Theater events: 'Handicap This!' comes to Stage 773

Posted January 16, 2015 5:00 am

• Step Up Productions presents “Handicap This!” an examination of the friendship between a man with a disability and his aide, written and performed by Mike Berkson, who was born with cerebral palsy, and Tim Wambach, and inspired by Molly Mulcrone's original script. Denis Berkson directs the limited run, which begins Wednesday, Jan. 21, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Part of the ticket proceeds benefit the Keep on Keeping On Foundation, which assists people living with severe physical disabilities. (773) 327-5252 or stepupproductions.org or stage773.com.

• ‘West Side Story': Drury Lane Theatre begins the new year with an old favorite, “West Side Story,” the seminal musical retelling of the Romeo and Juliet tragedy by Leonard Bernstein, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Arthur Laurents. Rachel Rockwell directs this long-overdue revival, which counts music director Roberta Duchak and choreographer Rhett Gutter among its artistic team members. Christina Nieves stars as Maria opposite Jim DeSelm's Tony. Previews continue at various times through Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. The show opens at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22. $45-$60. (630) 530-0111 or drurylane.com.

• Cat and mouse game: Four actors play 17 roles in Fox Valley Repertory's production of the musical thriller “No Way to Treat a Lady,” adapted from the 1964 novel by William Goldman (“The Princess Bride,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”), with music, lyrics and book by Douglas J. Cohen. Previews continue at various times through Jan. 23 at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. The show opens 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24. $32-$42. (630) 584-6342 or foxvalleyrep.org.

• Neveu premiere: Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the U.S. premiere of “Red Bud” by Brett Neveu (“Eric Larue,” “The Opponent,” “The Earl”), The play centers on a group of forty-somethings attending an annual motocross race whose friendship is tested by the presence of the 18-year-old girlfriend of one of their members. The cast includes ensemble members Joe McCauley, Colby Sellers, Joseph Stearns and Bries Vannon. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at 1802 W. Berenice Ave., Chicago. The show opens Jan. 24. $12-$23. (773) 698-7389 or signalensemble.com.

• The life of Brownie Wise, the woman responsible for introducing the party method of selling Tupperware, inspired the new musical “Plastic Revolution” by lyricist Andrew Hobgood and composer Julie Nichols with book by Hobgood and Will Cavedo. The New Colony stages the world premiere under director Evan Linder at its new home at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Previews begin Friday, Jan. 16. The show opens Jan. 20. See thenewcolony.org.

• The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events resumes its Juicebox Series of family-friendly music, dance and theater performances on Friday, Jan. 16, with a free 11 a.m. performance by Keith Baumann and the Hard Times Bluegrass Band at the Chicago Cultural Center's Preston Bradley Hall, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago. The interactive performance includes spoken word. (312) 744-3316 or chicagoculturalcenter.org.

• DCASE kicks off the second year of OnEdge, a free showcase of experimental theater and dance at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16-17, at the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St., Chicago. The first performance titled “Urban Renewal” features Kyle de Camp depicting his experiences growing up in Hyde Park during the 1960s. That's followed at 9:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19 and 26, by Salonathon, at Beauty Bar, 1444 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Salonathon features works in progress by emerging artists. See cityofhicago.org/dcase for more information.

• Germany's theataurantaene premieres its one-man show, the adults-only “Teen Spirit,” starring Michael Bay as Alex, a loner college student and sex maniac. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 16-17, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

• Pride Films and Plays premieres “The Book of Mermen,” a new musical parody by Leo Schwartz (“Under a Rainbow Flag”) about Mormon missionaries who ring a doorbell in a small town that is opened by a woman named Ethel. David Zak directs the premiere. Previews continue through Saturday, Jan. 16, at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago. The show opens Sunday, Jan. 17. (773) 250-3112 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

• Performances begin Saturday, Jan. 17, for Chicago Shakespeare Theater's “Short Shakespeare! Macbeth,” a 75-minute, abridged adaptation of Shakespeare's tragedy about an ambitious couple who murder their way to the pinnacle of power. Performances continue through Feb. 14 at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

• Steppenwolf Theatre hosts a free, New Orleans-themed event at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, between the matinee and evening performances of its Broadway-bound “Airline Highway” by Lisa D'Amour. New Orleans poet Danny Kerwick, inspiration for the character Francis, kicks off the event featuring Chicago performance poets, music by Four Star Brass Band, a New Orleans-style ensemble and New Orleans cuisine courtesy of Blue Door Farm Stand. Admission is free, but reservations are required. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• Continuum Theater's Chicago Jewish Play Reading Festival begins at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at Temple Chai, 1670 Checker Road, Long Grove, with Renee Calarco's “G-d's Honest Truth” about a Jewish Indiana Jones. Performances continue through April 26 at area synagogues and theaters. See continuumtheater.org for more information.

• Writers Theatre stages its ninth annual free production of Yolanda Androzzo's “The MLK Project: The Fight for Civil Rights” at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago. Androzzo's one-woman show combines poetry, hip-hop and a history lesson to examine a student who's transformed after studying the Civil Rights movement. Caren Blackmore stars. The show plays The Chicago Children's Theatre, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, from Jan. 24 to Feb. 6. See writerstheatre.org.

• The African American Arts Alliance of Chicago presents “Justice is Ours” as part of its fourth annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration incorporating dance, music and poetry and taking place at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at the Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St., Chicago. See aaaachicago.org.

• “STOMP,” the percussive dance show, returns to The Bank of America Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., Chicago, for a limited run. Performances run from Tuesday, Jan. 20, to Jan. 25. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• Previews begin Thursday, Jan. 22, for 16th Street Theater's world premiere of “The Art of Disappearing.” Stephanie Alison Walker's drama centers on a daughter who receives a brunch invitation from her estranged mother and returns home to discover some uncomfortable truths about her family. Director Ann Filmer's production opens Jan. 29 at the North Berwyn Park District, 6420 16th St., Berwyn. (708) 795-6704 or 16thstreettheater.org.

• “Churchill,” Ronald Keaton's biodrama about the British statesman — based in part on Dr. James C. Humes' teleplay, which played at First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook last year — begins previews off-Broadway on Feb. 6. The one-man play, which unfolds in 1946 after Winston Churchill was defeated for re-election as Prime Minister, opens Feb. 18 at New World Stages, 240 W. 50th St., New York. See churchilltheplay.com.

• The Second City will audition actors of color for admission to the 2015 Bob Curry Fellowship. Named for the first African-American improviser to perform on the main stage, the fellowship is for an eight-week program beginning March 31 and offering training in sketch comedy writing, improv and acting. Headshots and resumes are due by Saturday, Jan. 17. Email them to outreach@secondcity.com.

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