Arts & Theater Calendar: Week of Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2011

Ongoing Attractions

Rockford Art Museum – 711 N. Main St. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. Featuring: Rockford Made 4356: Deill/Julin,” thru Dec. 27. Born on the same day, in the same year – April 3, 1956 – in the same Rockford hospital. “Rockford Made 4356” celebrates the creative vision of noted Rockford artists John Deill and Jim Julin. “The Chemistry of Color” Oct. 24 thru April 22, 2012. Free for everyone every Tues. Info: 815-968-2787.

Artists’ Ensemble – Rockford College Cheek Theatre, 5050 E. State St. Info: 815-903-2277 or www.artistsensemble.org.

Kortman Gallery – 107 N. Main St. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Exhibiting now: “The Wright Inspiration: Art, Design, and the Laurent House.” Info: 815-968-0123.

David C. Olson Photography Studio – 7801 E. State St., inside Clock Tower Resort. Wildlife and nature imagery. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-noon, Saturday. Free. Info: 815-873-1777.

Beth Ann Weis Salon & Spa – 4108 Morsay Drive, Rockford. Hours: Tues. & Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thurs., noon-9 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Sun., Mon., Wed. Info: 815-387-2700.

Funktional Arts – 412 N. First St. Furniture & sculpture. Info: 815-969-7942.

Discovery Center -Museum – 711 N. Main St. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Now featuring: Peanuts… Naturally. A lighthearted look at nature with Charlie Brown, thru Jan. 8, 2012. $1/person for members; $10/person for public. Info: 815-963-6769.

Village Gallery – Stewart Square. Artists’ co-op. 45 artists. Open Wed.-Fri., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Info: 815-963-ARTS.

Bonzi Productions Theatre Group – Family theater, plays, musicals. Info: 815-394-8987.

Wright Museum of Art – 700 College St., Beloit, Wis. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Tues.-Sun. Info: 608-363-2677.

Galena Artists’ Guild Gallery – 324 Spring St., Galena. Thurs.-Mon., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info: 815-777-2870.

NIU Art Museum – Hall Case Galleries, 116 Altgeld Hall, DeKalb. Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., noon-4 p.m. Free. Info: 815-753-1936.

Rockford College Art Gallery – Clark Arts Center, 5050 E. State St. 3-6 p.m., Tues.-Fri. Info: 815-226-4105.

Womanspace – Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Drive. Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Info: 815-877-0118.

Beloit Fine Arts Incubator – 520 E. Grand Ave., Beloit, Wis. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Other hours by appointment. Info: 608-313-9083.

Monroe Arts Center – 1315 11th St., Monroe, Wis. Exhibit: “Peek-A-Boo,” thru Dec. 30. Info: 608-325-5700.

Burpee Museum of Natural History – 737 N. Main St. Info: 815-964-2424.

ArtSpace West – 1426 N. Main St. Tues.-Fri., 3-8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Info: 630-546-4727 or 815-988-1501.

Age Quake Theatre – Plays for and about those 55 and older performed in the greater Rockford area. Info: 815-398-8090.

Byron Civic Theatre – 850 N. Colfax, Byron. Info: 815-312-3000, 6-9 p.m., Mon.-Thurs. and 9 a.m.-noon, Sat. Opening Nov. 25: The 1942 USO Christmas Tour.

Cholke Photography & Fine Art Gallery – 2211 E. State St. Fri., 7:30-10 p.m.; Sat., 4:30-10 p.m.; Sun., 2-5 p.m. Free. Info: 815-226-9398.

The Fireside Theatre – Fort Atkinson, Wis. Info: 800-477-9505 or www.firesidetheatre.com.

Freeport Art Museum –121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport. Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., noon-5 p.m. Exhibiting now: 8th Annual Juried Exhibition, thru Feb. 3, 2012. Info: 815-235-9755.

DeKalb Area Women’s Center – 1021 State St., DeKalb. Fridays 7-9 p.m. Info: 815-758-1351.

Tom Littrell Design & Art Studio – 317 Market St., Rockford. Info: 815-519-5288.

Pec Playhouse Theatre – 314 Main St., Pecatonica. Now playing: Christmas Belles, thru Dec. 4. Info: 815-239-1210.

Timber Lake Playhouse – 8215 Black Oak Road, Mt. Carroll. Info: 815-244-2035.

Ingrid Dohm Studio Gallery – 839 N. Perryville Road. Appointments/Info: 815-519-6492.

Midtown Marketplace – 203 Seventh St. Info: 815-961-1269.

The Gallery At JustGoods – 201 Seventh St. Currently seeking local artist to present works in the Community/Art room. Info: 815-965-8903.

Charlotte Hackin Art Studio & Gallery – 6278 Brynwood Drive. Info: 815-639-1318.

Bliss Beads Studio & Gallery – 161 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb, Ill. Weekly classes in bead jewelry making, silversmithing and flamework glass. Regular hours: 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Mon.-Sat. Info: 815-517-0164.

Woodstock Musical Theatre Company – Woodstock Opera House,121 VanBuren St., Woodstock. Info: 815-338-5300.

Northwestern Illinois Theater Coalition – Seeking one-act plays by local authors, 20-30 min. with regional setting. Deadline to submit: Dec. 20. Final selections made Jan. 5. Opening February 2012: The Cheddar Curtain. Info: 815-281-0138.

Rock Valley College – Estelle M. Black LIbrary, Educational Resource Building, 3301 N. Mulford Road. Mon.-Thurs., 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fridays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.; Saturdays, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

Womanspace – 3333 Maria Linden Drive. “Holiday Art and Craft Sale” thru Dec. 15. Sale hours: Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. plus evenings & weekends when programs are scheduled. “Permanent Collection” in Gallery 3 thru Dec. 15. Info: 815-877-0118.

Wednesday, Nov. 30

A Christmas Carol – Rock Valley College Studio Theatre, 3301 N. Mulford Road. 8 p.m. Tickets: $16 adults, $14 seniors/students. Info: 815-921-2160.

A Private Haiku: Ceramic Work of Helen Merritt – NIU Art Museum, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Works of Japanese print scholar who studied the traditions of Japanese pottery. Thru Dec. 16. Info: 815-753-1936.

NIU School of Art Faculty Exhibition – NIU Art Museum, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thru Feb. 25. (closed Dec. 17, 2011-Jan. 9, 2012. Info: 815-753-1936.

The New Art Examiner, “Chicago’s Independent Voice of the Visual Arts,” 1973-2002 – NIU Art Museum, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thru March 10. Info: 815-753-1936.

“Peek-A-Boo” – Monroe Arts Center, 1315 11th St., Monroe, Wis. Multi-media group show by Driftless Area Artists. Free, open to public. Info: 608-325-5700.

Thursday, Dec. 1

A Christmas Carol – Rock Valley College Studio Theatre, 3301 N. Mulford Road. 8 p.m. Tickets: $16 adults, $14 seniors/students. Info: 815-921-2160.

Holiday 50/50 Art Show – Prairie Street Gallery, Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie St., Rockford. 4-10 p.m. Watercolor, acrylic, pottery, photography. multi-media. Free admission; 50 percent of sale price will go to support Rockford Area Arts Council programs.

Rockford Handmade Market – Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie St., Rockford. 4-10 p.m. Quality handcrafted goods from 40 vendors. Info: rockfordhandmade@gmail.com.

“Peek-A-Boo” – Monroe Arts Center, 1315 11th St., Monroe, Wis. Multi-media group show by Driftless Area Aretists. Free, open to public. Info: 608-325-5700.

Friday, Dec. 2

A Christmas Carol – Rock Valley College Studio Theatre, 3301 N. Mulford Road. 8 p.m. Tickets: $16 adults, $14 seniors/students. Info: 815-921-2160.

Holiday 50/50 Art Show – Prairie Street Gallery, Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie St., Rockford. 4-9 p.m. Watercolor, acrylic, pottery, photography. multi-media. Free admission; 50 percent of sale price will go to support Rockford Area Arts Council programs.

“Modern” Nutcracker – Beloit College, Hendricks Center for the Arts, 700 College St., Beloit, Wis. 7 p.m. Info: 608-363-2849.

“The Wright Inspiration: Art, Design, and the Laurent House” – Kortman Gallery, J.R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 N. Main St. Group exhibition of works inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright in a variety of media. Info: 815-968-0123.

“The True Meaning of Christmas” – Mighty Richland Players, Odd Fellows Hall, 203 W. High St., Orange-ville. Two one-act plays, A Stranger for Christmas and True Meaning with dessert/dilnner theater. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7. Cost of dinner/dessert and show is $40. Reserve at Monroe Arts Center, 608-325-5700.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. 8 p.m. Tickets: $23 adults, $20 students and seniors. Thru Dec. 4. Info: 815-338-5300.

The 1942 USO Christmas Tour – Byron Civic Theatre, 850 N. Colfax, Byron. 7:30 p.m. Thru Dec. 4. Info: 815-312-3000, 6-9 p.m., Mon.-Thurs. and 9 a.m.-noon, Sat.

“Peek-A-Boo” – Monroe Arts Center, 1315 11th St., Monroe, Wis. Multi-media group show by Driftless Area Artists. Free, open to public. Info: 608-325-5700.

Permanent Collection – Womanspace, Gallery 3, 3333 Maria Linden Drive. Opening reception, 5:30-8 p.m. Regular exhibit hours, Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. plus evenings and weekends when programs are scheduled. Info: 815-877-0118.

“Motion Suspended in Glass” – Bliss Beads Studio & Gallery, 161 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. 5-8 p.m. Trunk show of handmade flamework glass beads by Trish McKendry. Great gifts! Free to the public. Info: 815-517-0164.

Christmas Belles – Pec Playhouse Theatre, 314 Main St., Pecatonica. 8 p.m. Tickets: $10. Info: 815-239-1210 or www.pecplayhouse.org.

Indian Blood – Artists’ Ensemble, Rockford College, 5050 E. State St. 8 p.m. Tickets: $28, $26 for seniors, $10 students. Info: 815-904-2277 or www.artistsensemble.org.

Saturday, Dec. 3

The Nutcracker – Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St. 7 p.m. Guest dancers from internationally renowned dance companies join the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and local talent of Rockford Dance Company in this holiday tradition. Cost: $46, $34, $19. Info: 815-968-0595.

A Christmas Carol – Rock Valley College Studio Theatre, 3301 N. Mulford Road. 2 and 8 p.m. Tickets: $16 adults, $14 seniors/students. Info: 815-921-2160.

23rd Annual Evergreen Ball – Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St. 6 p.m. Celebrates “Rockford Made” showcasing artists John Deill and Jim Julin, with dining by Rockford’s own Chef Paul Sletten of Abreo, music by Clutch Cargo, and many items from local merchants, residents and artists. Fund-raiser for RAM with silent, live and wine auctions. Tickets: $200, reserve by Nov. 23. Info: 815-968-2787 or www.rockfordartmuseum.org.

“Modern” Nutcracker – Beloit College, Hendricks Center for the Arts, 700 College St., Beloit, Wis. 7 p.m. Info: 608-363-2849.

“The Wright Inspiration: Art, Design, and the Laurent House” – Kortman Gallery, J.R. Kortman Center for Design, 107 N. Main St. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Group exhibition of works inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright in a variety of media. Info: 815-968-0123.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. 8 p.m. Tickets: $23 adults, $20 students and seniors. Thru Dec. 4. Info: 815-338-5300.

The 1942 USO Christmas Tour – Byron Civic Theatre, 850 N. Colfax, Byron. 7:30 p.m. Thru Dec. 4. Info: 815-312-3000, 6-9 p.m., Mon.-Thurs. and 9 a.m.-noon, Sat.

Beloit International Film Festival – New Sullivan Theater, 118 N. Main St. 2 and 6 p.m. Tickets: $8 adults, $5 students and youth. Available at Rockford Area Arts Council; Blackhawk Bank locations, 2475 N. Perryville and 5206 Elevator Road; Franchesco’s, 7128 Spring Creek Road; at the door if seats available.

“Peek-A-Boo” – Monroe Arts Center, 1315 11th St., Monroe, Wis. Multi-media group show by Driftless Area Artists. Free, open to public. Info: 608-325-5700.

Eighth Annual Regional Juried Exhibition VIII – Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport. Noon-5 p.m. Featuring works by artists from Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Info: 815-235-9755.

Christmas Belles – Pec Playhouse Theatre, 314 Main St., Pecatonica. 2 and 8 p.m. Tickets: $10. Info: 815-239-1210 or www.pecplayhouse.org.

Indian Blood – Artists’ Ensemble, Rockford College, 5050 E. State St. 4 and 8 p.m. Tickets: $28, $26 for seniors, $10 students. Info: 815-904-2277 or www.artistsensemble.org.

Sunday, Dec. 4

The Nutcracker – Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St. 3 p.m. Guest dancers from internationally renowned dance companies join the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and local talent of Rockford Dance Company in this holiday tradition. Cost: $46, $34, $19. Info: 815-968-0595.

A Christmas Carol – Rock Valley College Studio Theatre, 3301 N. Mulford Road. 2 and 8 p.m. Tickets: $16 adults, $14 seniors/students. Info: 815-921-2160.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. 8 p.m. Tickets: $23 adults, $20 students and seniors. Thru Dec. 4. Info: 815-338-5300.

The 1942 USO Christmas Tour – Byron Civic Theatre, 850 N. Colfax, Byron. 2 p.m. Info: 815-312-3000.

“The True Meaning of Christmas” – Mighty Richland Players, Odd Fellows Hall, 203 W. High St., Orange-ville. Two one-act plays, A Stranger for Christmas and True Meaning with dessert/dinner theater. Matinee opens at noon, dinner at 12:30 p.m. Cost of dinner/dessert and show is $40. Reserve at Monroe Arts Center, 608-325-5700.

Christmas Belles – Pec Playhouse Theatre, 314 Main St., Pecatonica. 2 p.m. Tickets: $10. Info: 815-239-1210 or www.pecplayhouse.org.

Indian Blood – Artists’ Ensemble, Rockford College, 5050 E. State St. 2 p.m. Tickets: $28, $26 for se niors, $10 students. Info: 815-904-2277 or www.artistsensemble.org.

Monday, Dec. 5

“Peek-A-Boo” – Monroe Arts Center, 1315 11th St., Monroe, Wis. Multi-media group show by Driftless Area Aretists. Free, open to public. Info: 608-325-5700.

Handbuilt Pottery – Womanspace, New Dimensions Room, 3333 Maria Linden Drive. 6:30-8:30 p.m. For beginners and intermediate students. Ages 14-adult. Cost: $95 members, $110 non-members. Fee includes up to 25 pounds of clay, glazes & firing. Info: 815-877-0118.

Tuesday, Dec. 6

St. Nicholas Sculpture Exhibition (the “true story”] – Vineyard Books & Gifts, 1638 N. Alpine Road, Rockford. Opening day presentations at 1 and 7 p.m. on the true story of St. Nicholas as illustrated by each statue. Exhibition hours noon-8:30 p.m. thru Dec. 10. Free and open to public. Info: 815-398-4030.

“Peek-A-Boo” – Monroe Arts Center, 1315 11th St., Monroe, Wis. Multi-media group show by Driftless Area Artists. Free, open to public. Info: 608-325-5700.

From the Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2011, issue