A+E briefs

Children’s Museum
Rudolph to make music

Music takes center stage at DuPage Children’s Museum with a variety of interactive Tiny Great Performances. Singer, musician, songwriter and author Dave Rudolph gets things hopping with an interactive beach party Saturday, Nov. 29, that features Hula Hoops, bubble machines and limbo dances.
All Tiny Great Performances introduce young children to the magic of live performance in a family-friendly setting that encourages them to sing along. The short, drop-in performances are held from 10:30 a.m. and noon on select Saturdays in the museum, 301 N. Washington St., Naperville. Performances are free for members and included with paid admission to the museum.
The series continues:
• Dec. 13: Clarence Goodman writes and performs his own music, as well as playing classic rock songs, accompanied by harmonica, ukulele and guitar.
• Dec. 27: Steven Keefe encourages children to become members of his folk music band by playing washboards, cowbells and other jug band instruments.
For the complete lineup and a calendar of other programs and featured exhibits, visit www.dupagechildrensmuseum.org or call (630) 637-8000.


Promenade
Holiday light shows set

Nightly shows are offered at The Promenade Bolingbrook, featuring 250,000 LED lights embedded in holiday foliage and choreographed to the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Shows begin at 6, 7, 8 and 9 p.m. through December. The open-air shopping district also offers a musically inspired, nine-city residential holiday décor contest seeking the best multimedia home-light display. The contest runs through Dec. 12. Visit www.symphonyinlights.com for details.
Yankee Candle will serve as a drop-off site for the Toys for Tots campaign, sponsored annually by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve through Dec. 15. Additionally, there will be a live broadcast from The Promenade promoting the holiday program from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. That day, LifeSource will hold a blood drive.
From Dec. 13 to 24, gift wrapping will be provided by the Bubel/Aiken Foundation. The organization serves to bridge the gap between young people with special needs and the world around them. Although the wrapping is complimentary, a donation is suggested.
The Promenade Bolingbrook is at 631 E. Boughton Road. For more information, visit www.thepromenadebolingbrook.com.


Singer-songwriter
Anderson to play Two Way

Singer-songwriter-comic Jamie Anderson of North Carolina stars at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the Two Way Street Coffeehouse, 1047 Curtiss St., Downers Grove.
Touring nationally since the 1980s, Anderson has made eight albums. When she’s not touring, she teaches guitar and related subjects at Duke University, arts centers and music camps. She describes herself as a confused folk singer who dabbles in several genres. In her bluegrass romp, “Felon,” a less-than-kind look at North Carolina laws, the story starts with a speeding ticket and Barney Fife.
For details, visit www.twowaystreet.org.


DuPage musicians
Youth Symphony to play

The Youth Symphony of DuPage will present its first concert of the season at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, in Pfeiffer Hall on the North Central College campus, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville.
Admission is free, with donations accepted. The symphony is composed of more than 130 middle and high school musicians representing 23 communities. YSDP’s two orchestras, the Preparatory Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra, both will perform.
Selected works include Concerto Grosso in D Major by Vivaldi, “Ceremonial March” by Mozart, the “Rienzi Overture” by Wagner and the finale from Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 88, by Dvorak.
YSDP will be joined by Grace Yang, special guest artist and former YSDP concertmistress, performing a “Triple Fiddle Suite” on violin, erhu and electric fiddle. The finale will be a holiday sing-a-long featuring the “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s “Messiah.” YSDP was founded in 1966 and is led by longtime Director Meng-Kong Tham.
For more information, visit ysdp.org.


Wentz Hall
Chicago a cappella booked

Chicago a cappella is expanding its concert schedule in Naperville this season, with three performances at the new Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College. A premier classical chamber vocal ensemble, the ensemble will make its debut at Wentz in December with a concert called “Holidays World Tour.” A new member of the group is soprano Margaret Harden of Geneva.
The new hall is part of a 57,000-square-foot fine arts center and boasts motorized acoustic curtains that can be adjusted or “tuned” for each performance.
The holiday opener celebrates the group’s new Christmas compact disc, ranging from tender songs from France and Sweden to jubilant Christmas music from Africa, Eastern European carols and the ensemble’s own “Jingle a cappella,” a fusion of “Jingle Bells” and a Bach fugue.
The concert begins at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at 171 E. Chicago Ave., where the ensemble next performs “Abundance” at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, and “Chansons d’Amour: April in Paris” at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 26. For subscriptions, tickets or a season brochure, call (773) 755-1628 or visit www.chicagoacappella.org.

 
Bard’s comedy
Local actors to appear

Demonte Dandridge of Bolingbrook and Meghan Surta of St. Charles are in the Aurora University Theatre Department production of Shakespeare’s comedy “As You Like It.”
It will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Nov. 19 to 22, in Perry Theatre in the Aurora Foundation Center for Community Enrichment, 1305 Kenilworth Place, Aurora.
 Admission is free, but audience members are asked to bring nonperishable food items for the Holy Angels Church food pantry in Aurora and Season of Concern, the Chicago area theater community’s fundraising effort in the fight against AIDS.
Reservations are required. Call (630) 844-4924 or e-mail artsandideas@aurora.edu.


Sylvia McNair
Holiday concert set

Wheaton College invites the community to its annual Christmas festival concert, this year titled “Love’s Pure Light,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5 and 6. Appearing as special guest vocalist will be Grammy winner Sylvia McNair, joining the Wheaton College Concert Choir, Men’s Glee Club, Women’s Chorale, Symphonic Band and Harp Ensemble.
All tickets cost $15 and may be purchased online at www.wheaton.edu/music, by visiting the Ticket and Information Office at 418 N. Chase St., Wheaton, or by calling (630) 752-5010.


Frasz directs
NIU dancers to perform

The Northern Illinois University School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance faculty and students will collaborate for the first time in 15 years to produce a dance production, “L’Histoire du Soldat,” in the Stevens Building’s O’Connell Theatre.
“In my tenure of 15 years, dance performances at NIU have never been accompanied by live musicians,” said director and choreographer Paula Frasz, an award-winning choreographer who grew up in Geneva. “With the kind cooperation, talent and enthusiasm of conductor Lucia Matos and the students and faculty of the School of Music, we afford the students the invaluable experience of dancing with and playing for each other.”
“A Soldier’s Tale” is a Russian folk story of a soldier on his way home from war. On his journey, he comes face to face with the devil, who buys his violin in exchange for wealth, a dire mistake.
“As the artistic director of a professional dance company, I speak from experience when I say that having costumes, scenery and lighting of this caliber (is) a rare gift,” Frasz said.
The production will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 20 to 22, with a matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23. Tickets are available at the box office in the Stevens Building on the DeKalb campus or online at www.niu.edu/theatre. For more information, call the box office at (815) 753-1600.

 
Local actor
Vamvakas in classic

Peter Vamvakas of Elmhurst appears in supporting roles in the holiday musical “A Wonderful Life” playing from now to Dec. 21 at Theatre at the Center in Munster, Ind.
Vamvakas most recently appeared as Inspector Ledoux in Theatre At The Center’s “Phantom.” Among his other credits, he has worked with Chamber Opera Chicago, Light Opera Works, Apple Tree Theatre, Illinois Theatre Center, Shakespeare of the Green and Noble Fool Theatricals. His television credits include programs on the History Channel, Animal Planet and Discovery Channel.
Theatre at the Center presents the musical, based on the Frank Capra film classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” at 1040 Ridge Road. The musical is the collaboration of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Sheldon Harnick and Grammy and Emmy Award-winner Joe Raposo.
For tickets, call (219) 836-3255 or visit Tickets.com. Visit www.theatreatthecenter.org.


Angels in art
Arts group to host talk

The pre-Christmas program of the Fox Valley Associates of the Art Institute of Chicago welcomes guests. It takes place Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the St. Charles Country Club. “On Wings of Grace: Angels in Art” will be offered by popular presenter Jeffrey Nigro.
He is director of adult programs in the Department of Museum Education at the Art Institute. The lecture will use works of European art from the Middle Ages to the 19th century to show angels in various roles as intermediaries, protectors and musicians.
Coffee will be served at 10 a.m., followed by the lecture at 10:30 a.m. and lunch at noon. The fee is $15 for the lecture alone, and $35 for both lecture and lunch. Reservations are required by Nov. 24 by calling Jeneva at (630) 879-7261.


Documentary
Immigration to be focus

The recently released documentary, “American Harvest,” will be shown at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Geneva at South Second and James streets.
It is a nonpartisan, award-winning documentary that covers immigration and migrant worker issues from many points of view. Admission and popcorn are free. The film runs about 100 minutes, and will be followed by discussion for those who would like to stay. More information on the film can be found at americanharvestmovie.com.
The film is part of the ongoing Friday Flick series of documentaries offered by UUSG on the third Friday of each month except December. The next offering will be “Afghan Stories” Jan. 16; visit content.uusg.org/friday-flicks/.


Chamber music
Youth to perform

The Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra will present two concerts featuring 21 groups from the Chamber Music Institute.
 They begin at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, in the ATC Auditorium in the Visual and Performing Arts Center on the main campus of Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive. CMI concerts are free to the public, and tickets are not required.
The early concert will feature 14 ensembles from the Prelude Orchestra and Philharmonia, while the 4:30 p.m. concert will showcase seven ensembles. Two EYSO honors groups, the Maud Powell String Quartet and the Sterling Brass Quintet, will play at both concerts.
“The Chamber Music Institute gives our musicians the opportunity to play in small groups which highlight the contributions of every member; both EYSO and non-EYSO musicians are part of this unique program,” said Kathy Matthews of St. Charles, executive director.
The program’s second semester begins in January. Non-EYSO members would need to audition Sunday. The CMI application is on the Web site at www.eyso.org.  For information on these and other openings, call the EYSO at (847) 841-7700.


Bazaar, service
Ladies Chorus plans events

The Elmhurst Ladies Chorus will hold a traditional German Advent Bazaar from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Elmhurst Elk’s Lodge, 711 W. St. Charles Road. The event includes entertainment, handcrafted items, raffle, home-baked goods and lunch. Admission is free.
The chorus will participate in a German Evangelical service at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, in St. John United Church of Christ, 1190 Oleson Drive, Naperville. For directions, call the church at (630) 961-9942.


Towns’ Chorale
Holiday concerts approach

The Glen Ellyn-Wheaton Chorale, under the direction of Greg Wheatley, presents “Make We Merry: A British Christmas” at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in College Church at Washington and Seminary avenues, Wheaton.
The program features familiar Christmas music by British composers. The hallmark of the concert is Geoffrey Bush’s “Christmas Cantata” with strings and oboe.
Tickets are available by calling (630) 415-3066 or by visiting www.gewchorale.org.