Theater events: First Folio takes on Shakespeare's 'Winter's Tale'

Shakespeare outdoors

First Folio Theatre chills out with William Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale" about a king who, in a fit of envy, accuses his pregnant wife of infidelity and imprisons her. He orders the child abandoned, but the baby is rescued by a shepherd who raises the girl as his own in this fanciful tale of love, jealousy and redemption. Alison C. Vesely directs. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. The show opens at 8:15 p.m. July 11. $22-$39. (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org.

Double bill

The Chicago Improv hosts a pre-Independence Day show featuring the double bill of Jim Flannigan and up-and-comer and Chicago native Brian Aldridge. Flannigan performs at 8 p.m. and Aldridge performs at 10:15 p.m. Friday, July 3, at the Chicago Improv in Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $15 plus a two-item food or drink minimum per show. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com.

Backstage comedy

Fading Broadway stars George and Charlotte Hay are doing repertory theater in upstate New York during the 1950s when they get a call from Frank Capra saying he's considering them for his new film in "Moon Over Buffalo" by Ken Ludwig. Andrew Pond of Libertyville and Lisa Savegnago star in the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre revival directed by David Belew. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. The show opens July 16. $30, $38. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

Other theater events

• "My Two Sons," a collaborative ensemble piece about two boys navigating high school, previews Friday, July 3, at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens July 17 and runs Fridays through Aug. 21. Returning this week to The Annoyance, "Olio!" is a combination scripted and improv show that begins with several unrelated, five-minute plays whose characters return in the second act to interact in an improvised world. It runs Tuesdays through July 29. Lastly, "Two Dead Women," an experimental play set in 1893 about two cousins murdered by the nation's first serial killer Herman Webster Mudgett (also known as H.H. Holmes), opens Thursday, July 9. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• Genesis Theatrical Productions presents the world premiere of "Jihad," a drama by Stephanie Lis examining the impact of terrorism on Israeli families and communities. Elayne LeTraunik directs the play, which opens Sunday, July 5, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150, theaterwit.org or genesistheatricals.com.

• American Demigods, as part of the second annual Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, premiered "Fanatical: A Science Fiction Convention Musical" by composer/lyricist Matt Board and writer Reina Hardy. It centers around a cult favorite sci-fi TV show whose creator is invited to give a keynote address at the fan convention. Performances take place July 5, 11, 15 and 19 at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. americandemigods.com or cmtf.org.

• Underscore Theatre Company, which is hosting its second annual Chicago Musical Theatre Festival this month, premieres "Slide (part one)," a one-act about a family's attempts to fight injustice in its community. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Tantalus Theatre Group play on which the musical is based. Kalena Victoria Chevalier wrote the book and Steve Clark and Edward Plough wrote the music and lyrics. The show opens Sunday, July 5, at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. See cmtf.org.

• Previews begin Thursday, July 9, for The Side Project Theatre Company's world premiere of "Whatever," an examination of adolescence by Robert Tenges that centers on two suburban teenagers - one facing an abortion and another struggling with his medication - as they navigate love, anger and adults. The show opens July 12 at 1439 W. Jarvis St., Chicago. (773) 340-0140 or thesideproject.net.

• Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, premieres Robert Eric Shoemaker's new adaptation of "The War of the Worlds," Orson Welles' and the Mercury Theatre's 1938 Halloween broadcast of an alien invasion. Performances begin Thursday, July 9. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

• The new musical "Join the Club!" - about an up-and-coming lawyer who must do community service at a women's shelter to make partner - begins previews Thursday, July 9, at the Skokie Theater, 7824 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. Lauren Taslitz and Leigh Anna Reichenbach wrote the book and lyrics and Will Buck, Becky Menzie, Mike O'Mara, Reichenbach and Jonathan Wagner composed the music. The show opens July 11. (847) 677-7761 or skokietheatre.com.

• Following its successful run at Chicago's Theater Wit, "Bad Jews" reopened recently for a limited run at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Joshua Harmon's new comedy is about the conflict that arises between cousins over a religious necklace following their grandfather's death. Performances run through July 19. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org.

• Broadway in Chicago celebrates Independence Day with half-price tickets through Sunday, July 5, to select performances of "On Your Feet!" (July 3-5), "Kinky Boots" (July 7-19), "Fancy Nancy" (July 11-12 and 16-19) and "Pippin" (July 29-31). Tickets must be purchased at Hot Tix Chicago locations at 72 E. Randolph St.; 108 N. State St.; or 163 E. Pearson St. broadwayinchicago.com.

• Interrobang Theatre Project's sixth season begins Sept. 6 with the Midwest premiere of "Katrina: Mother-in-Law of 'Em All" (The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago). Co-artistic director Georgette Verdin directs the play, which recounts the true stories of six people who survived 2005's Hurricane Katrina at New Orleans' Mother-in-Law Lounge. Verdin directs Interrobang's second production, Craig Wright's Sept. 11, 2001-inspired drama "Recent Tragic Events" (March 13-April 10, 2016, at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago). The action unfolds on Sept. 12, 2001, during a blind date between airport bookstore manager Andrew and ad executive Waverly, who discovers her sister is missing. The season concludes with the Midwest premiere of Rajiv Joseph's "The North Pool" (May 29-June 26, 2016, at The Athenaeum Theatre). It's about a high school vice principal and a student named Khadim who engage in a cat-and-mouse game centered around a crime Khadim may or may not have committed. Tickets are available at interrobangtheatreproject.org.

• American Theater Company dedicates its recently announced 31st season to its late artistic director PJ Paparelli, who was killed in a car accident in May. "All four shows in our 'Legacy Season' are projects PJ championed at American Theater Company," said interim artistic director Bonnie Metzgar in a prepared statement. "He had an uncanny ability to discover and nourish the country's top playwrights and provide intensive development opportunities for their new works." The season begins in November with a world premiere of Thomas Bradshaw's "Fulfillment," about a man passed over for a promotion because of his race. That's followed by the world premiere of Dan LeFranc's "Bruise Easy" (January to February 2016) about estranged siblings who meet in the driveway of their childhood home and begin a life-changing conversation. ATC presents the regional premiere of Abe Koogler's "Kill Floor" about a female ex-convict who gets a job at a slaughterhouse after her release, which makes reuniting with her vegetarian son something of a challenge. It runs March through May 2016. The season concludes in May 2016 with a revival of the musical "The Wiz," inspired by L. Frank Baum's "The Wizard of Oz" and produced in conjunction with Bailiwick Chicago. Season subscriptions are currently available. An early-bird, three-show membership is $90 before July 31 and $105 from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31. An early-bird, four-show membership is $120 before July 31 and $135 from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31. (773) 409-4125 or atcweb.org.

• Chicago Shakespeare Theater recently announced the company received $1.2 million in donations during its June fundraiser. The money will help fund several CST initiatives including Shakespeare in the Parks.