Shanghai Circus Comes to LW-West, and More Southland Events

Joliet

Four-time Grammy-winner Lyle Lovett and longtime tour buddy John Hiatt go acoustic at Joliet’s legendary Rialto Square Theatre. 

Followed by a stream of rave reviews, the “unplugged” tour has only one local show and this is it. Audiences will hear country, swing, folk and blues in a smaller venue, nowhere near the gargantuan size of a stadium.

Lovett and Hiatt as usual will do some talking, share stories with the audience and bring a sense of warmth and camaraderie to a cold Midwest winter night.

When: 8 p.m. Friday
Where: Rialto Square Theatre, 15 E. Van Buren St.
How much? $49.50-$65
More info: Call 815-726-7171 or go to the venue's website.

Lincoln-Way High School District 210 picks up its Spotlight Series for 2011 with The New Shanghai Circus, a show geared to the entire family.

“Fearless performers with boundless energy will bring more than 2,000 years of Chinese circus traditions to Lincoln-Way (West),” says Denise Adducci, the district’s performing arts coordinator.

Performers will execute breathtaking feats as they stretch the limits of human ability in a spellbinding show, she adds.

When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: , 21701 S. Gougar Road
How much? $20, $15 students and seniors. Children younger than 5 will not be admitted.
More info: Call 815-534-3240.

Clearly one of the most talented, trailblazing jazz legends ever, Duke Ellington still lives on through his timeless body of music.

The Tony Award-nominated Sophisticated Ladies, billed as a stunning revue of Ellington’s most memorable classics, steps on to the Center for Performing Arts stage with a captivating tribute to the late composer and performer.

Classics from the Roaring Twenties and on through the Swing Era include big band sounds of "It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got the Swing)," "Satin Doll," "Take the ‘A’ Train" and, of course, "Sophisticated Ladies," to name a few of the production numbers in this Valentine’s Day weekend special.

When: 8 p.m. Saturday
Where: Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Prkwy.
How much? $15 -$46
More info: Call 708-235-2222 or go to the center's website.

Hearts are a flutter across the Southland, and Valentine’s Day entertainment makes a special stop at the this weekend.

The Greta Pope Trio, which includes a vocalist, a pianist and bassist, will carry guests on a trip to April in Paris at the Tinley Park Public Library.

When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Tinley Park Public Library, 7851 Timber Dr.
How much? Free, but registration is required.
More info: Call 708-532-0160, ext. 3, or go to the library's website.

It won’t be a romantic , but fun and laughter visit the for a 21 and over Comedy Night.

Mike Toomey headlines the show, following openers Brian Hicks and Pat McCann. Fritz Gary Nothnagel emcees the program.

Want to dine first? An Italian dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread and dessert is extra and requires reservations. Show-only tickets can be purchased at the door.

When: Dinner is at 6:30 p.m. Monday, followed by the show at 7:30 p.m.
Where: , 5850 W. 103rd St.
How much? $10 for show-only tickets; $10 for dinner, which requires reservations.
More info: Call 708-398-6284 or e-mail mgrana@olparks.com.

Patch readers might not remember the days when families sat around the radio listening to their favorite shows, but the nostalgia of the pre-television era remains alive and well.

Steve Darnall, host of Those Were the Days on WDCB-FM (90.9), brings the Golden Age of Radio to the Matteson Public Library for a free show next week. Darnall is the tour guide for a journey to the early 20th century when radio was the only electronic window to the world.

Darnall will present old-time classics along with some tidbits about the programs and stars whose legacy continues to delight so many.

When: 10-11 a.m. Wednesday
Where: Matteson Public Library, 801 S. School Ave.
How much? Free.
More info: Call 708- 748-4431 or at the library's website.