On Stage: 'It's A Wonderful Life' is back

Holiday tale, radio style

Jeff Award winner Rachel Rockwell helms Noble Fool's retelling of Frank Capra's holiday classic “It's A Wonderful Life.” Rockwell directs Joe Landry's adaptation of the screenplay chronicling an ordinary man's extraordinary impact on the residents of his small town. “It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” features a local children's choir performing during the musical commercial breaks.

Previews begin Friday, Nov. 5, at the Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E Main St., St. Charles. The show opens Saturday, Nov. 13. (630) 443-0438 or noblefool.org.

Relatively speaking

An unassuming, retired British banker gets caught up in a series of international adventures after a long-lost, rather eccentric relative waltzes back into his life in “Travels With My Aunt,” Giles Havergal's adaptation of Graham Greene's 1969 novel. Stuart Carden directs the Writers' Theatre production staged at the company's intimate, second stage at Books on Vernon. Four actors play more than two dozen characters in the comedy.

Previews begin Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 664 Vernon Ave, Glencoe. The show opens Wednesday, Nov. 17. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.

Science onstage

Not-so-mad-scientist Doktor Kaboom delights families with the wonders of science during two shows this weekend at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. David Epley dons the doctor's trademark orange lab coat and protective goggles to headline this interactive show combining science and theater.

1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, at 111 W. Campbell St. Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

Other new and notable

• A rooming house run by the wife and the sister of a missing World War II soldier provides the setting for “The Boarding House,” by Ann Noble, the next production from Citadel Theater, opening Friday, Nov. 5, at 300 S Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. (847) 735-8554 or citadeltheatre.org.

• Three short stories by J.M. Barrie (“Peter Pan”) comprise “Echoes of the War,” a show that chronicles the struggles of three London families during World War I. The latest production from Rendition Theatre opens Friday, Nov. 5, at the Lincoln Park Cultural Center Theater, 2045 N. Lincoln Park West, Chicago. (312) 255-0778 or renditiontheatre.org.

• The State Theatre of Chicago begins its season with an original, multimedia work, “A Crowded House,” which examines the life of writer Virginia Woolf through her novels. The show which incorporates dance, puppetry and other art forms unfolds in nine rooms, each of which showcases a different story. The show runs Fridays and Saturdays, Nov. 5 and 6 and Nov. 12 and 13, at the North Lakeside Cultural Center, 6219 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago. statetheatrechicago.com.

• The Annoyance Theatre remounts “Flames and Blazes,” in which a supposedly “unburnable” hotel catches fire during an exclusive New Year's Eve party. The show opens Friday, Nov. 5, at 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or theannoyance.com.

• Previews begin Friday, Nov. 5, for the Factory Theater's “Jenny & Jenni,” which examines how a pair of BFFs deal with good times and bad. It opens Nov. 12 at Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. (866) 811-4111 or thefactorytheater.com.

• Signal Ensemble Theatre remounts its hit show “Aftermath,” a jukebox musical written and directed by co-artistic director Ronan Marra, about the impact Brian Jones had on The Rolling Stones, the band he created and from which he was subsequently ousted. The show opens Saturday, Nov. 6, at 1802 W. Berenice Ave., Chicago. (773) 347-1350 or signalensemble.com.

• Redmoon Theater's family-friendly “Winter Pageant” begins previews Saturday, Nov. 6, at 1463 W. Hubbard St., Chicago. Written and directed by Seth Bockley, this year's incarnation incorporates puppets and gadgets to celebrate the 1960s and 1970s. The show opens Nov. 11. (312) 850-8440 or redmoon.org.

• Ralph Covert and G. Riley Mills participate in a post-show discussion of their family-friendly musical, “The Hundred Dresses,” at 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at Centre East Theatre, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org.

• The Annoyance Theatre gets into the holiday spirit with “Fa La La La ...,” in which an overwhelmed mom struggles to give her dysfunctional family a happy holiday. The show begins previews Saturday, Nov. 6, and opens Nov. 20, at 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or theannoyance.com.

• New ensemble Chicago Muse begins its inaugural season with the Chicago premiere of “Story of My Life,” a new musical by composer-lyricist Neil Bartram and writer Brian Hill about how the lifelong friendship between two men impacts their lives. Previews begin Sunday, Nov. 7, at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Tuesday, Nov. 9. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.

• Stage Left Theatre hosts a discussion with Northwestern University psychology professor David Shor following its 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, performance of Andrew Hinderaker's “Kingsville” at 3408 N. Sheffield, Chicago. Shor will discuss the representation of masculinity in Hinderaker's play inspired by the shootings at Virginia Tech. (773) 975-8150 or stagelefttheatre.com.

• Hell in a Handbag hosts “Open Your Handbag! The Rip Nelson Hell in a Handbag Celebrity Telethon Benefit” from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 7, at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago. The evening includes an open bar, buffet, entertainment and a live auction. Admission is $50. For tickets, call (800) 838-3006.

• Previews begin Tuesday, Nov. 9, for Dog & Pony Theatre Company's Midwest premiere of “Auctioning the Ainsleys,” Laura Schellhardt's comedy about a dysfunctional family in the auctioneering business whose matriarch refuses to part with her things. Dan Stermer directs the show, which opens Friday, Nov. 12, at the Building Stage, 412 N. Carpenter St., Chicago. (773) 360-7933 or dogandponychicago.org.

• A wealthy woman offers two strangers $20,000 to join her in a dinner commemorating the death of her parents in Jose Rivera's “Brainpeople,” which gets its Midwest premiere courtesy of UrbanTheater company. Previews begin Tuesday, Nov. 9, at Batey Urbano, 2620 W. Division St., Chicago. The show opens Nov. 12. (312) 239-8783.

• Mary-Arrchie Theatre Company presents the Midwest premiere of Canadian playwright Joan MacLeod's “Toronto, Mississippi,” about a young woman with a disability who gets assistance from her mother, her Elvis impersonator father and a boarder. Previews begin Tuesday, Nov. 9, at Angel Island, 735 W. Sheridan Road, Chicago. The show opens Thursday, Nov. 11. (773) 871-0442 or maryarrchie.com.

• A chance encounter between Mary Todd Lincoln and a fugitive slave on Christmas Eve, 1864, underscores Paula Vogel's “A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration.” Henry Gorinez directs Northlight Theatre's production of the holiday musical which stars Tony Award nominee Felicia P. Fields and Marriott Theatre veteran Paula Scrofano. Previews begin Thursday, Nov. 11, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Chicago. The show opens Nov. 20. (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org.

• Griffin Theatre Company commemorates Veterans Day with a performance of its hit touring production, “Letters Home,” which chronicles the experiences of soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq from their correspondences to loved ones. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or stage773.com.

• Court Theatre resident artist Ron OJ Parson directs the company's production of “Home,” Samm-Art Williams' drama about the African American experience set against the racial and social upheaval of the 1960s and 1970s. It debuted in 1981 at the Negro Ensemble Company, where Parson was a member. Previews begin Thursday, Nov. 11, at 5535 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago. The show, starring Kamal Angelo Bolden, Tracey N. Bonner and Ashley Honore, opens Nov. 20. (773) 753-4472 or courttheatre.org.

• About Face Theatre begins its 15th season with the world premiere of “Float,” Patricia Kane's drama about five women dealing with religion, identity and sexuality while building a parade float. 500 Clown co-founder Leslie B. Danzig directs the show which opens Thursday, Nov. 11, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 875-8150 or aboutfacetheatre.com.

• Rebecca Kling uses music, movement and multimedia to examine gender and identity in “Trans Form,” which chronicles her experiences as a transgender woman. Kate McGroarty directs the New Suit Theatre production, which opens Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, Chicago. (800) 982-2787 or newsuittheatre.com.

• Chicago hosts the 30th annual International Conference of Jewish Theatre, from Thursday, Nov. 11, to Sunday, Nov. 14. Panel discussions, workshops and performances will take place at various venues including the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago, which will showcase performances on Sunday, Nov. 14. For information see the Association for Jewish Theatre at afjt.com.

• Oslo's Ensemble Free Theater Norway premieres two one-act plays written by Norwegian women. “Come Closer” and “Anxiety, Panic and Hatred” run Thursday, Nov. 11, through Sunday, Nov. 14, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

• Theatre at the Center celebrates the holidays with “It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” a musical inspired by the film “Miracle on 34th Street” with book, lyrics and music by Meredith Willson. Previews begin Thursday, Nov. 11, at the Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. (219) 836-3255 or theatreatthecenter.com.

• The school-age members of Noble Fool Theatricals Performing Arts Academy collected donations of sleepwear in exchange for admission to a recent performance of “Sleeping Beauty.” The pajamas, socks, slippers and stuffed animals will be distributed by Carol Stream's Humanitarian Service Project to area children in need.

• Silk Road Theatre Project has extended its production of “Scorched,” about siblings who return to their mother's native Lebanon and discover a family they didn't know existed. Performances continue through Nov. 21 at the Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago. (312) 857-1234, ext. 201 or srtp.org.

• Goodman Theatre's terrific revival of Anton Chekov's “The Seagull,” featuring a fresh, contemporary adaptation from director Robert Falls, has been extended. Performances run through Nov. 21 at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org. In conjunction with its production, Goodman hosts a panel discussion on Chekhov from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 8. Admission is free, but reservations are required.