Chicago (South Side)

Beverly Theatre Guild presents Leading Ladies, a Ken Ludwig farce about two down-on-their-luck Shakespearean actors who read a newspaper story about an elderly and ailing woman who has been unable to find her daughter's sons, Max and Steve.

The wealthy woman wants to locate her grandsons so she can bequeath each a very healthy sum in her will. As in millions.

And that's where it starts. The actors put on their best performances pretending to be be Max and Steve, and of course, romantic complications add additional layers of wackiness to this wacky play. 

When: 8 p.m., May 6-7; 2 p.m., May 8
Where: Baer Theatre, Morgan Park Academy, 2153 W. 111th St., Chicago
Cost: $20
Tickets and information: 773-284-8497 and by e-mail to beverlytheatreguild@juno.com 

Chicago Heights

The tiny Asian nation of Bhutan continues to dazzle visitors at Union Street Gallery with its ongoing exhibit, Bhutan, via images by Cecily Hunt and her collaborative artwork with Nancy Frazier. The two women traveled to Bhutan in 2010, and their adventures reveal depth to a country little known beyond its borders. Into Bhutan, will remain on view through May 14

At 7 p.m., May 6, Russell Ellis presents a program focused on arts of Bhutan, including the thangka, a special form of visual arts on movable panels and other panel works.

Phurba, a native of Bhutan who conducts tours into the country, will present a colorful and eclectic Guide to Bhutan, on May 14 at the gallery. Phurba will look at the people, the arts, the national cuisine and native fauna and flora of Bhutan during this extraordinary afternoon program for all ages.

In Harmony, an exhibit of works by many other professional gallery artists, continues on the gallery's second level as well. 

When: Both exhibits continue through May 14, and Your Guide to Bhutan takes place from 12 to 3 p.m. on exhibit closing day. General gallery hours are noon-5 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday; noon-6 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Union Street Gallery, 1527 Otto Blvd., Chicago Heights.
Cost: Everything is free.
Information:  708-754-2601 and www.unionstreetgallery.org 

Chicago Heights

A group of striking art works in a variety of media, created by 22 graduating Prairie State College students, remain on display in the Christopher Art Gallery on campus.

When: Through May 19. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.- 3 p.m Monday through Thursday; 5- 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and by appointment.
Where: Christopher Art Gallery, Prairie State College, 202 S. Halsted St., Chicago Heights
Cost: Free
Information:  708-709-7801 and http://prairiestate.edu/artgallery/

Chicago Heights

During the late 1960s, as the War in Vietnam intensified, anti-war activists across the country staged protests, especially on college campuses. Others took stronger steps such as burning draft cards and draft records. 

Many activists, including the Rev. Daniel Berrigan, participated in anti-goverment activities that crossed the legal line. Many were tried in Catonsville, MD. The play Trial of the Catonsville Nine, recalls in detail, including court transcripts, the legal procedure that sent Berrigan and others to prison for three years.

On May 9, the Drama Group will present a free and informal play reading of this look into the turbulent anti-war years and the controversial trial.  

When: 7:30-10 p.m., May 9
Where: Drama Group Studio Theatre, 330 W. 202nd St., Chicago Heights
Cost: Free
Information: www.dramagroup.org

Frankfort

Abraham Lincoln's April 15, 1865, assassination and the Confederacy surrender just a few days later has brought a round of Lincoln events to the Southland, including Abraham Lincoln in Song, an unusual presentation of music, storytelling and narrative about the man many view as the greatest president in United States history.

Folk singer Chris Vallillo uses Lincoln's own words and more to paint an oral picture of the 16th president in this May 10 program at the Frankfort Public Library. The event is free but registration is required; details below. Also, an adult should accompany children younger than 16.

When: 7 p.m., May 10
Where: Frankfort Public Library, 21119 S. Pfeiffer Road, Frankfort
Cost: Free, registration required
Information: Details and registration are at 815-534-6173 and www.frankfortlibrary.org. 

Joliet

Laugh it up with Lucy as Suzanne LaRusch takes on the First Lady of Television's persona in a one-woman performance, An Evening with Lucille Ball: Thank You for Asking. Directed by Lucie Arnaz, the late TV star's daughter, the show is billed as "touching, funny and uplifting ... a celebration of Lucy's life," including the turbulent marriage to onscreen and real life husband Desi Arnaz and her evolution into a powerful television executive.

Lucy fans, from all her incarnations, will not want to miss what promises lots of laughter as well as intimate revelations about the flaming redhead's life.

"Suzanne LaRusch's recreation of Lucy is simply a masterpiece," Lucie Arnaz and her husband Larry Luckinbill note on the show's web site.

When: 8 p.m., May 6
Where: Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet
Cost: $23 to $50
Tickets and information: www.rialtosquare.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and 815-726-6600.

Oak Lawn

Hot classic jazz favorites will fill the afternoon as the Swing Dogs turn the Oak Lawn Public Library entertainment area into a 1930s jam session space with favorites for young and not-so-young alike. Big Band era music will fill the room for two hours May 15.

When: 2-4 p.m., May 14
Where: Oak Lawn Public Library, 9427 S. Raymond Ave., Oak Lawn
Cost: Free
Information: 708-422-4990 and www.oaklawnlibrary.org 

Orland Park

Acclaimed Chicago artist Gary Wick, former student at the School of the Art Institute and a well-known regional arts instructor at many fine galleries, including the McCord Gallery in Palos Park.

When: 7 p.m., May 5
Where: Orland Park Public Library, 14921 Ravinia Drive, Orland Park
Cost: Free
Information: 708-228-5114 and www.orlandparklibrary.org 

Palos Heights

William Shakespeare's magical forest and fairyland are about to emerge on the Trinity Christian College Marg Kallemeyn Theater stage in the college's spring production, A Midsummer Night's Dream. 

This other-worldy Shakespearean comedy classic always opens new doors in the mind and reignites the question, "Could there really be a forest somewhere ... ?"

When: 7:30 p.m. May 5-7. 
Where: Marg Kallemeyn Theatre, Trinity Christian College, 6601 W. College Drive, Palos Heights
Cost: $11, $8 students and seniors. 
Tickets and information:  708-597-3000 and Trinity Christian College.

Palos Hills

Sexual Perversity in Chicago, the play, certainly grabs attention with its title. However, the 1970s early David Mamet script has no intention of dipping down into the stuff of prurience. While Mamet's masterful works have no lack of humor, they also are packed with strong, vivid language and in this play, heavy sexual content.

Moraine Valley Academic Theater, under the direction of Craig Rosen, takes on this vivid "representation of 20-somethings co-habiting and mating in urban America in 2011," the release states. Rosen, MVCC associate professor of theater, said, "Despite the graphic language and sexual content, this is a beloved Chicago play that is still respected in the theater." 

When: 7:30 p.m., May 6-7.
Where: John and Angeline Oremus Theater, Moraine Valley Fine & Performing Arts Center, 9000 W. College Pkwy.
Cost: $12, $10 for seniors and students.
Tickets and information: 708-974-5500 and morainevalley.edu/FPAC.

Palos Hills

The energetic and funny Charo brings her signature "Cuchi-Cuchi" talents, including her mastery of the flamenco guitar, to the Dorothy Menker Theater. Married for years to the late bandleader Xavier Cugat, Charo has carved out her own career with a dynamic stage show since Cugat's 1990 death,. So yes, Charo is still around and she's on her way to Palos Hills!

When: 7:30 p.m. May 15
Where: Dorothy Menker Theater, Moraine Valley Fine and Performing Arts Center, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills.
Cost: $35, $30 seniors and $25 students.
Tickets and information: 708-974-5500, www.morainevalley.edu/fpac and at box office 

Palos Hills

Moraine Valley Community College's Academic Music concerts spring forth in early May. The series begins on May 6 with the Jazz Ensemble and guest guitarist John Moulder. Concert selections will include music by George Gershwin, Benny Carter, Oliver Nelson, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Michael Buble and more. 

Then on May 7, the Moraine Chorale and Chamber Singers present Broadway/Pop Motion Picture Spectacular featuring more than 65 singers and a 10-piece instrumental ensemble. The program will include music from Rent, Titanic, Evita, Sweeney Todd, legendary Beatle John Lennon and more.

By Request: An Evening of Audience Favorites will fill the theater on May 10. The Concert Band performance will include classic movie themes, Gershwin greats and so much more. Back by popular request, Joe Collins, WBBM 780 radio personality, will host the program.

The powerful 18-piece Percussion Ensemble presents the final concert in the series and takes place May 12, A wide range of instruments, including xylophone, marimba, vibraphone timpani, drums and steel pans, will fill the theater with music by Bela Fleck, Josh Gottry Nathan Daughtrey and many more.

When: 7:30 p.m. May 6, 7, 10 and 12; concert specifics above
Where: Dorothy Menker Theater, Moraine Valley Fine and Performing Arts Center, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills.
Cost: $12 per concert, $10 for seniors and students. Final concert free.
Tickets and information: 708-974-5500, www.morainevalley.edu/fpac and at the box office 

Palos Park

In 1944, Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews starred in an often edge-of-the-seat murder mystery now viewed as a film noir classic. Laura centered around the murder of a beautiful woman whose disappearance confounds an investigator who falls in love with her photo and the information that surfaces about the missing woman.

Palos Village Players bring this classic to the stage under the direction of David Groebe of Lemont.  Oak Forest resident Chris Demian plays the detective and Meghan Sterling of Palos Park steps into the role of Laura.

When: 7:30 p.m. May 13, 14, 20 and 21; 2 p.m., May 15; lunch theater package available on May 15.
Where: Palos Park Recreation Center, 8901 W. 123rd St., Palos Park; May 14 lunch at Hackneys.
Cost: $15, $12 students and seniors
Tickets and information: 877-7878497 and www.pvp.org; Hackney's lunch reservations at 708-448-8300. 

Park Forest

The Park Forest Public Library closes its free Jazz on Mondays and Tuesdays Full of Blues series with vintage performance footage of the legendary John Coltrane on May 16 and blues diva Etta James' Burning Down the House tour on May 17. Fanswill devour these rarely seen and heard treasures. The programs are open to anyone interested. Park Forest residency is not required.

When: Coltrane at 6:30 p.m. May 16; James at 6:30 p.m. May 17
Where: Park Forest Public Library, 400 Lakewood Blvd., Park Forest
Cost: Free
Information: 708-748-3731 and www.pfpl.org 

South Holland

South Suburban College closes its spring concert season with the SSC Symphonic Band Concert tonight.

When: 7:30 p.m. May 6 
Where: Kindig Performing Arts Center, South Suburban College, 15800 S. State St., South Holland
Cost: Free
Information: 708-596-2000, ext. 2349 

University Park

Motherhood has its times of laughter, tears and joy, as well as exhaustion and never-ending days. The Center for Performing Arts presents Mama's Night Out, a humorous, often very funny look at those trials and such of motherhood via skits and standup routines by three very funny women. The trio includes a Southern belle, sassy Brit and brassy New Yorker, also known as comedians Karen Morgan, Nancy Witter and Sherry Davey.

Nick at Night's Search for the Funniest Mom in America stars, each will bring on the laughs with her own standup and for a grand finale, wait till these women get together to rock the house with laughter.

A free pre-show party will include free drink specials and a variety of other treats for moms including beauty treatments (even though mom is beautiful already), door prizes and more. 

When: 8 p.m., May 7
Where: Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park
Cost: $15
Tickets and information: 708-235-2222 and www.centertickets.net