On Stage: Don't bring the kids to this vampire show

Vamping it upMetropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights debuts its latest satire, "After Dusk But Before Daylight: A Parody of a Very Famous Vampire Series," as part of its After Dark Series. Scott Woldman directs the mostly improvised, adults-only show satirizing the brooding young vampires of the "Twilight" book series and the older women who love them.Opens Saturday, Oct. 2, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.First Folio favoriteFirst Folio Theatre remounts its hit world premiere, "The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe," adapted by David Rice from the 19th century writer's macabre stories and poems. Michael Goldberg directs John Sanders ("A Minister's Wife," "Oh Coward!"), who stars as Poe. Previews begin Wednesday, Oct. 6, at the Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. The show opens Oct. 9. (630) 986-8067 or www.firstfolio.org.'Hyde' at MortonTheatre-Hikes concludes its season at Lisle's Morton Arboretum with "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Robert Louis Stevenson's tale of a renowned London doctor who concocts a potion that turns him into a savage killer.Performances run from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 2 to 31, at 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. (630) 725-2066 or theatre-hikes.org.bull; In the wake of racial violence, a Chicago songwriter's music goes from mellow to militant in "Doo Lister's Blues," Terry Abrahamson's examination of a turbulent era as seen through the eyes of a barber turned musician. National Pastime Theater presents the Chicago area premiere of Abrahamson's revised version of the play which was workshopped in 1999 at the DuSable Museum of African American History. The show opens Friday, Oct. 1, at 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 327-7077 or npt2.com.bull; Previews begin Friday, Oct. 1, for Victory Gardens Theater's production of Edward Albee's "At Home At the Zoo," which pairs his 1959 play "The Zoo Story" - about an encounter between uptight book editor Peter and desperate outcast Jerry - with a new prequel titled, "Homelife," examining the marriage between Peter and his wife, Ann. Dennis Zacek, former Victory Gardens artistic director, helms the production starring Tom Amandes, Annabel Armour and Marc Grapey. It opens Oct. 11, at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.bull; "The Merchants of Bollywood," a dance show chronicling the rise of the world's largest film industry, comes to the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago as part of its North American premiere. The performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, and Saturday, Oct. 2. (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com.bull; Redtwist theatre salutes the season with its world premiere "Dracula: A Tragedy," adapted by Mark Mason from Bram Stoker's novel. The late night, adults only show opens at 11:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, and runs daily except Thursdays through Oct. 31, at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago. (773) 728-7529 or redtwist.org.bull; Salsation Theatre Company presents "It Takes a Village, People!" its first gay-themed show examining love and family within the Latino community. It opens Saturday, Oct. 2, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.bull; The European collaborative Supermamas brings their performance piece "Empire (Art Politics)" - an examination of how economics, money and entertainment impact history - to the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3. (312) 397-4010 or mcachicago.org.bull; The Annoyance Theatre remounts its 2009 hit "Salem! The Musical" just in time for Halloween. The show opens Saturday, Oct. 2, and runs through Nov. 13, at 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or theannoyance.com.bull; Expect some bits from The Capitol Steps' latest release "Liberal Shop of Horrors" and their holiday CD "Barackin' Around the Christmas Tree," when the long-running comedy troupe returns to the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.bull; The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, hosts a women's only fundraiser featuring wine, hors d'oeuvres, shopping and a performance of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" at 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3. Tickets are $50 and are available at www.metropolisarts.com or (847) 577-2121.bull; Previews begin Sunday, Oct. 3, for Light Opera Works' production of "I Do! I Do!" the Harvey Schmidt-Tom Jones musical chronicling a couple's relationship. Rudy Hogenmiller directs Catherine Lord and Larry Adams in the two-person show that opens Oct. 8 at LOW's second stage at 1420 Maple Ave., Evanston. (847) 869-6300 or lightoperaworks.com.bull; The all Latina theater company Teatro Luna continues its 10th anniversary season with Diane Herrera's new play "Lullaby," a fantastical examination of motherhood that incorporates Big Foot, werewolves, aliens and mermaids. Previews begin Monday, Oct. 4, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 878-5862 or teatroluna.org.bull; Genesis Theatrical Productions presents a free, staged reading of "A Natural History of Mozart Street," a play by Pauline Yearwood inspired by her father Leonard Dubkin whose desire to become a naturalist upset his Jewish immigrant parents during the early 20th century. The reading is at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 4, at Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago. See genesistheatricals.com for more information.bull; The Factory Theater's "1985," its Orwellian examination of Chicago sports history, begins previews Tuesday, Oct. 5, at the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 7. (312) 742-8497 or thefactorytheater.combull; The tragedy of Antigone underscores "Too Much Memory," a drama by Keith Reddin and Meg Gibson centered around a modern-day political family. SiNNERMAN Ensemble presents the Midwest premiere previewing on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at the Side Project Theater, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 7. (773) 728-3361 or hottix.org.bull; Previews begin Wednesday, Oct. 6, for Silk Road Theatre Project's Chicago premiere of "Scorched," Wajdi Mouawad's combination war tale and domestic drama in which a Lebanese born brother and sister return to their mother's native country to carry out her last wishes and encounter family they never knew they had. Dale Heinen's production opens Oct. 9, at the Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago. (312) 857-1234, ext. 201 or srtp.org.bull; Jeff Award-winning actors Randy Steinmeyer and Kate Buddeke star in Route 66 Theatre Company's season opening production of "McMeekin Finds Out," by Scott Barsotti. Damon Kiely directs the comedy about a couple recovering from an accident and how an admission from their teenage daughter makes their predicament worse. Previews begin Thursday, Oct. 7, at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 16. (773) 871-3000 or route66theatre.org.bull; Newcomer Brikenbrak Theatre Project continues its inaugural season with Neil LaBute's "Bash," a chilling trio of plays in which individuals confess to unknown people the everyday evil in which they've engaged. The show opens Thursday, Oct. 7, at the Viaduct Theatre, 3111 N. Western Ave., Chicago. (773) 296-6024 or brikenbrak.org.bull; A B-movie actor/comedian desperate for a comeback gets a chance to host his own Halloween special in "The Rip Nelson Halloween Spooktacular," the latest seasonal show from Hell in a Handbag Productions. Previews begin Thursday, Oct. 7, at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 9. (800) 838-3006 or handbagproductions.org.bull; P.T. Murphy and David Parr bring their Magic Cabaret to the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago for a brief run. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and are suitable for ages 13 and older. (773) 404-7336 or magic-cabaret.com.bull; Peter Parnell's "QED," about physicist Richard Feynman - nanotechnology expert and atomic bomb pioneer - continues through Oct. 10 at Northwestern University's Technological Institute, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston. Jeff Award nominee Rob Riley stars. (847) 324-3298 or etopia.northwestern.edu.bull; To commemorate the 30th anniversary of its Theatre and Interpretation Center, Northwestern University will welcome to its stages several Chicago area artists, including directors Sean Graney (The Hypocrites), David Catlin (Lookingglass Theatre) and Derrick Sanders (Congo Square), actress Anne Whitney and playwright/director/TV actress Regina Taylor. The guest artists will direct various university productions throughout the year, with Taylor in residence during the fall to help create an original work to be showcased next year. bull; As part of its audience development initiative, the League of Chicago Theatres and the Theatre Communications Group offer a free night of theater during October at 40 participating theaters. Reservations are limited to two tickets per person for the duration of the program. Tickets can be reserved at freenightoftheater.net.bull; Pride Films and Plays have selected five screenplays with GLBT themes or characters as part of its Great Gay Screenplay Contest. The plays will get staged readings Nov. 20 and 21, at the Center on Halsted Street, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago. See pridefilmsandplays.com for information.