Post-Tribune

Donley’s Wild West Town a return to yesteryear

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:10:27 -0500

Go West, young Chicagoans. Go West. Direct your parents to load up the family car and head on Interstate 90 past Barrington, past Elgin, and through Hampshire. Go west to Union, Ill., the small-town (population: 579) home of Donley’s Wild West Town, a museum and low-key amusement park geared for ages 3-11. The attraction opens for the season on May 18. “Real small kids get swallowed up in big theme parks,” said Randy Donley, one of the four-member Donley family running the park. “They come here dressed as cowboys and cowgirls.” Donley’s Wild West Town is an easy day trip, …

Chicago Street Theatre’s summer programs for all ages

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:09:55 -0500

Valparaiso’s Chicago Street Theatre is now accepting registrations for its summer camp programs. Camps are available for kindergartners to seniors in high school and cover theater games and character development to a playwright program and a William Shakespeare workshop. Several new camps will be offered including Introducing Stage Craft, Camp Improv and a clowning workshop. An apprentice program is being reinstated along with Booth Camp and Be Backstage, all of which allow children and teens to learn about the technical aspects of theater. Director of education Lisa Formosa-Parmigiano said popularity has grown exponentially since camps were first offered in 2009. …

Local Buzz for May 17, 2013

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:10:04 -0500

Here is a look at music events. Suggestions include Majestic Star Casino’s Lakeshore Lounge.

‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ turns out to be quite the Enterprise

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:10:14 -0500

RICHARD ROEPER: Director J.J. Abrams is a true talent, and he’s also a pop-culture savant who has great respect for the legacy of this franchise as well as a keen understanding of the mega-importance of box-office figures. There’s no better choice to make the best, the purest AND the most accessible big-budget “Star Trek” movie possible. Yet with all the futuristic splendor and the fine performances, “Into Darkness” only occasionally soars, mostly settling for being a solid but unspectacular effort that sets the stage for the next chapter(s).

Things To Do for May 17, 2013

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:10:37 -0500

Here’s a look at things to do. Suggestions include Hobart’s trash or treasure neighborhood garage sale.

Star power — Adler tech revolutionizes sky show

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:11:04 -0500

As a pulsing nebula races toward the watchful audience, a hand shoots up to touch it. More hands follow suit, straining skywards. For the kids taking in the Adler’s newest show, “Cosmic Wonder,” outer space is just out of reach. It’s an illusion created by the latest technology: The Crab Nebula or stars in Orion seem to graze heads, when in fact they’re projected on a dome nearly 40 feet above the audience. As the image gets larger, it appears closer and flatter — “or like the objects are dropping on top of you,” said Mark SubbaRao, Adler astronomer and …

New on DVD for May 17, 2013

Fri, 17 May 2013 02:10:49 -0500

Here is a look at what’s new on DVD this week. Many of these titles were released on May 14.

Stingrays easy to handle in Shedd Aquarium’s new exhibit

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:13:15 -0500

“Stingray Touch,” opening to the public May 17, gives visitors a chance to feel the scratchy, silky creatures swimming by. “It’s a really cool way to see the animal,” says a Shedd expert.

The paper pushers of ‘The Office’ left an imprint on TV

Thu, 16 May 2013 02:29:23 -0500

LORI RACKL: “The Office” is about to close for good, with Thursday’s 75-minute finale capping off a nine-season run. For me — and probably many fans — NBC’s workplace comedy really ended two years ago when Michael Scott left. That said, I’ll still be sad to see the groundbreaking sitcom go.

Lucasfilm: New ‘Star Wars’ movie to be shot in UK

Sat, 11 May 2013 10:36:00 -0500

LONDON (AP) — The next “Star Wars” movie will be shot in a galaxy far, far away from Hollywood — Britain.

James Cotton harmonious as ever these days

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:41:41 -0500

THOMAS CONNER: Playing “country blues” of Memphis and the slicker “big-city blues” of Chicago, the harmonica legend made friends who join him on a new album he calls “the best thing we ever did.”

M & M Productions celebrates Ross Music Theatre’s 50th

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:10:18 -0500

This summer will mark the 50th anniversary of the Ross Music Theatre. M & M Productions will salute the occasion with a special show featuring highlights from the past 50 summers of shows. The special event will be held at M & M’s Center Stage Studio Theatre in Hobart and will include a multimedia celebration with live performances, videos, slides and pictures of past productions. Many of the talented performers from the past 50 years will make appearances and it will be a great time to catch up with old cast mates or your favorite performers. Performances will take place …

Baz Luhrmann gets ‘Great Gatsby’ just right

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:10:44 -0500

RICHARD ROEPER: Given the wretched and sometimes wonderful excesses of Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet” and “Moulin Rouge,” not to mention a trailer that gave the impression Luhrmann’s interpretation of “The Great Gatsby” would be one extended anachronistic music video, it turns out Luhrmann’s “Gatsby” is first and foremost F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “Gatsby.”

Things To Do for May 10, 2013

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:11:43 -0500

Here’s a look at things to do. Suggestions include 30 Dirty Fingers.

Marc Maron attempts ‘Normal’ with new book

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:11:19 -0500

NEW YORK — Soon after taking the stage, Marc Maron decides to skip the act. He’s got a packed room at a downtown New York club, all eager to see the 49-year-old comic tape what will be a comedy special for Netflix. Normally, such tapings are carefully structured and finely calibrated. Maron promptly decides against it. “No, let’s not,” he says. “Let’s just work through some stuff.” Working through stuff is the modus operandi for Maron. Though he started out as a stand-up known for bitterness and anger, Maron — after a lot of struggle and a bout with drugs …

Local Buzz for May 10, 2013

Fri, 10 May 2013 02:10:08 -0500

Here’s a look at some music events. Suggestions include Zodiac, Front Porch Music and Small Potatoes.