Northern Illinois Community Calendar

Two cops, three crooks, eight doors— GO! This laugh-out-loud door-slamming comedy from the playwright of The Angel Next Door centers around two adjoining motel rooms. A sting operation has been carefully set up. Detective Eric Sheridan (a smart guy who keeps getting caught with his pants down – that’s not a metaphor) has set up video surveillance on the adjoining room where he hopes to get evidence of corruption at City Hall. He is aided by Billie, an eager rookie who makes up for her lack of skills with incredibly misplaced confidence.

Add in a nervous accountant, a befuddled mayor, an insecure head of security and, well, things don’t go exactly as planned. Turns out our heroic cops have run afoul of an outlaw Scottish clan and a fierce highlander assassin has been summoned to “take care” of the situation. Yikes!

Performances at both 4 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 and 25.

Ticket available online or call the box office at 815-394-5004. Email boxoffice@artistsensemble.org.

Recommended for middle school and up.

Mendelssohn Presents! The Jeff Hamilton Piano Trio will kick of the Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center's 2026-27 season. With a substantial discography of over 300 recordings, Jeff Hamilton is an established high-profile drummer from the Los Angeles area. Over his 50+ year career, he has collaborated with a who’s who of artists including George Shearing, Mel Tormé, Herb Alpert, Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow, Paul McCartney, and Diana Krall. His early career included collaborations with Ella Fitzgerald, the Count Basie Orchestra, and Rosemary Clooney. Don’t miss this season opener!

A deviously delicious Broadway and Hollywood sci-fi smash musical, Little Shop of Horrors has devoured the hearts of theatergoers for over 30 years.

The meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a strange new plant he names Audrey II after his coworker crush. This foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises fame and fortune to the down-and-out Seymour—as long as he keeps feeding it blood.

As Audrey II grows, so do Seymour’s dreams, but he soon discovers the plant’s shocking origins and its terrifying plans for world domination. Packed with unforgettable songs, outrageous comedy, and larger-than-life characters, Little Shop of Horrors is a wildly entertaining musical with a bite.

The Dave Matthews Tribute Band
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 | 8:00 PM

Tickets start at $49, Members save 30%
(All-in pricing includes $4 Box Office Fee. An $8 Order fee will be applied at checkout to the entire order)
Step back into the golden era of jam bands with DMTB — a high-energy celebration of the music of the Dave Matthews Band. Blending complex guitar riffs, soaring violin melodies, smooth sax lines, and explosive drumming, DMTB recreates the unforgettable spirit of a ‘90s DMB concert experience. For over 20 years, this Buffalo-based tribute act has captivated fans across the globe with authentic performances, deep cuts, fan favorites, and the communal energy that made the original band legendary. Close your eyes, sing along, and get transported back to the magic.
Recommended: 12+

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Don’t forget to become a RaueNOW Member to save 30%!

*Prices vary according to zone. Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable.

Box Office Fee – A $4 per ticket charge to support the ticketing software.

Order Fee – A $8 per order charge that helps operate and invest back in our historic venue.

Premium Seat Fee – $6 Premium seat fee is based on location/additional leg room and indicated with a light blue color on the seating chart.

Patron Code of Conduct: Be courteous. Inform staff if you feel or observe any harassment. We reserve the right to remove any guest at any time. For more information, please visit rauecenter.org.

Questions? Contact our Box Office at 815-356-9212; boxoffice@rauecenter.org
Raue Center For The Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts.

Eight Fifteen Capital and the West Side Show Room present Nat Turner in Jerusalem by award-winning playwright Nathan Alan Davis.

In August 1831, Nat Turner led a slave uprising that shook the conscience of the nation.

Nathan Alan Davis’s timely new play imagines Turner’s final night in a jail cell in Jerusalem, Virginia, as he is visited by attorney Thomas R. Gray and they reckon with what has passed, and what the dawn will bring.

Woven with vivid imagery and indelible lyricism, Nat Turner in Jerusalem examines the power of an individual’s resolute convictions and their seismic reverberations through time.

Nat Turner in Jerusalem is the third play of Rockford native Nathan Alan Davis to be presented in partnership between Eight Fifteen Capital and West Side Show Room.

Hosting a 3K/5K Fun Run event to support Before and After School Program in Paw Paw. We will have some fun stations along the way, such as; hula hoops, bubble machines, mini challenges (example: hop on 1 foot).

Also, the Paw Paw Fest is happening right after our event. It focuses on the PP fruit.
SO come to support our cause and stay for the Festival!

Join The Wetlands Initiative for Seeds at Sunset at the beautiful Dixon Waterfowl Refuge! Volunteers will harvest native prairie seed that will be sown back into 3,100 acres of native habitat. Volunteer events are free, open to all, and no experience is required. Learn new skills and meet new people while spending time outdoors and contributing to a world-class natural area!

Join the Boone County Conservation District for some fall family fun as we come together for a planting party to plant native shrubs and trees at LIB Conservation Area! Please register for a time to attend so we can plan parking and tools for the planting activity.

You are welcome to attend the event as a walk-in participant or group, but we may need to adjust your planting schedule if all available tools are taken when you arrive.

You will be invited to select a tree placed in a pre-dug hole. You will learn the proper way to plant the tree from BCCD Natural Resource Management staff and ensure that it is at the proper depth.

Stop by a booth to learn more about the benefits of trees in our community. You can participate in an art activity and get your photo taken with the tree you helped plant!

You are welcome to enjoy a treat from Edwards Apple Orchard after planting a tree.

This is a free event, but registration is required. To register, please visit https://www.bccdil.org/bccd-fall-celebration-event-for-national-public-lands-day/. For any questions comments, or concerns, contact the office at 815-547-7935 or email dgrelecki@bccdil.org.

*Funding support for this project was provided by the IRA through the USDA Forest Service Eastern Region. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. These funds are administered by the Morton Arboretum’s Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI).

The Coliseum Museum is honored to host a special collection of China by members of the Pickard Collectors Club. The club was founded in 1992 by Joy Luke of Bloomington, Illinois, who along with a small group of Pickard enthusiasts thought it was time to bring together collectors of Pickard porcelain and glass.

Wilder A. Pickard (1857-1939) started the company in 1894 by offering his customers hand-painted giftware, artware, and eventually dinnerware of the highest quality.

Today, Pickard, Inc., remains a family-owned business proudly producing high quality, hand-crafted china. Each Pickard generation carries on the tradition of producing Ivory and White porcelain for individuals as well as for government and corporate organizations, both domestic and international. For more information visit their website at https://pickardcollectorsclub.org

Les Allen
Taft Gallery, August 1 – September 30

Les Allen, an award-winning photographer based in Dixon, IL, specializes in Fine Art Traditional Black and White Photography. Using a large format camera, Les captures the surreal and abstract elements of the world around him.

In the world of analog photography, Les is a master printer, creating luminous and mesmerizing images that challenge perception and invite viewers into a dreamlike realm. His photographs, a manifestation of his deep connection with nature, convey his instinctual understanding of light, shadow, and composition. Evoking emotions, provoking thought, and inspiring viewers to explore their own intuitive connections with the world.