National touring artists Orianthi, Buckcherry and Dishwalla will perform at The Dixon Theatre this fall.

Additional performers in the 2025-2026 season include the Soweto Gospel Choir, comedian Pat Tomasulo, Cirque Kalabanté and many more.

Mound Grove Cemetery in Kankakee came alive with the sounds and stories of Kankakee County’s history during the biennial Cemetery Walk: Voices of the Past on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025.

The Dixon Young Actors group will perform "Dare to Dream Jr." at The Dixon: Historic Theatre at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24.

Improv Playhouse, one of Lake County’s premier performing arts institutions, is thrilled to announce the expansion and relocation of its training and performance hub to a new, dynamic space at 130 N. Milwaukee Ave. in downtown Libertyville.

Timber Lake Playhouse in Mount Carroll will hold world-premiere performances of the musical “Glü” from Friday, Aug. 22, through Sunday, Aug. 31.

The Mainstage season wraps up with 'Bridges of Madison County' Sept. 12-21, but concerts continue through early December.

'Come From Away' tells the story of a group of stranded passengers who were diverted to Newfoundland on September 11, 2001.

Three leaders in the Illinois Valley Community College’s theater program have created a scholarship to support students who perform onstage or behind the scenes.

The academy offers classes and workshops in visual arts, dance, music, theater, culinary arts and education for children and adults, along with a private, arts-based preschool program for ages 3 to 5.

The Dixon Stage Left board of directors recently named Jimmy Ferraro and Ben Lightner as the theater’s new interim co-executive directors.

PM&L Theatre is thrilled to announce that auditions are now open for two very different—but equally captivating—productions this fall.

The proposed development, dubbed Heritage Station, includes 8,000 square feet for a performing arts center, possibly a satellite site for Crystal Lake’s Raue Center for the Arts, and 6,000 square feet for retail space.

Presented by Sterling Federal Bank, this spectacular stage adaptation of the Oscar‑winning film celebrates sisterhood, courage, and the power of love, featuring songs by Kristen Anderson‑Lopez and Robert Lopez and a book by Jennifer Lee.

Day Jones sat down with Monica Sudakov. She is portraying Velma Kelly in Engle Lane Theatre's upcoming production of "Chicago." The show runs August 10-16 and tickets are on sale now

During Sterling’s annual Hot Dog Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, community members got to take a peek inside the new performing arts center that will open this fall in the city’s downtown.

"True West" runs through Aug. 31 at Paramount's Copley Theatre in downtown Aurora.

Goodly Creatures Theatre will perform the comedy “Much Ado About Nothing” at 6 p.m.

The cast of Beetlejuice Jr. held a rehearsal on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at Stage 212 in La Salle. “Beetlejuice Jr.” will be presented at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7 and Friday, Aug. 8; at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.Saturday, Aug. 9; and at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10 at Stage 212, 700 First St., La Salle.

The shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Centennial Auditorium.

Reimagined adaptation of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ runs this weekend

A fascinating and immersive dive into a magnificent period of Japanese art and culture is as close as Glen Ellyn.

The newly-renovated theatre's 2025 continues with tributes to artists like Taylor Swift, Steely Dan, Billy Joel and more, as well as a variety of movie screenings and musical theatre shows.

It's time to mark calendars for upcoming seasons of entertainment coming to theaters near you.

Small Town Theatrics is ringing the bell on its 15th season as it presents Disney’s 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ on July 17-20 at the Coal City Performing Arts Center. The 53-member cast features actors from across the area in the telling of this classic tale.

Acting Out Theatre Co. will perform "Godspell" in an outdoor venue on July 18, 19 and 20 at 8 p.m. with pre-show activities and food trucks at The Grove in Bourbonnais.

M5 is taking on two big projects in downtown Sterling. The company plans to reopen the former Starlight’s Theatre and Lounge and rename it The Spark Center for the Performing Arts. The company also will renovate the former Amcore Bank and turn it into a business center.

The Limelight Theatre Company is owned and operated by the Oswegoland Park District. It's upcoming production of “The Wizard of Oz” is a celebration of its 25th year.

Polo Area Community Theatre will perform “The Seussification of a Midsummer Night’s Dream” at 7 p.m. July 11, 12 and 13.

Timber Lake Playhouse in Mount Carroll is opening the third musical of the 2025 summer season with “Waitress”, which runs from July 11 through July 27.

This hilarious musical revue explores the joys of getting older and life as a senior.

Seuss meets Shakespeare in Polo Area Community Theatre's rendition of "The Seussification of A Midsummer Night's Dream." Performances will be 7 p.m. July 11, 12 and 13. This is a free show held outdoors at Louise Quick Park in Polo. Rain will move the performance inside next door.

The concert will feature dazzling costumes, infectious music and high-energy traditional folklore dances still performed in the villages of Mexico’s different regions.

The musical is based on the classic 2001 film starring Reese Witherspoon.

Eight free performances to bring Shakespeare’s classic to life in downtown Princeton

Performances will be July 11, 12, and 13 at 7 p.m. in Louise Quick Park in Polo

What do you get when you cross a time-travel storyline with 1980s hit songs and excellent performances? The answer is a world-premiere musical that's fun entertainment.

The Blackberry Polo Club will host “A Wop Bop A Loo Bop!” fundraiser in July to benefit the Marquee Youth Stage.

Two strong singers who can act up a storm power Drury Lane Theatre’s current production of “Always … Patsy Cline,” based on a true story.

Among the highlights of summer in the suburbs are “Always…Patsy Cline" on stage, along with the band Asia's John Payne, folk music and blues artists, Wheaton Municipal Band, a book sale extraordinaire and walking tour.

Members of the cast of Annie Jr. rehearsed Annie Jr. on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the First United Methodist Church in Henry. The show will be presented July 25-27 at the River Valley Players theater in Henry.

The nationally recognized American Players Theatre delivers a comic treat just over the Illinois border in Wisconsin. "Fallen Angels" is one of the nine plays presented in repertory this summer into fall.

A talented team brings the Tony-nominated musical comedy to the Woodstock Opera House stage.

Uplifting and also down to earth, the true-story musical “42 Balloons” is flying high through June 29.

This season's performances include “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” "Buried Child" and "Miracle on 34th Street."

Rock bands take the stage as festivals and concert series unfold across the suburbs, complemented by cruise nights, Wheaton Drama's new show, a spotlight on rarely seen artworks and an antiques sale fundraiser.

Festival 56 will begin its summer 2025 cabaret series Saturday, June 21, with a 7:30 p.m. performance at the Grace Theater, 316 S. Main St. in Princeton.

Event starts at 1:15 p.m. at Town & Country Days festival tent

Carolee Carmello’s performance is a tour de force in this recent Tony Award winner for Best Musical.

The Kirk Players are proud to present the season finale of their 59th season, “The Wisdom of Eve,” by Mary Orr, with performances June 20, June 21, and June 22.