Theater events: Aurora U. brings 'Brigadoon' to life

‘Brigadoon' in town

The professional ensemble Music by the Lake, in residence at Aurora University, presents “Brigadoon” — the Lerner and Loewe musical about a disaffected New Yorker who finds romance with a Scottish lass whose town reappears once every 100 years. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30, and 4 p.m. Sunday, July 31, at the Ferro Pavilion at George Williams College at Aurora University, 350 Constance Blvd., Aurora. (866) 843-5200 or musicbythelake.com.

In rep in Elgin

Janus Theatre debuts its summer repertory series featuring a pair of classic comedies. Running in repertory through Aug. 28 is “The Importance of Being Earnest,” Oscar Wilde's comedy about likable rogues pretending to be someone they're not, and Shakespeare's “Twelfth Night,” about a shipwrecked girl who — while masquerading as a boy named Cesario — falls in love with the duke, who is in love with Lady Olivia, who has fallen for the young Cesario. Performances of “The Importance of Being Earnest” begin Thursday, Aug. 4, at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., Elgin. Performances of “Twelfth Night” begin on Thursday, Aug. 11. (847) 841-1713 or janustheatre.wordpress.com.

Dot comedy

The Second City examines romance via texting, tweeting and tagging in its show “Sex & the Second City: A Romantic Dot Comedy” about a couple who meet on a fictional dating site. Second City alum Fred Willard appears via video in this adults-only Metropolis production. Previews begin Thursday, Aug. 4, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Opens Aug. 6. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

Last days of ‘Bug'

Redtwist theatre announced final performances of its boffo revival of Tracy Letts' unsettling psychological drama, “Bug.” Final performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, and Saturday, Aug. 6; 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago. (773) 728-7529 or redtwist.org.

Hail and farewell

Infamous Commonwealth Theatre, which earned kudos for its productions of “The Kentucky Cycle” and “The Grapes of Wrath,” announced that it would cease operations after nine years. “I've no doubt that you'll be seeing us around town ...” wrote founder Genevieve Thompson. “Maybe a few years down the road, as our lives and priorities continue to shift, we will find the means to reorganize and put ourselves back into this rich community of artists.” We can hope.

Other theater events:

• The son of a longtime jazz musician reflects on the impact his father's passion for music had on his family in “Side Man.” Ka-Tet Theatre Company revives the Warren Leight drama which previews on Friday, July 29, at City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. The show opens Saturday, July 30. (800) 838-3006 or katettheatre.org.

• Walkabout Theatre and the Wicker Park/Bucktown SSA No. 33 Art Committee team up for “Out of Site” — public performances showcasing musicians, artists and performance artists — beginning Friday, July 29, and continuing from 5 to 7 p.m. Fridays through Oct. 14 at various locations throughout Chicago. See outofsitechicago.com for a schedule. In other Walkabout news, Carron Little — who has performed in site-specific productions in London over the last 10 years and has organized solo and group performances throughout Chicago — has taken over as artistic director of the ensemble whose current site-specific production is titled “Within.” The show consists of three one-act plays examining the self, all of which take place at Rooms Performance Space, 1835 S. Halsted St., Chicago. (773) 609-2550 or walkabouttheater.org.

• Fresh from their performance at the 2011 Hollywood Fringe Festival, the Los Angeles ensemble Four Clowns brings its national tour to the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago, on Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30. The group also performs at the Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, on Sunday, July 31. The show incorporates physical theater, music, comedy and pathos. (562) 508-1788 or fourclowns.org.

• Teatro Vista hosts a 21st birthday fiesta from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., Chicago. The benefit includes a preview of the upcoming 2011-2012 season, music, dancing, food and beverages. Tickets are $30 for the party only; $65 for the party plus two tickets to any Teatro Vista production; or $100 for the party and four tickets to any Teatro Vista production. (312) 666-4659 or teatrovista.org.

• Performances of The Mammals Theatre Company's latest production — described as a pop art fairy tale — begin at 10 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at Zoo Studio, 4001 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago. “Put My _ In Your _ aka Your 15 Minutes of Finger” is about the conflict — initiated by a “Warhol-like provocateur” — that unfolds between a sister, determined to live life fully and her sibling who wants to shelter everyone she loves following the death of their mother. (866) 593-4614 or chicagomammals.com.

• Bailiwick Chicago and Teatro Luna host Fiesta Sin Fronteras! (Party Without Borders) from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at The Den Theatre, 1333 W. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The party, featuring U.S., Latin American and Canadian musicians, will raise money for “The North/South Plays,” an upcoming collaboration between the two theater companies. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. $50 VIP tickets include two free passes to the workshop world premiere of the “The North/South Plays” on Aug. 29 at the Studio Theater, 77 E. Randolph St., Chicago.

• Theatre Y hosts an all-day theater event on Saturday, July 30, at the Lacuna Lofts, 2150 S. Canalport, Chicago. It consists of three full-length plays and allows audiences to witness every phase of the production from makeup and costume, to the adaptation of the venue and alteration of light and sound. The daylong event begins at 1 p.m. with a performance of “Exiles,” about an exile writer who returns home to Ireland; followed by “Vincent River,” about a mother dealing with the death of her gay son, at 4 p.m.; and “The Misunderstanding,” Albert Camus' tale about mother-daughter hoteliers who fail to recognize their son/brother when he returns home, at 7:30 p.m. The $50 admission for all three plays includes food and drink between the shows. Individual play tickets are $20. (218) 329-1234 or theatre-y.com.

• First Rate Third Rate Productions filters an apocalyptic drama through a Charles Heston sensibility in “The Omega Men. A Hestonian Opera,” running Tuesday, Aug. 2, and Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. 9773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

• The Chicago Park District's annual Theater on the Lake, showcasing some of the best productions of 2010-11, concludes next week at Fullerton Parkway and Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's remounts its acclaimed production of “Sweet and Hot: The Songs of Harold Arlen” a two-hour showcase of standards including “Over the Rainbow,” “Stormy Weather” and “Get Happy” among others. The production runs Wednesday, Aug. 3, to Aug. 7. (312) 742-4786 or chicagoparkdistrict.com.

• The Neo-Futurists' 10th annual staging of the worst-ever films continues Thursdays at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. “It Came From the Neo-Futurarium X: Battle for the Neo-Futurarium” features 1953's “The Flaming Urge,” about a newcomer to a small town who has an irresistible attraction to watching fires. The performance is at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4. (773) 275-5255 or neofuturists.org.

• About Face Theatre's world premiere of “The Homosexuals,” Philip Dawkins' comedy about a young, gay newcomer who finds a community when he arrives in the big city, has been extended. Performances continue through Aug. 14 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or aboutfacetheatre.com.

• National Pastime Theater has announced extensions for two of its productions produced as part of its Naked July: Art Stripped Down festival taking place at 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. “Salome” by Oscar Wilde and “The Living Canvas: Rain” have been extended through Aug. 20. The final performance of Michael Sokoloff's “Where's Tricky” is at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 31. Eve Ensler's “The Vagina Monologues” runs at 8 p.m. Aug. 4 and 6 p.m. Aug. 7. (773) 327-7077 or nakedjuly.com.

• Petterino's weekly open mic cabaret has resumed at the theater district dining spot located at 150 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. “Monday Night Live” begins at 7:30 p.m. Mondays and features performances by Chicago area musical theater performers and members of the Broadway in Chicago touring companies. See petterinos.com.

• The Neo-Futurists named Dan McArdle as the company's new managing director. Former finance manager for Lookingglass Theatre, McArdle received his MFA from DePaul University and served as a fellow with the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. He is a company member with Theatre Seven of Chicago.

• Redmoon Theatre debuts its latest contraption throughout the summer at events in Chicago neighborhoods. Housed within a Mazda chassis, the Celebration Vehicle contains a DJ station, fire organ, gramophone and an opera singer. The fire organ shoots flames 20 feet in the air through valve pipes to accompany the performances of the DJ and singer. For a list of Celebration Vehicle appearances, see redmoon.org.