Things to do April 18-24: Cirque Italia, Easter events, Riverdance 30 and more

Starts Before Friday

“Moulin Rouge the Musical”: 1 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 16; 7 p.m. Thursday, April 17; 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 18; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19; and 1 p.m. Sunday, April 20, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Baz Luhrmann’s revolutionary film comes to life onstage, remixed in a new musical mashup. $40-$120. broadwayinchicago.com.

Pinky Patel "#isaidwhatisaid Tour”: 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 17-18, and 3:30 and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Chicago Improv, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. Standup comedy from a PTA mom turned creator, comedian and internet personality. $30-$45. improv.com.

Sean Donnelly: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17, and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 18-19, at the Comedy Vault, 18 E. Wilson St., Batavia. Standup comedy. $25. comedyvaultbatavia.com.

“Our Town”: 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 17-19, at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. The Pulitzer Prize-winning classic examines life in a small fictional town and follows the relationship of a young couple in love. $14-$16. atthemac.org.

Friday, April 18

Indigenous Artist Market Pop-Up: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, April 18, at the Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, 3001 Central St., Evanston. A day of free admission to the museum, including a pop-up market with local Indigenous artists. gichigamiin-museum.org.

Rotten Tails Revenge!: 7-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 18-19, at Basement of the Dead Haunted House Chicago, 42 W. New York St., Aurora. Special opening with Peter Rotten Tail and his evil dementors hiding in the depths of The Basement. Will you collect his treasured eggs for prizes, or forever be trapped in his evil madness and become one of his Easter minions? $17.49. basementofthedead.com.

“99th & Nowhere”: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, April 18-27, at Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. A world premiere dark comedy by local playwright Gary McGowan. $22-$28. steelbeamtheatre.com.

Cirque Italia: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Monday, April 18 and 21; 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19; and 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, April 20, in the parking lot at Chicago Premium Outlets, 1650 Premium Outlet Blvd., Aurora. A 1950s-themed circus show with master jugglers, low-wire performers, contortionists, trampoline antics and a wheel of death. $10-$50, kids admitted free with a full-priced adult ticket. cirqueitalia.com.

“Collective Rage — A Play In Five Betties”: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 18-19, at the Riverfront Playhouse, 11-13 S. Water Street Mall, Aurora. Jen Silverman’s play about five different women named Betty colliding at the intersection of anger, sex and the “thea-tah.” riverfrontplayhouse.com.

The Millennium Tour: 8 p.m. Friday, April 18, at the Wintrust Arena, 200 E. Cermak Road, Chicago. Trey Songz, Omarion, Bow Wow, Plies, Boosie, Ying Yang Twins, RSVP, Nivea and a special guest appearance by Rick Ross. Tickets start at $69.75. wintrustarena.com.

RCSA presents MTI’s Pure Imagination: 8 p.m. Friday, April 18, and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Musical revue featuring 14 musical numbers from shows in Music Theatre International’s Broadway Junior collection. $7-$25. Rauecenter.org.

Saturday, April 19

27th Annual Eggstravaganza Trail: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Corrine J. Rose Park, 412 S. Lewis Ave., Waukegan. Hop along the bunny trail and collect candy-filled eggs from the Easter Bunny and friends, while supplies last. Free entertainment, including pony rides, a petting zoo, hands-on bubble stations and balloon artists. Free. waukeganparks.org.

Springtime at Windy Acres Farm: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 18-19, at Windy Acres Farm, 37W446 Fabyan Pkwy., Geneva. The Easter Bunny visits from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; petting zoo animals; and Easter egg hunts at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Arrive 20 minutes before the egg hunt. $7-$15. windyacresfarmstand.com.

Easter Party: 9:30 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at Southminster Presbyterian Church, 680 S. Park Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Family-friendly Easter Party featuring interactive walk-through Easter story, crafts and an Easter egg hunt for up through fifth grade outdoors or in the church, depending on weather. Rain or shine. Free. southminsterpc.org.

Bunny Trolley Hop: Time slots from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Illinois Railway Museum, 7000 Olson Road, Union. Gates open at 9:15 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Young visitors will be able to meet and be photographed with the Easter Bunny in his carrot coach, hunt for eggs and treasure, see live animals at the small animal zoo, and participate in activities, games and more. $20. irm.org.

Easter Eggstravaganza: 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 19, at St. Matthew Lutheran Church, 720 Dundee Ave., Barrington. Egg hunt with 5,000 eggs, carnival games with prizes, balloon animals and face painting. The Community Meal includes doughnuts, granola bars, fruit and more. stmatthewbarrington.org.

Once Upon a Symphony “Abiyoyo”: 10 and 11:45 a.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. The program designed to introduce kids ages 3-5 to classical music presents a South African folktale adapted by singer-songwriter Pete Seeger. $20-$30. cso.org.

Bunny Burrow Express: 11 a.m., 1:30 and 3 p.m. Saturday, April 19, in the Jon J. Duerr Forest Preserve, 35W003 Route 31, South Elgin. Take the Fox River Valley Trolley Museum ride to the Easter Bunny’s “secret burrow,” where there will be hidden eggs to find. Children will receive a basket. $30 per person. Register: foxtrolley.org.

Long Grove Bunny Hop: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 19, in Historic Downtown Long Grove, 145 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Follow the downtown Long Grove Bunny Trail, where designated stops on the trail will offer treats and family-friendly activities. Free. longgrove.org.

Earth Day Celebration: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake. Exhibits, earth-friendly activities and crafts, guided hikes, food trucks, live music and puppet shows. Free. mccdistrict.org.

Easter Eggstravaganza: 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Chicago Premium Outlets, 1650 Premium Outlet Blvd., Aurora. Easter-themed games and crafts, photos with the Easter Bunny and more near Market Hall. premiumoutlets.com.

“Animaniacs in Concert”: 2 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St., Woodstock. Original voice actor Rob Paulsen and Emmy-winning composer Randy Rogel bring the animated series to the stage with over 20 classic songs, including “Yakko’s World” and “I’m Mad.” $40-$50. woodstockoperahouse.com.

“The Addams Family”: 3 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Musical comedy in which Wednesday invites her new boyfriend and his parents over to meet Gomez, Morticia and the rest of the family. $35-$89. geneseetheatre.com.

“Alton Brown Live: Last Bite”: 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., Chicago. The famed foodist reflects on his decades in food media, presents several of his favorite culinary mega-hacks, sings some of his food songs and more. Tickets start at $26.50. altonbrownlive.com/altonbrown.

ArtWauk: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, April 19, in downtown Waukegan. Monthly celebration of arts in downtown Waukegan with art exhibits, musicians and live performances. Free. artwauk.com.

Dandelion Best of Rahal Abstract Extravaganza 2025 Showcase Event Featuring Kim Rahal: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Dandelion Gallery & Studio, 109 S. Genesee St., Waukegan. An immersive exhibition featuring the abstract works of Kim Rahal alongside the members of the Dandelion Artist Alliance. Free. dandeliongallery.org.

“Dancing with the Stars: Live”: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. See the professional dancers of the TV show on their live tour. Tickets start at $64. rosemont.com.

Nargiz “Purpur” Live Show: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Nargiz performs a set featuring her newest songs alongside timeless favorites. $54-$104. visitchicagonorthshore.com.

Stavros Halkias’ “The Dreamboat Tour”: 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. Comedy. Tickets start at $49.50. msg.com/the-chicago-theatre.

The Doo Wop Project: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Belushi Performance Hall, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Starring five leading men from “Jersey Boys,” “Motown: The Musical,” “Beautiful” and “A Bronx Tale,” this new show features fresh renditions of classic doo wop hits as well as “doowopified” versions of contemporary songs like Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep” and Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places,” plus favorites like “Remember Then” and “That’s My Desire.” $46-$64. atthemac.org.

Kishi Bashi: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. Emmy-winning recording artist Kishi Bashi performs with the Chicago Philharmonic. Tickets start at $59. auditoriumtheatre.org.

We Them One’s Comedy Tour: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Wintrust Arena, 200 E. Cermak Road, Chicago. Hosted by Mike Epps, featuring Kountry Wayne, Lil Duvall, Tony Roberts, Karlous Miller, HaHa Davis and Bubba Dubb. Tickets start at $65.50. wintrustarena.com.

Songs & Stories, A Birthday Celebration for Big Vinny: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Vincent John and Vinny of The Bronx Wanderers will be sharing personal stories and songs spanning a variety of genres and decades. $19. arcadalive.com.

Sunday, April 20

Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt: 9 a.m. Sunday, April 20, at Itasca Country Club, 400 E. Orchard St., Itasca. Brunch buffet, a visit from the Easter Bunny, an egg hunt and a petting zoo. $35-$65; free for kids 3 and younger. RSVP: itascacountryclub.com.

Monday, April 21

17th Annual Writers Fest: 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, April 21-23, at Northwestern University, Scott Hall, Guild Lounge, 601 University Place, Evanston. Features readings from authors Mary South on Monday, Eric Dean Wilson on Tuesday and Tracy Fuad on Wednesday. Free. planitpurple.northwestern.edu.

An Evening with Itzhak Perlman: 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 21, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. Multimedia program interweaves storytelling by Perlman with personal photos, documentary clips and music making with Perlman’s pianist and friend of 25 years, Rohan DeSilva. Tickets start at $56.50. msg.com/the-chicago-theatre.

Jazz Small Ensembles: A Tribute to Bobby Timmons and The Music of Billy Strayhorn: 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 21, at the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, McClintock Choral and Recital Room, 70 Arts Circle, Evanston. Conductors Derrick Gardner and Kevin Fort present the music of Robert Henry Timmons and Billy Strayhorn. $4-$6. planitpurple.northwestern.edu.

Tuesday, April 22

Earth Day Celebration: 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the Lincoln Marsh- Prairie Patch Play Area, 1000 W. Lincoln Ave., Wheaton. Activities, crafts and open play. Free. Registration encouraged at lincolnmarsh@wheatonparks.org or (630) 871-2810. facebook.com/events/656348283483075.

Sneak Peek Showcase: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, April 22 and 24, at Cinergy Wheeling, 401 W. Dundee Road, Wheeling. An exclusive glimpse into the future of the big screen featuring trailers, never-before-seen footage and behind-the-scenes content from the upcoming theatrical slate. $3 suggested donation; proceeds will benefit the Will Rogers Pioneer Assistance Fund, Variety — the Children’s Charity, and The Cinema Foundation. cinergy.com/wheeling.

Riverdance 30 “The New Generation”: 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, April 22-24; 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 25; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26; and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. The fusion of Irish and international dance and music celebrates its 30-year milestone. Tickets start at $31.50. cadillacpalacetheatre.com.

MCC Guitar Ensemble and MCC String Orchestra: 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake. Free. mchenry.edu.

Dean Lewis: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. “The Epilogue World Tour.” Tickets start at $32.50. jamusa.com.

The Vital Organ, The Legacy of the Hammond B-3: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center for the Musical Arts, Galvin Recital Hall, 70 Arts Circle, Evanston. Keyboardist Reggie Thomas, a member of the Count Basie Orchestra and the Chicago Jazz Orchestra, joins in for a celebration of the Hammond B-3 organ. $5-$8. planitpurple.northwestern.edu.

Wednesday, April 23

ENAZ’s Spring Fashion + Fare: 5-9 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at Upside Events, 440 Central Ave., above ENAZ, Highland Park. Celebrating ENAZ’s 33rd anniversary. The evening includes a preshow glam session from 5-6 p.m. including makeup touch-ups and nail art; fashion show at 6:15 p.m.; post show spring tips and trends with ENAZ owner and buyer Samantha Shapiro; and a chance to shop the looks while enjoying wine and sweet treats from 7-9 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Chicago Lighthouse. $18, VIP seats $33. enaz.com.

MCC Jazz Ensembles: 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake. Free. mchenry.edu.

Chamber Music Competition and Final Performance: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, in the Concert Hall of the Armerding Center for Music and the Arts, 520 E. Kenilworth Ave., Wheaton. Performed by the Conservatory students. Free. wheaton.edu.

Jim Henson’s “Labyrinth” In Concert: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at the Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. Watch the full movie as a live band performs in sync with David Bowie’s original vocals. Tickets start at $34.50. jamusa.com.

Melinda French Gates and Hoda Kotb: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at The Auditorium, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. A conversation with Melinda French Gates in honor of her new book, “The Next Day: Transitions, Change, and Moving Forward.” Ticket includes a hardcover copy. Tickets start at $44.50. auditoriumtheatre.org.

Thursday, April 24

Arbor Day Plant Sale: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Shop for a variety of plants chosen by experts for success in Chicago-area gardens. Tickets are $10-$47 and include a credit to be applied toward a purchase at the sale. mortonarb.org.

Central States Numismatic Society: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 24-25, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at the Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg. Coin collector convention with over 425 booths of vendors, experts, exhibits and more. Early-bird access available Wednesday, April 23. Daily admission $15, three-day pass $30, free admission for kids 17 and younger and after noon Saturday. csns.org/convention.

Poetry Pop-up: 10 a.m. Thursday, April 24, at The Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. Discover the natural world through poetry at a pop-up event featuring the Field’s poet-in-residence. The theme is “Mechanics of Poetry.” No prior knowledge of poetry needed. Included with basic admission of $23-$30. fieldmuseum.org.

Shen Yun: 2 p.m. Thursday, April 24; 7 p.m. Friday, April 25; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 26; and 1 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Classical Chinese dance, live orchestral music and authentic costumes. Tickets start at $80. rosemont.com/theatre.

The Dickinson Ensemble: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the Wilmette Public Library, 1242 Wilmette Ave., Wilmette. Celebrate National Poetry Month with musicians of The Dickinson Ensemble to examine the life and work of Emily Dickinson through song and sound. Free. wilmettelibrary.info.

Chris Redd: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, and 7 and 9:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, at the Chicago Improv, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. Standup comedy. $25. improv.com/chicago.

MCC Chamber Ensembles and MCC Concert Choir: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at McHenry County College, 8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake. Free. mchenry.edu/,

Mäkelä Conducts Mahler 3: 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 24-26, at the Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. In his Third Symphony, Mahler portrays the whole of earthly existence in six movements, written for a massive orchestra, two choruses and a contralto soloist. Tickets start at $99. cso.org.

Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. Featuring conductor Harvey Felder, graduate assistant conductor Giang Vo and Seho Young on piano. $4-$6. planitpurple.northwestern.edu.

“The Serpent Lady”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 24-25; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 26; and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville. North Central College theater production of a commedia dell’arte fairy tale about Cherestani, the Fairy Queen, and her mortal husband, Farruscad, overcoming numerous magical obstacles in order to be together. $12. northcentralcollege.edu/show/serpent-lady.

Theo Von “Return Of The Rat”: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the Wintrust Arena, 200 E. Cermak Road, Chicago. Comedian and podcast host Theo Von on his “Return of the Rat” tour. Tickets start at $35. wintrustarena.com.

Ongoing

“Art of the Parks — Paintings of the National Parks”: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, with select evening and weekend hours through May 2, at the Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. A solo exhibition by artist Fred Moss with over 25 oil paintings inspired by the scenic beauty of America’s National Parks. prairiecenter.org.

Hershey Super Sweet Adventure: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, through May, at Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. A family-friendly, interactive journey with hands-on activities and play centered around Hershey’s treats. Tickets start at $24.99. hersheysupersweetadventure.com.

“Rooted in Mystery”: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through Wednesday, May 7, at Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago. This year’s Spring Flower Show explores the roots of plants. Learn about the different types of roots and what they do while enjoying a display of spring plants, including azaleas, pansies, snapdragons, astilbe, baptisia, hydrangeas, and 26 different varieties of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths. Free, but reservations required. garfieldconservatory.org.

“Spectrum of Spring”: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, through May 11, at the Lincoln Park Conservatory, 2391 N. Stockton Drive, Chicago. Spring flower show. Free, but reservations are required at lincolnparkconservancy.org/conservatory-reservations.

Winter Ravinia Farmers Market: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays, through April 26, at Wayfarer Theaters, 1850 2nd St., Highland Park. Shop for local food, artisan products and sustainable products. Free. raviniafarmersmarket.com.

Fox Valley Mall photos with the Easter Bunny: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, April 15-17; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, April 18; and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Fox Valley Mall, 195 Fox Valley Center, Aurora. Meet and take photos with the Easter Bunny in his spring garden on the lower level in Macy’s Court. Reservations encouraged at shopfoxvalleymall.com.

Hawthorn photos with the Easter Bunny: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, April 15-18, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Hawthorn, 122 Hawthorn Center, Vernon Hills. Take keepsake photos with the Easter Bunny in his spring garden. Make reservations at bit.ly/3QuMtQK. visithawthorn.com/events.

“The Da Vinci Code”: 7 p.m. Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 6 p.m. Sundays, 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, and 1:30 and 7 p.m. Thursdays, through June 1, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Witness the novel live on stage as Professor Robert Langdon and cryptologist Sophie Neveu race against the clock to unlock the secrets of Da Vinci. Ticket prices vary by day and start at $90. drurylanetheatre.com.

“A Jukebox for the Algonquin”: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays, through May 18, at Citadel Theatre Company, 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. In this new comedy by Paul Stroili, the residents of Placid Pines Senior Care Center really want a jukebox for their recreation room and hatch a plot to come up with the money to buy one. $45. citadeltheatre.org.

“The Old Man and the Old Moon”: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through April 26, and Sunday, April 27, at Three Brothers Theatre, 115 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. A fantastical genre-defying folk musical about the caretaker of the moon. $15-$25. threebrotherstheatre.com.

“Titanic The Musical”: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 5 p.m. Sundays, and 7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, through June 1, at the Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Musical based on the real people aboard the legendary ship and the tragedy that followed. $68-$81. marriotttheatre.com.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”: 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 5:30 p.m. Sundays, 1:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesdays, and 7 p.m. Thursdays, through April 27, at the Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Six contestants vie for the spelling bee championship of a lifetime in this musical comedy. $40-$55. paramountaurora.com.