Midwest on our radar
Group tour planners have plenty of new ways to enhance itineraries in America’s heartland Take a look at what’s happening in the Midwest: ILLINOIS Broadway in Chicago has announced its spring 2012 line-up along with a much-anticipated musical slated for later in the year. The hottest ticket will be The Book of Mormon, set for Dec. 11, 2012 to March 3, 2013 at Bank of America Theatre. From the creators of South Park, the show is the winner of nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Ben Brantley of The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” Other shows for 2012 include In the Heights ( Jan. 10-15), Mamma Mia ( Jan. 24-29), American Idiot (Feb. 7-19), Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific (Feb. 14-26), Bring It On: The Musical (March 6-25), Riverdance (March 1318), Fela! (March 27-April 8), Jersey Boys (April 5-June 2) and Cats (May 16). Group tickets (with 15 or more) are available for all shows by calling 312977‐1710. (broadwayinchicago.com) The new National Hellenic Museum in Chicago’s Greektown will open on Nov. 4. Located at 333 S. Halsted St., the only museum of its kind in the U.S. will spotlight ancient Greek history, the Greek immigrant story and the cultural contributions of Greeks today. The first floor of the state-ofthe-art, 40,000-square-foot museum is wrapped in clear glass, allowing the museum interior to become part of the Halsted streetscape. Two floors of exhibition and education space are topped by a rooftop terrace offering views of the city skyline. The exhibit Gods, Myths and Mortals, opening Dec. 10, will feature more than 25 interactive
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Read about offbeat tour options in Chicago, from kayaks to Segways. Log on to www.leisuregrouptravel.com/?p=25300 30 October 2011
Wade & Theresa Nemetz, of Milwaukee Food Tours, now offer a pizza tour.
components, including a 12-foot Trojan horse and Cyclops Cave. (312-6551234, nationalhellenicmuseum.org) The Field Museum in Chicago will present the exhibit Chocolate Around the World from Oct. 5 through Jan. 8, 2012. Visitors will explore the plants, products and history of chocolate through the lenses of science and popular culture. On view through Jan. 1 will be Ground Zero 360°, an exhibition of photographs and artifacts related to Sept. 11 at the World Trade Center. (312-665-7300, fieldmuseum.org) INDIANA Group tours are now available for $5 per person at the newly restored Lerner Theatre, an historic gem that just had its grand reopening in downtown Elkhart. A backstage look reveals the 2,000 crystal beads that shimmer on the chandeliers, appointments glistening with gold leaf and leaded glass windows that replicate the building’s design elements. The wallpaper is the exact
replica of what hung on the walls when the “theatrical palace” opened in 1924. The Lerner Theatre originally had 2,000 seats and was host to vaudeville, big band and theatrical revues as well as movies. Today it is a performing arts center with an emphasis on children’s productions and family entertainment. (800-517-9657, amishcountry.org) IOWA The new John Deere Waterloo Tractor and Engine History Museum is set to open in late 2012, spotlighting the history of John Deere tractors in Waterloo. Located on the site of the original John Deere Waterloo Works, the interactive museum will offer Deere fans the opportunity to experience the evolution of Deere agricultural machines dating back to the purchase of Waterloo Boy tractors in 1918. The new attraction will complement the popular plant tours of John Deere Waterloo Works. (800728-8431, waterloocvb.org) LeisureGroupTravel.com