‘Camp Rock’ stars to appear

Stars of Disney Channel’s original movie “Camp Rock” are scheduled to join Radio Disney AM 1300 Chicago from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 5, at the Lisle Eyes to the Skies Balloon Festival.

Meaghan Jette Martin and Alyson Stoner will meet fans and sign autographs from 2 to 4 p.m. while Radio Disney’s Road Crew entertains the crowd with music, games and prizes.

“Camp Rock” is the story of a talented, yet unsure, teen who yearns to share her songs with the world and of a young superstar who’s lost his passion for music. Meaghan portrays Tess Tyler, the bossy queen bee of the hottest clique in camp. Alyson plays Caitlyn Geller, the aspiring music producer.

The Lisle Eyes to the Skies Festival, running July 3 to 6, is held at Lisle Community Park, 1825 Short St. For more information on the special appearance, visit RadioDisney.com/Chicago.

Mulligan Mosaics concert on tap

Appearing in Glen Ellyn, The Mulligan Mosaics Big Band, led by baritone saxophonist Ted Hogarth, performs the music of Gerry Mulligan and music by composers and arrangers he inspired.

The group will entertain from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at the second annual Jazz Fest Glen Ellyn, a free concert set on Main Street between Crescent and Pennsylvania. Guests should bring lawn chairs. For details, visit http://www.jazzfestglenellyn.org. Visit the band’s Web site at http://www.mulliganmosaics.com.

Interactive ‘Alice’ show to visit MAC

College Theater presents “Wonderland Runs Amok or The Day Before Alice Went Down the Rabbit Hole” outdoors at the McAninch Arts Center Courtyard at College of DuPage.

Scripted through improvisation and interweaving the characters from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass,” such as the Cheshire Cat, the White Rabbit, Alice and more, the final production looks at what might have happened in both Wonderland and Alice’s world before she went on her adventures, ultimately helping teach lessons of community, patience and tolerance.
Audience members are invited to bring picnic baskets, blankets and lawn chairs. Curtain is at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 3, 5, 6, 11, 12 and 13.

The MAC is on campus at 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. For ticket information, call (630) 942-4000.

Agency on Aging event discounts offered

Specially priced tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis to attend both a matinee performance of the newly adapted musical “The Boys from Syracuse” and the 13th annual Senior Lifestyle Expo, all at The Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace this September.

Offered by the nonprofit Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging, the $20 per person package price — available to groups and individuals of all ages — is less than a matinee theater ticket alone, even with a senior discount.

“The Boys from Syracuse,” a musical based on William Shakespeare’s “The Comedy of Errors,” tells the story of identical twin brothers separated as young children. As adults, the twins’ servants also are long-separated twins. An engaging series of mistaken identities occurs when all wind up in the same town and the wives believe the wrong twins are their husbands.

“We hope that families will take advantage of this opportunity to see the play and learn about the abundance of services available throughout the region to make aging and caregiving a whole lot easier,” said Connie Kobitter, special events manager for Agency on Aging, which hosts the Expo.

Advance reservations are required for the play, which will take place at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3.

The Senior Lifestyle Expo will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. that Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 4. The Expo is the largest and most comprehensive senior event of its kind. Highlights include live entertainment, a “Senior Idol” talent competition, interactive games, giveaways, educational seminars and access to the products and services of more than 100 area companies and nonprofit organizations.

Expo proceeds benefit the agency’s Holiday Meals on Wheels program, which provides nutritious meals to elders in need on holidays and weekends.

To check current availability for the theater and Expo package or to request a reservation, call Kim Robey at (630) 293-5990 or (800) 528-2000, toll-free, or e-mail krobey@ageguide.org. Information is also at www.SeniorLifestyleExpo.org.

Musician Paula Cole to grace Arboretum

Grammy Award-winning vocalist Paula Cole, perhaps best known for the hit “I Don’t Want To Wait,” the theme to TV’s “Dawson’s Creek,” brings her pop rock and folk music to The Morton Arboretum Saturday, July 12.

Cole earned the Best New Artist Grammy in 1997 for her album “This Fire,” which included the smash single, “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone.” Her acclaimed recent album balances her piano-based pop with her first true musical love: jazz. Cole’s concert is part of “In Tune With Trees,” the Arboretum’s summer concert series.

The concert lawn opens at 4:30 p.m., and the opening act starts at 6 p.m. Concert-goers may pre-order a picnic meal for pickup before the show, featuring sandwiches, salads and sweets. For ticket information, visit www.mortonarb.org or call (630) 725-2066. The Arboretum is at Interstate 88 and Route 53 in Lisle.

Winning photo artist to exhibit

The Norris Art Gallery in St. Charles exhibits “Heavy Metal & Heavenly Light” from now through July 26, showcasing three distinct bodies of work by photographer and St. Charles native Robert Rydin. A reception is planned from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 5.

A self-taught artist, Rydin intricately explores form and light using various photographic methods. In the show are black-and-white studies of historic railroad locomotives; the high country of Colorado taken using both medium and large format “view camera” methods; and an exploration of natural landscapes and cityscapes, using cutting-edge digital technology to create panoramic prints, some 6 feet long.

Several of the exhibited photographs recently were entered in the Union League Club of Chicago photography contest and were awarded first place in six of seven categories.

The Norris Gallery is open for public viewing from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 1040 Dunham Road on the campus of St. Charles East High School.

Community theater set for 'Oliver!'

Ranging from ages 12 to 74, more than 140 men, women and children from throughout the western suburbs and beyond will take to the North Central College stage as actors, singers and dancers in “Oliver!,” the high-energy musical opening July 10.

Each summer, theater faculty audition community members to stage two productions for the public.

“We always pick one show to feature a lot of young people,” said Brian Lynch of Warrenville, the college’s fine arts director.

Some of the show’s memorable songs include “Consider Yourself,” “I’d Do Anything,” “As Long as He Needs Me” and “Food Glorious Food.”

The play’s key roles are Oliver and Fagin. Richie Roesner, a seventh-grader from Wheaton, plays Oliver.

“He’s an amazingly talented young man,” Lynch says. “Richie has been in previous North Central College shows.”

Chris Oechsel of Naperville plays the thieving Fagin. Oechsel and his entire family have been involved in many North Central summer productions. In “Oliver!,” Oechsel’s son Christopher plays the part of Noah Claypole, and daughters Alex and Taylor are members of Fagin’s gang and the workhouse.

In August, daughter Erin will play a lead role, and wife Beth will work with costumes for the college’s second summer musical, “My Favorite Year.”

“The entire family is gifted, talented and, above all, nice, wonderful people,” Lynch said. “They’re sort of the perfect family!”

“Oliver!” is directed and choreographed by Lynch, with musical direction by Michael Sundblad, a 2003 North Central College graduate and director of music at Thomas Nelson Community College in Hampton, Va.

With six performances, some main parts are double-cast. Featured roles are: Bill Sykes, played by Peter Sipla of Warrenville and David Musselman of Woodridge; Dodger, Alex Gonzalez of Plainfield and Dan Leahy, 12, of Downers Grove; Charles Bates, Matthew Zuckerman, 13, of Wheaton; Noah Claypole, Christopher Oechsel, 14, of Naperville and Brett Bush, 15, of Clarendon Hills; Charlotte, Rose Grizzell, 15, of Naperville and Antonia Jankowski, 19, of Oak Forest; Mr. Bumble, Stuart Vance of Naperville and David Scott of Wilmington; Widow Corney, Kim Beyer of Plainfield and Cheryl Newman of Naperville; Mr. Sowerberry, Spencer Diedrick of Glen Ellyn; Mrs. Sowerberry, Abby Stark of Bolingbrook; Bet, Alaina Wis, 15, and Victoria Newhuis, 12, both of Naperville; Old Sally, Judy Colonero of Warrenville; Mr. Brownlow, Tom Paulsen of Wheaton; and Dr. Grimwig, Roger Hendrickson of Naperville.

Curtain is at 8 p.m. July 10, 11, 12, 17 and 18, with a 3 p.m. matinee Sunday, July 13, in Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. For tickets, call (630) 637-SHOW.