New 'On Golden Pond' at Buffalo Theatre

A crotchety octogenarian and his understanding wife welcome their estranged daughter, her fiance and his teenage son to their summer place in Ernest Thompson's play "On Golden Pond." Buffalo Theatre Ensemble's Ann Shanahan directs the company's revival featuring Michael Sassone and Loretta Hauser as the long-married Norman and Ethel Thayer.

Info: Opens Friday, May 7, at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org.

Lifeline adapts GaimanA London yuppie gets transported into an alternative world beneath the city in Neil Gaiman's 1996 fantasy "Neverwhere." Lifeline Theatre's Robert Kauzlaric does double duty, adapting the novel and starring in the world premiere, directed by fellow ensemble member Paul S. Holmquist. Info: Previews through Sunday, May 9, at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. The show opens Monday, May 10. (773) 761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.Midlife rompBotox and biological clocks, prostate exams and mammograms comprise the lighthearted revue, "Mid-Life! The Crisis Musical." Robin M. Highes directs the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre production.Info: Previews begin Thursday, May 13, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. The show opens May 16. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.What's newbull; Metropolis Performing Arts Centre hosts its 10th anniversary fundraising gala from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 7, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. The black tie optional event includes entertainment, dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions. Tickets are $85. They're available at (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com/gala.bull; "The Regulars," a musical comedy about a group of waiters turned rock musicians, opens Friday, May 7, at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Dan Krall and Josh Zagoren composed the music for Hobo Junction's premiere production. (773) 935-6100 or hobojunctionproductions.com. bull; A year after a man is sent away for inappropriate conduct with a girl, his friends wonder: Did he or didn't he? Robert Tenges examines that in his latest play, "People We Know," in its world premiere at The Side Project Theatre, 1439 W. Jarvis, Chicago. Adam Webster directs the show opening Friday, May 7. (773) 973-2150 or thesideproject.net.bull; August Strindberg's "The Ghost Sonata," in which a young student stumbles onto the hell a group of evil spirits have created for themselves through greed, betrayal and manipulation, is the next production from Chicago's Oracle Theatre. Company member Max Truax directs the show which opens Saturday, May 8, at 3809 N. Broadway, Chicago. See oracletheatre.org for information.bull; Magician David Copperfield brings his "Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion" to the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago for performances on Friday, May 7, and Saturday, May 8. The show features Copperfield performing close-up magic with a scorpion, squeezing himself into a shoebox and walking through steel. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.bull; The rise and fall of Brian Jones, the flamboyant founder of the Rolling Stones who was found dead in 1969 at age 27, is the subject of the new play "Aftermath," written by Signal Ensemble Theatre artistic director Ronan Marra. Marra also directs Signal's world premiere opening Monday, May 10, at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 347-1350 or signalensemble.com.bull; "Choose to Believe," Steppenwolf Theatre' Company's 2010 fundraising gala begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 8, at 1650 N. Halsted St, Chicago, and the nearby reception venue, Structured Development's TruServe Building at 1460 N. Halsted St. The evening features a cocktail reception, performances from Steppenwolf's current production, "Endgame," a live auction, dancing and music by Gary Sinise's The Lt. Dan Band. Call (312) 654-5632 for tickets.bull; Mothers receive a free ticket with the purchase of three regular priced adult or child tickets to Emerald City Theatre's musical adaptation of "Peter Pan" on Saturday May 8, or Sunday, May 9. Performances are at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6100 or emeraldcitytheatre.com.bull; Comedian Kristen Studard debuts her latest solo show, "Small Victories," examining the tiny moments that pack the biggest wallop, on Sunday, May 9, at the Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. The show runs Sundays through June 13. (773) 561-4665 or theannoyance.com.bull; The Chicago premiere of "The Last Cargo Cult," monologuist Mike Daisey's latest solo show - inspired by the current financial crisis and set on a remote island whose inhabitants worship America - continues through Sunday, May 9, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.bull; "Tomato/Tomatoe," the ongoing serial comedy about a couple of mismatched roommates, continues with its cliffhanger episode on Sunday, May 9, at the Annoyance Theater, 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4655, tomatotomatoe.com or the annoyance.com.bull; Piven Theatre Workshop and the American Blues Theater host a benefit performance of "Ripped: The Living Newspaper Project" at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 10, at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. "Ripped" features playlettes inspired by current headlines. Proceeds from Monday's performance benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository. See piventheatre.org for more information. bull; WNEP Theatre and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs host the 11th annual Skald Storytelling Festival, running Monday, May 10, to May 14, at 78 E. Washington St., Chicago. The festival includes workshops and performances. Call (312) 742-8497 or dcatheater.org for more information.bull; Previews begin Tuesday, May 11, for Plasticene's "From a Fading Light," an intimate, nonverbal, adults-only theater production that unfolds in a Wicker Park church. The show opens Wednesday, May 12, at St. Paul's Cultural Center, 2215 W. North Ave., Chicago. (312) 409-0900 or plasticene.com.bull; Court Theatre concludes its 55th season with "Sizwe Banzi is Dead," beginning previews Thursday, May 13, at 5535 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago. An examination of identity set in South Africa during apartheid, the play centers on an out-of-work man who lacks a worker's permit, and is willing to go to great lengths to secure one. Ron OJ Parson directs the play written by Athol Fugard with John Kant and Winston Ntshona and starring Allen Gilmmore and Chik#233; Johnson. The show opens May 22. (773) 753-4472 or courttheatre.org.bull; A political sex scandal underscores Kristin O'Hare's farcical docudrama "The Gay American," in its world premiere at The Ruckus Theater. The play centers on the rise and fall of a New Jersey governor and the impact it has on those around him. The company hosts a fundraiser featuring Pandora Boxx of "RuPaul's Drag Race," beginning at 10 p.m. Thursday, May 13. The show opens May 16 at the Side Project Theatre, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave., Chicago. (773) 769-7257 or ruckustheater.org.bull; Thursday, May 13, is the opening of Polarity Ensemble Theatre's fourth annual Dionysus Cup Festival of New Plays featuring staged readings of new works. They include: "Death and Devils," G. Riley Mills' based-on-fact drama about a medical charlatan who made millions during the Great Depression with a cure-all procedure he called gland rejuvenation; Keith Anwar's "Kabulitis," which examines the predicament of Afghanistan refugees; "Fertile Lies," Jaime-Lee Wise's "X-Files"-style drama about a scientist who develops a seed that will end world hunger; and Jay Koepke's "What Makes the Buddha Smile" about a spiritual quest. The readings run through May 23 at the Josephinum Academy, 1500 N. Bell, Chicago. (800) 838-3006 or petheatre.com.bull; Annoyance Theatre's musical sendup "Flames and Blazes," has been extended through May 28 at 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or theannoyance.com.bull; Brikenbrak Theatre Project makes its Chicago debut with "The Samaritan Syndrome," about a man who risks his sanity to find the woman who haunts his dreams. The show runs through May 25 at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.bull; Theater fans who purchase two half-price Hot Tix tickets this summer receive one free admission to the John Hancock Observatory at 875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Tickets must be purchased in person at the Chicago Hot Tix centers at 72 E. Randolph St. or 163 E. Pearson St.