This list is not all-inclusive
ACTING TROOPS/THEATERS
CENTERSTAGE
This nonprofit community theater organization celebrates its 44th season of spotlighting the skills of local volunteers and crew. CenterStage presents three shows per season and also has acting classes. The theater’s current season will conclude with “The Wizard of Oz” July 24-Aug 1. Performances are held at the Gorton Community Center’s John E. Baggett Auditorium. 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. 847-234-6062; centerstagelakefo-rest.org
EVANSTON CHILDREN’S THEATRE
The theater encourages local youth from third to eighth grades to express themselves on stage. Members of the Levy Senior Center also participate. There are spring and fall productions. The Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave., Evanston. 847-448-8250; cityofevanston.org
FLEETWOOD-JOURDAIN THEATRE
This theater brings to life the experiences of African Americans and Africans through original works and Broadway shows. Last year’s sold out hit, “Why Not Me? A Sammy Davis Jr. Story” by Tim Rhoze,” is back by popular demand and runs through June 28. “The Vagina Monologues” runs July 11-26. Two musical concerts will be held in August. Performances take place at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center. 927 Noyes St., Evanston. 847-448-4311; cityofevanston.org
MUSE OF FIRE THEATER COMPANY
Each summer, Muse of Fire presents free outdoor Shakespeare-in-the-park productions at 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in Ingraham Park in Evanston. This summer the company will present the family-friendly “Cymbeline” through July 5 and “Hamlet” from July 25 through Aug. 30. Ingraham Park is located behind the Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave., Evanston. museoffiretheatre.weebly.com
NORTHLIGHT THEATRE
Northlight educates its audiences through a bold spectrum of theatrical experiences. The theater performs at least five productions each year. The 2015-16 season includes “Funnyman” Sept. 11-Oct.18; “You Can’t Take It With You” Nov. 6-Dec. 13; “Mothers and Sons” Jan. 22-Feb. 28, 2016; “Butler” March 11-April 18; and “The Gospel According to Thomas Jefferson, Charles Dickens and Count Leo Tolstoy: Discord” May 6-June 12. 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. 847-673-6300; northlight.org
PICCOLO THEATRE
Inside Evanston’s Main Street Metra station, the 50-seat theater strives for big laughs with its comedic plays. The 2015-16 season includes “The Outfit” Aug. 21-Oct. 10; “Clara and the Nutcracker” Nov. 6-Dec. 20; the annual “First Laugh — One Act” festival Feb. 5-13, 2016; and “The Misanthrope” March 25-May 14. 600 Main St., Evanston. 847-424-0089; piccolotheatre.com
PIVEN THEATRE WORKSHOP
Created by Jane and the late Byrne Piven, Piven Theatre Workshop thrives on teaching acting to all ages while presenting professional plays. Piven concluded its 2015 season with “Melancholy Play: A Chamber Musical” June 7. Performances are at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. 847-866-8049; piventheatre.org
WINNETKA THEATRE
Winnetka Theatre includes the Big Noise Theatre Company, which performs three plays per season from October through May at the Prairie Lakes Theatre, 515 E. Thacker St., Des Plaines. 847-604-0275; winnetkatheatre.org
THE WILMETTE THEATRE
Situated in a former Vaudeville house, Wilmette Theatre mixes in first-run and art movies with live theater, concerts, comedy and kids’ shows. The theater’s Actors Training Center offers professional classes for children and adults. 1122 Central Ave. 847-251-7424; wilmettetheatre.com
WRITERS THEATRE
WT plans as many as five classic and contemporary works each season. The 2015-15 season begins with “Marjorie Prime” Oct. 21, 2015-Feb. 21, 2016, at 664 Vernon Ave., Glencoe. “Arcadia” will be presented March 16-April 24, 2016, at WT’s new state-of-the-art venue at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. 847-242-6000; writerstheatre.org
ART
THE ART CENTER HIGHLAND PARK
The center showcases pieces from regional, national and international artists in three galleries. Visitors also enroll in the center’s many classes. Each year, the center presents 20 contemporary art exhibits. Free museum admission. The center is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. 1957 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. 847-432-1888; theartcenterhp.org
MARY AND LEIGH BLOCK MUSEUM OF ART
Making its home on Northwestern University’s campus, the museum’s four galleries focus on reproducible art forms such as prints, photographs, film, video and computer-generated art. Classic and contemporary films are screened at Block Cinema; $4 for Block members; $6 for the public. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Admission is free to the museum but donations are accepted. 40 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. 847-491-4000; blockmu-seum.northwestern.edu
MITCHELL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN
Devoted exclusively to the preservation of the culture and history of Native American and First Nation peoples of the United States and Canada, the museum contains collections of John Mayo Mitchell and wife Betty Seabury Mitchell. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday; and noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $5 for adults; $3 seniors, students and children younger than 12. 3001 Central St., Evanston. 847-475-1030; mitchellmuseum.org
DANCE
THE NORTH SHORE SCHOOL OF DANCE
This professional school houses five studios with classes offered in ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, modern and hip-hop. The school also has adult and seasonal classes. The school has four dance troupes: North Shore Dance Company, North Shore Repertory Dance Ensemble and North Shore Ballet Theatre. Every year, NSSD presents “The Nutcracker.” 505 Laurel Ave., Highland Park. 847-432-2060;
northshoredance.com
ORCHESTRAS
THE LAKE FOREST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
This fully professional orchestra presents five concert pairs in its Classical Series from September through May at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts in Grayslake. The Symphony will present “Music in the Garden” from 2-4 p.m. June 21 at The Gardens at 900, 1065 Acorn Trail, Lake Forest. 847-295-2135; lakeforestsymphony.org
NORTHBROOK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Music Director Lawrence Rapchak leads his orchestra to perform a variety of musical pieces during a five-concert season. The orchestra performs from September to May at Sheely Center for the Performing Arts on the campus of Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook. 847-272-0755; northbrooksymphony.org
NORTHSORE CONCERT BAND
The NCB is a 100-member symphonic band that performs throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Now in its 59th season, it performs 12-15 concerts a year, including a November through June four-concert series at Northwestern University’s Pick-Staiger Con-cert Hall. 847-432-2263; northshoreband.org
SKOKIE VALLEY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
The SVSO has over 65 musicians. It performs four concerts per year at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. The season kicks off in October and runs through April or May. 847-679-9501, Ext. 3014; svso.org
PERFORMING ARTS CENTERS/CULTURAL CENTERS
NORTH SHORE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS IN SKOKIE
The two-theater complex, features an 867-seat mainstage theater and a convertible 318-seat theater. The center’s residents include Northlight Theatre, Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra as well as other organizations. The center offers a Youth theatre Program for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. 847-673-6300; northshorecenter.org
NOYES CULTURAL ARTS CENTER
This City of Evanston’s Cultural Arts Division center is home to over 20 artists and arts organizations offering music, theater, and visual arts programs and studios. It manages summer art festivals, art camps, Arts & Humanities Month and Cultural Fund Grant pro-grams. The building houses a 190-seat full stage area and two galleries, which change exhibits every two months. 927 Noyes St., Evanston. 847-448-8260; cityofevanston.org
PICK-STAIGER CONCERT HALL
This hall doubles as a classroom and performance venue for the Bienen School of Music. Visitors see a wide range of music genres from orchestral, choral, opera, to folk, jazz, world, contemporary, brass and percussion concerts as well as solo recitals, lectures and master classes. Pick-Staiger is also home to professional performance organizations such as The Chicago Chamber Musicians, Chicago Philharmonic, Northshore Concert Band, and Evanston Symphony Orchestra. 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. 847-491-5441; pick-staiger.org
RAVINIA FESTIVAL
Ravinia provides summer performances from June to September under a starlit sky with picnic dining or pavilion seating. For further musical experiences, Bennett Gordon Hall features young artists from October to May in its Rising Stars concert series. Martin Theatre is an 850-seat hall that has special programs. Lake Cook and Green Bay roads, High-land Park. 847-266-5100; ravinia.org
SPACE
Society for the Preservation of Art & Culture in Evanston considers musicians and music lovers of all ages for its rustic and warm venue with state-of-the-art technology. There is a 250-person capacity. SPACE attracts folk, rock, blues and eclectic acts. 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston. 847-492-8860; evanstonspace.com
THE VIRGINIA WADSWORTH WIRTZ CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
This center is responsible for managing theater, music and dance programming from Northwestern University’s School of Communication, Department of Theatre and Department of Performance Studies, planning as many as 40 productions each year. Performance venues include the 439-seat Ethel M. Barber Theater, the 369-seat Josephine Lou-is Theater, the 100-seat Hal and Martha Hyer Wallis Theater and the 100-seat Mussetter-Struble Theatre. 2240 Campus Drive, Evanston. 847-491-7282; tic.northwestern.edu
