Theater events: First Folio fetes 20 years of outdoor shows with 'Midsummer'

Midsummer night

First Folio Theatre celebrates its 20th production of William Shakespeare under the stars with "A Midsummer Night's Dream." Haley Rice, daughter of founders Alison C. Vesely and David Rice, directs the comedy about love and magic and the efforts of a puckish fairy to upend the romantic relationships of mortals and fairies alike. Michael Joseph Mitchell and Johanna McKenzie Miller star as Oberon and Titania, the embattled king and queen of the fairies whose quarrel spills over from the fairy realm into the human world. Previews begin at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, July 6, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. The show opens July 9. $22-$39. (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org.

Stand up at the Shrine

The Comedy Shrine hosts its monthly Cranked Up Comedy Showcase this weekend. The adults-only shows feature up-and-coming local and touring standup comedians. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 1-2, at 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $20 plus a two-beverage minimum. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com.

Artists Lounge Live

The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre's Artists Lounge Live - a series of concerts featuring regional and national musical theater artists - returns for its second season. Christopher Kale Jones, Under the Streetlamp member and Frankie Valli in the national tour of "Jersey Boys," conjures Bobby Darin in this cabaret show. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 7, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $45, $50. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

Other theater events

• Performances begin Friday, July 1, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, for Dead Writers Theatre Collective's production of "The Importance of Being Earnest." Oscar Wilde's comedy of manners centers on John Worthing, who invents a fictitious brother to flaunt social conventions, then falls in love with the cousin of his friend Algernon, who has fallen for John's young ward. Artistic director Jim Schneider directs. (773) 935-6860 or deadwriters.net.

• The Factory Theater presents a new comedy by Mike Ooi titled "Dating & Dragons," beginning previews Friday, July 1, at 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago. It's about an expert gamer who falls for a young woman then tries to negotiate the rules of romance. The show, directed by Scott Oken, opens July 8. (866) 811-4111 or thefactorytheater.com.

• Steppenwolf Theatre presents a concert reading of writer/composer Kyle Jarrow's new rock musical, "Love Kills," inspired by the exploits of teen spree killer Charlie Starkweather. Steppenwolf ensemble members Jeff Perry and Ora Jones perform the staged reading with Patrick Rooney under the direction of Kent Paul and music director Matt Hinkley. Performances run Friday through Sunday, July 1-3, at the 1700 Theater, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, debuts a new political musical comedy "Dank Tank," about a "supercop" DEA agent from the future who is sent back to Illinois to prevent the legalization of marijuana. Previews for the adults-only show begin Friday, July 1. The show opens July 15. Beginning previews at 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 1, is "Blockbuster," about four women working at an Elgin Blockbuster Video just as the company is going under. Also at the Annoyance, the new sketch show "Loose Cannons Present: Day Time Flipping" begins previews at 8 p.m. Sunday, July 3. Lastly, the improvised dance show "Best of Booth" returns to the theater at 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 6. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• To commemorate International Joke Day on Friday, July 1, the new-to-Chicago interactive Japanese game show "Batsu!" offers a 25 percent discount to anyone who "Likes" the "Batsu!" Facebook page at facebook.com/batsulive and posts a joke on the page using #BATSUJOKES. "Batsu!" takes place at Kamehachi, 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago. (347) 985-0358 or batsuchicago.com.

• Previews begin Thursday, July 7, for Dashnight Productions' world premiere "Chops" by Michael Rychlewski. The Chicago-set play centers on a trio of jazz-loving "Kings of Rush Street" during the 1950s and 1960s, who by the mid-1980s have fallen out of touch and out of the limelight. Richard Shavzin directs. Joseph Jefferson Award winners Randy Steinmeyer and Larry Neumann Jr. join Danny Sullivan and Clare Cooney. The show opens July 14 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

• Comedian Brad Zimmerman brings his autobiographic comedy "My Son the Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy," to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, for a four-week run beginning Thursday, July 7. The show chronicles Zimmerman's years spent training as an actor while waiting on tables to make ends' meet, and it incorporates the banter he perfected sparring with diners. (847) 673-6300 or mysonthewaiter.com.

• "Clued In: An Improvised Murder Mystery" continues at 9 p.m. Saturdays at The Beat Lounge, Piper's Alley, 230 W. North Ave., Chicago. See secondcity.com.

• "Work in Progress," the adults-only solo show by Abby McEnany, continues at 10:30 p.m. Fridays at iO Chicago, 1501 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago. (312) 929-2401 or ioimprov.com.

• Lifeline Theatre announced a four-week extension for its world premiere musical "Northanger Abbey," adapted by writer Robert Kauzlaric and composer/lyricist George Howe from Jane Austen's novel about a young woman who leaves her quiet country home for the big city and gets caught up in high society schemes. Performances run through Aug. 13 at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. (773) 761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.

• The Hypocrites announced Regina Victoria Fields will be the company's first Logan Fellow, a fellowship program established by the Logan Foundation to help further the artistic development of a woman of color interested in artistic leadership. Fields, a native of California, will serve as associate artistic director for the 2016-2017 season and help develop an original adaptation of a classic text with support from the ensemble.

• The Neo Futurists announced their 2016-2017 season will begin July 21 with a micro art and performance festival featuring performances, workshops and panel discussions. Main stage productions include: "Saturn Returns" (Oct. 13-Nov. 19), which examines time, patience and the universe; "The? Unicorn? Hour?" (April 16-May 13, 2017), about a magical creature that brings joy to people living in a dark world; and "The Food Show" (July 17-Sept. 2, 2017), an examination of how food brings us together and can tear us apart. Also continuing next season is "The Arrow" (performance dates vary), a show rooted in improvisation inspired by written essays. Performances take place at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. (773) 878-4557 or neofuturists.org.