. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/arts. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9Cross-culture classicalThe DuPage Symphony Orchestra teams up with the classical Indian Natya Dance Theatre for a performance of Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloe" among other classics by Berlioz and more this Saturday at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $28-$40; $25 seniors; $11 students. (630) 637-7469 or dupagesymphony.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9Bountiful balletThe Joffrey Ballet launches its Chicago season with a mixed repertory program called "All Stars" featuring four works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Christopher Wheeldon. Catch it starting Wednesday at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $25-$145. (800) 982-2787 or joffrey.org. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, then 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays until Oct. 24False8291144Comedian/actor Kevin Pollak appears at the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg. False