Theater events: 'Men on Boats' gets regional premiere at American Theater Company

Regional premiere

American Theater Company presents the regional premiere of "Men on Boats," Jaclyn Backhaus' tale about explorers mapping the Green and Colorado rivers during the government's 1869 expedition into the American West. "Men on Boats" marks the first ATC production helmed by new artistic director Will Davis, whose gender-fluid cast consists of women and "otherwise defined" actors. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at 1909 W. Byron St., Chicago. The show opens Monday, Jan. 9. $20-$38. (773) 409-4125, ext. 102, or atcweb.org.

A ghost story

City Lit Theater premieres its adaptation of Shirley Jackson's 1958 novel "The Sundial," a ghost story centered on the mysterious death of a wealthy man who may have been murdered, possibly by a family member. Northwestern University associate professor Paul Edwards adapted and directs the production, which marks his third adaptation of a Jackson tale for City Lit. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 6, at Edgewater Presbyterian Church, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. The show opens Tuesday, Jan. 10. $24-$29. citylit.org.

Angela channels Judy

Angela Ingersoll, who received raves for her performance as Judy Garland in Porchlight Music Theatre's "End of the Rainbow," brings her cabaret salute to the movie star to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. Ingersoll performs "Judy Garland: Come Rain or Come Shine" as part of Metropolis' bimonthly artists lounge series, which showcases theater artists in solo settings. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $45-$50. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

Other theater events

• Promethean Theatre Ensemble revives "Eurydice," Wilmette native Sarah Ruhl's re-imagination of the Orpheus myth through the eyes of his bride. Previews begin Friday, Jan. 6, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. The show, directed by Promethean founder Nicole Hand, opens Jan. 14. (773) 935-6875 or prometheantheatre.org.

• Greenhouse Theatre Center premieres "Her America," the latest by Evanston playwright Brett Neveu, and starring Chicago and Broadway veteran Kate Buddeke. Remy Bumppo artistic associate Linda Gillum directs the play about a woman hiding in her basement examining the artifacts of her life, while upstairs her world spins out of control. Previews for the latest in Greenhouse's ongoing Solo Celebration! Series begin Friday, Jan. 6, at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Wednesday, Jan. 11. (773) 404-7336 or greenhousetheater.org.

• "Bible Bingo," a show by Vicki Quade ("Late Night Catechism"), returns Friday, Jan. 6, to the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. It runs at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. "Late Night Catechism" runs at 5 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Royal George. During January, theatergoers who "regift" an unwanted item pay only $10 per ticket. Use the code "regift" when ordering at (312) 988-9000. The gifts will be donated to the Little Sisters of the Poor who operate Saint Mary's Home in Chicago. See theroyalgeorgetheatre.com.

• A poet losing herself to dementia wants to end her life on her own terms, but her husband - with whom she had a pact - has other plans in Julie Jensen's "Winter," inspired by Margaret Pabst Battin's 2005 book "Ending Life: Ethics and the Way We Die." Previews begin Saturday, Jan. 7, for Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's world premiere. The show, directed by ensemble members Megan Carney and Mark Ulrich, opens Jan. 16 at 5779 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. (773) 334-7728 or rivendelltheatre.org.

• Baby Wants Candy begins a limited run Saturday, Jan. 7, at The Second City Training Center, Piper's Alley at 230 W. North Ave., Chicago. Accompanied by a live band, the group improvises musicals based on audience suggestions. See secondcity.com.

• LookOut, Steppenwolf Theatre's performance series, continues at the 1700 theater, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. "You're Being Ridiculous," a show hosted by Jeremy Owens during which people tell real stories of their lives, takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, 14 and 21. Also, ensemble member Alana Arenas directs Definition Theatre Company's staged reading of "The River Jordan," Mercedes White's examination of homelessness, at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 9. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• The Public House Theater, 3914 N. Clark St., Chicago, remounts "Bye Bye Liver Presents: Shakespeare Not Stirred," a comedic look at the playwright's use of sex, alcohol and "anything else you might find at a Wrigleyville bar on a Saturday night." The show runs Saturday, Jan. 7, through Jan. 28. See pubhousetheatre.com.

• Previews begin Sunday, Jan. 8, for Cor Theatre and Stage Left Theatre's revival of Maria Irene Fornes' "What of the Night?" Carlos Murillo directs Fornes' meditation on poverty, which unfolds as four one-act plays chronicling a family's attempts to "escape the ties that bind them." The show opens Thursday, Jan. 12, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or cortheatre.org or stagelefttheatre.com.

• "Fantastic Super Great Nation Numero Uno," the 41st Second City E.T.C. revue, continues previews at 1608 N. Wells St., Chicago. The revue opens Jan. 15. (312) 337-3992 or secondcity.com.

• Barrel of Monkeys resumes "That's Weird, Grandma" with "Revenge of the Matinees" beginning Sunday, Jan. 8, at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. The family-friendly show consists of sketches written by Chicago Public School students and adapted and performed by BOM ensemble members. (773) 506-7140 or barrelofmonkeys.org.

• Christian magician Luke Babylon opens his show, "Luke Babylon: The Christian Magician," at the Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, on Sunday, Jan. 8. Also at the Annoyance, comedian and writer Eunji Kim's one-woman show "Kim Kong: A Comedy Monster" chronicles her father's immigrant journey. It opens Thursday, Jan. 12. Continuing at the theater is "Hug It Out," a sketch show by Huggable Riot, that runs Wednesdays through March. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• The fantasy adventure "Psychonaut Librarians" launches The New Colony's 2017 season at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Sean Kelly's play reveals what happens when the library is closed and the librarians experiment with altered states of consciousness. Previews begin Wednesday, Jan. 11. The show opens Jan. 16. See thenewcolony.org.

• TimeLine Theatre Company's 20th season continues with the Chicago-area premiere of "A Disappearing Number," Simon McBurney's 2007 play inspired by the relationship between a self-taught mathematician in rural India who in 1913 sent a series of theorems to famed number theorist G.H. Hardy. McBurney juxtaposes their relationship with that of a modern-day math professor and a businessman. Ensemble member Nick Bowling directs the production, which stars Kareem Bandealy and Anish Jethmalani and begins previews Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. (773) 281-8463 or timelinetheatre.com.

• Five young women living in the Midwest during the 1930s find basketball offers them a way of escaping their fading town in "The Tall Girls" by Meg Miroshnik. Shattered Globe Theatre ensemble member Louis Contey directs the company's Chicago premiere. It begins previews Thursday, Jan. 12, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens Jan. 15. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org or shatteredglobe.org.

• Ron OJ Parson helms Court Theatre's revival of "Blues for an Alabama Sky" by Pearl Cleage. Set during the Great Depression, the drama reflects "the spirit of New York's Harlem Renaissance" to tell of the struggles of friends' efforts to achieve their dreams. Previews begin Thursday, Jan. 12, at 5535 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago. The show opens Jan. 21. (773) 753-4472 or courttheatre.org.

• "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert," the musical adaptation of the 1994 film by Australian writer/director Stephan Elliott about three Sidney performers doing their drag show in the Australian outback, gets a revival courtesy of Pride Films and Plays. Previews begin Thursday, Jan. 12, at 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. The show opens Jan. 17. See pridefilmsandplays.com.

• Jon Steinhagen's "Blizzard '67," inspired by Chicago's record-setting 1967 snowstorm, gets a revival courtesy of 16th Street Theater, 6420 16th St., Berwyn. Ann Filmer directs the play about four co-workers in a carpool whose attempts to navigate the storm have disastrous consequences. Performances begin Thursday, Jan. 12. (708) 795-6704 or 16thstreettheater.org.

• Equinox Theater premieres "Burn," a narrative poem about firefighters who return from fighting a wildfire to find their families enslaved. Performances begin Thursday, Jan. 12, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

• Ten, The Gift Theatre's annual showcase of 10-minute plays, continues through Jan. 15 at 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Featured playlettes include works by ensemble members Paul D'Addario, Will Eno and Ed Flynn among others. (773) 283-7071 or thegifttheatre.org.

• Trap Door Theatre's adaptation of "Phedre," Jean Racine's tragedy about a woman consumed with her passion for her stepson, continues through Feb. 11 at 1655 W. Cortland Ave., Chicago. (773) 384-0494 or trapdoortheatre.com.

• Akvavit Theatre, a company that specializes in Nordic drama, announced new artistic leadership and an expanded ensemble. Akvavit veterans Kirstin Franklin and Breahan Pautsch have been named co-artistic directors, succeeding outgoing artistic director Chad Eric Bergman and managing artistic director Bergen Anderson, who will remain with the company. Akvavit also named eight new associate members: Richard Gilbert, Joe Giovannetti, Sarah Giovannetti, Nigel Harsch, Paulette Hicks, Micah Kronlokken, Julie Mitre and Amber Robinson.

• The House Theatre of Chicago, now in its 15th season, added artists to its ensemble. They include: actors Kara Davidson, Elana Elyce, Ben Hertel and Ericka Ratcliff; dramaturge and translator Derek Matson; musician/composer Matthew Muñiz; and director Vanessa Stalling.

• Audrey Francis has been named an ensemble member at Steppenwolf Theatre. An instructor at Steppenwolf's acting school, Francis ("The Fundamentals," "Between Riverside and Crazy") is also the founder and owner of Black Box Acting.