Arts events in McHenry County
Nov. 5-29 — Northwest Area Arts Council’s Autumn Showcase 2009, Brink Street Market, Suite 30F, Crystal Lake, Wednesdays through Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 40 local artists are expected to participate, offering works in oils, watercolor, pastels, acrylic, photography, jewelry, potter and sculpture. Questions regarding the Autumn showcase can be directed to Marian@naac4art.org or Pat@naac4art.org.
Nov. 6-22 — Leading Ladies, Woodstock Opera House, 121 West Van Buren St., Woodstock, Fridays and Saturdays 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are $23 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. For information and tickets, call 815-338-4212 or online at www.woodstockoperahouse.com.
Nov. 12 — Toast the House, A wine, beer and scotch tasting, Stage Left Cafe, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock, 7 p.m. A fundraiser for the Friends of the Opera House. Enjoy a variety of libations along with hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment. Tickets are $25 for a single ticket or $45 for a pair. For information and tickets, call 815-338-4212 or online at www.woodstockoperahouse.com.
Nov. 15 — Youth and Experience: Community choral concert, Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, 4 p.m. Voices in Harmony and the Northwest Community Music Academy’s Youth Choirs are united for an all-ages concert. Ticket prices for the concert at $18 and $15 and are available at the Raue Center Box office, from choir members or online at www.rauecenter.org.
Nov. 15 — Affair of the Arts, The Shores of Turtle Creek, 7908 Winn Road, Spring Grove, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Affair of the Arts is a free fine arts show open to the public. Browse or shop from a wide variety of artists, who will present jewelry, pottery, paintings, stained glass, fused glass, metalwork, photography and more. Visitors can shop, mingle, browse and enjoy the day in a beautiful wooded setting. For information, visit www.affairofthehearts.org.
Guess who's coming to dinner?
What if the 3rd President of the United States invited the 26th President of the United States to dine with him for Christmas dinner?
Join the merriment on Nov. 21 as the Crystal Lake Library Foundation and the Raue Center For The Arts celebrates Christmas at Monticello featuring Clay Jenkinson and WGN’s John Williams, an evening to benefit both organizations. The performance, Christmas at Monticello — Holiday Reflections with Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt, involves Jenkinson in split period attire, engaged in a real-time discussion between Jefferson and Roosevelt and moderated by Williams.
“The concept intrigued us,” says Brian Pappalardo, president of the Crystal Lake Library Foundation Board of Directors. “This is the seventh year that we’ve hosted Jenkinson so we wanted a theme that was fresh and innovative. The idea of having Jefferson host Roosevelt for Christmas dinner fascinated us.”
If the concept is fascinating the man behind the concept is equally intriguing.
“Clay is one of those rare talents who is able to seamlessly portray historical characters with wit, charm and intelligence,” says Richard Kuranda, executive director of the Raue. “ It’s a difficult proposition — to portray historical characters — everyone has their own preconceived idea. Clay always delivers a wonderful evening full of joy and passion and the hall is always full of laughter. Clay is an American original - through and through.”
Jenkinson, is something of an anomaly. A Rhodes and Danforth scholar, Jenkinson is co-founder of the modern Chautauqua movement, and was the recipient of one of the first National Endowment for the Humanities Awards for Excellence by President George H. W. Bush. He is also a humorist and has entertained audiences throughout the United States with his wry sense of humor, including a special guest appearance on Comedy Central’s Colbert Report.
Tickets for the 7:30 performance are $40 and $50. To purchase tickets, please call 815-356-9212, online at www.rauecenter.org.
