Arts in Brief for Nov. 6, 2009:
Barn II revue
GOODFIELD -- Conklin's Barn II Dinner Theatre presents its first-ever music-comedy holiday revue, "We Need a Little Christmas," beginning Thursday on the stage near Goodfield.
Thursday through Saturday dinner performances and Sunday brunch shows will continue through Jan. 3. Special Wednesday dinner performances are Dec. 2, 9 and 16, and there are two special shows on New Year's Eve.
Tickets are $33 to $37 at the theater box office, which can be reached at 309-965-2545.
"We Need a Little Christmas" combines songs, dance and comedy under the direction of Mary Simon, who performs along with Dan and Tamra Challacombe, Pat Gaik, Chad Kirvan, Dave Windsor and Diann Thompson.
IWU 'Boheme'
BLOOMINGTON -- Illinois Wesleyan University's School of Music will stage the Puccini opera, "La Boheme," at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 and 3 p.m. Nov. 15 in Westbrook Auditorium on campus.
Directing the production is Robert Mangialardi, with music direction and accompanying by Susan Klotzbach.
Admission to both performances is free.
Dunham returns
CHAMPAIGN -- Comedian-ventriloquist Jeff Dunham is returning to Central Illinois next year with his "Identity Crisis Tour."
This time through, he'll perform at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall in Champaign, at 7:30 p.m. March 4.
Tickets are $43.50, and go on sale at 10 a.m. Nov. 13 via the venue box office and area Ticketmaster outlets.
Eureka choruses
EUREKA -- The Eureka College Chorale and Chamber Singers will present their annual fall concert at 4 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Cerf Center's Becker Auditorium.
Admission is free, with the performance followed by a reception.
As part of the preparation for the ensembles' May concert tour in Italy, the concert will feature all a cappella songs, including John Wilbye's "Adieu, Sweet Amaryllis," William Dawson's "There Is a Balm in Gilead" and Alessandro Scarlatti's "Exultate Deo."