Arcada Theatre

Special screenings of "Twilight," the first movie of the massively popular vampire empire, will play on the big screen on Wednesday, Dec. 30, at Arcada Theatre in downtown St. Charles.

Showtimes are at noon, 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the theater at 105 E. Main St. in St. Charles. Admission is $5 and concessions will be available.

Before he heads back to enchant his hometown, we caught up with magician Terry Evanswood at his theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., where he is the longest-running headliner in town. He put a special visitor on the phone, none other than the assistant for whom legendary magician Harry Blackstone Sr. created the illusion that forever dubbed her the “Elusive Moth.” Adele Friel Rhindress says she never considered anyone (Blackstone included) her favorite illusionist — until she met Terry. At a recent magicians’ convention, she presented him a special trophy, naming him her “lifetime favorite.”

Magician Terry Evanswood attempts the classic “Metamorphosis” escape, involving a trunk and multiple complications. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Guess Who is coming to St. Charles.

That’s more of a statement than a question.

The Canadian rock band The Guess Who — with band members Garry Peterson (drummer), Jim Kale (bass and vocals), Leonard Shaw (keyboard, flute, sax and vocals) and Derek Sharp and Laurie MacKenzie (both guitars and vocals) — is returning to the Arcada Theatre for a performance on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Peterson, an original member of the 47-year-old band, believes technology has aided the band in gaining new, young fans, calling the Internet “a new delivery system for music.”

The Guess Who. SUBMITTED PHOTO

It’s not so crazy that the “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” shadowcast group Completely Crazy is celebrating their 20-year anniversary. Just like the movie, the performance group also has a cult following. Completely Crazy, which was started at Prospect Theater in Mount Prospect by founder Gene Chiovari, has been “miming” the infamous movie and rocking the Time Warp since 1989 throughout the suburbs and have stayed sane doing it. Jessie Witt of Bolingbrook, a 15-year performer with the shadowcast, says despite their name, Completely Crazy isn’t insane at all.

(Clockwise from top) Jared Lombrano (as Magenta), Ben Crawford (as Riff-Raff), Jessie Witt (as Frank 'n' Furter) and Samantha Becker (as Columbia). SUBMITTED PHOTO

Students in grades three through nine are invited to audition for Rising Star Theatreworks' January production of “Annie Jr.” from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 14 and 15, at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.

“Annie Jr.” tells of a spunky Depression-era orphan determined to find her parents after being abandoned on the doorstep of a New York City orphanage run by the cruel Miss Hannigan. Annie foils Miss Hannigan’s schemes, befriends President Franklin Roosevelt, and finds a new family in billionaire Oliver Warbucks, his secretary, and a lovable dog named Sandy. Its upbeat plot and flamboyant characters have made Annie one of the most beloved musicals in history.

The Fox Valley’s own Romi Herron shares her conversation with 1980s pop icon Richard Marx, who heads to the western suburbs to perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.

Two decades ago, Marx, a Chicagoan, was just a couple years into his success, with #1 hits including “Right Here Waiting,” “Hold on to the Nights” and “Satisfied.” Since then, he’s impacted the music industry by writing more than 13 number one songs and selling more than 30 million albums.
 
For his performance at The Arcada Theatre, Marx will be joined by special guest Matt Scannell of Vertical Horizon.

Richard Marx (right) and Matt Scannell of Vertical Horizon will perform at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. SUBMITTED PHOTO

As St. Charles celebrates its 175th Anniversary, Arcada Theatre will have a stage production commemorating the milestone.

"Say Goodnight Gracie," the life, love and laughter of George Burns and Gracie Allen, plays at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27, at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. The Arcada Theatre was actually George and Gracie's last performance in vaudeville.

Tickets are $175 for a couple and includes dinner and the show. Tickets for the show only are $29, $39 and $49. Call (630) 587-8400 or go online to www.oshows.com. Proceeds go to support the St. Charles Heritage Center.

A young cast is tapping into the exuberant spirit of “42nd Street,” the Tony-winning musical opening this month at The Arcada Theatre. Directing the performers — eighth-graders to 22-year-olds — is Jeanne O’Donnell of Geneva, a founder of Rising Star Theatreworks.

Tap shoes are ready to spring into action during rehearsals of “42nd Street” at The Arcada Theatre, where cast members include Maddie Mueller, 16, of Batavia (from left); Allison Slattery, 15, of Geneva; Julia Murphy, 14, of Wayne; Taylor Sherry, 14, of St. Charles; and Annelise Ehrhardt, 18, of Geneva. STAFF PHOTOS BY STEVE BITTINGER
 

The sounds of summer are blaring through the speakers of parks and theaters throughout the suburbs. 

Cantigny Park in Wheaton and Arcada Theatre in St. Charles are just a couple of places breaking in the summer with music.

Cantigny Park starts its outdoor concerts this weekend with country and bluegrass music, and Arcada Theatre is preparing for Wildcat fans of all ages for their "Disney's High School Musical: Summer Celebration!" in July.