Pheasant Run
Beatles, swords on tap
Noble Fool Theatricals at Pheasant Run in St. Charles diversifies this month, presenting Beatles tribute band American English in three shows Friday and Saturday, Jan. 9 and 10, and some of the best comedic swordplay in the country by The Swordsmen on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16 and 17. Master swordsmen Dirk Perfect and Guido Crescendo are celebrating their 20th anniversary as The Swordsmen, returning with their award-winning brand of interactive swordplay for the whole family.
The longest-running solo play in Broadway history, “Defending the Caveman,” will play from Jan. 23 to 25; and “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” hits the stage Jan. 30, March 20, April 25, Aug. 29, Nov. 28 and Dec. 26.
For details and tickets, contact (630) 584-6342 or www.ticketmaster.com. Visit www.noblefool.org. The resort is at 4051 E. Main St.

ESO guest artists
Concert to feature cellist
The Elgin Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Andrew Grams ring in the New Year with Brahms’ joyful Second Symphony from Friday through Sunday, Jan. 9 to 11, in The Hemmens Cultural Center. Also featured will be “The Moldau,” Smetana’s work portraying the Bohemian river flowing on its way to Prague, and Barber’s Cello Concerto, performed by noted guest cellist Matt Haimovitz.
Before Saturday’s concert, the ESO welcomes a special performance by Brass Attack at 7 p.m. in The Hemmens lobby. The chamber ensemble from Huntley High School is the second group to participate in the ESO’s Musicians in the Making education initiative.
Tickets start at $15 for all concerts. Performance times are 1:30 and 8 p.m. Friday; 8 p.m. Saturday; and 3:30 p.m. Sunday at 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. To help encourage donations to Elgin’s food pantries, the ESO is offering one free ticket for every 10 nonperishable food items dropped off in person at the ESO Box Office, 20 DuPage Court. Next up will be Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony (“Pastoral”) Feb. 6 to 8, with conductor Alastair Willis and harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, followed by “Patriotic Pops,” a tribute to Abraham Lincoln’s bicentennial birthday, Feb. 20 to 22, and Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”) March 6 to 8.
For more information, call the box office at (847) 888-4000 or visit www.elginsymphony.org.

Elvis tribute
Artists to hit Paramount
The Elvis Birthday Tribute is a concert celebrating the music of Elvis Presley era by era. It will feature three tribute artists — Shawn Klush, Ryan Pelton and Donny Edwards — Friday evening, Jan. 9, in the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora.
The concert begins with the early rock-a-billy years, followed by the military years, the movie years, the 1968 comeback special in black leather and closing with the Las Vegas concert years.
Elvis Presley Enterprises named Klush the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist of 2007. He was Named World’s Greatest Elvis by the BBC1 in London. Edwards earned second place in the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Concert.
Special guests will include D.J. Fontana, Presley’s original drummer, who is featured on 28 of his movie soundtracks. The vocal group Rivington Station will perform, along with the Fabulous Ambassadors Band.
For tickets, call (630) 896-6666 or visit www.tickets.com. For more information on the show, visit www.elvisbirthdaytribute.com.

Noble ‘Cinderella’
Youth auditions set
The nonprofit Noble Fool Theatricals Performing Arts Academy invites ages 8 to 18 to audition for its Youth Ensemble’s spring production of “Cinderella” at Pheasant Run, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Open auditions are offered at two sites at the resort: 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, on the Preservation Hall Studio Stage or 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, on the Mainstage. No appointment is necessary.
The NFT version of the fairy tale will feature a retelling set in the 1940s.
Tali Allen of Roselle is musical director for the show, which will be staged for the public between March 21 and April 5 on the Mainstage.
For auditions, youth memorize a one-minute monologue and 16 bars of a song that best displays their talent. They should bring sheet music for the accompanist, along with headshot and resume.
For more information, visit www.noblefool.org/education, call (630) 364-0550 or e-mail education@noblefool.org.

Chamber concert
Guitarists at Arboretum
The Morton Arboretum continues its “Winter’s Ballad” chamber concert series with the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet at 2:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11.
The ensemble, founded in 1986, will perform a range of period pieces from Renaissance and Baroque to Spanish, Latin American and Romantic, to highly imaginative contemporary works.
Individual chamber concert tickets cost $28. The series presents The Chicago Early Morning Consort Feb. 1, and the Callipygian Players, featuring keyboard artist David Schrader, March 1. Order tickets at www.mortonarb.org, under Events and Activities, or call (630) 725-2066. The Morton Arboretum is at Interstate 88 and Route 53, Lisle.

Stars at McAninch
Lewis’ jazz, ballet on tap
Ramsey Lewis brings his jazz trio to the McAninch Arts Center at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, followed by the Russian National Ballet Theatre in “Swan Lake” at 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11.
Lewis, the man who put a groove into jazz with his mega-hit “The In Crowd” more than 40 years ago, has three Grammys and seven Gold Records.
The Russian ballet troupe, founded by the Bolshoi’s legendary dancer Sergei Radchenko, will perform the classic story of the dashing Prince Siegfried and the enchanted swan princess Odette.
The MAC is on the campus of College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. For ticket information, call (630) 942-4000.