Entertainment

Best bets: Swoon to sounds of The Midtown Men

Posted February 11, 2014 4:30 am

By Scott C. Morgan

The Midtown Men, featuring Michael Longoria, Christian Hoff, Daniel Reichard and J. Robert Spencer of the original Broadway company of “Jersey Boys,” perform two shows at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora on Friday, Feb. 14.

Top pick

Who Loves You?

Serenades from members of the original Broadway cast of “Jersey Boys” will fill the Paramount Theatre when The Midtown Men perform two shows today at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $45-$55. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. 1:30 and 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14

This weekend

Under the sea

Area scuba divers won't want to miss the Our World Underwater show this weekend with numerous workshops, lectures, films and more at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $15 one-day admission; $80 three-day package; other multiday and workshop packages available. (847) 692-2222 or ourworldunderwater.com. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14; 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15; and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16

Star-crossed duo

Shakespeare's most famous lovers are brought to life by stars Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad in special screenings of the 2013 Broadway revival of “Romeo and Juliet” today and Sunday at select movie theaters. $15. fathomevents.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16

Broadway dynamo

Tony Award-winner Bernadette Peters (“Song and Dance,” “Annie Get Your Gun”) performs romantic song standards in concert at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $52.50-$92.50. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 14

In bloom

Infuse some floral color into your life via more than 10,000 blooms on display as part of The Orchid Show starting Saturday at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $10; $8 seniors and kids; $25 parking per car. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, through Sunday, March 16

Ellington opera

Two African-American women get caught up in a beauty rivalry in “Queenie Pie,” an opera by jazz legend Duke Ellington that was unfinished at his death. Chicago Opera Theater presents a reconstruction of the work featuring other Ellington music for four performances starting Saturday at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $45-$125. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org or chicagooperatheater.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15, Friday, Feb. 21, and Wednesday, March 5, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23

Brill singer

Grammy Award-winning jazz artist Kurt Elling not only performs music from his latest album, “1619 Broadway — The Brill Building Project,” this Sunday, he'll also be on hand to help open the renovated and renamed Cleve Carney Art Gallery at the College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $44; $42 seniors; $34 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16

Plan ahead

Fatel-ly funny

See celebrated comedian Mitch Fatel, famed for his regular appearances on Comedy Central and satellite radio, for five shows starting Friday, April 11, at The Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $22 plus a two menu-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 8 and 10 p.m. Friday, April 11; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, April 12; and 7 p.m. Sunday, April 13

Puppetry pageant

Introduce your family to Native American tales from the Iroquois confederacy when Hobey Ford's Golden Rod Puppets performs “Turtle Island Tales” on Saturday, April 12, at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $10; $5 seniors. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org. 2 p.m. Saturday, April 12

The Midtown Men, featuring J. Robert Spencer, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Christian Hoff of the original Broadway company of "Jersey Boys," perform two shows at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora on Friday, Feb. 14.

Find out about scuba diving and more at the Our World Underwater show Friday through Sunday, Feb. 14-16, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont.

Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad starred as the title lovers of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." The 2013 Broadway production is shown in select movie theaters on Friday, Feb. 14, and Sunday, Feb. 16. Courtesy of Carol Rosegg

Tony Award-winning Broadway star Bernadette Peters appears in concert at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan on Friday, Feb. 14. Courtesy of Andrew Eccles

The Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe hosts The Orchid Show from Saturday, Feb. 15, to Sunday, March 16.

Cafe Au Lait (Anna Bowen, center) upsets her rival in Duke Ellington's jazz-opera hybrid "Queenie Pie," which has its Windy City debut courtesy of Chicago Opera Theater at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance. Courtesy of Long Beach Opera

Karen Marie Richardson and Keithon Gipson co-star in the Chicago debut of Duke Ellington's jazz-opera hybrid "Queenie Pie," courtesy of Chicago Opera Theater at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance. Courtesy of Long Beach Opera

Grammy Award-winner Kurt Elling will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. Courtesy of Anna Webber

Comedian Mitch Fatel will headline the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg.

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