Theater events: Jersey Boy joins 'Company'

WSR welcomes 'Company'

Former Chicago and Las Vegas “Jersey Boys” cast member John Michael Coppola stars as Bobby, the thirty-something singleton whose friends want to pair him off in the Williams Street Repertory revival of the Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical “Company.” Executive director Richard Kuranda makes his directorial debut.

Opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $30. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

Timely 'columbinus'

American Theater Company presents the world premiere of the revised “columbinus,” a riveting examination of teenagers through the prism of the deadly 1999 Columbine High School shootings. Conceived and directed by artistic director PJ Paparelli, this piece of docu-theater was written by Paparelli and Stephen Karam, who drew upon survivor accounts, journal entries and emails for their original play, which they've updated from information Paparelli collected recently when he returned to Littleton, Colo., for follow-up interviews with survivors and victims' family members.

Previews begin Friday, Feb. 1, at 1909 W. Byron St., Chicago. The show opens Feb. 6. $33-$43. (773) 409-4125 or atcweb.org.

'Frindle' for families

Griffin Theatre brings to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre its popular adaptation of Andrew Clements' children's book “Frindle,” about a precocious young boy named Nick who invents a new word which everyone adopts. Metropolis presents the play as part of its family-friendly Stories in Action series.

Performances begin Monday, Feb. 4, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $14, $12. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

What's new

Ÿ Highland Park's The Music Theatre Company presents “The Baker's Wife,” the final in its musicals in concert series beginning Friday, Feb. 1, at 1850 Green Bay Road. Dominic Missimi directs a concert version of the Stephen Schwartz-Joseph Stein musical about a middle-aged baker's young wife who runs away with a handyman, leaving her husband so devastated he can no longer bake. (847) 579-4900 or themusictheatrecompany.org.

Ÿ Friday, Feb. 1, marks the return of pH Comedy Theater's adults only sketch comedy series The Assemblers, about the kinds of insecurities and idiosyncrasies that cause a person to become a super hero. The show runs at 9:30 p.m. Friday through March 8 at 1515 W. Berwyn, Chicago. See whatisph.com for more information.

Ÿ The adults-only burlesque comedy show Kiss Kiss Cabaret celebrates its second anniversary and its 100th show at 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. This updated, open-run vaudeville show features magic, music, standup comedy, juggling, dance and burlesque. (773) 404-7336 or kisskisscabaret.com.

Ÿ Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, hosts the adults-only, Dr. Who-inspired burlesque “The Empire Brings Sexy Back” on Fridays beginning Feb. 1. Opening Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Chicago theater is the return of the adults-only “Boobs and Goombas: A Super Mario Burlesque” performing at 11:59 p.m. Saturdays. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

Ÿ The Goodman Theatre-commissioned “Teddy Ferrara,” by Christopher Shinn, begins previews Saturday, Feb. 2, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Evan Cabnet directs the play about Gabe, a gay young man in his senior year in college whose life is upended by a tragedy. Liam Benzvi stars as Gabe in the play. The show opens Feb. 11. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

Ÿ Porchlight Music Theatre celebrates Black History Month with Lanie Robertson's “Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill,” which chronicles one of Billie Holiday's final performances at a seedy Philadelphia bar. Besides singing her hits, Holiday (played by Alexis Rogers who stared as Sarah in the company's production of “Ragtime”) reveals to the audience her life as a performer, civil rights leader and woman. Previews begin Saturday, Feb. 2, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens Feb. 5. Rob Lindley directs. (773) 327-5252 or stage773.com or porchlightmusictheatre.org.

Ÿ Barrel of Monekys introduces a 2 p.m. Sunday matinee of “That's Weird, Grandma” — its long-running stage adaptation of stories written by Chicago schoolchildren — beginning Sunday, Feb. 3, at the Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. Sunday performances continue through May 5. (No show March 3.) Regular Monday night performances begin at 8 p.m. March 11. (312) 409-1954 or barrelofmonkeys.org.

Ÿ Cock and Bull Collection presents a free performance of the company's work in progress “Voolf” as part of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events series In the Works showcasing new plays. With Papa away at war, Peter, Grandmere and Red Riding Hood confront fear, love and lust in this fairy-tale-inspired play. The performance is at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, at the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St., Chicago. See cockandbulltheatre.com for tickets.

Ÿ British director Jonathan Munby makes his Chicago debut in Chicago Shakespeare Theater's contemporary retelling of William Shakespeare's “Julius Caesar,” beginning previews on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Acclaimed Remy Bumppo Theatre ensemble member David Darlow plays the titular role in the drama about power. Stratford Festival favorite Dion Johnstone plays Marc Antony and British actor John Light plays Brutus in the CST production featuring veterans David Lively, Barbara E. Robertson and Larry Yando. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

Ÿ Griffin Theatre hosts a combination benefit and behind-the-scenes look at its current production, a World War II centered drama titled “Flare Path,” from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at 3711 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago. Director Robin Witt, her cast and the creative team will discuss Terence Rattigan's drama over food and beverages. $20 admission. (773) 769-2228, ext. 1 or griffintheatre.com.

Ÿ Previews begin Thursday, Feb. 7, for Theater Wit's Chicago-area premiere of Itamar Moses' new romantic comedy, “Completeness.” Artistic director Jeremy Wechsler stages Moses' romantic comedy about computer science graduate student Elliot (Matt Holzfeind) and molecular biologist Molly (Kristina Valada-Viads) who agree to collaborate on an experiment and wind up falling in love. The show opens Feb. 19 at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

Ÿ Chicago Mammals extended its run of Samuel Beckett's “Waiting for Godot.” Performances continue through Feb. 9 at Zoo Studios, 4001 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago. (866) 593-4614 or chicagomammals.com.

Ÿ Broadway in Chicago has extended the run of “I Love Lucy Live On Stage.” Performances continue through March 17 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

Ÿ Pride Films & Plays is accepting entries for its 2013 Women's Work Contest. Submission of plays and screenplays featuring lesbian characters, history and/or themes will be accepted through April 1. Winning writers receive $400 for full-length scripts and $100 for shorts. The entry fee is $25 through Feb. 28, $30 after that date. For more information, see pridefilmsandplays.com.