Bolingbrook comic returns to headline at Zanies

Local comic returnsA few short years after he graduated from Bolingbrook High School, Lenny Schmidt was performing at Hollywood's Comedy Store. He returned to study improv at IO Chicago during the 1990s before branching out into sketch comedy and acting. This weekend, he returns to his standup roots to headline Zanies. 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20 and 27, at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills (847) 549-6030; 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles (630) 584-6342; and Aug. 24-26 and Aug. 28 at 1548 N. Wells St. Chicago. (312) 337-4027 or zanies.com.'Boys' in NY"The Bowery Boys," which premiered two years ago at Lincolnshire's Marriott Theatre, will be featured in a staged reading in October at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's annual Festival of New Musicals in New York City. Set in 1876, the rags-to-riches musical by David H. Bell (book and lyrics) and Aaron Thielen with music by Jeremy Cohen has an all-American score and a feel-good story about a newsboy who bests corrupt officials to win the girl and a job.Three days of theaterMary-Arrchie Theatre has invited more than 40 companies to participate in its 22nd annual Abbie Hoffman Died for Our Sins Theater Festival. The event begins at 7 p.m. Friday with Hoffman (Richard Cotovsky) blessing the gathering of the tribes, who perform virtually nonstop. Tickets are $10 a day or $25 for the weekend. Friday, Aug. 20, to Sunday, Aug. 22, at Angel Island, 735 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago. (773) 871-0442 or maryarrchie.com.bull; Theater Wit hosts a Chicago theater conference from Friday, Aug. 20, to Sunday, Aug. 22, at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. League of Chicago Theatres president Deb Clapp, Steppenwolf Theatre artistic director Martha Lavey, WNEP artistic director Don Hall and House Theatre artistic director Nathan Allan are among the speakers scheduled for more than 30 informational sessions. Registration for the entire weekend is $32 and includes lunch both days. See the schedule at theaterwit.org or call (773) 975-8150.bull; Ron Jones and Larry Jay Tish bring "The Black Jew Dialogues," a multimedia sketch show about race and tolerance, to the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, for two shows. The duo perform Friday, Aug. 21, and Saturday, Aug. 22. (773) 404-7336 or greenhousetheater.com.bull; Pat Reidy's three-man sketch show, "Pat Reidy Fails ... LIVE" opens Sunday, Aug. 22, at the Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or theanoyance.com.bull; About Face Theatre hosts its fourth annual cabaret beginning at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23, at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The show titled "Flip Flop: The 80s" is comprised of performers taking songs originally written for the opposite sex and flipping the gender. Among the performers are About Face artistic associates Amy Matheny, Paul Iakley Stovall and Benjamin Sprunger along with Jayson Brooks, Elizabeth Lalidlaw, Ryan Lanning, Rob Lindley, Dwight McBride, Christine Mild, Stephen Rader and Aunt Lola Cabana. Tickets are $40 and are available at aboutfacetheatre.com.bull; Cost-conscious consumers who purchase a "Cirque Shanghai: Cloud 9" ticket for $23.50 will receive a complimentary viewing ticket for the Tall Ships Chicago 2010 celebration held from Aug. 24 to 29 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. The Tall Ships viewing ticket does not include boarding. Cirque Shanghai performances continue through Sept. 6, with additional performances at 6 p.m. Aug. 26 and 27. (800) 745-3000 or ticketmaster.com/shanghai.bull; "Blues for an Alabama Sky," Pearl Cleage's drama about five African Americans and the hope, despair and disillusionment they encounter in 1930s Harlem, is the first show from newcomer Greenetree Productions. The preview is Thursday, Aug. 26, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens Aug. 27. (773) 327-5252 or greenetreeproductions.com.bull; LiveWire Chicago Theatre and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs present the world premiere of "Hideous Progeny," Emily Dendinger's drama about Mary Shelley, her poet-husband Percy and their friend Lord Byron, whose challenge to Mary resulted in the creation of one of the world's most memorable novels. The show, directed by Jessica Hutchinson, opens Thursday, Aug. 26, at the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St., Chicago. (312) 742-8497 or livewirechicago.com.bull; Libertyville's Improv Playhouse will take over Apple Tree Theatre's former space in the Karger Center at 1850 Green Bay Road in Highland Park in September. Improv Playhouse will offer arts programming and classes for youth and adults. bull; Profiles Theatre recently acquired the former Stage Left Theatre venue located at 3408 N. Sheffield, Chicago. Profiles takes over management of the 50-seat theater - to be renamed The Second Stage - in September. In a prepared release, associate artistic director Darrell W. Cox said that the venue will showcase emerging, young theater companies. It will also host extended runs of Profiles' shows. bull; Pride Films Plays teams up with The Center on Halsted to sponsor the Great Gay Play Contest to showcase works dealing with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues or individuals. A committee will select 15 semifinalists and five finalists whose works will be performed as staged readings in 2011 at the Center on Halsted. The contest is open to playwrights 18 and older. The deadline is Oct. 31. The admission fee is $30 for works submitted by Sept. 30 and $45 for works submitted between Oct. 1 and 30.