Chit-Chat

Dan Pasquale D’Andrea, who recently launched the new season of the Salt Creek Sinfonietta in Hinsdale, takes the chamber orchestra on the road for a holiday benefit concert by the Combined Church Choir of Itasca. A busy music director, the Downers Grove resident also conducts the Senior Suburban Orchestra and College of DuPage Chamber Orchestra.

Salt Creek Sinfonietta is one of the musical ensembles conducted by Dan Pasquale D’Andrea, who grew up in Itasca and now lives in Downers Grove. 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

Performer Dee Dee Bridgewater has a spiritual connection to jazz legend Billie Holiday. At first, it was unsettling for Bridgewater — until she embraced it. Now, she celebrates the infamous “Lady Day” in her own way and in her own voice. Bridgewater performs “To Billie With Love: A Celebration of ‘Lady Day’” on Saturday, Nov. 7 at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. She will perform songs off her upcoming album that will be a tribute to the life and music of Holiday.

Dee Dee Bridgewater. SUBMITTED PHOTO

The high school actors of the Children’s Theatre of Western Springs were ready for a challenge this season. They didn’t want to be recognized for producing another “cutesy” play. And while bunnies are cute, in “Bunnicula,” the book-turned-musical is a mix of a warm storyline with a Dracula-inspired, vegetable juice-sucking rabbit. Director Emily Monteagudo of Chicago says the cast has really made the show their own.

Cast members of  "Bunnicula" (left-right) Lauren Quinlan of Western Springs, Samantha Kubil of Western Springs, Rachel Walton of Western Springs, Veronica Boswell of Hinsdale and Ivan Keta of Westmont rehearse at the Theatre of Western Springs Thursday October 22, 2009. STAFF PHOTO BY ERICA BENSON

Thanks to a little divine intervention from Rosemary Clooney, the members of the fictional four-part harmony group from ‘Forever Plaid’ are brought back from the great beyond for a holiday sequel. In the original, set in 1964, the four were killed when their car was struck by a bus load of fans en route to see The Beatles on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” The holiday incarnation recaptures the smooth sounds of the ‘30s to ‘50s with a cast that includes Geneva native David Meadows of Chicago. The baritone, who takes on the bass part, talks about the musical comedy presented by Noble Fool Theatricals.
 

David Meadows (from left), Robert Deason, Sean Effinger-Dean and Brad Simanski unleash Christmas cheer in the “Plaid Tidings” musical at Pheasant Run. PHOTO COURTESY OF KIMBERLY G. MORRIS

The confluence of 2009 anniversaries of the birth and deaths of musical greats inspires a concert by chamber orchestra Camerata Chicago and one of its favorite guest artists, pianist Lyudmila Lakisova. Conductor and founder Drostan Hall talks about the performance in Wheaton, followed by their appearance on the “Live from WFMT” broadcast at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 23.

Drostan Hall, conductor and founder of Camerata Chicago, will lead the chamber orchestra in a free performance in Wheaton, preceding a live radio broadcast on WFMT. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Slipping effortlessly between musical genres is versatile vocalist, pianist and composer Kara Kesselring of Berwyn, a teacher at The Old Town School of Folk Music. She goes back to her country roots in the Sugarcreek Road band, coming to the Berwyn Cultural Center. It’s the ninth show in a 10-concert series she put together for the Berwyn Arts Council.

Patrick Williams (from left), Dayna Malow, Scott Besaw and Kara Kesselring comprise Sugarcreek Road. Fiddle player Ryan Hinshaw will join the lineup for the Berwyn performance. SUBMITTED PHOTO

A smidgen of soul music, a fragment of folk, and a drop of rhythm and blues make up the melting pot musical stylings of Sisters in Soul. The group performs on Saturday, Oct. 24 at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn. Solo recording artists Marcia Ball, Bettye LaVette and Maria Muldaur make up the soulful trio, each bringing their respective and award-winning sound to performances. Ball, who grew up in Louisiana, is all about that New Orleans rhythm and blues.  

(l to r) Bettye LaVette, Maria Muldaur and Marcia Ball make up the voices of Sisters in Soul. 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

George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart’s production of “You Can’t Take It With You” first hit the stage in 1936 and nearly 73 years later, the play remains relevant. The Village Players perform “You Can’t Take It With You” through mid-November. The play’s focus is on the eccentricities of the Sycamore family, as the audience learns the reasons behind the family’s odd behavior and hobbies. Actress Zoe Palko of Chicago, who plays Essie Sycamore in the show, is ready to give her best performance and worst dance moves in this show.

(left) Jhenai Mootz and Bryan Wakefield of Chicago rehearse for the upcoming performance of "You Can't Take It With You" at Village Players Performing Arts Center in Oak Park Tuesday October 6, 2009.  STAFF PHOTO BY ERICA BENSON