Theater events: Ariel comes ashore at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre

'The Little Mermaid'

Award-winning director/choreographer Rachel Rockwell helms Chicago Shakespeare Theater's stage version of "The Little Mermaid," the musical by composer Alan Menken, lyricists Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater and writer Doug Wright, based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale and the Disney film about a mermaid who longs to join her beloved on land. Previews begin Friday, July 3, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. The show opens July 10. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

Swashbuckler

For its summer production, Theatre-Hikes stages Alexander Dumas' swashbuckler "The Man in the Iron Mask." Adapted by Spenser Davis, this final chapter in Dumas' adventure series centers on the musketeers' efforts to free Philippe, whose brother King Louis XIV has kept him imprisoned and masked to secure his reign. Wesley Whitaker stars as Philippe/Louis. The hike is about 2½ miles. Theatergoers should dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes and insect repellent, and bring a chair or blanket and water. Free previews begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at Horner Park, 2701 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sunday, July 5, at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Morton Arboretum members $10, $5 for children. Nonmembers $20, $10 children. (630) 725-2066 or theatre-hikes.org.

A 'boy's' life

Andrew Spatafora stars as the puppet yearning to be a real boy in "Pinocchio!" a new spin on the fairy tale by Marc Robin (music, lyrics, book) for Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences. Under the watchful eye of the Blue Fairy and with help from his pal Hopper, Pinocchio embarks upon his journey during which he meets a wily duo Fox and Kitty, a scheming schoolboy and an evil puppeteer. Begins previews at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Opens July 11. $17.23 per person. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

Food for the soul

Steppenwolf Theatre concludes its season with "Grand Concourse," a play about faith, friendship and forgiveness centered around a nun who presides over a Bronx soup kitchen. Ensemble member Mariann Mayberry stars in Steppenwolf's Chicago-area premiere directed by fellow ensemble member Yasen Peyankov. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 2, at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Opens July 14. $20-$89. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Other theater events

• Previews begin Friday, June 26, for The Ruckus' world premiere of "Matawan," Dan Caffrey's thriller about "the transformative power of disaster" set in 1916 during a time when a world war, a polio outbreak and shark attacks loom. Allison Shoemaker directs the production, which begins previews Friday, June 26, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. The play opens Sunday, June 28. (773) 935-6875 or athenaeumtheatre.org or ruckustheater.org.

• The Neo-Futurists present "30 Queer Plays in 60 Straight Minutes," a special installment of its weekly show "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind" at 11:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 26-27, and 7 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. Proceeds benefit The Night Ministry, an LGBTQ organization that assists the homeless and impoverished. (773) 275-5255 or neofuturists.org.

• A single mother, struggling to keep her head above water in her impoverished South Boston neighborhood seeks help from her high school boyfriend, now a successful doctor in the city's tony Chestnut Hill neighborhood in David Lindsay-Abaire's "Good People." Redtwist theatre's revival of the 2011 drama is in previews at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago. The show, directed by Joseph Jefferson Award winner Matt Hawkins, opens Saturday, June 27. (773) 728-7529 or redtwist.org.

• The inaugural season of The Other Theatre Company continues with a revival of Martin Sherman's World War II centered drama "Bent" about two gay men imprisoned in the Dachau concentration camp who discover love and uncover their essential selves. Keira Fromm directs Nik Kourtis and Alex Weisman, who star as prisoners Max and Horst. Previews begin Saturday, June 27, at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway St., Chicago. The play opens July 1. See theothertheatre company.com.

• Black Ensemble Theater associate director Daryl D. Brooks wrote and directed "Men of Soul," an original revue saluting some of the all-time great soul singers, including Luther Vandross, Billy Ocean, Joe Cocker and 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Withers. Previews begin Saturday, June 27, at 4450 N. Clark St., Chicago. The revue opens July 12. (773) 769-4451 or blackensemble.org.

• Signal Ensemble Theatre hosts a Casino Night fundraiser beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at 1802 W. Berenice Ave., Chicago. The $100 VIP ticket includes a cocktail reception from 7 to 8 p.m., gambling from 8 to 11 p.m., music, unlimited refreshments and $50 in chips. The $50 regular admission includes gambling, music, unlimited refreshments and $25 in chips. Purchase tickets at signalensemble.com.

• Comedian Rachel McCartney, the band Mr. Ma'am, storyteller Mar Curran, artist Len K. DeWilde, drag performers Lucy and Fox E. Kim and media scholar Devin Magee join host Cody Melcher for a discussion on the topic "queer" on Sunday, June 28, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or stage773.com.

• Cock and Bull Theatre presents its original, adults-only production "Voyage" about the desire to be healed and the lengths people will go to be cured. Previews begin Thursday, July 1, at The Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. See cockandbulltheatre.org.

• "Imaginary Friends With Benefits," an adult sketch comedy by the ensemble Huggable Riot, runs at 10 p.m. Wednesdays through July 15 at the Annoyance Theatre & Bar, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• Lookingglass Theatre Company has extended its world premiere of "Moby Dick," adapted from Herman Melville's novel by ensemble member David Catlin, who also directs. Performances continue through Aug. 28 at Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.

• Marriott and Drury Lane Theatre veteran Abby Mueller takes over the role of Carole King in the first national tour of "Beautiful - The Carole King Musical" for which Mueller's sister Jessie Mueller won the 2014 Tony Award. The touring production plays the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago, from Dec. 1 through Feb. 21, 2016. See broadwayinchicago.com.

• Barrel of Monkeys has named Corinne Neal, former managing director of About Face Theatre Company and Collaboraction, as its new executive director. "We are excited about Corinne's impressive record of arts management in the Chicago theater community and we know she's the right person to help us continue Barrel of Monkeys' long track record of superb executive directors," said board president Jennifer Bowser in a prepared statement.

• Adventure Stage Chicago recently welcomed four new members to its artistic ensemble. They are: actress/teacher Sindy Castro, education associate at Northlight Theatre in Skokie; Stephanie Chavara, a director/teacher who has worked with Writers Theatre and 2nd Story where she is an ensemble member; actor/storyteller/teacher Andrew Marikis, host of the monthly Story Club South Side and teaching artist Anne McNamee-Keels.

• Cold Basement Dramatics will stage a couple of premieres during its 2015-2016 season, which begins Dec. 3, with the Chicago-area premiere of Itamar Moses' "Outrage" about a graduate student caught in the middle when an American university receives a questionable donation. The performance takes place at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. The company's fifth season continues in spring 2016 with the world premiere of Liz Baron's "Goblin" (dates to be determined) about four American aid workers who decide to build a perfect society after returning from disaster-ravaged Mali. Lastly the company hosts "Secret Stash," its annual festival of 10-minute plays, in September. Dates to be determined. For information, see coldbasement.org.