Theater events: 200 performance artists populate Elgin Fringe Fest

Elgin Fringe 2016

The Elgin Fringe Festival showcasing music, dance, theater and visual arts returns for the third year. More than 200 artists stage more than 120 performances at six downtown sites during the four-day festival. Returning artists Janus Theatre, Chicago Burlesque Showcase and Kelly Bolton join newcomers 2 Merry Men, Jeremy Schaefer and the Cirque du Soleil-inspired aerial show Imaginez Ensemblez. Opens at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, at Blue Box Cafe, 176 E. Chicago St., Elgin, and runs through Sunday, Sept. 18. $3 EFF button required for admission. Performances range from free to $10. An all-festival pass is $60. See elginfringefestival.com for a schedule.

Bernstein revival

Goodman Theatre revives composer Leonard Bernstein's "Wonderful Town" under artistic associate and Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman. A "love letter to Manhattan, New York," the musical chronicles the search for romance and happiness by Columbus, Ohio, transplants and sisters Eileen (Lauren Molina) and Ruth (Bria Sudia). Doug Beck serves as music director and Ben Johnson conducts the 18-piece orchestra. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 18. $25-$93. (312) 443-2800 or goodmantheatre.org.

Northlight at 42

Northlight Theatre opens its 42nd season with "The City of Conversation," by Anthony Giardina. Set in 1979 Washington, D.C., the play centers on a family divided after one of its younger members embraces a political philosophy vastly different from everyone else's. Lia Mortensen stars in director Marti Lyons' production, which also features Tim Monsion, Elaine Rivkin and Hoffman Estates native Greg Matthew Anderson. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, at 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The show opens Sept. 23. $30-$81. (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org.

Other theater events

• The Jule Styne-Bob Merrill musical "Funny Girl," the fictionalized account of singer/comedian Fanny Brice's rise from Ziegfeld chorus girl to star, gets a revival courtesy of MadKap Productions. The show opens Friday, Sept. 9, at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. Theater historian Charles Troy lectures on "The Creation of Funny Girl" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13. (847) 677-7761 or skokietheatre.org.

• The Hypocrites launch the 2016-2017 season with "You on the Moors Now," Jaclyn Backhaus' comedy mashup re-imagining the fate of classic 19th-century literary heroines created by Jane Austen, Louisa May Alcott and the Bronte sisters. In this incarnation, the women reject marriage proposals sparking the jilted suitors to wage war against them. Previews begin Friday, Sept. 9, at The Den Theatre, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 18. See the-hypocrites.com.

• If you weren't able to snag tickets to "Hamilton," you can experience composer/lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda's work courtesy of Porchlight Music Theatre's revival of "In The Heights," Miranda's Tony Award-winning musical about the tight-knit community that calls New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood home. Previews begin Friday, Sept. 9, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens Tuesday, Sept. 13. Joseph Jefferson Award-winning director/choreographer Brenda Didier of Lincolnshire helms the production. (773) 777-9884 or porchlightmusictheatre.org.

• Lifeline Theatre's world premiere of "Miss Holmes" puts a new spin on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous sleuth and his crime-solving partner. Doyle's detective series inspired playwright Christopher M. Walsh, whose titular character - played by Katie McLean Hainsworth - is frequently incarcerated for behavior that 19th-century society deems unacceptable for women. Meanwhile, Miss Dorothy Watson struggles to practice medicine in the only London hospital that will hire a female physician. Previews for director Paul S. Holmquist's production begin Friday, Sept. 9, at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 18. (773) 761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.

• Stand-up comedians bare it all for comedy as part of the adults-only Strip Joker at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9 and Oct. 14, at the Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway, Chicago. Also at the Uptown, Vertical Sideshow, an adults-only combination burlesque, dance and theater performance follows at 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9-10. See UptownUnderground.net.

• Playwright Aaron Posner ("Stupid (expletive) Bird") re-examines another Anton Chekhov classic in "Life Sucks," a reworking of "Uncle Vanya." The plot centers on an aging professor and his much younger second wife who return for a visit to his family estate, which he intends to sell, displacing his daughter and his late wife's brother who have devoted themselves to their homestead. Lookingglass Theatre Company's Chicago-area premiere begins previews Friday, Sept. 9, at the Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Ensemble member Andrew White directs the show, which opens Sept. 17. (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.

• Theatre-Hikes revival of "Driving Miss Daisy," Alfred Uhry's drama about the unlikely friendship that develops between an elderly Southern woman and her African-American chauffeur, moves to the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle, beginning Saturday, Sept. 10. Performances run at 1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Sept. 25. See theatre-hikes.org.

• Previews begin Saturday, Sept. 10, for Teatro Vista's world premiere of Mando Alvarado's "Parachute Men" about three estranged brothers who reunite on the anniversary of their mother's death. The show, directed by artistic director Ricardo Gutierrez, marks the start of the company's 26th season. The show opens Sept. 16 at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org or teatrovista.org.

• Redtwist theatre ensemble members Jacqueline Grandt of Arlington Heights and Johnny Garcia and Debra Rodkin are featured in the company's Chicago-area premiere of "Scarcity." The dark comedy by Lucy Thurber centers on a struggling family with a brilliant son, whose teacher offers to help him get into college, but whose motives may be questionable. Cody Estle directs the production, which opens Saturday, Sept. 10, at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. (773) 728-7529 or redtwist.org.

• Pivot Arts presents the world premiere of the site-specific production titled "The Memory Tour," which combines live performances, an interactive app and videotaped interviews in an exploration of Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. Julieanne Ehre and Tanya Palmer conceived the production, which begins Saturday, Sept. 10, at 5252 N. Broadway Ave. (near Broadway and Berwyn), Chicago, where a Memory Docent will lead audience members on a 90-minute tour. See pivotarts.com/events.

• The second annual 12-mile Chicago Theater Memorial Bike Ride, commemorating local theater artists who have passed away, takes place Saturday, Sept. 10. The opening ceremony begins at 10 a.m. at Rainbow Beach Park at 79th Street and Lake Michigan, with heats beginning at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. The suggested donation is $25. Proceeds benefit The Actors Fund and The Chicago Emergency Aid Fund. See chicagotheatermemorialbikeride.weebly.com.

• Suburban company Main Street Opera presents a modern-day version of Giuseppe Verdi's "Falstaff," inspired by William Shakespeare's lovable, middle-aged rogue and his attempts to seduce women. Bob Postic and Chad Ballantyne share the titular role in the production which begins performances at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, at the Bartlett Community Center, 700 S. Bartlett Road, Bartlett. Performances continues Sept. 17, at the Forest View Education Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights; Sept. 24, at St. John Cantius, 825 N. Carpenter St., Chicago and Set. 30, at Alta Villa, 430 N. Addison Road, Addison. (224) 764-1516 or MainStreetOpera.org.

• The solo performance series LIVINGroom returns to Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, with "Back to School," during which theater artists examine what we have or haven't learned since our school days. The showcase consists of individual, autobiographical, spoken word and musical performances continues through Dec. 11. (773) 327-5252 or stage773.com.

• iO Chicago, 1501 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago, presents All Alone Together, comprised of three solo performances by Brittany Bookbinder, James Dugan and Kelly McGuigan. Bookbinder's "Trapped" is a dark comedy about fear and relationships. Dugan's "Something for Everyone" is about "the lies liars tell themselves." McGuigan's "Can I Interest You in Me?" is drawn from her experiences as a restaurant server. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 12. (312) 929-2401 or ioimprov.com.

• Akvavit Theatre presents the world premiere translation by company member Chad Eric Bergman of Swedish playwright Sofia Fredén's "Hand in Hand." The dark comedy centers on six accidental roommates searching for love, money and most importantly their own apartment in Stockholm. Previews begin Wednesday, Sept. 14, at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show, directed by Breahan Eve Pautsch, opens Thursday, Sept. 15. See akvavittheatre.org.

• Steppenwolf Theatre opens its 41st season with the world premiere of David Rabe's "Visiting Edna." Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro directs the drama which stars Tony and Emmy Award winner Debra Monk as a woman suffering from cancer whose son Andrew (ensemble member Ian Barford) attempts to reclaim the loving relationship they had during his childhood. Previews begin Thursday, Sept. 15, at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 24. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• Court Theatre opens its 62nd season with the world premiere of "Man in the Ring," by Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cristofer ("The Shadow Box"). Artistic director Charles Newell directs the drama based on the story of six-time world champion boxer Emile Griffith from his humble beginning in the U.S. Virgin Islands to his title match against arch rival Benny "Kid" Paret, who challenged Griffith's bisexuality. Previews begin Thursday, Sept. 15, at 5535 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 24. (773) 753-4472 or CourtTheatre.org.

• Two 1970s sitcom families battle it out in Shakespearean fashion in "The Bardy Bunch: The War of the Families Partridge and Brady," a musical sendup by Stephen Garvey that played off-Broadway in 2014 and makes its Chicago area debut at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. Previews begin Thursday, Sept. 15. The show opens Sept. 26. (773) 325-1700 or MercuryTheaterChicago.com or TheBardyBunch.com.

• Now for Shakespeare in more-or-less traditional form, Chicago Shakespeare Theater concludes its two-part, "Tug of War" epic chronicling the hundred years war between England and France with "Civil Strife." Comprised of "Henry VI, parts 2 and 3" and "Richard III," "Civil Strife" examines the lawlessness that prevails on England's homefront as the houses of York and Lancaster compete for the throne. Artistic director Barbara Gaines directs. Performances begin Thursday, Sept. 15, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

• Fury Theatre hosts its fifth Short Attention Span Theatre mini-fest from Thursday, Sept. 15 through Sept 25, at Chase Park Theater, 4701 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. Titled "Killer Instinct," the adults-only, short play festival consists of plays that examine how far people are willing to go to achieve their goals. The plays will be grouped in two acts with Act I running Sept 15 and 23 and Act II running Sept. 16 and 22. The complete lineup runs Sept. 17 and 24. See furytheatre.org.

• Performances begin Thursday, Sept. 15, at 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago for Apollo Theater Chicago's production of "Thrones! The Musical Parody." This sendup of the HBO fantasy drama was written by Chris Grace, Zach Reino, Al Samuels and Dan Wessels - the creative team responsible for "Baby Wants Candy" and "50 Shades! The Musical Parody." (773) 935.6100 or apollochicago.com.

• Theatre at the Center revives the country-tinged jukebox musical "Pump Boys and Dinettes," a celebration of small town pleasures. Previews begin Thursday, Sept. 15, at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. The show opens Sept. 18. (219) 836-3255 or TheatreAtTheCenter.com.

• Performances continue at the Greenhouse Theater Center for the world premiere of "I Do Today," a solo play by Sarah Myers in a coproduction with The Other Theatre Company. Carin Silkaitis stars as a Jewish woman grappling with love, sexuality and commitment and how her past has shaped her present. The production, part of VGT's Solo Celebration! series, runs through Oct .9, at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-7336 or greenhousetheater.org.

• iO Chicago, 1501 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago remounts "Dylan's Apartment," a one-act play about a guy who hosts a variety show in his tiny apartment. It runs at 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Sept. 28. (312) 929-2401 or ioimprov.com.

• Remy Bumppo Theatre Company named Chicago native Mackenzie Nilsen as its new marketing manager. Nilsen, who began her career with Florida Studio Theatre, will be responsible for the company's marketing and public relations.