The Doings Weekly

New releases on DVD, Blu-ray

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:17:10 -0500

Young love casts a powerful spell in “Beautiful Creatures,” Arnold Schwarzenneger returns to action in “The Last Stand,” Jude Law writes a prescription for disaster in “Side Effects” and Pacino, Walken and Arkin have a big night on the town in “Stand Up Guys.”

Billboard awards are Taylor-made

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:44:01 -0500

Another day, another domination for Taylor Swift: She was the red hot winner at the Billboard Music Awards. Swift won eight of 11 awards, including top artist and top Billboard 200 album for “Red.” She told the crowd: “You are the longest and best relationship I ever had.” She also had a colorful performance of her hit “22” — starting backstage and working her way to the main stage on the back of a bike with help from a dozen background dancers and a flurry of red balloons.

Arts and entertainment calendar for May 23

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:57:46 -0500

Check out the variety of fun events and activities in your area this week!

Have piano skills, will travel

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:32:01 -0500

Rock music done duo-piano style isn’t something you see — or hear — every day, especially on Steinway concert grands. That’s one good reason to be there when Wilmette native jazz pianist Adam Kromelow and Angelo Di Loreto perform the music of Genesis May 21 and 22 at the Steinway Piano Gallery in Northbrook and in Hinsdale.

Movies opening, still in theaters

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:57:16 -0500

Michael Shannon kills for a living in “The Iceman” and the crew of the Enterprise warps back into action in “Star Trek Into Darkness.”

Family Friendly: Civil War comes to Naper Settlement

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:58:02 -0500

Kids can chat with President Lincoln during Civil War Days, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19 at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville.

Spotlight: People to watch

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:20:02 -0500

Clear choice: Maggie Cain of Glenview is reprising her role as Amanda, a faded southern belle clinging to the past, in Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co’s restaging of its acclaimed production of “The Glass Menagerie.”

A concert of classical lullabies

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:52:01 -0500

A pair of successful Music Institute of Chicago alumni will give a recital Saturday from their new CD, “Violin Lullabies,” which has been getting national attention for its unusual focus and beautiful sound.

CYSO to perform ‘Space Odyssey’

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:16:01 -0500

Mention a youth orchestra concert, and what likely comes to mind is a nice, safe program of easy-listening favorites by Mozart or Gershwin. But the truth, at least when it comes to the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra, is often exactly the opposite.

Eifman Ballet takes inspiration from Rodin

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:54:02 -0500

The Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg, Russia has visited Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre on a regular basis since 2000.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy celebrates 20th

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:52:00 -0500

Twenty years later, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is still swinging just as hard as they were back in the day. The nine-piece jazz- and swing-influenced ensemble performs May 18 at Pfeiffer Hall at North Central College in Naperville.

Classic bands team up for show

Thu, 16 May 2013 11:46:01 -0500

When Peter Noone takes the stage to sing the hits of the 1960s British rock band Herman’s Hermits, of which he is a founder and original member, the whole crowd becomes his back-up chorus.

New releases on DVD, Blu-ray

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:20:10 -0500

Tom Hanks and company span 500 years of history in “Cloud Atlas” and director Sam Raimi’s 1986 comedy “Crimewave” makes its long-awaited DVD debut.

Shannon serves up murder cold in ‘Iceman’

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:06:01 -0500

It’s hard to figure out what’s scarier in this old-school, disco-era, homicide-happy mob movie: the titular cold-blooded killer or the 1970s in general.

Movies opening, still in theaters

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:42:52 -0500

Leonardo DiCaprio gets jazzy in “The Great Gatsby,” Pierce Brosnan gets blind-sided by romance in “All You Need is Love” and Craig Robinson gets dissed by his girlfriend’s daddy in “Peeples,” all in area theaters.

West Suburban Symphony takes on two of America’s best

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:28:18 -0500

Music by two of the best American composers of the 20th century, Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland, will conclude the 66th orchestral season of the West Suburban Symphony in Hinsdale Sunday afternoon. “This concert presents blockbusters from the American stage,” said the symphony board president Richard Lukes. “Audiences will recognize all of the works on this program.” Indeed so. In addition to Bernstein’s “Symphonic Dances” from his hit 1957 Broadway musical “West Side Story,” the orchestra will perform the lively overture to his 1956 opera/musical “Candide.” Selections from Copland’s cowboy ballets, “Rodeo” (1942) and “Billy the Kid” (1938) will be …