Theater events: Writers' Theatre revives 'Hamlet'

Tragedy of ‘Hamlet'

Writers' Theatre artistic director Michael Halberstam teams up with his longtime friend Scott Parkinson (Chicago Shakespeare Theater) for “Hamlet,” which inaugurates Writers' 21st season. Parkinson plays the grieving prince who desires to avenge his father's death, but is unable to do so. The production also features Shannon Cochran (“A Little Night Music”) and her husband, Michael Canavan (“The Lion in Winter”), as Gertrude and Claudius.

Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The show opens Saturday, Sept. 15. $35-$70. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.

Ask Ann

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble associate artistic director Amelia Barrett stars in “The Lady With All the Answers,” David Rambo's one-woman show about the personal and professional life of famed advice columnist Ann Landers. BTE artistic director Connie Canady Howard directs.

The preview is at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6. The show opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7, at Building K-Theatre (on the west end of the campus), College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $25-$33. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org.

Roller musical

Gina Milo, impressive as the Lady of the Lake in Drury Lane Theatre's “Spamalot,” returns to the Oakbrook Terrace theater to star as Kira, the muse who descends from Mt. Olympus to inspire a struggling young musician named Sonny (Chris Critelli) in “Xanadu,” the roller-skating musical inspired by the 1980 film starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly. Jeff Award winners Rachel Rockwell (director-choreographer) and Roberta Duchak (music director) reunite for this production.

Previews begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. The show opens on Thursday, Sept. 13. $35-$46. (630) 745-3000 or drurylaneoakbrook.com.