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Chicago Gaelic Park presents Irish Fest 2012

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:21:56 -0500

Chicago Gaelic Park’s Irish Fest 2012 boasts a variety of entertainment and activities during the four-day festival over Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28. Headlining the excitement on the 54-acre site located at 6119 W. 147th St., Oak Forest, will be famous Irish tenor Ronan Tynan and festival favorites Gaelic Storm. These two stalwarts are joined by more 40 other acts to present a full menu of entertainment. Tynan came on the scene as one of the original Irish Tenors. His voice and stage presence have gained him numerous noteworthy engagements including singing at Ronald Regan’s funeral when more 35 million …

Hair band Poison’d Crue rock the songs you know from 1980s

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:51:37 -0500

With zero aspirations of fame, fortune or flaunting their original material, the four members of Poison’d Crue have but one goal: to deliver the high energy and fun memories of 1980s rock to each and every audience. “We want to be the best cover band out there,” said Brent Rowader of New Lenox, lead vocalist. “We’re getting a great following and bar owners are very happy with us. Whenever we play, people ask for business cards so they can follow us.” In addition to performing classics by Poison (“Nothin’ But a Good time”) and Motley Crue (“Kickstart my Heart” and …

Upgrades to First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

Thu, 24 May 2012 13:29:28 -0500

Live Nation has made some improvements to First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park for the 2012 summer concert season. Get the scoop on FYI on FMBA at blogs.southtownstar.com/fmba, which includes videos of the VIP experience at FMBA, Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago and Alpine Valley Music Theatre in Wisconsin.

Review: Was anyone clamoring for ‘Men in Black 3’?

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:21:00 -0500

★1/2 There’s a moment early on in “Men in Black 3” when Will Smith’s Agent J sits down next to his longtime partner, Tommy Lee Jones’ Agent K. Agent J bemoans the fact that he’s too old for this sort of thing — for running around New York in matching dark suits, chasing down aliens and zapping them with shiny metal weapon doohickeys. We’re paraphrasing a bit. But unfortunately, that’s an excellent observation. We’re all too old for this sort of thing — the shtick itself has become old, and it has not aged well. Fifteen years since the zippy …

Review: Steppenwolf’s ‘The March’ a haunting war drama

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:22:13 -0500

Before the lights come up, you hear the thundering sound of a marching army, the booming of cannons, bursting bombs and the bugle call to arms. You know that something epic is coming your way. And when it finally arrives as the lights go up on the world premiere of “The March” at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, it takes your breath away. Frank Galati who has adapted the drama from E.L. Doctorow’s novel and who also directs, has conjured up a forceful dramatization of America’s Civil War that will haunt you long after the curtain falls. Galati who previously adapted …

Playing Live for May 25, 2012

Fri, 25 May 2012 19:26:24 -0500

Here is a look at upcoming music events throughout the area. Gigs include A Celebration of Chicago Artists at the Center for Performing Arts at Governors State University in University Park.

Southland festivals for 2012

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:20:29 -0500

With warmer weather in full swing, it’s also time for summer festivals. There are so many Southland events that we’ve broken up our annual listing into parts, with the first installment featuring what you can attend in the next month. So here’s a look at where you can celebrate with food, entertainment, carnivals and more, and keep an eye on future editions of Weekend for more festivals. MAY (May 25 to 28) IRISH FEST 2012: Chicago Gaelic Park, 6119 W. 147th St. (one block east of Ridgeland Avenue), Oak Forest, (708) 687-9323, chicagogaelicpark.org. ◆ Click on the Related Stories link …

Crowd Pleasers for May 25, 2012

Fri, 25 May 2012 20:10:22 -0500

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.

Camp to stage ‘Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr.’

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:21:47 -0500

Participating in musical theater can be a magical experience. The transformation of a mere script full of words and music notes into a vibrant stage production is an exhilarating process. Hundreds of children have had the opportunity to be a part of this thrilling process during the past 10 summers thanks to Curtain Call Theatre’s Emily McCabe Musical Theatre Program. This year marks the program’s 10th anniversary. The program recently was awarded the rights to “Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr.” and will be the first group in the area to perform this colorful show. The CCT summer theater program was …

Art exhibits at the Beverly Arts Center

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:22:27 -0500

Here’s a look at art exhibits that are either on display or will be on display soon at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago. ‘Rick Therrio: Murky Stories’ On display to May 27 in the Theater Gallery, “Rick Therrio: Murky Stories” features this statement: “Life consists of pleasant and unpleasant surprises. Nothing is ever as it appears. Everyone is driven by conflicting goals and ambitions, and what we are left with are the murky stories of our existence.” ‘At the Heart of the City: Western Avenue in 24 Paintings’ Artist Jane Sloss documents each mile of Western …

Pro Wrestling Pick: Diamond Dallas Page at Blitz

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:21:07 -0500

WWE Legend and former World Championship Wrestling star Diamond Dallas Page will appear at Pro Wrestling Blitz’s Die Hard at 7 p.m. (6:15 p.m. doors) May 26 at St. Joe’s Park, 700 Theodore St., Joliet. Information: prowrestlingblitz.com. Want more? ◆ “Pro Wrestling Extra” on Elaborating on Entertainment, blogs.southtownstar.com/entertainment, will feature more about this Blitz show. ◆ Information about meet and greets, signings and other pro wrestling events can be found in ChicagoProWrestling.com’s Upcoming Shows forum. Jessi Virtusio, jvirtusio@southtownstar.com …

Summer festivals in Chicago for 2012

Fri, 25 May 2012 02:21:24 -0500

Memorial Day weekend heralds the beginning of summer and with that comes the outdoor festival season. From downtown Chicago to city neighborhoods and the suburbs, outdoor festivals abound. Although a few have disappeared due to tough economic times, new fests have stepped up to the plate, so there is no shortage of choices. The biggest news on the fest scene is changes to 2012’s Taste of Chicago in Grant Park. The Taste is later in the summer and shorter — July 11-15 — and there will a charge for concerts ($25) for seats in the Petrillo Music Shell (3,000 seats). …

Carpe Weekend: Music, artwork, a touch of green

Thu, 24 May 2012 04:07:39 -0500

Ways to wake up your weekend include “Freedom, Slavery and the Roots of American Music” in Oak Forest, the grand opening of Garden Gallery and Studio in Tinley Park, an Oldies Rock ’n’ Roll concert in Mokena and Irish Fest 2012 at Chicago Gaelic Park.

‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ offers safe escape

Thu, 24 May 2012 02:19:27 -0500

★★ In theory, seeing Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy share the screen should be a delight. In reality, the seriocomic romp “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” merely has its moments, but more often feels heavy-handed, sappy and overlong. Sure, it’ll seem warm and crowd-pleasing but probably only to crowds of a certain age, who may relate to these characters who find themselves in flux in their twilight. Handsome as the film is from John Madden, who directed Dench to her supporting-actress Oscar for “Shakespeare in Love,” “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” too often spells out too …

Hot Picks: BACinema screening of ‘Footnote’

Thu, 24 May 2012 02:19:19 -0500

Here is a look at top events you won’t want to miss. Suggestions include the BACinema screening of “Footnote” at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago.

Early screenings for ‘Men in Black 3,’ more

Thu, 24 May 2012 02:51:24 -0500

People who like to see new movies first can take in one of these May 25 screenings around midnight. ‘Chernobyl Diaries’ Directed by Bradley Parker, this horror flick stars Jesse McCartney, Jonathan Sadowski and Olivia Dudley. Rated R for violence, some bloody images and pervasive language, this movie runs for 1 hour and 30 minutes. AMC LOEWS COUNTRY CLUB HILLS 16: 4201 W. 167th St., (800) 326-3264, Code 723. AMC LOEWS CRESTWOOD 18: 13221 Rivercrest Drive, Crestwood, (888) 262-4386. AMC LOEWS QUARRY CINEMAS 14: 9201 63rd St., Hodgkins, (888) 262-4386. AMC SHOWPLACE NEW LENOX 14: 1320 W. Maple St., (888) …