Best bets: Lipizzaners bring equine ballet to Sears Centre
Lovers of equine ballet won't want to miss The “World Famous” Lipizzaner Stallions, which gallop and trot this weekend around the Sears Centre Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates. $30-$55; $17.50-$22.50 seniors and kids ages 12 and under. (888) 732-7784 or searscentre.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19; 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20
Scuba duba!
Anyone who has ever had a hankering to do underwater exploring should head on down to the Our World-Underwater Show this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. Tickets vary depending upon workshops, duration and sessions, ranging between $12-$80 (including weekend packages). (847) 692-2222 or ourworldunderwater.com. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18; 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20
Dancing ‘Widow'
The Joffrey Ballet continues on with the Chicago premiere of Ronald Hynd's critically acclaimed 1975 ballet adaptation of the beloved operetta “The Merry Widow” this weekend at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. Tickets cost $24-$145. (800) 982-2787. 7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 27
Green humor
From his appearances on the big-screen to his Internet-based chat show, actor/comedian Tom Green does what he can to stay in the comedy spotlight. Catch Green this weekend doing standup at two Zanies locations. First at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 584-6342. Then at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills, (847) 549-6030. $30 plus a two menu-item purchase. Visit zanies.com. 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, in St. Charles; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, in Vernon Hills
Piano pictures
Guest pianist Rich Ridenour joins with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra for the Hollywood-inspired concert “Great Movies, Grand Piano” at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $40-$50. Then at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $16-$68. (847) 888-4000 or elginsymphony.org. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18 in Schaumburg; in Elgin: 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, and 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20
Jazz trio
The Ramsey Lewis Trio returns to enliven the College of DuPage's Winter Jazz Fest with a Saturday concert at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Hear Lewis tickle the ivories while Joshua Ramos plays on bass and Charles Heath strums the drums. $50-$75; $48-$73 seniors; $40-$65 students. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19
They've got the moves
Trinity Irish Dance and Mexican Dance Ensemble are just two of the ensembles featured this Saturday in The Best of Dance Chicago, which brings a variety of dance troupes to Fermilab's Ramsey Auditorium in Wilson Hall, Kirk Road and Pine Street, Batavia. $28-$14. (630) 840-2787 or fnal.gov/culture. 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19
Black comedy
If you've loved seeing Grammy-Award-winning comedian Lewis Black rant and rave on Comedy Central's “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” then don't miss Black in person this Sunday at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. $47-$55. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu/vpac. 8 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 20
Show tune time
Nate Johnson (“Mamma Mia!” national tour), Melissa Minyard (“Les Miserables”) and cabaret star Lisa Rock are a few of the musical theater performers who make up “Metropolis Sings Broadway” this Monday at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $25. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21