Theater events: The Sweat Girls turn 21

Koy at the Improv

Comedian Jo Koy, a frequent panelist on “Chelsea Lately,” which ended its seven-year run on E! last month, headlines the Chicago Improv in Schaumburg. Ko, who has two Comedy Central specials and several “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” appearances to his credit, is also a regular at Improv clubs around the country.

8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at 5 Woodfield Road, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg. $33-$66, plus a two-item food or beverage minimum. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com.

A monster's tale

A gravedigger working in a Bavarian cemetery finds a man hiding in a freshly dug grave in “The Gravedigger,” a new gothic drama by First Folio Theatre artistic associate Joseph Zettelmaier (“Salvage”). Artistic director Alison C. Vesely directs the world premiere, inspired by Mary Shelley's “Frankenstein” and starring Chicago area favorite Craig Spidle.

Previews begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. The show opens Oct. 4. $22-$39. (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org.

Sweat girls at 21

The Sweat Girls, an accomplished performance ensemble made up of Chicago-area actresses, writers and directors, celebrates its 21st anniversary with a new show, “The Sweat Girls are ... 21 and Finally Legal!” Writer/performers Caroline Andres, of Glen Ellyn; Cindy Hanson, Lifeline Theatre artistic director Dorothy Milne, Clare Nolan, Martie Sanders and Arlington Heights native Pamela Webster examine aging and other topics in the show, which runs through Oct. 12.

Opens 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at Heartland Studio, 7016 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. $20. (630) 414-3939 or sweatgirls.org.

What's new

• Previews begin Friday, Sept. 26, for Profiles Theatre's 20th anniversary production of David Mamet's “The Cryptogram,” about the breakdown of a family that occurs while a mother and her son — along with a family friend — await the arrival of the woman's absent husband. Artistic director Joe Jahraus directs the revival, which opens Oct. 2, at 4147 N. Broadway St., Chicago. (773) 549-1815 or profilestheatre.org.

• Neo-Futurist Noelle Krim remounts her ambulatory, multidisciplinary 2004 play “Alice,” inspired by Lewis Carroll's tales beginning at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27, in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. Performances begin at the Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. Among the participating venues are: Simon's Tavern, The Swedish American Museum, Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities. (773) 817-3056 or neofuturists.org.

• Theatre-Hikes incorporates several well-known Chicago ghost stories in its latest ambulatory production “Resurrected.” A progressive-style play in which audience members walk from scene to scene, “Resurrected” takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, and Sunday, Sept. 28, at Ravenswood Manor Park, 4626 N. Manor Ave., Chicago. (872) 202-4963 or theatre-hikes.org.

• Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St., Chicago, remounts “At Last: A Tribute to Etta James,” written and directed by BET founder Jackie Taylor. Previews begin Saturday, Sept. 27. The show, which features 15 hits from the versatile singer, opens Oct. 5. (773) 769-4451 or blackensemble.org.

• Raven Theatre opens its 31st season with a benefit performance of Arthur Miller's “All My Sons” on Sunday, Sept. 28, at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. Raise the Curtain! begins at 1:45 p.m. with a preshow reception featuring 1940s cocktails, hors d'oeuvres and musical selections from Theo Ubique's “A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters.” The performance follows. Tickets are $60. In other Raven Theatre news, co-artistic directors Michael Menendian and JoAnn Montemurro announced that ensemble member Cody Estle has been named an associate artistic director. Estle, who has directed five productions in the last three years — including “Dating Walter Dante” and “Good Boys and True” — will direct Horton Foote's “Dividing the Estate” in January. (773) 338-2177 or raventheatre.com.

• The Artistic Home begins its 14th season with Lillian Hellman's 1941 play, “Watch on the Rhine.” In 1940, Sarah, an American woman, and Kurt, her German husband who has been part of the anti-fascist resistance in Germany, visit Sarah's family outside Washington, D.C. After learning Kurt's friend has been arrested by German authorities, Kurt resolves to return home to help him. But another guest stands in his way in this drama about the impact of international intrigue on a family. Cody Estle directs. Previews begin Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 1376 W. Grand Ave., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 5. (866) 811-4111 or theartistichome.org.

• Former Remy Bumppo Theatre artistic director James Bohnen returns to the company he founded to direct “Both Your Houses,” Maxwell Anderson's 1933 political satire about “a straight-laced young Congressman's plan to save Congress from itself.” Previews begin Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 6. Additionally, Remy Bumppo is partnering with the Mikva Challenge, which helps young people become better informed citizens and develop leadership skills. The theater will offer complimentary tickets to the first three previews for the first 25 people who make a donation to the charity. Tickets will be available at the Greenhouse Theater Center box office beginning at 6:30 p.m. (773) 404-7336 or remybemppo.org.

• Trap Door Theatre hosts a performance of “Egg(s) hell,” a nonverbal theater piece conceived and directed by guest artist Zoltan Balazs, from Budapest, Hungary, and featuring performers from Maladype Theatre. The performance is at 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1655 W. Cortland St., Chicago. (773) 384-0494 or trapdoortheatre.com.

• Marion, an ambitious London realtor, does whatever she can to dislodge a couple of tenants from a property she acquired, until she discovers the man is a former lover, in Caryl Churchill's 1972 comedy “Owners.” Interrobang Theatre Project launches its 2014-2015 season with a revival directed by co-artistic director Jeffry Stanton. Previews Begin Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 4. (773) 935-6875 or interrobangtheatreproject.org.

• Previews begin Thursday, Oct. 2, for Bailiwick Chicago Theatre's revival of “The Wild Party,” the musical by Michael John LaChiusa (music and lyrics) inspired by Joseph Moncure March's poem about the guests at a 1920s Manhattan soiree, including a chorus girl named Queenie, her lover Burrs and the heartthrob who catches Queenie's eye. Lincolnshire native Brenda Didier directs the show, which opens Oct. 5 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org or bailiwickchicago.com.

• 500 Clown teams with the Smart Museum of Art to present “The Art of Experience: The Smart Museum.” Devised by Adrian Danzig and Rebecca Stevens, the museum's interpreters in residence, “The Art of Experience” encourages visitors to interact with the art around them in unusual ways, such as writing a letter to an artist whose work annoys or angers them. The members of 500 Clown will be on hand from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, for a live performance. The Smart Museum is located on the University of Chicago campus at 5550 S. Greenwood Ave., Chicago. (773) 702-0200 or smartmuseum.uchicago.edu.

• With the arrival of “Evil Dead The Musical,” Broadway in Chicago established a new ticketing program titled Tix4Students. It allows college student members to purchase student tickets to performances online in advance. For information on membership, see tixfstudents.com.

• Fire fighters, police officers, teachers and military personnel save 30 percent on tickets to Emerald City Theatre productions for children and families through Nov. 1. The discount is available through phone orders only when accompanied by the discount code “heroes.” (773) 935-6100 or emeraldcitytheatre.com.

• The American Theatre Wing, the organization that created and bestows the Tony Awards, recently awarded grants to The House Theatre of Chicago and Theater Wit. The Chicago companies are among 12 nationwide to receive the award, which recognizes excellence in emerging ensembles that demonstrate the quality and diversity of American theater.

• Theater artist Robert Schleifer and visual artist Riva Lehrer were named the first recipients of 3Arts fellowships at the University of Illinois, Chicago. The fellowships support the creation of new works by local artists with disabilities who are devoted to raising awareness of disability culture. The artists will have access to UIC resources, opportunities to engage with students and faculty members and the opportunity to participate in workshops and public forums.

• Steppenwolf Theatre Company announced the three Chicago storefront theaters selected to participate in Garage Rep 2015. Cold Basement Dramatics, Pride Films and Plays and Red Tape Theatre will present three productions in rotating repertory beginning in February at the Garage Theatre, 1624 N. Halsted St., Chicago.

• Second City veterans Michael Girts, T.J. Shanoff and Mike Descoteaux bring their improvised show “Blank! The Musical” to New World Stages in New York City, beginning Nov. 1. The trio will partner with Upright Citizens Brigade and ImprovBoston in the new venture.