CLASSICAL
LAKE FOREST SYMPHONY
Music director Alan Heatherington will lead the orchestra in an all-American program: Howard Hanson’s “Song of Democracy,” a suite from Richard Rodgers’ “Victory at Sea”; Roy Harris’ Third Symphony; and the Symphonic Dances from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Drake Theatre, Barat College, 700 E. Westleigh Rd., Lake Forest; $20-$40; 847-295-2135.
WINTER
CHAMBER FESTIVAL
The seventh annual edition of Northwestern University’s Winter Chamber Music Festival opens with works by Mozart and Beethoven for piano, strings and woodwinds, 7:30 p.m. Friday in Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. Pianist Ursula Oppens and cellist Marc Johnson are among the performers in the first of six festival concerts, through Jan. 26. $9.50-$21; 847-491-5441.
PACIFICA QUARTET
The dynamic young quartet will be joined by pianist Wu Han in the Brahms Piano Quintet, with two quartets by Mendelssohn rounding out the concert, part of the University of Chicago Presents chamber music series. 8 p.m. Friday in Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St. $11-$30; 773-702-8068.
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ARS ANTIGUA
The enterprising Chicago period-instruments group will present the modern premiere of the 1731 comic intermezzo “La Furba e lo Sciocco” (“The Clever Woman and the Foolish Man”), by Domenico Sarri, with Kathleen and Peter Van De Graaf singing the title roles. The free, hourlong concert is at 2 p.m. Saturday in Quigley Chapel, Rush and Pearson Streets; 312-415-2391.
ILLINOIS PHILHARMONIC
The suburban orchestra under Carmon DeLeone will open its 2003 season with “Latin Touch” — works by Villa-Lobos, Rimsky-Korsakov, Gershwin, Chabrier and others — at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Center for the Performing Arts, Governors State University, University Park. $25-$63; 708-235-2222.
— John von Rhein
ART
`AT THE EDGE OF HOPE: NEW WORKS BY ARTISTS FROM IRAQ’
Paintings, sculptures, prints and installations; opens Monday, DePaul University Art Gallery, 2350 N. Kenmore Ave. Free. 773-325-7863.
`TWO ARMENIAN ARTISTS’
Paintings by Ararat Sarkissian and terra cotta figures by Vartoosh Magarian, opens Saturday, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St. Free. 312-744-6630.
`GILLIAN WEARING: MASS OBSERVATION’
A 10-year retrospective by the prominent British video artist; final fortnight, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave. $8 suggested admission. 312-280-2660.
— Alan G. Artner
THEATER
`HOLIDAY’
A lovely in-name-only holiday show — though a key scene takes place on New Year’s Eve 1927 — with a dash of bitters. A free spirit (genial Shawn Douglass) becomes engaged to a wealthy, somewhat starchy heiress (Anne Fogarty), though it’s the woman’s black-sheep sister (Linda Gillum) who really understands the boy. The Remy Bumppo Theater Company revival of Philip Barry’s comedy has a serene confidence about it. Ends Sunday at the Victory Gardens upstairs theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.; $25-$30; 773-871-3000.
`SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE’
The musical benefits from a tight actor/audience proximity. Robert Petkoff’s searching Seurat and Andrea Burns’ lively mistress, Dot, are supported by a first-rate ensemble. The second act disappoints, as always, but Gary Griffin has directed both halves very astutely. Through Sunday at Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave.; $38-$48; 312-595-5600.
— Michael Phillips
`AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS’
Since the image of the peripatetic Phileas Fogg in a balloon was created by Hollywood rather than Jules Verne, there’s no hot air to be found anywhere in John Hildreth’s new stage adaptation of “Around the World in 80 Days” at the Lifeline Theatre. But there sure are plenty of laughs in this highly inventive, thoroughly enjoyable and family-friendly little show; through Sunday at the Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave; $20; 773-761-4477.
`DOO WOP SHOO BOP’
Jackie Taylor and Jimmy Tillman’s superbly sung revue of innumerable doo-wop classics recorded by African-American artists is far better than “Forever Plaid.” A feast of nostalgia encouraging audience participation, this show is a non-stop party open to all; through Sunday at the Black Ensemble Theatre, 4520 N. Beacon St.; $32.50; 773-769-4451.
`POSEIDON! AN UPSIDE-DOWN MUSICAL’
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Hell in a Handbag’s exuberantly messy parody of this campy disaster epic will make no sense to people who don’t remember the movie. But fans of this cinematic monument to bad acting, studio tanks and dumb special effects will have a grand old time. The talented David Cerda has penned several witty and twisted original musical numbers, including the unforgettable “Panties Are All I Need”; through Saturday at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.; $20; 773-327-5252.
— Chris Jones