Fall Arts Guide 2008, Listings, Theater

September

thursday 9/11

Amadeus Gary Griffin directs Peter Shaffer’s drama about the rivalry between 18th-century composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. aPreviews through Fri 9/12, 7:30 PM, $44. Opens Sat 9/13, 3 PM. Through Sun 11/9: Wed 1 and 7:30 PM, Thu-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 3 and 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Tue 9/16-30, 10/28, and 11/4, 7:30 PM, Sun 9/21, 3 and 7 PM, no 1 PM performance on Wed 11/5, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand, 312-595-5600, $54-$70.

Anna Livia, Lucky in Her Bridges Set in 1904 Dublin, David Brendan Hopes’s drama focuses on a woman who is about to lose her beau—James Joyce—to another woman. aPreviews Thu-Fri 9/11-12, 7:30 PM, $15. Opens Sat 9/13, 7:30 PM. Through 10/19: Thu and Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3:30 PM, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090, $20-$25.

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story A musical bio about pop music pioneer Buddy Holly. aPreviews through 9/18, Wed 2 and 7:30 PM, Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 and 8 PM, Sun 2 and 6 PM, $40-$50. Opens 9/19, 8 PM. Through 11/2: Wed 2 and 7:30 PM, Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 and 6 PM, Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut, 312-642-2000, $45-55.

Caroline, or Change Playwright Tony Kushner and composer Jeanine Tesori wrote this musical about a Louisiana Jewish boy’s relationship with his family’s African-American maid during the early 1960s. E. Faye Butler stars under Charles Newell’s direction. aPreviews 9/11-19, Wed-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2 and 7:30 PM, $32-$40. Opens Sun 9/20 7:30 PM. Through Sun 10/19: Wed-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2:30 PM and 7 PM, Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis, 773-753-4472, $34-$60.

Church Basement Ladies William Christopher (of TV M*A*S*H fame) stars in this touring comedy about the “wonderful, unsung women” who cook meals in the basement of a rural Minnesota church. aThrough 9/27: Wed-Thu 2 and 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM. North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 847-673-6300, $38-48.

Dr. Egg and the Man With No Ear Teaming up with Australian director Jessica Wilson, Redmoon Theater employs puppetry, performance, and projected animation in this family-friendly exploration of issues surrounding genetic modification. aThrough 10/19: Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 and 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Redmoon Central, 1463 W. Hubbard, 312-850-8440, $15-$35.

The Producers The musical version of Mel Brooks’s 1968 film, about a pair of crooked producers who scheme to mount a Broadway flop, is directed by William Pullinsi. aPreviews through 9/17, Wed-Thu 2 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2:30 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2:30 PM and 6 PM. Opens Thu 9/18, 2 PM. Through Sun 10/19: Wed-Thu 2 PM, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2:30 PM, Thu 9/18 8 PM, Sat 10/4, 2:30 PM, Thu 10/9, 7:30 PM, Sat 10/18, 2:30 PM, Theatre at the Centre, Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge, Munster, Indiana, 219-836-3255, $36-$40.

Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein Noble Fool Theatricals performs a musical revue. aThrough 11/1: Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 5 and 8:30 PM, Sun 2 PM, Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main, Saint Charles, 630-584-6342, $27-$38.

friday 9/12

Cold Cold Feet Tony Fiorentino’s romantic comedy set in the midst of a dysfunctional family reunion. aThrough Sun 10/19: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Attic Playhouse, 410 Sheridan Road, Highwood, 847-433-2660, $20-22.

Dashiell Hamlet: The Classic Mystery This film noir-style retelling of Shakespeare’s tragedy, set in 1940s Hollywood, is directed by Mike Nussbaum, who co-wrote it with Michael Nowak, Kathleen Thompson, and Paul H. Thompson. aPreviews 9/12-14, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, $18. Opens Tue 9/16, 7 PM. Through Sun 10/26: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, City Lit Theater Company, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr, 773-293-3682, $25.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde’s supernatural tale, about a Victorian libertine who stays youthful while his portrait ages, is adapted by Robert Kauzlaric and directed by Kevin Theis. aPreviews 9/12-21, Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 8 PM, Sun 4 PM, $20. Opens Mon 9/22 7:30 PM. Through Sun 11/2: Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 4 PM and 8 PM, Sun 4 PM. Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood, 773-761-4477, $15-30.

The U.N. Inspector British playwright David Farr’s update of Gogol’s classic comedy The Government Inspector—further revised by local playwright James Sherman for this “American version”—finds a Chicago real-estate salesman exposing corruption when he’s mistaken for a UN official. aPreviews 9/12-14, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2 PM, $11.50-$23. Opens Mon 9/15, 7 PM. Through Sun 10/12: Thu 7:30 PM, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2 PM, Sat 10/4, 2 PM, Mon 10/6, 7:30 PM. Next Theatre, Noyes Cultural Center, 927 Noyes, Evanston, 847-475-1875, $14-38.

saturday 9/13

Candide Porchlight Music Theatre presents Leonard Bernstein’s operetta, based on the classic satire by Voltaire. aPreview Sat 9/13 7:45 PM, $37. Opens Sun 9/14, 2:30 PM. Through Sun 11/2: Fri-Sat 7:45 PM, Sun 2:30 PM. Thu 10/2 and 10/23, 2 PM, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, 773-327-5252, $37.

sunday 9/14

Vaudeville and Vixens A revue of comedy and musical acts in a cabaret setting. aThrough Sat 10/4: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston Arts Depot, 600 Main, Evanston, 847-424-0089, $15-$25.

tuesday 9/16

Picnic David Cromer directs William Inge’s drama about a handsome drifter who stirs up the frustrated female inhabitants of a small Kansas town. aPreviews 9/16-23, Tue-Wed 7:30 PM, Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 4 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM and 6 PM, $50-$65. Opens Wed 9/24, 7:30 PM. Through 11/16: Tue-Wed 7:30 PM, Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 4 and 8 PM, Sun 2 and 6 PM, matinee Wed 10/22, 10/29, and 11/12 2 PM, no 6 PM show Sun 11/2 or Sun 11/16, Writers’ Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, 847-242-6000, $50-65.

wednesday 9/17

Copenhagen Northwestern University faculty and students perform Michael Frayn’s play about what may have happened when physicist Werner Heisenberg visited his mentor Niels Bohr in Nazi-occupied Denmark. aOpen rehearsal Wed 9/17 6 PM, F. Previews 9/18-22: Thu 1 PM, Fri and Mon 6 PM, F. Through 9/27: Tue-Sat 7 PM, Sun 2 PM, Technological Institute, lecture room 2, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan, Evanston, F, donations go to CeaseFire.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Jeffrey Thatcher’s dramatization of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, about a man who unlocks his inner monster, is directed by Jessica Thebus. aPreviews 9/17-24: Tue-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2:30 and 7 PM, $25-$49. Opens Thurs 9/25, 7:30 PM. Through Sun 10/26: Tue 9/30 and 10/14 7:30 PM, Wed 1 and 7:30 PM, Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2:30 and 8 PM, Sun 9/28 and 10/12 2:30 and 7 PM, Sun 10/5, 10/19, and 10/26 2:30 PM, no 7:30 performance Wed 10/8, Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, 847-673-6300, $25-$75.

Jabulani: Joy, Laughter, and Happiness The new show from Universoul Circus comes to town. aOpens Wed 9/17, 7:30 PM. Through 10/12: Tue-Fri 10:30 AM and 7:30 PM, Sat 12, 4:30, and 8 PM, Sun 1, 3:30, and 6:30 PM, Washington Park, 5531 S. Martin Luther King Jr., 800-316-7429, universoulcircus.com, $11-$35.

Mamma Mia! Touring version of the Broadway hit, featuring a score of songs by Abba. aOpens Wed 9/17, 7:30 PM. Through Sun 9/28: Thu 9/18, Sun 9/21, and Wed 9/24 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Tue 9/23 and Thu 9/25 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 and 8 PM, Sun 9/28 2 PM. Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress, 312-902-1400, $30-85.

thursday 9/18

Damn Yankees The 1955 Broadway musical, about a baseball fan who sells his soul to the devil in return for sports stardom. aPreviews through 9/21: Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 PM and 7 PM, Sun 3 PM, $26-$32. Opens Thu 9/25, 7:30 PM. Through Sun 11/2: Thu 7:30, Fri 8 PM, Sat 7 PM, Sun 3 PM. Also Wed 10/1 1:30 PM, Sat 10/18, 10/25, and 11/1 4 PM. Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights, 847-577-2121, $34-42.

Dave DaVinci Saves the Universe A “reimagined” version of The House Theatre of Chicago’s 2005 hit about a time-traveling adventurer. aPreviews through 9/20 8 PM, $15. Opens Sun 9/21 7 PM. Through Sat 11/8: Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 5 and 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division, 773-251-2195, $10-$29.

Kafka on the Shore Based on a novel by Haruki Murakami, this fantastical drama by director-playwright Frank Galati charts a young boy’s coming of age. aPreviews through 9/27: Tue-Sun 7:30 PM, Sat-Sun 3 PM, no performance 9/23, $20-$48. Opens Sun 9/28 6 PM. Through 11/16: Tue-Sun 7:30 PM, Sat-Sun 3 PM, Wed 10/29, 11/5, and 11/12 12 PM, no sunday evening performances after 10/26, Steppenwolf Theater, 1650 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650, $20-70.

The Magic Cabaret Magic, mystery, and mischief with P.T. Murphy & David Parr. aThrough Sat 10/18: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N Lincoln, 773-404-7336, $25, no one under age 13 admitted.

R.U.R—Rossum’s Universal Robots Czech playwright Karel Capek’s 1921 drama, which introduced the word “robot” into general parlance, imagines a time in which human beings are dominated by intelligent machines. Shade Murray directs. aPreviews through 9/19, 8 PM, $10. Opens Sun 9/21, 7 PM. Through Sat 10/25: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway, 773-528-9696, $15-$20.

Ten Cent Night Marisa Wegrzyn’s new play, directed by Richard Shavzin, concerns a Texas musician and her dysfunctional family. aPreviews through 9/25, Thu-Sat 8 PM, $15. Opens Fri 9/26 and Sat 9/27 8 PM. Through Sun 10/26: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W Chicago Ave, 312-633-0630, $10-$30.

Yohen The Silk Road Theatre Company presents Philip Kan Gotanda’s drama about a Japanese woman and an African-American soldier who fall in love in post-World War II Japan, then move to a Los Angeles suburb. aPreviews through 9/26, Thu 7:30 PM, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 4 PM, $18-$20. Opens Sat 9/27, 4 PM. Through Sun 11/2: Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 4 PM and 8 PM, Sun 4 PM, Chicago Temple, First United Methodist Church, 77 W. Washington St., (312) 857-1234, $30-$34.

friday 9/19

Filthy Pervert Seeks Same So many men, so little time. Steven Dawson’s racy comedy explores how gay guys connect by utilizing technology. aThrough Sat 10/18: Fri-Sat 10:30 PM, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090, $25.

Hasta los gorriones dejan su nido Raul Dorantes’ play about migrant workers, based on Tennessee Williams’s The Strangest Kind of Love. Performed entirely in Spanish. aOpens 8 PM. Through November 2: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, Aguijon Theater, 2707 N. Laramie, 773-637-5899, aguijontheater.org, $15-$30.

Turn of the Century Director Tommy Tune teamed up with the authors of Jersey Boys for this new musical about a piano player and a singer who set out to discover America’s most popular songs. Jeff Daniels and Rachel York star. aPreviews through 9/28: Wed-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2 and 7:30 PM, no performance 9/26. $25-$65 Opens 9/29 7 PM. Through Sun 10/26: Wed, and Tue 10/14, 7:30 PM, Thu and Sun 2 and 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 and 8 PM, no matinee Sat 10/4 and Thu 10/23, no evening performance Sun 10/19 and 10/26, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800, $25-$82.

saturday 9/20

Land of the Free A simple ride to the polls on Election Day 2004 turns into a hostage situation in Mark Burns’s political lampoon, performed by Babes With Blades. aPreviews Sat 9/20 8 PM, Sun 9/21 3 PM, $10. Opens Mon 9/22, 8 PM. Through Sun 10/26: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western Ave., 773-296-6024, $12-$25.

Odin’s Horse The Infamous Commonwealth Theatre Company performs Robert Koon’s drama, which examines the conflict between those who make their living cutting trees and those who fight to preserve them. aOpens Sat 9/20, 8:30 PM. Through 10/19: Thu-Sat 8:30 PM, Sun 3:30 PM, Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, 312-458-9780, $15-$20.

Our Town The Hypocrites remount their 2007 hit staging of Thornton Wilder’s classic smalltown portrait. David Cromer directs and stars. aPreviews 9/20-24: Sat, Sun, and Wed 8 PM, $10. Opens Thu 9/25, 8 PM. Through Sun 10/26: Thu-Sat, 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division, 773-278-1500, $15-$25.

sunday 9/21

The Voysey Inheritance David Mamet’s adaptation of Harley Granville Barker’s 1905 play, about a man ashamed to discover that his late father bilked the customers of their family business. James Bohnen directs for Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. aPreviews Thu 9/18-Sat 9/20, 7:30PM, $29. Opens Sun 9/21, 7 PM, $29-$55. Through Sun 11/2: Wed-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM, Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., 773-404-7336, $40-$60.

monday 9/22

Chiaroscuro (A Study in Shadow) Kenneth N. Kurtz’s play centered on the Renaissance artist Caravaggio. aPreviews Mon-Tue 9/22-23, 7:30 PM, $15. Opens Wed 9/24, 7:30 PM. Through 10/19: Wed, Fri, and Sun 7:30 PM, Sat 5 PM, no performance Sat 9/27 and Sun 10/12, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090, $20-$25.

Incubator Showcase The InFusion Theatre performs an evening of new works. a7:30 PM, Chicago Cultural Center, Studio Theater, 77 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497, F

Play for Keeps: A Play Development Workshop for Female Roles Stockyards Theatre Project presents readings of new plays specifically written for women. aMon-Wed 9/22-24, 7:30 PM, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, 773-936-7896, $5 suggested donation.

Wednesday 9/24

All Shook Up Songs from the Elvis Presley songbook anchor this musical about a biker who falls for a (female) small-town mechanic. Previews through 9/28. Opens Wed 10/1 8 PM, Through 12/7: Wed 1 and 8 PM, Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 2:30 and 8 PM, Sun 1 and 5 PM, Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire, 847-634-0200, $45.

Pen Hollis Resnik stars in David Marshall Grant’s drama about the difficult relationship between a disabled woman and her son. aPreviews through 9/25 7:30 PM. Opens Sat 9/27, 7:30 PM. Through Sun 10/19: Wed-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 5 and 8:30 PM, Sun 2 and 6 PM. Apple Tree Theatre, 1850 Green Bay, Highland Park, 847-432-4335. Call for prices.

thursday 9/25

Frankenstein in Love Clive Barker transfers Mary Shelley’s famous character to a South American country undergoing revolution. A Will Act for Food production. aThrough Sat 11/1: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Chemically Imbalanced Theater, 1420 W. Irving Park, 773-865-7731, $18, $15 with nonperishable food donation.

The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler What if the heroine of Ibsen’s drama decided not to kill herself after all? That’s the premise of Jeff Whitty’s play, presented by the Dog & Pony Theatre Company. aPreviews through 9/26, 8 PM. Opens 9/27 8 PM. Through 10/26: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western, 773-296-6024, $15-$20, Thu and Sun pay what you can.

Kita y Fernanda Tanya Saracho’s new play examines class, immigration, and women’s friendships as played out between two girls—one the daughter of a rich Mexican family living in Texas, the other the child of an undocumented maid. aPreviews through 9/27, Thu-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 8 PM. Opens Thu 10/2, 7:30 PM. Through 10/25: Thu-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 5 PM and 8 PM, Sun 10/19, 3 and 6 PM, 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th, Berwyn, 708-795-6704, $16.

Sleuth Anthony Shaffer’s tricky thriller, about a mystery writer who plots to murder his wife’s boyfriend, is presented by the Buffalo Theatre Ensemble. aPreview Thu 9/25, 8 PM, $23-$25. Opens Fri 9/26, 8 PM. Through Sun 10/19: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2 PM, College of DuPage, McAnich Arts Center, Fawell and Park, Glen Ellyn, 630-942-4000, $27-$33.

friday 9/26

The Day Patient A man looks for answers after surgery sends his wife into a coma. aThrough Sun 10/18: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Shapeshifters Theatre, Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox, 773-282-7035, $15.

Beehive, the 60s Musical The Big Noise Theatre Company performs a tribute to women rockers of the 1960s. aThrough 10/19: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2 PM, Prairie Lakes Theatre, 515 E. Thacker, Des Plaines, 847-604-0275, $12-$20.

Intimate Apparel Students perform Lynn Nottage’s drama about an African-American seamstress in early 20th century New York and her long-distance correspondence with a Panama Canal laborer. aThrough Sun 10/5: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM, Loyola University Theatre, Mullady Theatre, 1125 W. Loyola, 773-508-3847, $6-$15.

LinkUp Residency Artists Showcase Szewai Lee, Angeline Gragasin, and Christian Bambara present an evening of new performance, spoken-word, and dance works. aThrough 9/28: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824, $15.

Million Dollar Quartet The setting of Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux’s new musical is Sun Records’s storefront studio in Memphis in 1956, the occasion is an impromptu recording session by Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley—one of the greatest rock-a-billy jam sessions of all times. aPreviews through 10/4: Tue-Wed 7:30, Thu 2 and 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 and 8 PM, Sun 2 and 6 PM, $20-$47. Opens Sun 10/5, 7 PM. Through Sun 10/26: Tue-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM. Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800, $42-49.

The Young Ladies Of… About Face Theatre hosts New York performance artist Taylor Mac. aPreviews through 9/28. Opens 9/29. Through 10/26, Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted, 773-784-8565, call for times and prices.

saturday 9/27

Dracula Theatre Hikes presents an ambulatory outdoor version of Bram Stoker’s vampire tale. aThrough 10/26: Sat 1 PM, Sun 3 PM, Mon 10/13, 1 PM, Thornhill Shelter at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois route 53, Lisle, 630-725-2066, $13-$22, audiences welcome to bring portable chairs or blankets.

Indecent Proposals Scott Woldman’s new comedy examines different ways to say “marry me.” a10:15 PM. Through 11/8: Sat 10:15 PM. Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights, $16.50.

The Mark of Zorro Lifeline Theatre remounts last season’s adaptation of Johnston McCulley’s adventure story. aPreview 4 PM, $15. Opens 8 PM. Through 11/23: Thu-Fri 7:15 PM, Sat 4 and 8 PM, Sun 4 PM, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., 773-327-5252, $15-$30.

sunday 9/28

Side by Side by Sondheim Light Opera Works presents a revue of songs by Stephen Sondheim. aPreviews through 10/2: 2 PM today, Wed-Thu 8 PM, $20. Opens Fri 10/3 8 PM. Through Sun 11/9: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, McGaw YMCA Child Care Center auditorium, 1420 Maple, Evanston, 847-869-6300, $24-39, under 21 half-price.

Dirty Dancing—the Classic Story on Stage The Australian stage version of the 1987 movie about a turbulent summer romance has its U.S. premiere prior to a Broadway run. aPreviews through 10/18. Opens Sunday 10/19, 6 PM. Through 12/7: Tue and Thu 7:30 PM, Wed 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM. Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph, 312-902-1400, $35-150.

monday 9/29

Dancing at Lughnasa Students perform Brian Friel’s drama about five unmarried women in 1930s Ireland. aThrough 9/21: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM, North Central College, Thrust Theatre, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville, 630-637-5368, $8-$10.

October

wednesday 10/1

All About Eve The AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players perform a radio-style adaptation of the classic film about an aging Broadway star and her would-be rival. a7 PM, Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater, 78 E. Washington, 312-744-6630, F

Continental Divide: Daughters of the Revolution Alex Levy directs the second part of David Edgar ‘s two-play cycle, which focuses on a bitter gubernatorial campaign from both the Democratic and Republican perspectives. Plays in repertory with Continental Divide: Mothers Against (see listing under 10/3). aPreviews through 10/9: Tue-Thu 8 PM, $15. Opens Mon 10/10, 8 PM. Through 11/9: Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 and 8 PM, Sun 3 PM. Daughters performs on Sat 10/11 3 PM, Sat 10/18 8 PM, Sun 10/19, Thu-Fri 10/23-24, Sat 10/25 3 PM, Sat 11/1 8 PM, Sun 11/2, Thu-Fri 11/6-7 8 PM, Sat 11/8 3 PM. Pegasus Players, Truman College, O’Rourke Center, 1145 W. Wilson Ave., (773) 878-9761. $20.

The Passion of Dracula Bram Stoker’s vampire tale, as loosely adapted for the stage by Bob Hall and David Richmond, is presented by the First Folio Shakespeare Festival. aPreviews through 10/3: Wed-Fri, 8 PM, $18. Opens Sat 10/4, 8 PM. Through 11/2: Wed, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 West 31st, Oak Brook, 630-986-8067, $23-$30

Seven Doors German playwright Botho Strauss’s theater piece offering brief “glimpses into a grotesquely tragic life,” Premiere Theatre & Performance stages a translation by Peter K. Jansen. aPreviews through 10/4: Wed-Thu 8 PM, Sat 1 and 4 PM. Opens Sun 10/5, 7 PM. Through 11/2: Wed-Thu 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston, ptapchicago.org, $15-$20.

Stella’s Unisex Salon The Time of Your Life Players present a new musical comedy about a bar owner named Stella who turns his saloon into a salon. aThrough 10/24: Wed and Fri 2 PM, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090, $15.A Streetcar Named Desire Students perform Tennessee Williams’s drama. aPreviews through 10/2, 7:30 PM. Opens Fri 10/3 7:30 PM. Through Sun 10/12: Wed-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM, Theatre School at DePaul University, Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo, 312-922-1999, $10-$15.

The Troublesome Reign and Lamentable Death of Edward II, King of England, with the Tragical Fall of Proud Mortimer Christopher Marlowe’s drama about the ill-fated homosexual monarch is offered in a promenade production under Sean Graney’s direction. aPreviews through 10/5. Opens Wed 10/8 8 PM. Through Sun 11/9: Wed-Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 and 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand, 312-595-5600, $20-$42.

thursday 10/2

A Dog in the Manger Red Tape Theatre presents a new adaptation of a drama by Lope de Vega, about a romantic triangle between a noblewoman and two of her servants at the time of the Inquisition. aPreviews through 10/4, Thu-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 2 and 7:30 PM, $10.Opens Mon 10/6 7:30 PM. Through 10/26: Thu-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat-Sun 2 and 7:30 PM, St. Peter’s Church, 621 W. Belmont, 847-738-6919, $20.

Forbidden Broadway Gerard Alessandrini’s revue spoofs the songs and stars of Broadway. aPreviews through 10/6: Mon and Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 5 and 8 PM, Sun 2 and 5 PM. Opens 10/7 7:30 PM. Through November 30: Tue, 10/14 and 10/21, 7:30 PM, Wed 2 and 7:30 PM, Thu, 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 5 and 8 PM, Sunday, 2 and 5 PM, no performance 10/19, no matinee Wed 10/8-22, extra 2 PM matinee Fri 11/28, Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Broadway, 312-988-9000, $40-$55.

In the Curious Hold of the Demeter: Count Orlock at Sea The Incurable Theater’s production, inspired by the classic silent horror film Nosferatu, employs puppetry, shadow play, masks, and projections. aPreview 7:30 PM. Opens Fri 10/3, 7:30 PM. Through 10/25: Fri-Sat 7:30 PM, Chicago Cultural Center, Studio Theater, 77 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497, $10-$15.

The Screwtape Letters C.S. Lewis’s novel as adapted by Jeffrey Fiske and Max McLean, in a touring production. aThrough 11/9: Wed-Fri 8 PM, Sat 4 and 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Mercury Theater, 3745 N Southport, 773-325-1700, $29-$48.50.

friday 10/3

Blood Sausage Corn Productions presents Sara Kay Snider’s campy update of Medea. aThrough 11/1, Wed-Sat 8 PM, Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln, 312-409-6435, $7-$15.

Eurydice Sarah Ruhl’s drama, based on the Greek myth of Orpheus, is directed by Sandy Shinner. aPreviews through 10/12: Tue-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, $20-$37. Opens Mon 10/13, 7:30 PM. Through Sat 10/25: Tue-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 5 PM and 8:30 PM, Sun 3 PM, no performance 10/14. Tue 10/28 through Sun 11/9: Wed 2 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 5 PM and 8:30 PM, Sun 3 PM, Tue 10/28 10:30 AM, Tue-Thu 11/4-6 7:30 PM. Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000, previews, regular run $20-$48.

Continental Divide: Mothers Against Alex Levy directs the first part of David Edgar’s two-play cycle, which focuses on a bitter gubernatorial campaign from both the Democratic and Republican perspectives. Plays in repertory with Continental Divide: Daughters of the Revolution (see listing under 10/1). aPreviews through 10/5: Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 and 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, $15. Opens Mon 10/6, 8 PM. Through 11/9: Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 and 8 PM, Sun 3 PM. Mothers performs on Sat 10/11 8 PM, Sun 10/12, Thu-Fri 10/16-17, Sat 10/18 3 PM, Sat 10/25 8 PM, Sun 10/26, Thu-Fri 10/30-31, Sat 11/1 3 PM, Sat 11/8 8 PM, Sun 11/9. Pegasus Players, Truman College, O’Rourke Center, 1145 W. Wilson Ave., (773) 878-9761. $20.

Gregor and the Squonk The Tympanic Theatre Company performs Daniel Caffrey’s modern fairy tale, about a couple seeking a creature rumored to have the power to grant eternal beauty to whoever captures it. aPreview 8 PM. Opens Sat 10/4, 8 PM. Through Sat 11/1: Thu-Sat 8 PM. Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090, $17-$20.

Men of Tortuga Jason Wells’s drama, directed by Rick Snyder, concerns three men who scheme with a weapons specialist to eliminate their opposition. aPreviews through 10/8, Fri-Sat and Mon-Wed 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, $15. Opens Thu 10/9, 8 PM. Through Sun 12/7: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM. Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, 773-549-181, $25-$30.

Oobleck Election Play 2008: The Trojan Candidate Dick Cheney leads viewers through a “fantastic voyage into the funhouse of fragile candidate psyches” in Theater Oobleck’s political satire, penned by Jeff Dorchen and Danny Thompson. aThrough 11/3: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Mon 11/3, 8 PM, Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland, 773-347-1041, $12 suggested donation.

The Yellow Wallpaper The Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble performs its adaptation of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s 1890 story about a woman struggling with postpartum depression. aThrough 10/12: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee, 773-598-4549, $10-$15.

Studies N Blackness: Rhythmic Hoodoo Daniel Givens and the Age Ensemble present a live visual media and ambient musical experience. aThrough 10/5: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824, $15.

monday 10/6

DeathScribe: Ten Minutes of Terror Radio Play Festival WildClaw Theatre presents readings of new works submitted to its competition for radio dramas with a horror theme. a 8 PM, Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport, 773-871-6604, $15.

tuesday 10/7

Jesus Hopped the “A” Train Stephen Adly Guirgis’s drama concerns a Puerto Rican youth incarcerated on Riker’s Island after he shoots a cult leader. aPreviews through 10/11: Tue-Sat, 8 PM, $15. Opens Sun 10/12, 7 PM. Through 12/6: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, no show 11/27, Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, 773-338-2177, $25.

thursday 10/9

Cabaret of Desire Federico Garcia Lorca’s poetic drama Buster Keaton’s Stroll inspired this “cabaret of wooden puppets, burlesque dancing, and bass drums” presented by Blair Thomas and Company. aThrough 11/8: Wed-Thu 8 PM, Fri-Sat 9 PM, Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497, $10-$19.

Haywire! Written by Kevin Remington and Tim Wilkins and staged by Hell in a Handbag Productions, this parody promises “murder and mayhem under the big top.” aPreviews through 10/11: Thu-Sat 8 PM. Opens Mon 10/13 8 PM. Through Sat 11/15: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3:30 PM, Bailiwick Repertory Studio Space, 1229 W. Belmont, $15-$25.

Mame Based on the novel by Evanston-bred author Patrick Dennis, this musical by Jerry Herman, Jerome Lawrence, and Robert E. Lee tells of an eccentric socialite’s campaign to raise her nephew. aPreviews through 10/12. Opens Thu 10/16, 1:30 PM. Through Sun 12/21: Wed 1:30 PM, Thu 1:30 and 8 PM, Fri 8:30 PM, Sat 5 PM and 8:30 PM, Sun 2 PM and 6 PM, Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, 630-530-0111, $22-$41.50.

friday 10/10

Anna, in the Darkness The Dream Theatre Company presents Jeremy Menekseoglu’s drama, about a southern schoolteacher accused of being a satanist because she let her students read horror fiction. aThrough 11/2: Thu-Sat 8 and 9:30 PM, Sun 7 and 8:30 PM. Extra show Wed 10/29, 8 and 9:30 PM. Dream Theatre, 556 W. 18th, 773-552-8616, $12.

If You See Something Say Something Comic storyteller Mike Daisey recounts the history of the Department of Homeland Security and the untold story of the inventor of the neutron bomb in this solo show. aThrough 10/12: Fri-Sun, 7:30 PM, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago, 312-397-4010, $20-$25.

Interference: The Perpetual Battle of the Electric and Elder Faeries The Tantalus Theatre Group’s comedy explores the effect of the communications revolution on traditional interpersonal contact. aThrough 11/1: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Side Project Theatre Company Studio Theater, 1520 W. Jarvis, 773-973-2150, $10.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Director Jean Gottlieb puts a modern twist on Shakespeare’s fairy-tale romance. aPreview 7:30 PM. Opens Sat 10/11, 7:30 PM. Through Sat 11/8: Fri-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM, New World Repertory Theater, 923 Curtiss, Downers Grove, 630-663-1489, $12-20.

Studies N Blackness: Bodies on “View-Doo” Margaret Morris and Nikki Patin present an evening of dance, spoken word, song, and burlesque. aThrough 10/12: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824, $15.

saturday 10/11

Duck for President Doreen Cronin’s kids’ book, about a farm animal who runs for office, is musicalized by James E. Grote and George Howe. aPreviews through 10/12: Sat 1 PM, Sun 11 AM. Opens Sun 10/12, 1 PM. Through 11/30: Sat 1 PM, Sun 11 AM and 1 PM, Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood, 773-761-4477, $12.

Little Red Riding Hood The Chicago Kids Company performs the classic fairy tale. aThrough 11/22: Sat 10 AM, no performance 10/25, Wilmette Theatre, 112 Central, 847-251-7424, $10-$12.

thursday 10/16

Anne Frank Students perform excerpts from Anne Frank’s diary. aTthrough Sun 10/19: Thu and Sat 7:30 PM, Fri 9 PM, Sun 2 PM, North Central College Performing Arts Association, Wentz Concert Hall and Fine Arts Center, Madden Theatre, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, 630-637-7469, $8-$10.

Celebrity Row David Cromer directs the Midwest premiere of Itamar Moses’s drama, about a lawyer torn between commitment to civil liberties and concern for national security. The title refers to the Colorado prison which in the late 1990s housed Tim McVeigh, Unabomber Ted Kaczinski, Latin Kings leader Luis Felipe, and Muslim terrorist Ramzi Yousef. aPreviews through 10/19, Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM. Opens Mon 10/20, 8 PM. Through November 9, Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 and 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron, 773-409-4125, $35-$40.

friday 10/17

Dancing at Lughnasa The Beverly Theatre Guild performs Brian Friel’s drama about five unmarried women in 1930s Ireland. aThrough 10/26: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2 PM. Morgan Park Academy Arts Center, 2153 W. 111th, 773-284-8497. Call for prices.

The Medium at Large A new musical about two women trying to make contact with their deceased parents. aThrough Sun 11/16: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Wed 10/22, 1 PM. Village Players, 1010 W. Madison, Oak Park, 866-764-1010, $20-$25.

Moon Over Buffalo Ken Ludwig’s farce is performed by the Saint Sebastian Players. aThrough Sun 11/9: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2 PM, St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, 773-404-7922, $7-$15.

The Other Cinderella Jackie Taylor’s musical puts an urban, Afrocentric spin on the fairy tale. aPreview 8 PM, $40. Opens Sat 10/18, 3 PM. Through 12/27: Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 PM, Black Ensemble Theater, 4520 N. Beacon, 773-769-4451, $45.

Studies N Blackness: Afro-Retro Juju Baraka de Soleil and his troupe D Underbelly present Koool-Aid Luv Odyssey, an evening-long work employing spoken woird, dance, performance, and media. aThrough 10/19: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824, $15.

saturday 10/18

Landscape of the Body Students perform John Guare’s mystery drama. Previews through 10/17, Wed 6:30 PM, thu-Fri 7:30 PM, $5-$10. aOpens Fri 10/18 7 PM. Through 10/26: Mon 6:30 PM, Wed 2 PM, Thu 4 PM, Fri-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM, Columbia College Theater Center, New Studio, 72 E. 11th, 312-369-6126, $6-$14.

Many Loves Joanie Schultz directs the Caffeine Theatre in a work by poet William Carlos Williams. aOpens Sat 10/18 through 11/23. Lincoln Square Arts Center, 4754 N. Leavitt, 312-409-4778. Call for prices.

This Country’s F$cked! or God Damn, America The comedy group Schadenfreude performs a sketch revue on a double bill with GayCo Productions. aThrough 10/25, Sat 8 and 11 PM, Lakeshore Theater, 3175 N. Broadway, 773-472-3492, $20.

saturday 10/25

Beauty on the Vine The Backstage Theatre Company performs Zak Berkman’s study of “the power of the human face in Lindsay Lohan America,” about the murder of a female talk-radio celebrity. aOpens 8:30 PM. Through Sun 11/23: Thu-Sat 8:30 PM, Sun 3 PM, Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, 773-338-2177 $20.

The Brothers Karamazov Heidi Stillman directs her own adaptation of Dostoevsky’s tale of a turbulent romantic triangle. aPreviews Wed 10/15-Fri 10/24. Opens Sat 10/25, 7:30 PM. Through Sun 12/7: Wed-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat-Sun 3 and 7:30 PM, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan., 312-337-0665, $30-$60.

The Complete History of America (abridged) The Reduced Shakespeare Company performs its fast-paced spoof of U.S. history. Sat 10/25, 8 PM, McAnich Arts Center at College of DuPage, Fawell and Park Boulevards, Glen Ellyn, 630-942-4000, $28-$38.

The Glass Menagerie See Best Bets. aOpens 11 AM. Through 11/9: Sat-Sun, 11 AM. Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650, $20.

The Thugs Adam Bock’s dark comedy concerns a group of office workers trying to unlock the mysteries of their law firm. aPreviews through Tue 10/28, Sat-Sun 4 PM, Mon-Tue 8 PM, $15. aOpens Wed 10/29, 8 PM. Through Sun 12/14: Wed 8 PM, Sat-Sun 4 PM, Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, 773-549-1815 $25.

sunday 10/26

WNYC’s RadioLab: Martian Invasion The hosts of New York’s public-radio cult favorite explore the impact of Orson Welles’s 1938 radio broadcast The War of the Worlds. aThrough 10/27: Sun-Mon 7:30 PM, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000, $30

monday 10/27

The Empty Chalices Judy Veramendi’s play “interweaves the dramatic life and erotic work” of Uruguayan poet Delmira Agustini. Madrid St. Angelo directs a production featuring Uruguayan artists. aThrough 11/1: In Spanish, Mon, Tue, and Fri 7 PM, Wed 1 PM; in English, Thu and Sat 1 PM, Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio, 312-335-1996, $15-$25.

wednesday 10/29

A House With No Walls Thomas Gibbons’s drama, inspired by real events, revolves around an attempt to erect an American Museum of Liberty on the grounds of George Washington’s Philadelphia home. The present-day conflict between a conservative academic and a liberal activist is juxtaposed with the story of one of Washington’s slaves as she contemplates escape. aPreviews throughi 10/31, 8 PM. Opens Sat 11/1, 7 PM. Through Sun 12/21: Schedule follows. 11/1-11/23: Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 4 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM. 11/27-11/30: Fri-Sat 4 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM. No performance Thu 11/27. 12/3-12/21: Wed-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 4 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM, Timeline Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington Ave., 773-281-TIME, $15-30.

thursday 10/30

The Gurney A man tries to rescue his brother from madness in David Hauptschein’s new play about the “darker capabilities of our minds.” A Secret Life Theatre production. aPreviews through 11/2, Thu-Sun 8 PM. Opens 11/3, 8 PM. Through 12/7: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM, Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway, 773-329-1088, $10-$20.

Jon George Saunders’s futuristic allegory about teenage love and self-discovery in a corporate universe where TV commercials replace life experiences, offered here in Seth Bockley’s multimedia adaptation for Collaboraction. athrough Sun 12/14, The Building Stage, 412 N. Carpenter, 312-226-9633 Call for times and prices.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Theatreworks/USA presents its touring kids’ show based on C.S. Lewis’s Narnia chronicle. a9:30 AM, 11:45 AM and 7 PM, Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena, Aurora, 630-896-6666, $8-$10.

friday 10/31

500 Clown Frankenstein The clown-theater troupe performs its highly physical rendition of Mary Shelley’s classic tale. a8 PM, Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams, Crystal Lake, 815-356-9212, $42-$45.

Jarred: A Hoodoo Comedy The all-Latina Teatro Luna premieres Tanya Saracho’s play about a woman who turns to folk magic to heal the pain of a terrible breakup. aPreviews through 11/2, Fri-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun, 6 PM, $10. Opens Thu 11/6, 7:30 PM. Through Sun 12/14: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 6 PM. Teatro Luna, Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago, 773-878-LUNA, www.brownpapertickets.com, $15.

A Man for All Seasons The Drama Group performs Robert Bolt’s historical drama. aThrough Sun 11/2, Fri-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM, Bloom High School, 101 W. 10th, Chicago Heights, 708-755-3444, $18.

Shadowlands William Nicholson’s drama recounts the marriage of British writer C.S. Lewis to American poet Joy Gresham, a deep relationship cut short by Gresham’s death from cancer. aPreviews through Sun 11/2, 8 PM. Through Sun 11/30: Thu-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, 773-728-7529, $22-$30.

She Loves Me Students perform Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick’s romantic musical. aOpens 7:30 PM. Through Sat 11/8: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM, Pfeiffer Auditorium, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville, 630- 637-7469, $10-$15

Tomorrow Morning British composer Laurence Mark Wythe’s 2006 musical about two couples—one facing the end of their relationship, the other at the beginning of theirs—is directed by Tom Mullen in an “Americanized” version. aPreviews through 11/8, $22.50. Opens Sun 11/9, 5 PM. Through 12/7: Wed 2 PM, Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 5 and 8 PM, Sun 5 PM, Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336, $28.50-$34.50.

November

wednesday 11/5

A Christmas Memory and The Thanksgiving Visitor The Provision Theater performs Truman Capote’s autobiographical account of his boyhood relationship with an elderly cousin. aPreview 1 PM. Opens Sat 11/8, 8 PM. Through Sun 12/21: Wed 1 PM, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted, 312-988-9000, $28.

A Jew Grows in Brooklyn Jake Ehrenreich’s autobiography in musical comedy form. aThrough Sun 11/9: Wed 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 and 8 PM, Sun 1 PM and 5 PM. Presley Theatre Productions Corp., North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, 847-673-6300, $45-$57.50.

thursday 11/6

Dublin Carol William Petersen stars in Conor McPherson’s play about a recovering alcohol’s encounter with his estranged daughter on Christmas Eve. aPreviews through Sun 11/16. Opens 11/16 7:30 PM. Through Sun 12/21: Wed-Fri, Sun 7:30 PM, Sat 3 and 7:30 PM, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., 312-335-1650, $50-$70.

Radio Macbeth The SITI Company presents its experimental reworking of Shakespeare’s tragedy. aPreviews through 11/7, Thu, 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, $10-$32. Opens Sat 11/8, 8 PM. Through 12/7, Wed-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 and 8 PM, Sun 2:30 and 7:30 PM. Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis, 773-753-4472, $10-$56.

friday 11/7

Cabaret! Cabaret! This musical-theater showcase highlights the work of emerging composers and writers, featuring performances by local theater artists. a11/7-9, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000, $20.

The Confession Mary Roberts Rinehart’s classic mystery concerns a woman who discovers a confession to a horrible crime—but no evidence to support it. Terry McCabe directs Cameron Feagin’s new adaptation of Rinehart’s novel. aPreviews through Sun 11/9, $18. Through Sun 12/14: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, City Lit Theater Company, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr, 773-293-3682, $25.

The House of Blue Leaves DePaul University theater students perform John Guare’s comedy. aPreviews through, Wed-Thu, 7:30 PM. Opens Fri 11/7, 7:30 PM. Through Sun 11/16: Wed-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM, Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., 312-922-1999, free.

Party of One Noel Williams’s solo show guides viewers on a journey through the psyche of Captain Melisande Blue. athrough Mon 11/24. Fri-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM, Mon 7:30 PM. Chicago Cultural Center, Studio Theater, 77 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497, $15-$20.

The Good Woman of Setzuan Students perform Bertolt Brecht’s drama. aThrough Sun 11/16: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM. Loyola University, Mullady Theatre, 1125 W. Loyola, 773-508-3847, $6-$15.

saturday 11/8

Nunsense Sally Struthers stars in this touring production of Dan Goggin’s musical about a flock of stagestruck nuns. a3 and 8 PM, Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena, Aurora, 630-896-6666, $35.50-$50.50.

The King and I The Rising Stars Theatre Company presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical. aThrough Sun 11/23: Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2 PM, Rising Stars Theatre Company, Saint Patrick Performing Arts Centre, 5900 W. Belmont, 773-736-2490, $13-$15.Ruined Lynn Nottage’s drama, set in the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo, tells of a businesswoman who both protects and exploits women caught up in the chaos of a civil war. aPreviews begin Sat 11/8, 8 PM. Through Sun 12/7: Wed-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2PM and 7:30 PM, Tue 11/25, 7:30 PM, Tue 12/2, 7:30 PM, no Sat 11/8 2 PM, Sat 11/15 2 PM, Thu 11/27 7:30 PM, Sun 11/23 7:30 PM, Sun 12/7 7:30 PM. Goodman Theatre, Owen Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800, call for prices.

wednesday 11/12

Grey Gardens Hollis Resnik stars in the local premiere of this Broadway musical about two New York socialites—relatives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis—who became East Hampton’s most notorious recluses. aPreviews through Wed 11/19: Tue-Thu, 7:30 PM, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2:30 and 7 PM. Opens Thu 11/20. Through Sun 12/21, Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, 847-673-6300, $48-$53.

Playboy of the Western World Paul Amandes directs a student production of John M. Synge’s Irish comedy. aThrough Sun 11/23, Columbia College Theater Center, Getz Theater, 72 E. 11th St., 312-369-6126, Call for details.

thursday 11/13

The Autumn Garden Lillian Hellman’s 1951 drama is presented by the Eclipse Theatre Company under the direction of Nathaniel Swift. aPreview 8 PM. Opens Sun 11/16. Through Sat 12/20: Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 and 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, no 3 PM show Sat 11/15, Sun 11/27, Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336, call for prices.

The Marriage of Figaro The Remy Bumppo Theatre Company performs Ranjit Bolt’s adaptation of Beaumarchais’ farce, the inspiration for Mozart’s opera. aOpens 7:30 PM. Through Sun 1/4: Schedule follows. 11/13-11/16: Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM and 7 PM. 11/19-11/23: Wed-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM. 11/26-11/30: Wed 2 PM, Fri-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM. 12/3-12/7: Wed-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM. 12/10-12/14: Wed-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM. 12/17-12/21: Wed 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM. 12/26-12/31: Fri 7:30 PM, Sat 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM and 7 PM, Wed 7 PM. 1/2-1/4: Fri-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 2:30 PM, Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336, $29-$50.

A Wonderful Life Broadway veteran Sheldon Harnick penned the lyrics for this musical version of Frank Capra’s classic film It’s a Wonderful Life, about a would-be suicide’s salvation. aPreviews through 11/20, Wed-Thu 2 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2:30 and 8 PM, Sun 2:30 and 6 PM, Thu 11/20, 8 PM. Opens Fri 11/21, 8 PM. Through Sun 12/21: Wed-Thu 2 PM, Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2:30 PM, no show Thu 11/27, Fri 11/28 2 PM, Sat 11/29 2:30 PM, Sat 12/6 2:30 PM, Thu 12/11 7:30 PM, Sat 12/20 2:30 PM, Theatre at the Centre, The Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, 219-836-3255, $36-$40.

friday 11/14

Don’t Dress for Dinner The British Stage Company presents Marc Camoletti’s sex farce. aPreviews through Sat 11/22, $45. Opens Fri 11/23, 5 PM. Through Sun 1/11: Tue-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 5 and 8 PM, Sun 2 and 5 PM, Royal George Theatre, Main Stage, 1641 N. Halsted St, 312-988-9000, $49.50-$59.50.

Drinking Alone aMurder in an English guesthouse. aThrough Sun 12/21: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Attic Playhouse, 410 Sheridan Road, Highwood, 847-433-2660, $22.

Gatz The New York experimental theater group Elevator Repair Service performs F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby—the entire text. aThrough Sun 11/16: Sat-Sun 3 PM. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago Ave, 312-397-4010, $32-$40.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Golddigger Lorelei Lee proves that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, in the classic musical by Anita Loos, Jule Styne, and Leo Robin. aPreviews through 11/18: Fri-Sat and Tue, 8 PM, $12-$13. Opens Weds 11/19, 8 PM. Through Sun 2/1: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, no shows 12/26-12/28, Circle Theatre, 7300 W. Madison, Forest Park, 708-771-0700, $24-$26.

Holes Adventure Stage Chicago performs Louis Sachar’s play, adapted from his own novel, about a 14-year-old boy sent to a boot camp after being convicted for a crime he didn’t commit. aPreviews through 11/15: Fri 10:30 AM, Sat 2 PM. Opens Sun 11/16, 2 PM. Through 12/18: Sat-Sun 2 PM; Tue-Thu 11/18-20, Thu 11/25, Tue 12/2, Thu-Fri 12/4-5, Tue-Thu 12/9-11, Tue-Thu 12/16-18, 10:30 AM. Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., (773) 342-4141, $8-17.

Into the Woods Students perform Stephen Sondheim’s musical reworking of classic fairy tales. aThrough Sun 11/16: Fri-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM, Dominican University Performing Arts Center, Lund Auditorium, 7900 West Division Street, River Forest, 708-488-5000, $15.

Robinson Crusoe: A Holiday Panto Daniel Defoe’s account of a castaway’s adventures is presented in the form of a traditional English Christmas panto. aPreviews through 11/16. Opens Fri 11/21, 8 PM. Through Sat 12/20: Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 and 7 PM, Sun 3 PM, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston Arts Depot, 600 Main, Evanston, (847) 424-0089, $6-$12.50.

saturday 11/15

Six Degrees of Separation The Signal Ensemble Theatre presents John Guare’s comedy, in which a young black man who cons a white society couple into thinking he’s the son of Sidney Poitier. aPreviews through 11/16: Sat 8 PM, Sun 7 PM. Opens Mon 11/17, 7 PM. Through Sat 12/20: Thu-Sat, 8 PM, Sun 3 PM, Sat 12/8, 7 PM. No performance 11/27. Signal Ensemble Theatre, Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division, 773-347-1350, $15-$20.

Smokey Joe’s Cafe Touring edition of the Broadway musical based on the songs of popmeisters Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber. a8 PM. Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park, 708-235-2222, $26-$46.

sunday 11/16

Cut to the Quick Series of short plays presented by the Side Project Theatre, aThrough Sun, 12/21, 1439 W Jarvis, 773-973-2150.

Dreams in the Witch House WildClaw Theatre, devoted to bringing horror stories to the stage, presents Charley Sherman’s adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft tale. aThrough 12/21, Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, 312-902-1500.

monday 11/17

Well Lisa Kron’s play begins as a memoir of her mother’s fight for racial equality in Lansing, Michigan–but things change when the mother inserts herself into the storytelling. previews Thu 11/13. Through Sun 12/14: Wed-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM. Next Theatre, Noyes Cultural Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston, 847-475-1875, $14-38.

tuesday 11/18

Anung’s First American Christmas The story of a pre-Columbia Indian on his vision quest. aOpens 7 PM. Through Sun 1/4: Thu-Sat 7 PM, Sun 2:30 PM. Extra 2 PM show Sat 11/29, Sat 12/27, and Sat 1/3. Vitalist Theatre, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W Belmont, (773) 327-5252, $20-$25.

The Maids Domestics play deadly games in Jean Genet’s 1947 play. aPreviews through 12/2: Tue-Wed 7:30 PM, Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 4 and 8 PM, Sun 2 and 6 PM, no performance 11/27. Opens 12/3, 7:30 PM. Through 4/5: Tue-Wed 7:30 PM, Thu-Fri 8 PM, Sat 4 and 8 PM, Sun 2 and 6 PM, matinee Wed 12/10, 1/7, 2/4, 3/11, 3/18, and 4/1, 2 PM. No performance 12/24-25 and 31, 1/1, 3/10 and 17, no 6 PM performance 12/14, 1/11, 2/8, and 4/5. Writers’ Theatre, Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon, Glencoe, 847-242-6000, $50-$65.

wednesday 11/19

Meet Me in St. Louis Stage version of the classic movie musical about a family in turn-of-the-century Saint Louis. aDrury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut, 312-642-2000.

he Ox-Herder’s Tale Blair Thomas and Company employs large-scale bunraku-style puppets–as well as live music by Michael Zerang and Hamid Drake—to retell a Buddhist tale about a man whose quest for enlightenment leads him on a quest to capture and tame a bull. aThrough Sun 11/30: Wed-Fri 11/19-21 7:30 PM, Sat 11/22 2 and 8:30 PM, Sun 11/23 3 PM, Tue 11/25 7:30 PM, Sat 11/29 3 and 7:30 PM, Sun 11/30 3 PM, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago, 312-397-4010, $20-$25.

The Story of the Little Mermaid Children’s play based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale. aOpens 9:30 AM. Through Sun 11/23: Wed-Fri 9:30AM and 12 PM, Sat 10 AM and 1 PM, Sun 1 PM, Drama Group, Studio Theatre, 330 W. 202, Chicago Heights, 708-755-3444. $6.

thursday 11/20

A Very Neo-Futurist Christmas Carol The Neo-Futurists put their own twist on the holiday classic. aPreviews through 11/21: Thu-Fri 8 PM. Opens Sat 11/22, 8 PM. Schedule follows. 11/28-11/30: Fri-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2 PM. 12/4-12/13: Thu-Sat 8 PM. 12/16-12/23: Tue-Sat 8 PM, Sun 2 PM and 8 PM, Mon 8 PM, Tue 8 PM. Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland, 773-836-7000, $15, $50 for Thu 12/4 benefit show.

friday 11/21

A Christmas Carol Larry Yando stars as Scrooge in the Goodman Theatre’s annual rendition of Dickens’s classic tale. aThrough Sun 12/31: Schedule follows. 11/21-11/30: Tue-Wed 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM and 6:30 PM. 12/2-12/9: Tue-Wed 12 PM, Thu 12 PM and 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM and 6:30 PM. 12/10-12/15: Wed-Thu 12 PM and 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM and 6:30 PM. 12/16-12/21: Tue 12 PM and 7:30 PM, Wed-Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 2 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM and 6:30 PM. 12/22-12/28: Tue 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Wed 2 PM and 6:30 PM, Fri-Sat 2 PM and 8 PM, Sun 2 PM. 12/29-12/31: Mon-Tue 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Wed 2 PM, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800. Call for prices.

Soiree Dada: Schmuckt der Hallen WNEP Theater presents an evening of Dada-style entertainment, described as “a schizophrenic carnival ride through the brain of 21st century man.” aThrough Sun 12/21. Thu-Sat 7:30 PM, Sun 3 PM, Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497, $10-$20

saturday 11/22

Magic Tree House: The Musical Touring kids’ show based on the bestselling books by Mary Pope Osborne. aThrough 11/23: Sat 11AM and 3 PM, Sun 11/23, 2 PM, Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Pkwy., University Park, 708-235-2222, $22-$41.

tuesday 11/25

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Actors, dancers, and acrobats from India and Sri Lanka perform a multingual rendition Shakespeare’s fairy-tale romance. aPreview 7:30 PM. Through Sun 12/7: Tue-Fri 7:30 PM, Sat-Sun 2 and 7:30 PM, Wed 11/26 2 PM, no performance Thu 11/27, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand, 312-595-5600, $60-$75.

friday 11/28

Drinking & Writing IV: The 12 Steps of Christmas Neo-Futurists Sean Benjamin and Steve Mosqueda draw on the works of Hemingway, Kerouac, Fitzgerald, and other literary inebriates to uncork the traditions of the holidays. aThrough 12/19 Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2243 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000, lobby bar, $20.

September

thursday 9/11

Amadeus Gary Griffin directs Peter Shaffer’s drama about the rivalry between 18th-century composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri. aThrough 11/9, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand, 312-595-5600.

Anna Livia, Lucky in Her Bridges Set in 1904 Dublin, David Brendan Hopes’s drama focuses on a woman who is about to lose her beau—James Joyce—to another woman. aThrough 10/19, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090.

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story A musical bio about pop music pioneer Buddy Holly. aThrough 11/2, Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut, 312-642-2000.

Caroline, or Change Playwright Tony Kushner and composer Jeanine Tesori wrote this musical about a Louisiana Jewish boy’s relationship with his family’s African-American maid during the early 1960s. E. Faye Butler stars under Charles Newell’s direction. aThrough 10/19, Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis, 773-753-4472.

Church Basement Ladies William Christopher (of TV M*A*S*H fame) stars in this touring comedy about the “wonderful, unsung women” who cook meals in the basement of a rural Minnesota church. aThrough 9/27, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 847-673-6300.

Dr. Egg and the Man With No Ear Teaming up with Australian director Jessica Wilson, Redmoon Theater employs puppetry, performance, and projected animation in this family-friendly exploration of issues surrounding genetic modification. aThrough 10/19, Redmoon Central, 1463 W. Hubbard, 312-850-8440.

The Producers The musical version of Mel Brooks’s 1968 film, about a pair of crooked producers who scheme to mount a Broadway flop, is directed by William Pullinsi. aThrough 10/19, Theatre at the Centre, Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge, Munster, Indiana, 219-836-3255.

Some Enchanted Evening: The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein Noble Fool Theatricals performs a musical revue. aThrough 11/1, Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main, Saint Charles, 630-584-6342.

friday 9/12

Cold Cold Feet Tony Fiorentino’s romantic comedy set in the midst of a dysfunctional family reunion. aThrough 10/19, Attic Playhouse, 410 Sheridan Road, Highwood, 847-433-2660.

Dashiell Hamlet: The Classic Mystery This film noir-style retelling of Shakespeare’s tragedy, set in 1940s Hollywood, is directed by Mike Nussbaum, who co-wrote it with Michael Nowak, Kathleen Thompson, and Paul H. Thompson. aThrough 10/26, City Lit Theater Company, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr, 773-293-3682.

The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde’s supernatural tale, about a Victorian libertine who stays youthful while his portrait ages, is adapted by Robert Kauzlaric and directed by Kevin Theis. aThrough 11/2, Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood, 773-761-4477.

The U.N. Inspector British playwright David Farr’s update of Gogol’s classic comedy The Government Inspector—further revised by local playwright James Sherman for this “American version”—finds a Chicago real-estate salesman exposing corruption when he’s mistaken for a UN official. aThrough 10/12, Next Theatre, Noyes Cultural Center, 927 Noyes, Evanston, 847-475-1875.

saturday 9/13

Candide Porchlight Music Theatre presents Leonard Bernstein’s operetta, based on the classic satire by Voltaire. aThrough 11/2, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, 773-327-5252.

sunday 9/14

Vaudeville and Vixens A revue of comedy and musical acts in a cabaret setting. aThrough 10/4, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston Arts Depot, 600 Main, Evanston, 847-424-0089.

tuesday 9/16

Picnic David Cromer directs William Inge’s drama about a handsome drifter who stirs up the frustrated female inhabitants of a small Kansas town. aThrough 11/16, Writers’ Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, 847-242-6000.

wednesday 9/17

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Jeffrey Thatcher’s dramatization of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel, about a man who unlocks his inner monster, is directed by Jessica Thebus. aThrough 10/26, Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, 847-673-6300.

Jabulani: Joy, Laughter, and Happiness The new show from Universoul Circus comes to town. aThrough 10/12, Washington Park, 5531 S. Martin Luther King Jr., 800-316-7429, universoulcircus.com.

Mamma Mia! Touring version of the Broadway hit, featuring a score of songs by Abba. aThrough 9/28, Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress, 312-902-1400.

thursday 9/18

Damn Yankees The 1955 Broadway musical, about a baseball fan who sells his soul to the devil in return for sports stardom. aThrough 11/2, Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights, 847-577-2121.

Dave DaVinci Saves the Universe A “reimagined” version of The House Theatre of Chicago’s 2005 hit about a time-traveling adventurer. aThrough 11/8, Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division, 773-251-2195.

Kafka on the Shore Based on a novel by Haruki Murakami, this fantastical drama by director-playwright Frank Galati charts a young boy’s coming of age. aThrough 11/16, Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650.

The Magic Cabaret Magic, mystery, and mischief with P.T. Murphy & David Parr. aThrough 10/18, Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N Lincoln, 773-404-7336.

R.U.R—Rossum’s Universal Robots Czech playwright Karel Capek’s 1921 drama, which introduced the word “robot” into general parlance, imagines a time in which human beings are dominated by intelligent machines. Shade Murray directs. aThrough 10/25, Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway, 773-528-9696.

Ten Cent Night Marisa Wegrzyn’s new play, directed by Richard Shavzin, concerns a Texas musician and her dysfunctional family. aThrough 10/26, Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W Chicago Ave, 312-633-0630.

Yohen The Silk Road Theatre Company presents Philip Kan Gotanda’s drama about a Japanese woman and an African-American soldier who fall in love in post-World War II Japan, then move to a Los Angeles suburb. aThrough 11/2, Chicago Temple, First United Methodist Church, 77 W. Washington St., (312) 857-1234.

friday 9/19

Filthy Pervert Seeks Same So many men, so little time. Steven Dawson’s racy comedy explores how gay guys connect by utilizing technology. aThrough 10/18, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090.

Hasta los Gorriones Dejan Su Nido Raul Dorantes’ play about migrant workers, based on Tennessee Williams’s The Strangest Kind of Love. Performed entirely in Spanish. aThrough 11/2, Aguijon Theater, 2707 N. Laramie, 773-637-5899, aguijontheater.org.

Turn of the Century Director Tommy Tune teamed up with the authors of Jersey Boys for this new musical about a piano player and a singer who set out to discover America’s most popular songs. Jeff Daniels and Rachel York star. aThrough 10/26, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800.

saturday 9/20

Land of the Free A simple ride to the polls on Election Day 2004 turns into a hostage situation in Mark Burns’s political lampoon, performed by Babes With Blades. aThrough 10/26, Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western Ave., 773-296-6024.

Odin’s Horse The Infamous Commonwealth Theatre Company performs Robert Koon’s drama, which examines the conflict between those who make their living cutting trees and those who fight to preserve them. aThrough 10/19, Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, 312-458-9780.

Our Town The Hypocrites remount their 2007 hit staging of Thornton Wilder’s classic smalltown portrait. David Cromer directs and stars. aThrough 10/26, Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division, 773-278-1500.

sunday 9/21

The Voysey Inheritance David Mamet’s adaptation of Harley Granville Barker’s 1905 play, about a man ashamed to discover that his late father bilked the customers of their family business. James Bohnen directs for Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. aThrough 11/2, Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336.

monday 9/22

Chiaroscuro (A Study in Shadow) Kenneth N. Kurtz’s play centered on the Renaissance artist Caravaggio. aThrough 10/19, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090.

Incubator Showcase The InFusion Theatre performs an evening of new works. a7:30 PM, Chicago Cultural Center, Studio Theater, 77 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497

Play for Keeps: A Play Development Workshop for Female Roles Stockyards Theatre Project presents readings of new plays specifically written for women. aThrough 9/24, 7:30 PM, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, 773-936-7896.

wednesday 9/24

All Shook Up Songs from the Elvis Presley songbook anchor this musical about a biker who falls for a (female) small-town mechanic. aThrough 12/7, Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott, Lincolnshire, 847-634-0200.

Pen Hollis Resnik stars in David Marshall Grant’s drama about the difficult relationship between a disabled woman and her son. aThrough 10/19, Apple Tree Theatre, 1850 Green Bay, Highland Park, 847-432-4335.

thursday 9/25

Frankenstein in Love Clive Barker transfers Mary Shelley’s famous character to a South American country undergoing revolution. A Will Act for Food production. aThrough 11/1, Chemically Imbalanced Theater, 1420 W. Irving Park, 773-865-7731.

The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler What if the heroine of Ibsen’s drama decided not to kill herself after all? That’s the premise of Jeff Whitty’s play, presented by the Dog & Pony Theatre Company. aThrough 10/26, Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western, 773-296-6024.

Kita y Fernanda Tanya Saracho’s new play examines class, immigration, and women’s friendships as played out between two girls—one the daughter of a rich Mexican family living in Texas, the other the child of an undocumented maid. aThrough 10/25, 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th, Berwyn, 708-795-6704.

Sleuth Anthony Shaffer’s tricky thriller, about a mystery writer who plots to murder his wife’s boyfriend, is presented by the Buffalo Theatre Ensemble. aThrough 10/19, College of DuPage, McAnich Arts Center, Fawell and Park, Glen Ellyn, 630-942-4000.

friday 9/26

The Day Patient A man looks for answers after surgery sends his wife into a coma. aThrough 10/18, Shapeshifters Theatre, Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox, 773-282-7035.

Beehive, the 60s Musical The Big Noise Theatre Company performs a tribute to women rockers of the 1960s. aThrough 10/19, Prairie Lakes Theatre, 515 E. Thacker, Des Plaines, 847-604-0275.

LinkUp Residency Artists Showcase Szewai Lee, Angeline Gragasin, and Christian Bambara present an evening of new performance, spoken-word, and dance works. aThrough 9/28, Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824.

Million Dollar Quartet The setting of Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux’s new musical is Sun Records’s storefront studio in Memphis in 1956, the occasion is an impromptu recording session by Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley—one of the greatest rock-a-billy jam sessions of all times. aThrough 10/26, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800.

The Young Ladies Of… About Face Theatre hosts New York performance artist Taylor Mac. aThrough 10/26, Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted, 773-784-8565.

saturday 9/27

Dracula Theatre Hikes presents an ambulatory outdoor version of Bram Stoker’s vampire tale. aThrough 10/26, Thornhill Shelter, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois route 53, Lisle, 630-725-2066.

Indecent Proposals Scott Woldman’s new comedy examines different ways to say “marry me.” aThrough 11/8, Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights, 847-577-5992.

The Mark of Zorro Lifeline Theatre remounts last season’s adaptation of Johnston McCulley’s adventure story. aThrough 11/23, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, 773-327-5252.

sunday 9/28

Side by Side by Sondheim Light Opera Works presents a revue of songs by Stephen Sondheim. aThrough 11/9, McGaw YMCA Child Care Center, 1420 Maple, Evanston, 847-869-6300.

Dirty Dancing—the Classic Story on Stage The Australian stage version of the 1987 movie about a turbulent summer romance has its U.S. premiere prior to a Broadway run. aThrough 12/7, Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph, 312-902-1400.

October

wednesday 10/1

All About Eve The AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players perform a radio-style adaptation of the classic film about an aging Broadway star and her would-be rival. a7 PM, Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater, 78 E. Washington, 312-744-6630.

Continental Divide: Daughters of the Revolution Alex Levy directs the second part of David Edgar ‘s two-play cycle, which focuses on a bitter gubernatorial campaign from both the Democratic and Republican perspectives. Plays in repertory with Continental Divide: Mothers Against (see listing under 10/3). aThrough 11/9, Pegasus Players, Truman College, O’Rourke Center, 1145 W. Wilson, 773-878-9761.

The Passion of Dracula Bram Stoker’s vampire tale, as loosely adapted for the stage by Bob Hall and David Richmond, is presented by the First Folio Shakespeare Festival. aThrough 11/2, Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 West 31st, Oak Brook, 630-986-8067.

Seven Doors German playwright Botho Strauss’s theater piece offering brief “glimpses into a grotesquely tragic life,” Premiere Theatre & Performance stages a translation by Peter K. Jansen. aThrough 11/2, Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston, ptapchicago.org.

Stella’s Unisex Salon The Time of Your Life Players present a new musical comedy about a bar owner named Stella who turns his saloon into a salon. aThrough 10/24, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090.

The Troublesome Reign and Lamentable Death of Edward II, King of England, with the Tragical Fall of Proud Mortimer Christopher Marlowe’s drama about the ill-fated homosexual monarch is offered in a promenade production under Sean Graney’s direction. aThrough 11/9, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand, 312-595-5600.

thursday 10/2

A Dog in the Manger Red Tape Theatre presents a new adaptation of a drama by Lope de Vega, about a romantic triangle between a noblewoman and two of her servants at the time of the Inquisition. aThrough 10/26, St. Peter’s Church, 621 W. Belmont, 847-738-6919.

Forbidden Broadway Gerard Alessandrini’s revue spoofs the songs and stars of Broadway. aThrough 11/30, Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Broadway, 312-988-9000.

In the Curious Hold of the Demeter: Count Orlock at Sea The Incurable Theater’s production, inspired by the classic silent horror film Nosferatu, employs puppetry, shadow play, masks, and projections. aThrough 10/25, Chicago Cultural Center, Studio Theater, 77 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497.

The Screwtape Letters C.S. Lewis’s novel as adapted by Jeffrey Fiske and Max McLean, in a touring production. aThrough 11/9, Mercury Theater, 3745 N Southport, 773-325-1700.

friday 10/3

Blood Sausage Corn Productions presents Sara Kay Snider’s campy update of Medea. aThrough 11/1, Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln, 312-409-6435.

Eurydice Sarah Ruhl’s drama, based on the Greek myth of Orpheus, is directed by Sandy Shinner. aThrough 10/25, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000.

Continental Divide: Mothers Against Alex Levy directs the first part of David Edgar’s two-play cycle, which focuses on a bitter gubernatorial campaign from both the Democratic and Republican perspectives. Plays in repertory with Continental Divide: Daughters of the Revolution (see listing under 10/1). aThrough 11/9, Pegasus Players, Truman College, O’Rourke Center, 1145 W. Wilson, 773-878-9761.

Gregor and the Squonk The Tympanic Theatre Company performs Daniel Caffrey’s modern fairy tale, about a couple seeking a creature rumored to have the power to grant eternal beauty to whoever captures it. aThrough 11/1, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090.

Men of Tortuga Jason Wells’s drama, directed by Rick Snyder, concerns three men who scheme with a weapons specialist to eliminate their opposition. aThrough 12/7, Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, 773-549-1815.

Oobleck Election Play 2008: The Trojan Candidate Dick Cheney leads viewers through a “fantastic voyage into the funhouse of fragile candidate psyches” in Theater Oobleck’s political satire, penned by Jeff Dorchen and Danny Thompson. aThrough 11/3, Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland, 773-347-1041.

The Yellow Wallpaper The Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble performs its adaptation of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s 1890 story about a woman struggling with postpartum depression. aThrough 10/12, Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee, 773-598-4549.

Studies N Blackness: Rhythmic Hoodoo Daniel Givens and the Age Ensemble present a live visual media and ambient musical experience. aThrough 10/5, Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824.

monday 10/6

DeathScribe: Ten Minutes of Terror Radio Play Festival WildClaw Theatre presents readings of new works submitted to its competition for radio dramas with a horror theme. a8 PM, Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport, 773-871-6604.

tuesday 10/7

Jesus Hopped the “A” Train Stephen Adly Guirgis’s drama concerns a Puerto Rican youth incarcerated on Riker’s Island after he shoots a cult leader. aThrough 12/6, Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, 773-338-2177.

thursday 10/9

Cabaret of Desire Federico Garcia Lorca’s poetic drama Buster Keaton’s Stroll inspired this “cabaret of wooden puppets, burlesque dancing, and bass drums” presented by Blair Thomas and Company. aThrough 11/8, Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497.

Haywire! Written by Kevin Remington and Tim Wilkins and staged by Hell in a Handbag Productions, this parody promises “murder and mayhem under the big top.” aThrough 11/15, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont.

Mame Based on the novel by Evanston-bred author Patrick Dennis, this musical by Jerry Herman, Jerome Lawrence, and Robert E. Lee tells of an eccentric socialite’s campaign to raise her nephew. aThrough 12/21, Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, 630-530-0111.

friday 10/10

Anna, in the Darkness The Dream Theatre Company presents Jeremy Menekseoglu’s drama, about a southern schoolteacher accused of being a satanist because she let her students read horror fiction. aThrough 11/2, Dream Theatre, 556 W. 18th, 773-552-8616.

If You See Something Say Something Comic storyteller Mike Daisey recounts the history of the Department of Homeland Security and the untold story of the inventor of the neutron bomb in this solo show. aThrough 10/12, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago, 312-397-4010.

Interference: The Perpetual Battle of the Electric and Elder Faeries The Tantalus Theatre Group’s comedy explores the effect of the communications revolution on traditional interpersonal contact. aThrough 11/1, Side Project Theatre Company, 1520 W. Jarvis, 773-973-2150.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Director Jean Gottlieb puts a modern twist on Shakespeare’s fairy-tale romance. aThrough 11/8, New World Repertory Theater, 923 Curtiss, Downers Grove, 630-663-1489.

Studies N Blackness: Bodies on “View-Doo” Margaret Morris and Nikki Patin present an evening of dance, spoken word, song, and burlesque. aThrough 10/12, Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824.

saturday 10/11

Duck for President Doreen Cronin’s kids’ book, about a farm animal who runs for office, is musicalized by James E. Grote and George Howe. aThrough 11/30, Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood, 773-761-4477.

Little Red Riding Hood The Chicago Kids Company performs the classic fairy tale. aThrough 11/22, Wilmette Theatre, 112 Central, 847-251-7424.

thursday 10/16

Celebrity Row David Cromer directs the Midwest premiere of Itamar Moses’s drama, about a lawyer torn between commitment to civil liberties and concern for national security. The title refers to the Colorado prison which in the late 1990s housed Tim McVeigh, Unabomber Ted Kaczinski, Latin Kings leader Luis Felipe, and Muslim terrorist Ramzi Yousef. aThrough 11/9, American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron, 773-409-4125.

friday 10/17

Dancing at Lughnasa The Beverly Theatre Guild performs Brian Friel’s drama about five unmarried women in 1930s Ireland. aThrough 10/26, Morgan Park Academy Arts Center, 2153 W. 111th, 773-284-8497.

The Medium at Large A new musical about two women trying to make contact with their deceased parents. aThrough 11/16, Village Players, 1010 W. Madison, Oak Park, 866-764-1010.

Moon Over Buffalo Ken Ludwig’s farce is performed by the Saint Sebastian Players. aThrough 11/9, St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, 773-404-7922.

The Other Cinderella Jackie Taylor’s musical puts an urban, Afrocentric spin on the fairy tale. aThrough 12/27, Black Ensemble Theater, 4520 N. Beacon, 773-769-4451.

Studies N Blackness: Afro-Retro Juju Baraka de Soleil and his troupe D Underbelly present Koool-Aid Luv Odyssey, an evening-long work employing spoken woird, dance, performance, and media. aThrough 10/19, Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824.

saturday 10/18

Many Loves Joanie Schultz directs the Caffeine Theatre in a work by poet William Carlos Williams. aThrough 11/23, Lincoln Square Arts Center, 4754 N. Leavitt, 312-409-4778.

saturday 10/25

Beauty on the Vine The Backstage Theatre Company performs Zak Berkman’s study of “the power of the human face in Lindsay Lohan America,” about the murder of a female talk-radio celebrity. aThrough 11/23, Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, 773-338-2177.

The Brothers Karamazov Heidi Stillman directs her own adaptation of Dostoevsky’s tale of a turbulent romantic triangle. aThrough 12/7, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan, 312-337-0665.

The Complete History of America (abridged) The Reduced Shakespeare Company performs its fast-paced spoof of U.S. history. a8 PM, McAnich Arts Center at College of DuPage, Fawell and Park Boulevards, Glen Ellyn, 630-942-4000.

The Glass Menagerie See Best Bets. aThrough 11/9, Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650.

The Thugs Adam Bock’s dark comedy concerns a group of office workers trying to unlock the mysteries of their law firm. aThrough 12/14, Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, 773-549-1815.

sunday 10/26

WNYC’s RadioLab: Martian Invasion The hosts of New York’s public-radio cult favorite explore the impact of Orson Welles’s 1938 radio broadcast The War of the Worlds. aThrough 10/27, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000.

monday 10/27

The Empty Chalices Judy Veramendi’s play “interweaves the dramatic life and erotic work” of Uruguayan poet Delmira Agustini. Madrid St. Angelo directs a production featuring Uruguayan artists. Some performances in Spanish, some in English. aThrough 11/1, Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio, 312-335-1996.

wednesday 10/29

A House With No Walls Thomas Gibbons’s drama, inspired by real events, revolves around an attempt to erect an American Museum of Liberty on the grounds of George Washington’s Philadelphia home. The present-day conflict between a conservative academic and a liberal activist is juxtaposed with the story of one of Washington’s slaves as she contemplates escape. aThrough 12/21, Timeline Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington Ave., 773-281-TIME.

thursday 10/30

The Gurney A man tries to rescue his brother from madness in David Hauptschein’s new play about the “darker capabilities of our minds.” A Secret Life Theatre production. aThrough 12/7, Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway, 773-329-1088.

Jon George Saunders’s futuristic allegory about teenage love and self-discovery in a corporate universe where TV commercials replace life experiences, offered here in Seth Bockley’s multimedia adaptation for Collaboraction. aThrough 12/14, The Building Stage, 412 N. Carpenter, 312-226-9633.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Theatreworks/USA presents its touring kids’ show based on C.S. Lewis’s Narnia chronicle. a9:30 AM, 11:45 AM, and 7 PM, Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena, Aurora, 630-896-6666.

friday 10/31

500 Clown Frankenstein The clown-theater troupe performs its highly physical rendition of Mary Shelley’s classic tale. a8 PM, Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams, Crystal Lake, 815-356-9212.

Jarred: A Hoodoo Comedy The all-Latina Teatro Luna premieres Tanya Saracho’s play about a woman who turns to folk magic to heal the pain of a terrible breakup. aThrough 12/14, Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago, 773-878-LUNA.

A Man for All Seasons The Drama Group performs Robert Bolt’s historical drama. aThrough 11/2, Bloom High School, 101 W. 10th, Chicago Heights, 708-755-3444.

Shadowlands William Nicholson’s drama recounts the marriage of British writer C.S. Lewis to American poet Joy Gresham, a deep relationship cut short by Gresham’s death from cancer. aThrough 11/30, Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, 773-728-7529.

Tomorrow Morning British composer Laurence Mark Wythe’s 2006 musical about two couples—one facing the end of their relationship, the other at the beginning of theirs—is directed by Tom Mullen in an “Americanized” version. aThrough 12/7, Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336.

November

wednesday 11/5

A Christmas Memory and The Thanksgiving Visitor The Provision Theater performs Truman Capote’s autobiographical account of his boyhood relationship with an elderly cousin. aThrough 12/21, Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted, 312-988-9000.

A Jew Grows in Brooklyn Jake Ehrenreich’s autobiography in musical comedy form. aThrough 11/9, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, 847-673-6300.

thursday 11/6

Dublin Carol William Petersen stars in Conor McPherson’s play about a recovering alcohol’s encounter with his estranged daughter on Christmas Eve. aThrough 12/21, Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650.

Radio Macbeth The SITI Company presents its experimental reworking of Shakespeare’s tragedy. aThrough 12/7, Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis, 773-753-4472.

friday 11/7

Cabaret! Cabaret! This musical-theater showcase highlights the work of emerging composers and writers, featuring performances by local theater artists. aThrough 11/9, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000.

The Confession Mary Roberts Rinehart’s classic mystery concerns a woman who discovers a confession to a horrible crime—but no evidence to support it. Terry McCabe directs Cameron Feagin’s new adaptation of Rinehart’s novel. aThrough 12/14, City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr, 773-293-3682.

Party of One Noel Williams’s solo show guides viewers on a journey through the psyche of Captain Melisande Blue. aThrough 11/24, Chicago Cultural Center, Studio Theater, 77 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497.

saturday 11/8

Nunsense Sally Struthers stars in this touring production of Dan Goggin’s musical about a flock of stagestruck nuns. a3 and 8 PM, Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena, Aurora, 630-896-6666.

The King and I The Rising Stars Theatre Company presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical. aThrough 11/23, Rising Stars Theatre Company, Saint Patrick Performing Arts Centre, 5900 W. Belmont, 773-736-2490.

Ruined Lynn Nottage’s drama, set in the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo, tells of a businesswoman who both protects and exploits women caught up in the chaos of a civil war. aThrough 12/7, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800.

wednesday 11/12

Grey Gardens Hollis Resnik stars in the local premiere of this Broadway musical about two New York socialites—relatives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis—who became East Hampton’s most notorious recluses. aThrough 12/21, Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, 847-673-6300.

thursday 11/13

The Autumn Garden Lillian Hellman’s 1951 drama is presented by the Eclipse Theatre Company under the direction of Nathaniel Swift. aThrough 12/20, Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336.

The Marriage of Figaro The Remy Bumppo Theatre Company performs Ranjit Bolt’s adaptation of Beaumarchais’ farce, the inspiration for Mozart’s opera. aThrough 1/4, Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336.

A Wonderful Life Broadway veteran Sheldon Harnick penned the lyrics for this musical version of Frank Capra’s classic film It’s a Wonderful Life, about a would-be suicide’s salvation. aThrough 12/21, Theatre at the Centre, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, 219-836-3255.

friday 11/14

Don’t Dress for Dinner The British Stage Company presents Marc Camoletti’s sex farce. aThrough 1/11, Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St, 312-988-9000.

Drinking Alone aMurder in an English guesthouse. aThrough 12/21, Attic Playhouse, 410 Sheridan Road, Highwood, 847-433-2660.

Gatz The New York experimental theater group Elevator Repair Service performs F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby—the entire text. aThrough 11/16, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago, 312-397-4010.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Golddigger Lorelei Lee proves that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, in the classic musical by Anita Loos, Jule Styne, and Leo Robin. aThrough 2/1, Circle Theatre, 7300 W. Madison, Forest Park, 708-771-0700.

Holes Adventure Stage Chicago performs Louis Sachar’s play, adapted from his own novel, about a 14-year-old boy sent to a boot camp after being convicted for a crime he didn’t commit. aThrough 12/18, Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble, 773-342-4141.

Robinson Crusoe: A Holiday Panto Daniel Defoe’s account of a castaway’s adventures is presented in the form of a traditional English Christmas panto. aThrough 12/20, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston Arts Depot, 600 Main, Evanston, 847-424-0089.

saturday 11/15

Six Degrees of Separation The Signal Ensemble Theatre presents John Guare’s comedy, in which a young black man who cons a white society couple into thinking he’s the son of Sidney Poitier. aThrough 12/20, Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division, 773-347-1350.

Smokey Joe’s Cafe Touring edition of the Broadway musical based on the songs of popmeisters Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber. a8 PM, Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park, 708-235-2222.

sunday 11/16

Cut to the Quick Series of short plays presented by the Side Project Theatre, aThrough 12/21, Side Project Theatre, 1439 W Jarvis, 773-973-2150.

Dreams in the Witch House WildClaw Theatre, devoted to bringing horror stories to the stage, presents Charley Sherman’s adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft tale. aThrough 12/21, Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, 312-902-1500.

monday 11/17

Well Lisa Kron’s play begins as a memoir of her mother’s fight for racial equality in Lansing, Michigan–but things change when the mother inserts herself into the storytelling. aThrough 12/14, Next Theatre, Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes, Evanston, 847-475-1875.

tuesday 11/18

Anung’s First American Christmas The story of a pre-Columbia Indian on his vision quest. aThrough 1/4, Vitalist Theatre, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W Belmont, 773-327-5252.

The Maids Domestics play deadly games in Jean Genet’s 1947 play. aThrough 4/5, Writers’ Theatre, Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon, Glencoe, 847-242-6000.

wednesday 11/19

Meet Me in St. Louis Stage version of the classic movie musical about a family in turn-of-the-century Saint Louis. aThrough 1/4, Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut, 312-642-2000.

he Ox-Herder’s Tale Blair Thomas and Company employs large-scale bunraku-style puppets–as well as live music by Michael Zerang and Hamid Drake—to retell a Buddhist tale about a man whose quest for enlightenment leads him on a quest to capture and tame a bull. aThrough 11/30, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago, 312-397-4010.

The Story of the Little Mermaid Children’s play based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale. aThrough 11/23, Drama Group, 330 W. 202, Chicago Heights, 708-755-3444.

thursday 11/20

A Very Neo-Futurist Christmas Carol The Neo-Futurists put their own twist on the holiday classic. aThrough 12/23, Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland, 773-836-7000.

friday 11/21

A Christmas Carol Larry Yando stars as Scrooge in the Goodman Theatre’s annual rendition of Dickens’s classic tale. aThrough 12/31, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800.

Soiree Dada: Schmuckt der Hallen WNEP Theater presents an evening of Dada-style entertainment, described as “a schizophrenic carnival ride through the brain of 21st century man.” aThrough 12/21, Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497.

saturday 11/22

Magic Tree House: The Musical Touring kids’ show based on the bestselling books by Mary Pope Osborne. aThrough 11/23, Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Pkwy., University Park, 708-235-2222.

tuesday 11/25

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Actors, dancers, and acrobats from India and Sri Lanka perform a multingual rendition Shakespeare’s fairy-tale romance. aThrough 12/7, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand, 312-595-5600.

friday 11/28

Drinking & Writing IV: The 12 Steps of Christmas Neo-Futurists Sean Benjamin and Steve Mosqueda draw on the works of Hemingway, Kerouac, Fitzgerald, and other literary inebriates to uncork the traditions of the holidays. aThrough 12/19, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2243 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000.

September

thursday 9/18

Damn Yankees The 1955 Broadway musical, about a baseball fan who sells his soul to the devil in return for sports stardom. aPreviews through 9/21. Opens 9/25. Through 11/2, Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights, 847-577-2121, $26-$42.

Dave DaVinci Saves the Universe A “reimagined” version of The House Theatre of Chicago’s 2005 hit about a time-traveling adventurer. aPreviews through 9/20. Opens 9/21. Through 11/8, Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division, 773-251-2195, $10-$29.

Kafka on the Shore Based on a novel by Haruki Murakami, this fantastical drama by director-playwright Frank Galati charts a young boy’s coming of age. aPreviews through 9/27. Opens 9/28. Through 11/16, Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650, $20-$70.

The Magic Cabaret Magic, mystery, and mischief with P.T. Murphy & David Parr. aThrough 10/18, Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N Lincoln, 773-404-7336, $25, age 13+.

R.U.R—Rossum’s Universal Robots Czech playwright Karel Capek’s 1921 drama, which introduced the word “robot” into general parlance, imagines a time in which human beings are dominated by intelligent machines. Shade Murray directs. aPreviews through 9/19. Opens 9/21. Through 10/25, Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway, 773-528-9696, $10-$20.

Ten Cent Night Marisa Wegrzyn’s new play, directed by Richard Shavzin, concerns a Texas musician and her dysfunctional family. aPreviews through 9/25. Opens 9/26. Through 10/26, Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W Chicago Ave, 312-633-0630, $10-$30.

Yohen The Silk Road Theatre Company presents Philip Kan Gotanda’s drama about a Japanese woman and an African-American soldier who fall in love in post-World War II Japan, then move to a Los Angeles suburb. aPreviews through 9/26. Opens 9/27. Through 11/2, Chicago Temple, First United Methodist Church, 77 W. Washington St., (312) 857-1234, $18-$34.

friday 9/19

Filthy Pervert Seeks Same So many men, so little time. Steven Dawson’s racy comedy explores how gay guys connect by utilizing technology. aThrough 10/18, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090, $25.

Hasta los Gorriones Dejan Su Nido Raul Dorantes’ play about migrant workers, based on Tennessee Williams’s The Strangest Kind of Love. Performed entirely in Spanish. aThrough 11/2, Aguijon Theater, 2707 N. Laramie, 773-637-5899, $15-$30.

Turn of the Century Director Tommy Tune teamed up with the authors of Jersey Boys for this new musical about a piano player and a singer who set out to discover America’s most popular songs. Jeff Daniels and Rachel York star. aPreviews through 9/28. Opens 9/29. Through 10/26, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800, $25-$82.

saturday 9/20

Land of the Free A simple ride to the polls on Election Day 2004 turns into a hostage situation in Mark Burns’s political lampoon, performed by Babes With Blades. aPreviews through 9/20. Opens 9/21. Through 10/26, Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western Ave., 773-296-6024, $10-$25.

Odin’s Horse The Infamous Commonwealth Theatre Company performs Robert Koon’s drama, which examines the conflict between those who make their living cutting trees and those who fight to preserve them. aThrough 10/19, Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, 312-458-9780, $15-$20.

Our Town The Hypocrites remount their 2007 hit staging of Thornton Wilder’s classic smalltown portrait. David Cromer directs and stars. aPreviews through 9/24. Opens 9/25. Through 10/26, Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division, 773-278-1500, $10-$25.

sunday 9/21

The Voysey Inheritance David Mamet’s adaptation of Harley Granville Barker’s 1905 play, about a man ashamed to discover that his late father bilked the customers of their family business. James Bohnen directs for Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. aPreviews through 9/20. Opens 9/21. Through 11/2, Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336, $29-$60.

monday 9/22

Chiaroscuro (A Study in Shadow) Kenneth N. Kurtz’s play centered on the Renaissance artist Caravaggio. aPreviews through 9/23. Opens 9/24. Through 10/19, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090, $20-$25.

Incubator Showcase The InFusion Theatre performs an evening of new works. a7:30 PM, Chicago Cultural Center, Studio Theater, 77 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497, F

Play for Keeps: A Play Development Workshop for Female Roles Stockyards Theatre Project presents readings of new plays specifically written for women. aThrough 9/24, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, 773-936-7896, $5 suggested donation.

wednesday 9/24

All Shook Up Songs from the Elvis Presley songbook anchor this musical about a biker who falls for a (female) small-town mechanic. aPreviews through 9/25. Opens 9/27. Through 12/7, Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott, Lincolnshire, 847-634-0200, $45-$55.

Pen Hollis Resnik stars in David Marshall Grant’s drama about the difficult relationship between a disabled woman and her son. aPreviews through 9/25. Opens 9/27. Through 10/19, Apple Tree Theatre, 1850 Green Bay, Highland Park, 847-432-4335, call for prices.

thursday 9/25

Frankenstein in Love Clive Barker transfers Mary Shelley’s famous character to a South American country undergoing revolution. A Will Act for Food production. aThrough 11/1, Chemically Imbalanced Theater, 1420 W. Irving Park, 773-865-7731, $18, $15 with nonperishable food donation.

The Further Adventures of Hedda Gabler What if the heroine of Ibsen’s drama decided not to kill herself after all? That’s the premise of Jeff Whitty’s play, presented by the Dog & Pony Theatre Company. aPreviews through 9/26. Opens 9/27. Through 10/26, Viaduct Theater, 3111 N. Western, 773-296-6024, $15-$20, Thu and Sun pay what you can.

Kita y Fernanda Tanya Saracho’s new play examines class, immigration, and women’s friendships as played out between two girls—one the daughter of a rich Mexican family living in Texas, the other the child of an undocumented maid. aPreviews through 9/27. Opens 10/2. Through 10/25, 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th, Berwyn, 708-795-6704, $16.

Sleuth Anthony Shaffer’s tricky thriller, about a mystery writer who plots to murder his wife’s boyfriend, is presented by the Buffalo Theatre Ensemble. aPreview 9/25. Opens 9/26. Through 10/19, College of DuPage, McAnich Arts Center, Fawell and Park, Glen Ellyn, 630-942-4000, $23-$33.

friday 9/26

The Day Patient A man looks for answers after surgery sends his wife into a coma. aThrough 10/18, Shapeshifters Theatre, Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox, 773-282-7035, $15.

Beehive, the 60s Musical The Big Noise Theatre Company performs a tribute to women rockers of the 1960s. aThrough 10/19, Prairie Lakes Theatre, 515 E. Thacker, Des Plaines, 847-604-0275, $12-$20.

LinkUp Residency Artists Showcase Szewai Lee, Angeline Gragasin, and Christian Bambara present an evening of new performance, spoken-word, and dance works. aThrough 9/28, Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824, $15.

Million Dollar Quartet The setting of Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux’s new musical is Sun Records’s storefront studio in Memphis in 1956, the occasion is an impromptu recording session by Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley—one of the greatest rock-a-billy jam sessions of all times. aPreviews through 10/4. Opens 10/5. Through 10/26, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800, $20-$49.

The Young Ladies Of… About Face Theatre hosts New York performance artist Taylor Mac. aThrough 10/26, Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted, 773-784-8565, call for prices.

saturday 9/27

Dracula Theatre Hikes presents an ambulatory outdoor version of Bram Stoker’s vampire tale. Audiences welcome to bring blankets or portable chairs. aThrough 10/26, Thornhill Shelter, Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois route 53, Lisle, 630-725-2066, $13-$22.

Indecent Proposals Scott Woldman’s new comedy examines different ways to say “marry me.” aThrough 11/8, Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 W. Campbell, Arlington Heights, 847-577-5992, $16.50.

The Mark of Zorro Lifeline Theatre remounts last season’s adaptation of Johnston McCulley’s adventure story. aPreview 4 PM. Opens 8 PM. Through 11/23, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, 773-327-5252, $15-$30.

sunday 9/28

Side by Side by Sondheim Light Opera Works presents a revue of songs by Stephen Sondheim. aPreviews through 10/2. Opens 10/3. Through 11/9, McGaw YMCA Child Care Center, 1420 Maple, Evanston, 847-869-6300, $24-$39, under 21 half price.

Dirty Dancing—the Classic Story on Stage The Australian stage version of the 1987 movie about a turbulent summer romance has its U.S. premiere prior to a Broadway run. aPreviews through 10/18. Opens 10/19. Through 12/7, Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph, 312-902-1400, $35-$150.

October

wednesday 10/1

All About Eve The AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players perform a radio-style adaptation of the classic film about an aging Broadway star and her would-be rival. a7 PM, Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater, 78 E. Washington, 312-744-6630, F.

Continental Divide: Daughters of the Revolution Alex Levy directs the second part of David Edgar ‘s two-play cycle, which focuses on a bitter gubernatorial campaign from both the Democratic and Republican perspectives. Plays in repertory with Continental Divide: Mothers Against (see listing under 10/3). aPreviews through 10/9. Opens 10/10. Through 11/9, Pegasus Players, Truman College, O’Rourke Center, 1145 W. Wilson, 773-878-9761, $15-$20.

The Passion of Dracula Bram Stoker’s vampire tale, as loosely adapted for the stage by Bob Hall and David Richmond, is presented by the First Folio Shakespeare Festival. aPreviews through 10/3. Opens 10/4. Through 11/2, Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 West 31st, Oak Brook, 630-986-8067, $18-$30.

Seven Doors German playwright Botho Strauss’s theater piece offering brief “glimpses into a grotesquely tragic life,” Premiere Theatre & Performance stages a translation by Peter K. Jansen. aPreviews through 10/4. Opens 10/5. Through 11/2, Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston, ptapchicago.org, $15-$20.

Stella’s Unisex Salon The Time of Your Life Players present a new musical comedy about a bar owner named Stella who turns his saloon into a salon. aPreviews through 10/2. Opens 10/3. Through 10/24, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090, $10-$15.

The Troublesome Reign and Lamentable Death of Edward II, King of England, with the Tragical Fall of Proud Mortimer Christopher Marlowe’s drama about the ill-fated homosexual monarch is offered in a promenade production under Sean Graney’s direction. aPreviews through 10/5. Opens 10/8. Through 11/9, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand, 312-595-5600, $20-$42.

thursday 10/2

A Dog in the Manger Red Tape Theatre presents a new adaptation of a drama by Lope de Vega, about a romantic triangle between a noblewoman and two of her servants at the time of the Inquisition. aPreviews through 10/4. Opens 10/6. Through 10/26, St. Peter’s Church, 621 W. Belmont, 847-738-6919, $10-$20.

Forbidden Broadway Gerard Alessandrini’s revue spoofs the songs and stars of Broadway. aPreviews through 10/6. Opens 10/7. Through 11/30, Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Broadway, 312-988-9000, $40-$45.

In the Curious Hold of the Demeter: Count Orlock at Sea The Incurable Theater’s production, inspired by the classic silent horror film Nosferatu, employs puppetry, shadow play, masks, and projections. aPreview 7:30 PM. Opens 10/3. Through 10/25, Chicago Cultural Center, Studio Theater, 77 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497, $10-$15.

The Screwtape Letters C.S. Lewis’s novel as adapted by Jeffrey Fiske and Max McLean, in a touring production. aThrough 11/9, Mercury Theater, 3745 N Southport, 773-325-1700, $29-$48.50.

friday 10/3

Blood Sausage Corn Productions presents Sara Kay Snider’s campy update of Medea. aThrough 11/1, Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln, 312-409-6435, $7-$15.

Eurydice Sarah Ruhl’s drama, based on Greek myth, is directed by Sandy Shinner. aPreviews through 10/12. Opens 10/13. Through 10/25, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000, $20-$48.

Continental Divide: Mothers Against Alex Levy directs the first part of David Edgar’s two-play cycle, which focuses on a bitter gubernatorial campaign from both the Democratic and Republican perspectives. Plays in repertory with Continental Divide: Daughters of the Revolution (see listing under 10/1). aPreviews through 10/5. Opens 10/6. Through 11/9, Pegasus Players, Truman College, O’Rourke Center, 1145 W. Wilson, 773-878-9761, $20.

Gregor and the Squonk The Tympanic Theatre Company performs Daniel Caffrey’s modern fairy tale, about a couple seeking a creature rumored to have the power to grant eternal beauty to whoever captures it. aPreview 8 PM. Opens 10/4. Through 11/1, Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090, $17-$20.

Men of Tortuga Jason Wells’s drama, directed by Rick Snyder, concerns three men who scheme with a weapons specialist to eliminate their opposition. aPreviews through 10/8. Opens 10/9. Through 12/7, Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, 773-549-1815, $15-$30.

Oobleck Election Play 2008: The Trojan Candidate Dick Cheney leads viewers through a “fantastic voyage into the funhouse of fragile candidate psyches” in Theater Oobleck’s political satire, penned by Jeff Dorchen and Danny Thompson. aThrough 11/3, Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland, 773-347-1041, $12 suggested donation.

The Yellow Wallpaper The Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble performs its adaptation of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s 1890 story about a woman struggling with postpartum depression. aThrough 10/12, Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee, 773-598-4549, $10-$15.

Studies N Blackness: Rhythmic Hoodoo Daniel Givens and the Age Ensemble present a live visual media and ambient musical experience. aThrough 10/5, Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824, $15.

monday 10/6

DeathScribe: Ten Minutes of Terror Radio Play Festival WildClaw Theatre presents readings of new works submitted to its competition for radio dramas with a horror theme. a8 PM, Music Box Theatre, 3733 N Southport, 773-871-6604, $15.

tuesday 10/7

Jesus Hopped the “A” Train Stephen Adly Guirgis’s drama concerns a Puerto Rican youth incarcerated on Riker’s Island after he shoots a cult leader. aPreviews through 10/11. Opens 10/12. Through 12/6, Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, 773-338-2177, $15-$25.

thursday 10/9

Cabaret of Desire Federico Garcia Lorca’s poetic drama Buster Keaton’s Stroll inspired this “cabaret of wooden puppets, burlesque dancing, and bass drums” presented by Blair Thomas and Company. aThrough 11/8, Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497, $10-$19.

Haywire! Written by Kevin Remington and Tim Wilkins and staged by Hell in a Handbag Productions, this parody promises “murder and mayhem under the big top.” aPreviews through 10/11. Opens 10/13. Through 11/15, Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont, 773-883-1090, $15-$25.

Mame Based on the novel by Evanston-bred author Patrick Dennis, this musical by Jerry Herman, Jerome Lawrence, and Robert E. Lee tells of an eccentric socialite’s campaign to raise her nephew. aPreviews through 10/12. Opens 10/16. Through 12/21, Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace, 100 Drury Lane, 630-530-0111, $22-$41.50.

friday 10/10

Anna, in the Darkness The Dream Theatre Company presents Jeremy Menekseoglu’s drama, about a southern schoolteacher accused of being a satanist because she let her students read horror fiction. aThrough 11/2, Dream Theatre, 556 W. 18th, 773-552-8616, $12.

If You See Something Say Something Comic storyteller Mike Daisey recounts the history of the Department of Homeland Security and the untold story of the inventor of the neutron bomb in this solo show. aThrough 10/12, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago, 312-397-4010, $20-$25.

Interference: The Perpetual Battle of the Electric and Elder Faeries The Tantalus Theatre Group’s comedy explores the effect of the communications revolution on traditional interpersonal contact. aThrough 11/1, Side Project Theatre Company, 1520 W. Jarvis, 773-973-2150, $10.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Director Jean Gottlieb puts a modern twist on Shakespeare’s fairy-tale romance. aPreview 7:30 PM. Opens 10/11. Through 11/8, New World Repertory Theater, 923 Curtiss, Downers Grove, 630-663-1489, $12-$20.

Studies N Blackness: Bodies on “View-Doo” Margaret Morris and Nikki Patin present an evening of dance, spoken word, song, and burlesque. aThrough 10/12, Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824, $15.

saturday 10/11

Duck for President Doreen Cronin’s kids’ book, about a farm animal who runs for office, is musicalized by James E. Grote and George Howe. aPreviews through 10/12. Opens 10/12. Through 11/30, Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood, 773-761-4477, $12.

Little Red Riding Hood The Chicago Kids Company performs the classic fairy tale. aThrough 11/22, Wilmette Theatre, 112 Central, 847-251-7424, $10-$12.

thursday 10/16

Celebrity Row David Cromer directs the Midwest premiere of Itamar Moses’s drama, about a lawyer torn between commitment to civil liberties and concern for national security. The title refers to the Colorado prison which in the late 1990s housed Tim McVeigh, Unabomber Ted Kaczinski, Latin Kings leader Luis Felipe, and Muslim terrorist Ramzi Yousef. aPreviews through 10/19. Opens 10/20. Through 11/9, American Theater Company, 1909 W. Byron, 773-409-4125, $35-$40.

friday 10/17

Dancing at Lughnasa The Beverly Theatre Guild performs Brian Friel’s drama about five unmarried women in 1930s Ireland. aThrough 10/26, Morgan Park Academy Arts Center, 2153 W. 111th, 773-284-8497, call for prices.

The Medium at Large A new musical about two women trying to make contact with their deceased parents. aThrough 11/16, Village Players, 1010 W. Madison, Oak Park, 866-764-1010, $20-$25.

Moon Over Buffalo Ken Ludwig’s farce is performed by the Saint Sebastian Players. aThrough 11/9, St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey, 773-404-7922, $7-$15.

The Other Cinderella Jackie Taylor’s musical puts an urban, Afrocentric spin on the fairy tale. aPreview 8 PM. Opens 10/18. Through 12/27, Black Ensemble Theater, 4520 N. Beacon, 773-769-4451, $40-$45.

Studies N Blackness: Afro-Retro Juju Baraka de Soleil and his troupe D Underbelly present Koool-Aid Luv Odyssey, an evening-long work employing spoken woird, dance, performance, and media. aThrough 10/19, Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield, 773-281-0824, $15.

saturday 10/18

Many Loves Joanie Schultz directs the Caffeine Theatre in a work by poet William Carlos Williams. aThrough 11/23, Lincoln Square Arts Center, 4754 N. Leavitt, 312-409-4778, call for prices.

saturday 10/25

Beauty on the Vine The Backstage Theatre Company performs Zak Berkman’s study of “the power of the human face in Lindsay Lohan America,” about the murder of a female talk-radio celebrity. aThrough 11/23, Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark, 773-338-2177, $20.

The Brothers Karamazov Heidi Stillman directs her own adaptation of Dostoevsky’s tale of a turbulent romantic triangle. aPreviews through 10/24. Opens 10/25. Through 12/7, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan, 312-337-0665, $30-$60.

The Complete History of America (abridged) The Reduced Shakespeare Company performs its fast-paced spoof of U.S. history. a8 PM, McAnich Arts Center at College of DuPage, Fawell and Park, Glen Ellyn, 630-942-4000, $28-$38.

The Glass Menagerie See Best Bets. aThrough 11/9, Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650, $20.

The Thugs Adam Bock’s dark comedy concerns a group of office workers trying to unlock the mysteries of their law firm. aPreviews through 10/28. Opens 10/29. Through 12/14, Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway, 773-549-1815, $25.

sunday 10/26

WNYC’s RadioLab: Martian Invasion The hosts of New York’s public-radio cult favorite explore the impact of Orson Welles’s 1938 radio broadcast The War of the Worlds. aThrough 10/27, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000, $30.

monday 10/27

The Empty Chalices Judy Veramendi’s play “interweaves the dramatic life and erotic work” of Uruguayan poet Delmira Agustini. Madrid St. Angelo directs a production featuring Uruguayan artists. Some performances in Spanish, some in English. aThrough 11/1, Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio, 312-335-1996, $15-$25.

wednesday 10/29

A House With No Walls Thomas Gibbons’s drama, inspired by real events, revolves around an attempt to erect an American Museum of Liberty on the grounds of George Washington’s Philadelphia home. The present-day conflict between a conservative academic and a liberal activist is juxtaposed with the story of one of Washington’s slaves as she contemplates escape. aPreviews through 10/31. Opens 11/1. Through 12/21, Timeline Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington Ave., 773-281-TIME, $15-$30.

thursday 10/30

The Gurney A man tries to rescue his brother from madness in David Hauptschein’s new play about the “darker capabilities of our minds.” A Secret Life Theatre production. aPreviews through 11/2. Opens 11/3. Through 12/7, Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway, 773-329-1088, $10-$20.

Jon George Saunders’s futuristic allegory about teenage love and self-discovery in a corporate universe where TV commercials replace life experiences, offered here in Seth Bockley’s multimedia adaptation for Collaboraction. aThrough 12/14, The Building Stage, 412 N. Carpenter, 312-226-9633, call for prices.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Theatreworks/USA presents its touring kids’ show based on C.S. Lewis’s Narnia chronicle. a9:30 AM, 11:45 AM, and 7 PM, Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena, Aurora, 630-896-6666 $8-$10.

friday 10/31

500 Clown Frankenstein The clown-theater troupe performs its highly physical rendition of Mary Shelley’s classic tale. a8 PM, Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams, Crystal Lake, 815-356-9212, $42-$45.

Jarred: A Hoodoo Comedy The all-Latina Teatro Luna premieres Tanya Saracho’s play about a woman who turns to folk magic to heal the pain of a terrible breakup. aPreviews through 11/2. Opens 11/6. Through 12/14, Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago, 773-878-LUNA, $10-$15.

A Man for All Seasons The Drama Group performs Robert Bolt’s historical drama. aThrough 11/2, Bloom High School, 101 W. 10th, Chicago Heights, 708-755-3444, $18.

Shadowlands William Nicholson’s drama recounts the marriage of British writer C.S. Lewis to American poet Joy Gresham, a deep relationship cut short by Gresham’s death from cancer. aPreviews through 11/2. Opens 11/3. Through 11/30, Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, 773-728-7529, $22-$30.

Tomorrow Morning British composer Laurence Mark Wythe’s 2006 musical about two couples—one facing the end of their relationship, the other at the beginning of theirs—is directed by Tom Mullen in an “Americanized” version. aPreviews through 11/8. Opens 11/9. Through 12/7, Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336, $22.50-$34.50.

November

wednesday 11/5

A Christmas Memory and The Thanksgiving Visitor The Provision Theater performs Truman Capote’s autobiographical account of his boyhood relationship with an elderly cousin. aPreview 1 PM. Opens 11/8. Through 12/21, Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted, 312-988-9000, $28.

A Jew Grows in Brooklyn Jake Ehrenreich’s autobiography in musical comedy form. aThrough 11/9, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, 847-673-6300, $45-$57.50.

thursday 11/6

Dublin Carol William Petersen stars in Conor McPherson’s play about a recovering alcohol’s encounter with his estranged daughter on Christmas Eve. aPreviews through 11/16. Opens 11/16. Through 12/21, Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted, 312-335-1650 $50-$70.

Radio Macbeth The SITI Company presents its experimental reworking of Shakespeare’s tragedy. aPreviews through 11/7. Opens 11/8. Through 12/7, Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis, 773-753-4472 $10-$56.

friday 11/7

Cabaret! Cabaret! This musical-theater showcase highlights the work of emerging composers and writers, featuring performances by local theater artists. aThrough 11/9, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000, $20.

The Confession Mary Roberts Rinehart’s classic mystery concerns a woman who discovers a confession to a horrible crime—but no evidence to support it. Terry McCabe directs Cameron Feagin’s new adaptation of Rinehart’s novel. aPreviews through 11/9. Through 12/14, City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr, 773-293-3682, $18-$25.

Party of One Noel Williams’s solo show guides viewers on a journey through the psyche of Captain Melisande Blue. aThrough 11/24, Chicago Cultural Center, Studio Theater, 77 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497, $15-$20.

saturday 11/8

Nunsense Sally Struthers stars in this touring production of Dan Goggin’s musical about a flock of stagestruck nuns. a3 and 8 PM, Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena, Aurora, 630-896-6666, $35.50-$50.50.

The King and I The Rising Stars Theatre Company presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical. aThrough 11/23, Rising Stars Theatre Company, Saint Patrick Performing Arts Centre, 5900 W. Belmont, 773-736-2490, $13-$15.

Ruined Lynn Nottage’s drama, set in the present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo, tells of a businesswoman who both protects and exploits women caught up in the chaos of a civil war. aThrough 12/7, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800, call for prices.

wednesday 11/12

Grey Gardens Hollis Resnik stars in the local premiere of this Broadway musical about two New York socialites—relatives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis—who became East Hampton’s most notorious recluses. aPreviews through 11/19. Opens 11/20. Through 12/21, Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, 847-673-6300, $48-$53.

thursday 11/13

The Autumn Garden Lillian Hellman’s 1951 drama is presented by the Eclipse Theatre Company under the direction of Nathaniel Swift. aPreview 8 PM. Opens 11/16. Through 12/20, Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336, call for prices.

The Marriage of Figaro The Remy Bumppo Theatre Company performs Ranjit Bolt’s adaptation of Beaumarchais’ farce, the inspiration for Mozart’s opera. aThrough 1/4, Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln, 773-404-7336, $29-$50.

A Wonderful Life Broadway veteran Sheldon Harnick penned the lyrics for this musical version of Frank Capra’s classic film It’s a Wonderful Life, about a would-be suicide’s salvation. aPreviews through 11/20. Opens 11/21. Through 12/21, Theatre at the Centre, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana, 219-836-3255, $36-$40.

friday 11/14

Don’t Dress for Dinner The British Stage Company presents Marc Camoletti’s sex farce. aPreviews through 11/22. Opens 11/23. Through 1/11, Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St, 312-988-9000, $49.50-$59.50.

Drinking Alone aMurder in an English guesthouse. aThrough 12/21, Attic Playhouse, 410 Sheridan Road, Highwood, 847-433-2660, $22.

Gatz The New York experimental theater group Elevator Repair Service performs F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby—the entire text. aThrough 11/16, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago, 312-397-4010, $32-$40.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Golddigger Lorelei Lee proves that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, in the classic musical by Anita Loos, Jule Styne, and Leo Robin. aPreviews through 11/18. Opens 11/19. Through 2/1, Circle Theatre, 7300 W. Madison, Forest Park, 708-771-0700, $12-$26.

Holes Adventure Stage Chicago performs Louis Sachar’s play, adapted from his own novel, about a 14-year-old boy sent to a boot camp after being convicted for a crime he didn’t commit. aPreviews through 11/15. Opens 11/16. Through 12/18, Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble, 773-342-4141, $8-$17.

Robinson Crusoe: A Holiday Panto Daniel Defoe’s account of a castaway’s adventures is presented in the form of a traditional English Christmas panto. aPreviews through 11/16. Opens 11/21. Through 12/20, Piccolo Theatre, Evanston Arts Depot, 600 Main, Evanston, 847-424-0089, $6-$12.50.

saturday 11/15

Six Degrees of Separation The Signal Ensemble Theatre presents John Guare’s comedy, in which a young black man who cons a white society couple into thinking he’s the son of Sidney Poitier. aPreviews through 11/16. Opens 11/17. Through 12/20, Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division, 773-347-1350, $15-$20.

Smokey Joe’s Cafe Touring edition of the Broadway musical based on the songs of popmeisters Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber. a8 PM, Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Parkway, University Park, 708-235-2222, $26-$46.

sunday 11/16

Cut to the Quick Series of short plays presented by the Side Project Theatre, aThrough 12/21, Side Project Theatre, 1439 W Jarvis, 773-973-2150, call for prices.

Dreams in the Witch House WildClaw Theatre, devoted to bringing horror stories to the stage, presents Charley Sherman’s adaptation of an H.P. Lovecraft tale. aThrough 12/21, Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, 312-902-1500, call for prices.

monday 11/17

Well Lisa Kron’s play begins as a memoir of her mother’s fight for racial equality in Lansing, Michigan–but things change when the mother inserts herself into the storytelling. aThrough 12/14, Next Theatre, Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes, Evanston, 847-475-1875, $14-$38.

tuesday 11/18

Anung’s First American Christmas The story of a pre-Columbia Indian on his vision quest. aThrough 1/4, Vitalist Theatre, Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W Belmont, 773-327-5252, $20-$25.

The Maids Domestics play deadly games in Jean Genet’s 1947 play. aPreviews through 12/2. Opens 12/3. Through 4/5, Writers’ Theatre, Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon, Glencoe, 847-242-6000, $50-$65.

wednesday 11/19

Meet Me in St. Louis Stage version of the classic movie musical about a family in turn-of-the-century Saint Louis. aThrough 1/4, Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut, 312-642-2000, call for prices.

he Ox-Herder’s Tale Blair Thomas and Company employs large-scale bunraku-style puppets–as well as live music by Michael Zerang and Hamid Drake—to retell a Buddhist tale about a man whose quest for enlightenment leads him on a quest to capture and tame a bull. aThrough 11/30, Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago, 312-397-4010, $20-$25.

The Story of the Little Mermaid Children’s play based on Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale. aThrough 11/23, Drama Group, 330 W. 202, Chicago Heights, 708-755-3444, $6.

thursday 11/20

A Very Neo-Futurist Christmas Carol The Neo-Futurists put their own twist on the holiday classic. aPreviews through 11/21. Opens 11/22. Through 12/23, Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland, 773-836-7000, $15, $50 for 12/4 benefit performance.

friday 11/21

A Christmas Carol Larry Yando stars as Scrooge in the Goodman Theatre’s annual rendition of Dickens’s classic tale. aThrough 12/31, Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, 312-443-3800, call for prices.

Soiree Dada: Schmuckt der Hallen WNEP Theater presents an evening of Dada-style entertainment, described as “a schizophrenic carnival ride through the brain of 21st century man.” aThrough 12/21, Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph, 312-742-8497 $10-$20.

saturday 11/22

Magic Tree House: The Musical Touring kids’ show based on the bestselling books by Mary Pope Osborne. aThrough 11/23, Center for Performing Arts, Governors State University, 1 University Pkwy., University Park, 708-235-2222, $22-$41.

tuesday 11/25

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Actors, dancers, and acrobats from India and Sri Lanka perform a multingual rendition Shakespeare’s fairy-tale romance. aPreview 7:30 PM. Through 12/7, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand, 312-595-5600, $60-$75.

friday 11/28

Drinking & Writing IV: The 12 Steps of Christmas Neo-Futurists Sean Benjamin and Steve Mosqueda draw on the works of Hemingway, Kerouac, Fitzgerald, and other literary inebriates to uncork the traditions of the holidays. aThrough 12/19, Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2243 N. Lincoln, 773-871-3000, $20.