Naperville Sun

Sound of music

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:18:00 -0500

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself hearing music this summer. Community theater groups generally wait for summer to trot out the big musical productions with plenty of song and dance. It’s a season when amateur thespians have more time to devote to learning, rehearsing and performing in a big show. This summer is no different, except that you’ll find newer productions like “Legally Blonde” and “Rent” sprinkled in amongst classics such as “Cabaret” and “Fiddler on the Roof.” BrightSide Theater in Naperville is staging Jonathon Larson’s Pulitzer and Tony Award winning “Rent” June 14-30 at the Meiley-Swallow Hall at …

June 21-23: Rotary GroveFest, Yorkville River Night, Summer Solstice Craft Beer & Indie Music Festival, Old Campground Festival, Big Rock Wine Fest, Homer Community Fest

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:45:41 -0500

Youth is king at this year’s Rotary GroveFest. In addition to an appearance by Radio Disney, there will be a new youth stage at this year’s fest. Rotary GroveFest is this weekend in downtown Downers Grove. The free festival includes a carnival, live music, craft show, five mile run and car show. “We have added a third stage, a youth stage, on Main Street just north of the railroad tracks,” said Rotary Club member Keith Hoffman. “That will be run and produced by the J. Kyle Braid youth group.” Also new is an ecumenical service Sunday morning with several religious …

Just before beginning of Swedish Days, event honors traditions of Scandanavia

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:23:36 -0500

GENEVA — “Mommy, are we Swedish?” a little girl asked Sunday as she cut up her lingonberry pancakes at Good Templar Park. When her mother told her no, she responded, “Then why are we here?” A number of non-Scandinavians answered that question as they ate, danced, watched and enjoyed the 103rd annual Swedish Day festival on Geneva’s east side. Not to be confused with the city’s Swedish Days festival, which kicks off Tuesday in the downtown historic district, Swedish Day celebrates the heritage and traditions of Chicago-area Swedish-Americans, which founded the park in 1924 as part of the International Order …

RiverEdge debut a success, despite glitches

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 14:18:01 -0500

AURORA — A mixture of visitors, as well as the familiar locals, were present this weekend at the start of Aurora’s future. But what organizers didn’t know was that right as RiverEdge Park’s coming out party was ready to start with the opening of Blues on the Fox Friday night, they would get a blast from the past. Just as the gates were to open at 6 p.m. Friday, the ticketing computers went down. It sent Aurora Civic Center Authority staff, including Jim Jarvis, vice president of marketing and sales, back to the basics. “We literally went back in time …

5 things to do: Grape Nuts

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:32:03 -0500

Rivers Edge Park: Amped Up Adventure Race, June 16. Sprinting, running, biking and paddling, patterned urban obstacle course. At 360 N. Broadway Ave., Aurora. Visit ampedupadventurerace.com. How much: $75 Grape Nuts: This introduction to Italian wines will be held at 6:30 p.m. June 14 at River’s Edge Theatre, Yorkville. At 217 S. Bridge St. Visit riversedgetheatre.com. How much: $15 Geneva Commons Summer Concert Series: The free outdoor concerts are at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, and 5 p.m. Sundays June to June 30. Lineup: Red Woody, June 16 and Pipe Dream, June 19. Visit shopgenevacommons.com. Paddle with a Ranger: Paddlers can explore …

5 things to do: Geneva Concert Series

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:32:48 -0500

Giant Silk Moths: Elgin Public Museum hosts a program at 10:30 a.m. June 15 about how to find the largest, most impressive and beautiful moths. At 100 Oakwood Blvd., Elgin. Call (847) 741-6655. How much: $6-$8 Songs of a Catholic Childhood: Michael and Jamie O’Reilly perform at 8:30 p.m. June 22 at Raue Center for the Arts. At 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Call (815) 356-9212. How much: $20-$25 Geneva Concert Series: The free outdoor concerts are at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, and 5 p.m. Sundays June to June 30. Lineup: Red Woody, June 16 and Pipe Dream, June 19. …

5 Things to Do: Father’s Day Picnic

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:33:54 -0500

Father’s Day Picnic: This event is 11:30 a.m.- 10 p.m. June 16 at Croatian Cultural Club in Joliet. Hear Rakija Bend at 1 p.m., Bob Mutz Orchestra at 6 p.m. At 1503 Clement St. Call (815) 723-3154. How much: Call for rates Concerts on the Hill: Hear live music at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays to Aug. 29 at Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, 201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet. Free. Call (815) 724-6760 or visit Bicentennialpark.org. Paddle with a Ranger: Paddlers can explore Salt Creek by canoe or kayak from 10 a.m. to noon June 15 at Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve in Oak …

5 things to do: Paddle with a Ranger

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:34:39 -0500

‘Rent’: June 14-30 at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville. Call 630-637-7469 or brightsidetheatre.com. How much: $18-$24 Paddle with a Ranger: Paddlers can explore Salt Creek by canoe or kayak from 10 a.m. to noon June 15 at Fullersburg Woods Forest Preserve in Oak Brook. Call (630) 933-7248. How much: Rent kayaks for $20 Rotary Grove Fest: June 20-23 in downtown Downers Grove along Main Street, Warren and Burlington avenues, as well as Fishel Park. Call (630) 729-0351 or visit rotarygrovefest.com. How much: Free admission ‘The Man Who Came to Dinner’: The Summer Place presents this play June 7-16 at …

‘Love Letters’ comes to Elgin Theatre

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:20:01 -0500

The Elgin Theatre Company presents a play about lifelong love and friendship. The Pulitzer Prize-nominated “Love Letters,” by A.R. Gurney, will be shown June 14-30 at the Kimball Street Theater in Elgin. Performances are at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays. “Love Letters” is a unique play in that it involves only two actors on a simple stage reading letters between two people exchanged over a lifetime. It is directed by Linda Collins of Elk Grove Village. “It’s about two well-to-do people and their lives, and how they share their lives with each other through letters,” …

Your own personal harvest

Mon, 10 Jun 2013 14:35:04 -0500

There’s nothing like fresh berries right off the vines, and the time is just about right to start picking. Did you know that according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture; on average Americans consume 4.8 pounds of fresh and frozen strawberries a year? The time is “ripe” to go out and pick your fill at an area farm. Here’s a handy guide to find out where to get your pick of the patch of strawberries, blueberries and more. It’s always a good idea to call ahead or visit the farm’s web site to check their rules and ensure supply. Grundy …

Authors in young-adult market go on the road to teach teens

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:45:05 -0500

Pay it forward. This is the phrase that keeps coming up when talking to young adult authors Erin Bowman and Kat Zhang, who along with Susan Dennard and Sarah J. Maas are the brains behind the Young Authors Give Back Tour. Early in their careers, all four authors received advice from people who helped them achieve their goal of writing and publishing a novel. Now they want to help other young writers. Their tour, which is stopping at cities across the country, is part traditional book-signing, part teen workshop. In Chicago, the authors are holding a workshop at 826CHI, the …

Robert Randolph performs at Blues on the Fox

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 14:46:03 -0500

It may be part of pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph’s church upbringing, but he wants nothing more than to inspire individuals. “I concentrate on songs that pick people up and inspire people,” said Randolph, whose group, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, will appear on Saturday, June 15, at Blues on the Fox in Aurora. “At some outdoor festivals, with a number of other bands playing, people tell us, ‘We were at the other stage and we felt down.’ They come to us and say, ‘Wow. This really feels good.’ It’s satisfying when people say, ‘You made me feel great.’” …

Rialto brings more crowd pleasers for 2013-14 season

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 21:40:21 -0500

The Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet has always prided itself on trying to give the people what they want. The staff asks patrons and non-patrons alike what shows and artists they’d like to see. They solicit feedback on social media. Their mission, simply, is to offer quality shows at affordable prices, says Annette Parker, director of marketing and sales at the Rialto. “We’ve added about 35 shows to our season,” she said. “We will be adding even more shows. We are doing something different this year. In the past we’ve only had one subscription series, and that was Broadway at …

June 14-18: Multiple events to please crowds

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:01:50 -0500

Swedish Days returns, Elgin’s Brewfest gets a new name, cabers will be tossed and Blues will abound on the Fox River this weekend. Suburbanites will have their pick of festivals to attend over Father’s Day weekend and beyond. Scottish Festival and Highland Games Everyone is Scottish this weekend at the 27th annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games Friday and Saturday at Hamilton Lakes in Itasca. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. The festival, which is presented by the Chicago Scots and benefits the Scottish Home, offers an extensive and family-friendly array of …

State Street dances ‘Don Quixote’

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 15:18:01 -0500

State Street Dance Studio, is in final preparations for their upcoming Annual Studio Show, “Don Quixote,” at The Paramount Arts Center in Aurora on June 9. Students from the studio’s prestigious Ballet Training Program, along with dancers from Ballet, Character, and Predance classes will take the stage for a matinee at 1 p.m. and an evening performance at 5 p.m. to share a story of love, comedy and drama. The Paramount is at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. The studio is at 9 N. 4th Street, Geneva. …

Lewis alumni return to christen new theatre

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:00:01 -0500

The first alumni production in the new Studio Theatre at Lewis University in Romeoville will be “AlumNights: An Evening of Familiar Faces.” Produced by the University’s Heritage Theatre Company, “AlumNights: An Evening of Familiar Faces” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. June 7 and 8. The play is conceived and directed by 2008 graduate Chad Tallon of Essex. The show will include scenes and songs from previous productions at Philip Lynch Theatre that span from “West Side Story” in 1982 to “Almost, Maine” in 2012. Look for scenes from “The Producers,” “Chicago” and “Into the Woods” as well. The cast …