Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 5-2

2 CHICAGO TRIBUNE PLAY SECTION 5 THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2010 NW iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin ran Play picks CHICAGOLAMD THEATRE DIRECTORY iiiiiiiiii Steppenwolf Theatre Company Tue Sun at 7:30, Sat Sun at 3:00 Endgame by Samuel Beckett directed by ensemble member Frank Galati NOW PLAYING! 20 $20 tickets available everyday Call 3 12-335-1650 or www.steppenwolf.org NOW EXTENDED TO MAY IIIH Illy I iVJ iMJ 1 1 iM il I by HUGH LEONARD featuring JOHN MAHONEY 847.673.63OO N0RTHLIGHT.ORG s-i- I 1 1 II UJH TONIGHT AT 7:30 PM TOMORROW AT 8 PM BILLYS Eiuir WINNER OF 10 TONY AWARDS INCLUDING BEST MUSICAL! (800) 775-2000 BroadwaylnChicago.com Ford CenterOriental Theatre Groups 15: (312) 977-1710 NEIL MOCKFORDGETTY PHOTO Nicole Richie signing at Nordstrom Lionel Richie's baby girl has gone from party girlParis Hilton BFF, to mom and now clothing line owner. Nicole Richie is in town to introduce her new Winter Kate collection. An informal fashion show also takes place. Get VIP access, which includes a photo with Richie, when you make a pre-event purchase (call 312-464-1515, ext. 1360 for more information).

Saturday at Nordstrom, Savvy department, 55 E. Grand free; 312-464-1515 MM Porchlight Chicago 1225 Belmont www.porchlightlheatre.com Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier! THE TAMING OF THE SHREW Tonight at 7:30 Fri-Sat 7:30, Sun 2 31 2.595.5600 www.chicagoshakes.com H.v.'Uftwim PIE THIS SPRING TAKE A BREAK WITH BLUE Theatre Building Tickets 773-327-5252 GROUP Briar Street TheatrelfttearastB800.982.2787 Steppenwo If Theatre Company Tue Sun at 7:30, Sat Sun at 3:00 the brothersister plays by Tarell Alvin McCraney directed by ensemble member Tina Landau NOW PLAYING! 20 $20 tickets available everyday Call 312-335-1650 orwww.steppenwolf.org garage rep A Steppenwolf Visiting Company Initiative Three Plays in Rotation by PAVEMENT GROUP, XIII POCKET AND DOG PONY THEATRE Wed -Sun at 8:00 ALL TICKETS ONLY $20, Wednesday's Pay What You can Call 312-335-1650 orwww.steppenwolf.org MAN Windy City Gay Idol It's another season of Chicago's best amateur GLBT talent belting it out for the top spot. If you haven't got talent, come out and make your vote count. Idol is in its preliminary rounds, taking place at bars across town. Semifinals are June 5.

For a complete schedule, go to windycitymediagroup.com. Thursday's competition (7 p.m. signup, 8 p.m. show) takes place at The Glen wood, 6962 N. Glenwood $10 for singers, $5 for audience; 773-871-7610.

Natural products for pets Turn your pets green at the Natural Neighborhood Festival taking place at area Petco stores that focuses on natural pet care and lifestyles. Samples of natural and organic pet foods will be available; in-store nutrition experts will offer consultations; and information on all-natural grooming services will also be on hand. Go to petco.com to find participating locations. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday; free Artist meetup Starving artists can find grants, resources, art spaces and more at the Creative Chicago Expo.

Workshops, a Consult-a-thon vendors and more will be available at this networking event for individuals in the fashion, art, film, new media, music, theater and most any artistic industry. 10a.m.-4p.m. Saturday at Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington free; chicagoartistsresource.org One Book hits stage This year's One Book One Chicago selection, "Brooklyn" by Colm Toibin, is presented as a staged reading by members of the Chicago theater community accompanied by traditional Irish music from local artists. Gift Theatre's Michael Patrick Thornton and Lindsay Barlag of the Genesis Ensemble direct the performance.

2:30 p.m. Sunday at Irish American Heritage Center, Fifth Province, 4262 N. Knox free; 773-282-7035 i hate when people park their grocery carts on one side of the aisle and stand on the other staring at the shelves, thus completely blocking the aisle. Bill Burns, Park Ridge when rude people push past me on the moving walkways at O'Hare. Notall of us can walk that well, and that is why we are on the moving walkway.

Sheila Horst, Mount Prospect the black nail polish fad. That only looks good on Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Mick Kahler, Elmhurst us at atplaytribune.com or go to archives and submit yours online. Workshops to make you wonderful You can be on your way to wonderful in less than half an hour. That's what fitness, beauty and fashion experts will demonstrate in workshops, while chefs from area restaurants offer food samples at 15 Minutes and You're Done, a daylong celebration of Real Simple magazine's 10th anniversary The celebration also includes a performance by the Joffrey Ballet, gift bags and mini spa treatments.

Friday at the Great Hall, Union Station, 210 S. Canal free; realsimplerewards.com Regina Robinson i love the group of students on spring break who rushed to the aid of an elderly woman whose grocery bag had torn and spilled, including the guy who ran into the store to get her a new bag. Eddie Volkman, Chicago the man who told me something had fallen out of my trunk on Army Trail Road. I went back and got it. Mary Sinisgalli, Bloomingdale the kind gentleman who gave my son and his friend money to ride the home on Saturday evening.

Thank you Mary Burns, Wilmette WHAT DO YOU LOVE AND HATE? Tell chicagotribune.comlovehate to see.