Theater, Music, Art, Culture

Water Street Studios special February exhibits For an eye-opening experience this winter, visit Water Street Studios for the opening of two new exhibits running Feb. 1–-March 7. First check out “The Ancient Greek Elements Through a 21st Century Lens.” This is an exploration of timeless elements featuring the work of Susan Aurinko’s capture of earth, Georgia Schwender’s compelling depiction of fire, and more. Follow that with “Barbara Eberhard: Behind the Prison Wall.” This is a photographic exhibit of the Old Joliet Prison giving viewers a look into the life inside that began back in 1858. A gallery opening reception will be hosted Feb. 14 at 6pm.

Taste the Coffee of Geneva The Geneva Chamber of Commerce brings back the Coffee Cup Crawl on Feb. 22 in Geneva from 10am-4pm. Fourteen businesses will be serving samples of coffee, special coffee creation and coffee with a kick for those 21 and older. Ticket holders will pick up their complimentary coffee cup and ticket at the Geneva Visitors Center, 10 S. 3rd St. on Feb. 22 between 9:30am–1pm.

Cheers and cheese to new trees The Geneva Park District Foundation and the city’s Natural Resources Committee host the Wine, Cheese & Trees fundraiser on Feb. 29 at the Geneva Park District’s Persinger Recreation Center from 7–10pm. Admission includes three wine pours or two craft beers, artisan cheeses, and appetizers from local merchants. The evening also features live music, a silent auction, drawings, a “wine wall” and live auction. This is a wonderful opportunity for a fun filled evening that will go towards helping

Wear Green for mental health awareness Come out and support at NAMI KDK’s “Wearing of the Green for Health Awareness” dinner on March 12 at Riverside Receptions and Conference Center at 5:30pm. The evening features a delicious dinner, silent auction, cash bar along with an award presentation and live auction. Show your support for mental health awareness by wearing green. NAMI KDK is a non-for-profit organization whose mission is to provide mental health education, support, and advocacy for individuals, family members, and local communities.

Daughters and Dads have a fun dance night Make special memories together at the Geneva Park District’s and Just Dad N’ Me Dance on Feb. 16 from 5:30–7:30pm

Photo courtesy St. Charles Business Alliance

at Geneva High School. Enjoy and evening of dancing, entertainment, and delicious refreshments for dads and daughters. Doors open at 5pm for check-in and pictures for keepsake of this memorable night. If a dad cannot attend, a grandfather, uncle, or big brother is welcome. Dads with more than one daughter are encouraged to bring them all. Registration is required.

The leprechauns are coming! The St. Patrick’s Parade, hosted annually in Downtown St. Charles, has become a family tradition. Join friends of all ages lining Main St. to watch the antics of cheerful leprechauns, listen to award-winning local marching bands, watch the elaborate and colorful floats glide down the street, pay tribute to the

Go:

walking units of veterans, hear the Celtic pipe bands, and more. The parade steps off March 14 at 2pm at Main and Sixth St. The route continues down Main St. and concludes at Fourth Ave.

Enjoy a maple sampler at Durant House LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve is hosting Maple Sugaring Days and the 1843 Durant House will be open on Sat., March 7 and Sun., March 8 from 1–4pm. Hear how the pioneers used maple sugar and maple syrup as an organic sweetener. Enjoy the fire in the hearth room and learn 19th-century recipes. And, bring the kids and grandkids to spend time in the parlor to learn and play old fashioned parlor games. The Durant House Museum has a suggested donation of $3 per adult and $2 per child for special events.

Geneva Chamber of Commerce: 630-232-6060, genevachamber.org Geneva Park District: 630-232-4542, genevaparks.org NAMI KDK: 630-896-6264, namikdk.org Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley: 630-377-6426, ppfc.org St. Patrick’s Day Parade: 630-443-3967, stcstpatricksparade.com Water Street Studios: 630-761-9977, waterstreetstudios.org

Photo: courtesy Mariachi Acero

Mariachi Acero joins the Elgin Symphony for special performance March 7.

Goitse Sat., March 7, 8pm, Fermilab Ramsey Auditorium, Batavia Witness this popular and multi-award-winning quintet from Ireland perform their own compositions interspersed with traditional tunes from the countryside of Ireland and abroad, making each performance unique. Originating from Limerick’s Irish World Academy, Goitse have been named a leader of the new generation of traditional Irish ensembles.

Chicago Brass Quintet Sun., Feb. 16, 2:30pm, Fermilab Art Gallery, Batavia The Chicago Brass Quintet brings a special style, grace, technique and humor to this unique concert that include antiphonal music by Gabrieli, as well as works by Vivaldi, Morricone, and Chicago Scenes by Mark Elliot. Performing around the world, the group is comprised of Ross Beacraft and Matthew Lee on trumpet, Sharon Jones on French horn, Adam Moen on trombone, and Dan Anderson on tuba.

The ESO presents Mariachi! Sat., March 7, 7:30pm, Hemmens Cultural Center, Elgin The Elgin Symphony Orchestra collaborates with Mariachi Acero for a one of a kind performance. From Las Vegas, Mariachi Acero presents an understanding of the most recent contemporary Mariachi hit works, while preserving the classics of yesterday, This is a performance night of music, culture, and dance.

A Bowie Celebration Thurs., March 19, 7:30pm, Arcada Theater, St. Charles The David Bowie Alumni tour features an unforgettable and critically acclaimed evening of Bowie songs. This tour is headed by longest standing member Mike Garson and accompanied by additional alumni including Gery Leonard, Carmine Rojas, Kevin Armstrong, Sass Jordan, Corey Glover, and Alan Childs.

Orion Ensemble premieres arrangement of Tamusuza’s Quartet Sun., March 1, 3pm, New England Congregational Church, Aurora Join in for The Orion Ensemble’s third concert program of its 27th season. This concert premieres Orion clarinetist Kathryne Pirtle and violinist Florentina Ramniceanu’s arrangement of Ugandan composer Justinian Tamusuza’s Mu Kkubo Ery ‘Omusaalaba (On the Way of the Cross) as well as music from Dvorak, Rolla and Chicago composer Sebastian Huydts.

Go:

Arcada Theatre: 630-962-7000, arcadalive.com Elgin Symphony: 847-888-4000, elginsymphony.org Fermilab: 630-840-3351, events.fnal.gov Orion Ensemble: 630-628-9591, orionensemble.org

The Secret of My Success, the Musical Feb. 1–March 29, Paramount Theatre, Aurora Follow the hilarious, heartfelt story of Brantley Foster, a young ambitious Midwesterner, as he moves to New York City for his dream job at a major corporation, only to be laid off the same day. Using the fake identity of a rising executive to climb the corporate ladder, Brantley soon falls in love with beautiful colleague Christy. Will he get the job, win at love or just get caught?

He & She Feb. 21, 22, 28, 29, & March 5, 6, 7, 7pm; Feb. 23 & March 1, 3pm, Playhouse 38, Geneva Experience the world premiere this warm and humorous exploration of the interaction between the sexes portrayed through several one-acts. Witness a pair of squabbling playwrights that blur the line between themselves and their characters, a couple meeting after a long absence searching for what went wrong in their past, two 5-year-olds who confront modern gender roles, and longtime best friends who ask, what is love anyway?

Breakfast at Tiffany’s Feb. 14, 21, 22, 28, 29, 7:30pm; Feb. 23, 2:30pm, Albright Theatre, Batavia Based on Truman Capote’s classic novella, this classic follows Fred, a young writer, who becomes infatuated with his Upper East neighbor: the beguiling, effervescent beauty Miss Holiday Golightly. As Holly pulls Fred into her world of spontaneous parties and luxury, he finds himself increasingly fascinated with this captivating woman.

20th Century Blues Feb. 21–March 15, Fridays & Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm, Steele Beam Theatre, St. Charles Four women meet once a year for a ritual photo shoot, chronicling their changing – and aging – selves. This story explores their familiar and relatable navigation of love, careers, children and the complications of history.

Tom Crean—Antarctic Explorer Feb. 22 at 8pm, Fermilab’s Ramsey Auditorium, Batavia See Aiden Dooley in this solo performance as the intrepid explorer and one of Ireland’s unsung heroes in a compelling depiction, telling stories of his explorations as one of the few men to serve with both Scott and Shackleton, surviving three famous expeditions. Winning awards at multiple festivals including the New York International Fringe Festival and the Dublin Festival, this original piece has wowed audiences and critics alike.

Go:

Albright Theatre: 630-740-6228, albrighttheatre.com Fermilab: 630-840-3000, events.fnal.gov Paramont Theatre: 630-896-6666, paramountaurora.com Playhouse 38: 630-232-4548, genevaparks.org Steel Beam Theatre: 630-587-8521, steelbeamtheatre.co

Photo: courtesy Aidan Dooley

Aidan Dooley plays Tom Crean, the remarkable explorer who survived three Antarctic expeditions with both Scott and Shackleton on Feb. 22 at Fermilab.