Halloween is over and November has arrived, along with the time change.
More holidays are just around the corner.
In fact, while other kids were being fitted for their Halloween costumes, Chesterton child actor Joseph Maggio was busy being fitted for his costume for his starring role as Tiny Tim in "A Christmas Carol," this month's new children's theater show at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook, Ill., opening Nov. 18 and running through Dec. 21.
Maggio is a 7th grader at Chesterton Middle School.
The presentation of the timeless classic story by Charles Dickens even offers families the special opportunity to have breakfast or dinner with Santa Claus on select performance dates and featuring a festive buffet-style menu.
Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace's family friendly menu includes breakfast favorites such as "Santa's Scrambled Eggs," "Tiny Tim's Tater Tots" and "Blitzen's Bacon." The dinner menu features fun items including "Scrooge's Sliced Sirloin of Beef," "Dickens Chicken," "The Christmas Ghost Roast" and more. The dinner package price for adults is $30.50 and $20.30 for children 12 and younger. A breakfast buffet price for adults is $21.50 and $19.20 for children 12 and younger. To purchase only a ticket for any of the performances, they are $10 and a group rate of $8.40 per person available for parties of 20 or more. Call (630) 530-0111 or visit drurylaneoakbrook.com.
Scaring up fun
The calendar might say Halloween has past, but there's still some monstrous fun on the way in Chicago.
Check out my columnist colleague Molly Woulfe's cover story today on the arts and entertainment page for all the details about this month's Broadway in Chicago run of the funny hit Mel Brooks' musical "Young Frankenstein," which opens this week at the Cadillac Palace Theatre and runs through Dec. 13.
And as a special treat, just a stone's throw away, Petterino's at 150 N. Dearborn St., located in the heart of the theater district and one of my favorite celebrity dinner haunts is featuring the cast of "Young Frankenstein" for their special "Monday Night Live" night at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9.
Guests are invited to join co-hosts Denise McGowan and Beckie Menzie at this special installment of the popular "open mic" weekly evening of talent, now back for its third season.
It's always full of surprises and special guests. And the relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere, including the hundreds of celebrity caricatures on the walls, allows established and emerging singers to showcase their talent with true cabaret at its finest.
Following tradition, a lighter menu of appetizers, sandwiches and salads is offered, as well as the full menu or special three-course "Seven After Seven" menu, featuring a choice of seven appetizers, seven entrees and seven desserts for $19.95.
There is a $15 per person dining minimum required for a table at "Monday Night Live," with complimentary valet parking available after 7 p.m. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling Petterino's at (312) 422-0150.
Named after Arturo Petterino, the legendary maitre d' of Chicago's renowned Pump Room, Petterino's specializes in a wide variety of classic American specialties prepared with simple and classic ingredients.
Also in town
The wonderful and funny Teri Garr, who starred in the original 1974 Mel Brooks film version of "Young Frankenstein," will sign autographs and host screenings of the film today at 6 and 8 p.m. at the new Hollywood Palms Cinema, Bar and Eatery, located in Naperville, Ill., at 352 South Route 59, just between Aurora Avenue and Jefferson Avenue.
This amazing new theater space features a lush palm-filled Mayan jungle-themed lobby, and, like its sister venue in Woodridge, Ill., celebrates the cinematic art form with seven themed auditoriums and the same full bar and menu service. For more information, show times and directions, call (630) 428-5800 or visit hollywoodpalmscinema.com.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or 219.852.4327.
Today's Celebrity Birthdays
Newspaper columnist James J. Kilpatrick is 88. East Chicago's own actress Betsy Palmer is 83. Country singer "Whispering" Bill Anderson is 72. Actress Barbara Bosson ("Murder One," "Hill Street Blues") is 70. Actor Robert Foxworth ("Falcon Crest") is 68. "Hustler" publisher Larry Flynt and actress Marcia Wallace are 67. Country singer Kinky Friedman is 65. Music producer David Foster is 60. Singer-guitarist Dan Peek (America) is 59. Saxophonist Ronald Khalis Bell of Kool and the Gang is 58. Country singer-songwriter-producer Keith Stegall is 55. Singer Lyle Lovett is 52. Actress Rachel Ticotin is 51. Bassist Eddie MacDonald of The Alarm is 50. Baseball star Fernando Valenzuela is 49. Singer Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers and singer-keyboardist Mags Furuholmen of a-ha are 47. Drummer Rick Allen of Def Leppard and country singer Big Kenny of Big and Rich are 46. Singer Sophie B. Hawkins is 45. Rapper Willie D of the Geto Boys is 43. Actress Toni Collette ("The Hours," "Muriel's Wedding") and actress Jenny McCarthy are 37. "American Idol" runner-up Bo Bice is 34. Actor Penn Badgely ("Gossip Girl") is 23. Actor-drummer Alex Wolff ("The Naked Brothers Band") is 12.
