Crowd Pleasers for May 25, 2012

"Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon" features a new "Group Chair Stack" during its run at Navy Pier through Sept. 3.

Updated: July 2, 2012 9:45AM

Here is a look at events in the Southland and beyond.

Crowd Pleasers include “Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon” at Navy Pier in Chicago.

Cirque Shanghai has returned to Chicago’s Navy Pier this summer with a new show, “Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon,” which will run to Sept. 3 (Labor Day), rain or shine, at the Pepsi Skyline Stage, the 1,500-seat, canopied, open-air theater at 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago.

“Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon” is a spectacle for audiences of all ages, featuring performers direct from China who are leaders in their craft of tumbling, juggling, balancing and more.

The 2012 production features a lineup of awe-inspiring acts including favorites such as “Bike Balances” and “Hoop Diving,” as well as an all-new “Group Chair Stack,” Teeterboard act and the “Wheel of Death.”

China’s finest daredevil motorcycle troupe, Imperial Thunder, returns with not two and not four but five motorcyclists riding at breakneck speed within a steel globe — more than ever before in this death-defying feat.

Audiences and critics alike rave about Cirque Shanghai. SouthtownStar sister newspaper the Chicago Sun-Times raves, “Cirque Shanghai has been an especially bright spot on Navy Pier ... bringing young, talented acrobatic troupes and first-rate production values to the canopied, open-air Skyline Stage.”

Directed by Miao Miao Chen, “Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon” is presented in this exclusive U.S. engagement by Navy Pier in conjunction with International Special Attractions, Ltd. production headquarters in Shanghai, China.

The regular run of “Cirque Shanghai: Year of the Dragon” performances includes showtimes of 2, 7 and 9 p.m. Fridays; 2, 6 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 and 4 p.m. Sundays; 2, 6 and 8 p.m. Wednesdays; and 2 and 8 p.m. Thursdays.

There will be additional performances at 8 p.m. May 27; 2 and 4 p.m. May 28 (Memorial Day); 2, 6 and 8 p.m. July 3; 8 p.m. Sept. 2 and 2 and 4 p.m. Sept. 3 (Labor Day).

Tickets are $15.50-$29.50 at (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com/shanghai. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more are available by calling GroupTix at (773) 327-3778 or visiting grouptix.net.

MORE CROWD PLEASERS

ART

THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO: 111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, (312) 443-3600: “Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective” will be on display to Sept. 3. *** Admission is free to Illinois residents on the first and second Wednesdays of the month.

MORAINE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE’S ROBERT F. DECAPRIO ART GALLERY: 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills, (708) 608-4231: “Gallery 2012 Juried Community Art Exhibition” will be on exhibit from May 29-Aug. 2. Cortney Lederer is the juror for the show. A reception will take place from 2-4 p.m. June 2.

UNION STREET GALLERY: 1527 Otto Blvd., Chicago Heights, (708) 754-2601: The vintage clothing sale will take place during regular gallery hours from May 26-31 and from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. June 1-3. “Come shop unique vintage and artist-made clothing and accessories,” officials said. Donations of vintage clothing and items to sell are welcome. All donations are tax-deductible, and a receipt will be provided. *** The annual garage sale will take place from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. June 1-3. The event will feature tons of stuff from everyday items to unique antiques and vintage clothing. Unwanted items can be donated for the gallery to sell. All donations are tax-deductible, and a receipt will be provided. Proceeds will benefit Union Street Gallery, a nonprofit arts organization. Clothes (except vintage clothes), broken electronics or large heavy furniture will not be accepted.

COMEDY

RIDDLES COMEDY CLUB: 5055 W. 111th St., Alsip, (708) 422-5055: Chicago Comedy All-Stars, featuring a variety of Chicago’s best comedians, will perform two shows each on May 25-26.

BOB SAGET: The Venue at Horseshoe Hammond, 777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond, Ind., (800) 745-3000: This performance will take place on May 26. From his HBO special “That Ain’t Right” to his scene-stealing cameos in the TV show “Entourage” and the film “The Aristocrats,” it’s always effective when Saget embraces his dark side, officials said.

MUSEUMS

ADLER PLANETARIUM: 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, (312) 922-7827: “Deep Space Adventure” is an immersive space experience that takes attendees aboard the observation deck of a futuristic starship.

CHICAGO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM: Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, (312) 527-1000: “Circus Zirkus: Where You’re the Star of the Show!” runs to Aug. 12. *** “Michael’s Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures” fosters the art of collecting and features nearly 100 collections of tiny objects including miniatures, trinkets, artifacts and curiosities donated by founder and curator Michael Horvich.

THE FIELD MUSEUM: 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, (312) 922-9410: “Genghis Khan” is on display through Sept. 3.

MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY: 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, (773) 684-1414: “MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibit,” which features an interactive experience culled from the Discovery Channel TV show “MythBusters,” is on display through Sept. 3.

SHEDD AQUARIUM: 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, (312) 939-2438: Exhibits include “Jellies,” which was recently extended through 2013.

THEATER

“MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET”: Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, (773) 935-6100: Recently extended through Sept. 2, the show is inspired by the auspicious twist of fate that brought together musicians Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley at the Sun Records’ storefront studio in Memphis, Tenn. The show runs Wednesdays-Sundays.

“PINKALICIOUS — THE MUSICAL”: Broadway Playhouse, 175 E. Chestnut Ave., Chicago, (800) 775-2000: Recently extended through Aug. 5, this production of the hit musical is based on the popular book by Elizabeth and Victoria Kann. The Emerald City Theatre show is best for ages 3 and older.

VARIETY

BACINEMA SCREENING OF “FOOTNOTE”: Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago, (773) 445-3838: The weekly film series continues with this Oscar nominee for best foreign language film at 7:30 p.m. May 30. Rated PG for thematic elements, brief nudity, language and smoking, this movie runs for 1 hour and 43 minutes. Tickets are $7.50, or $5.50 for center members.

“CIRQUE SHANGHAI’S YEAR OF THE DRAGON”: Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, (800) 745-3000 (tickets): This show will run to Sept. 3. “After a successful run on Broadway, Cirque Shanghai returns to Chicago’s Navy Pier this summer with a magnificent new show, ‘Year of the Dragon,’ ” officials said. “ ‘Year of the Dragon’ is a spectacle for audiences of all ages, featuring performers direct from China who are leaders in their craft of tumbling, juggling, balancing and more. China’s finest daredevil motorcycle troupe, Imperial Thunder, returns with not two, not four, but five motorcyclists riding at breakneck speed within a steel globe, more than ever before in this death-defying feat.”

Crowd Pleasers listings may be sent to jvirtusio@southtownstar.com with “Events” in the subject line. Items must be submitted at least two weeks prior to the desired Friday print date in order to be considered for publication.

More events can be found at the websites for Chicago Southland Convention & Visitors Bureau, cscvb.com, and Chicago Southland Arts Alliance, chicagosouthlandarts.com/events.cfm.

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