On May 28, Greene and pianist-musical director Christian Klikovits will perform at The Vernon Hills High School Theater, located in Vernon Hills at 145 Lakeview Parkway. Dinner with Greene as well as a silent auction will follow at Portofino Italian Bistro (102 Hawthorn Parkway). The 7 PM concert will benefit The Children's Place Association, a Chicago-based safe house for children with HIV/AIDS that was established in 1994. Visit www.childrens-place.org for more information.

Ellen Greene began her career as a nightclub singer, performing in the now closed New York cabaret Reno Sweeney. At age 21, Joseph Papp took her under his wing and cast her in productions of Boom Boom Room and The Threepenny Opera. Greene earned a Tony nomination for her work in the latter, but it was her role as Audrey in both the original stage and film productions of Little Shop of Horrors that brought her national attention. Among her recent theatrical credits are the West Coast staging of Side Man and an all-star reading of Women Behind Bars. Her many screen credits include "The Cooler," "One Fine Day," "Léon," "Fathers & Sons," "Stepping Out," "Pump Up the Volume," "Talk Radio" and "Next Stop, Greenwich Village." She also recently released her debut solo recording, "In His Eyes," which is available at www.ellengreene.com.

Tickets for the benefit, presented by the Encore Theatre, are priced $40 (performance only) and $110 (performance and five-course dinner/open bar). Call (847) 549-8241 for reservations.