Whoopi Goldberg, Diana Ross highlight Ravinia lineup
Comedy, movies, classic rock, classical music — it’s all on tap this summer at the Ravinia Festival, it was announced. In all, the 2018 season at the Highland Park venue boasts 80 debuts. Among the highlights: Comedian Whoopi Goldberg headlines the pavilion Aug. 3. Steve Martin is joined by Martin Short, the Steep Canyon Rangers and Jeff Babko on Aug. 12 for “An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life. Chicago’s own Joey Villagomez ( Latin Kings of Comedy, “Just for Laughs,”) makes his Ravinia stand- up debut on Sept. 16 as part of the Fiesta Ravinia celebration of Mexican culture.
Roger D alt rey and the Ravi ni a Festival Orchestra will present a full concert performance of The Who’s “Tommy” June 23 and 25.
Onemajor homage of the season are several evenings of programming in celebration of the Leonard Bernstein Centennial. The centerpiece is the presentation of Bernstein’s “Mass,” ( July 28) by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, with Marin Alsop conducting.
Also on tap this year: Diana Ross ( June 2), John Fogerty and ZZ Top ( June 12), rapper 50 Cent ( Sept. 6) and Tony Bennett Sept 3.
Tickets ( available at ravinia. org) for the general public will for the first time go on sale in two waves: June and July concerts will go on sale at 6 a. m. May 8; August and September concert dates go on sale at 6 a. m. May 10.