Theater events: Williams Street Rep starts 2017 with 'First Date'

'First date'

William Street Repertory begins 2017 with "First Date," a musical comedy about finding love in the 21st century. Directed by Robin Hughes, the show unfolds in real time during a blind date, which is punctuated by dream sequences populated by the couple's well-meaning friends and relatives. Opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at the Raue Center, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $35.50. Purchase tickets before Feb. 5 to receive a voucher for a glass of champagne and a chocolate. Offer available for the first 50 patrons. (815) 356-9212 or wsrep.org.

A swashbuckler

First Folio Theatre's adaptation of "Captain Blood" marks the Oak Brook theater's first stab at a swashbuckler. Co-founder David Rice adapted Rafael Sabatini's 1922 historical novel about 17th-century British physician Peter Blood. Enslaved after tending to rebels against King James II, Blood eventually escaped and began life anew as a pirate. Ensemble member Nick Sandys stars as Blood and Heather Chrisler plays his love interest Arabella in director Janice L. Blixt's production. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 31st St., Oak Brook. The show opens Jan. 28. $23-$39. (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org.

Terrorism on trial

Faith and morality underscore "Faceless," a new play by Selina Fillinger about an 18-year-old accused of conspiring to commit terrorism and the female Muslim lawyer who prosecutes her. Northlight Theatre artistic director BJ Jones directs the world premiere starring Lindsay Stock and Susaan Jamshidi. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The show opens Feb. 3. $30-$81. (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org.

Other theater events

• Performances begin Friday, Jan. 20, for Brown Paper Box Company's revival of "The Baltimore Waltz," Paula Vogel's fantastical dramedy about a dying woman who accompanies her brother on a whirlwind tour of Europe. Ed Rutherford directs the production, which runs through Feb. 19 at The Frontier, 1106 W. Thorndale Ave., Chicago. See brownpaperbox.org.

• Libertyville native Marti Lyons describes Margaret Edson's "Wit" as "one of the bravest plays I have ever read ... a mourning for the deep loss inherent in the brevity of our time on this earth." Lyons directs The Hypocrites' revival of the play about a literature professor recounting her losing battle with cancer. Performances run through Feb. 19 at The Den Theatre, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Also, The Hypocrites welcomes director/actor David Cromer back to Chicago for a reading of his acclaimed 2008 revival of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town," featuring members of the original cast. The benefit performance takes place at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Tickets cost $100. See the-hypocrites.com.

• "Shamilton," the improv group Baby Wants Candy's adults-only parody of the hit musical "Hamilton," begins previews Friday, Jan. 20, at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The 75-minute improvised musical will center around a historical figure of the audience's choosing. It runs through March 31. (773) 935-6100 or apollochicago.com.

• Eta Creative Arts Foundation hosts a reading of "Eye of the Storm," by writer/director McKinley Johnson at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at 7558 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago. Johnson, Marshall Titus and David Taylor composed the music and lyrics for the musical inspired by the life of Civil Rights activist Bayard Rustin. A reading of Monica Patton and Bobby Daye's new musical "The Inheritance," about a dysfunctional Southern family, takes place at 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21. (773) 752-3955 or etacreativearts.org.

• "Defending the Caveman," Rob Becker's one-man comedy examining the battle of the sexes, plays the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20. Ben Tedder stars in the show, which is suitable for teens and older. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

• "Wild Chicago" host Ben Hollis debuts his autobiographical show "How The Beatles Nearly Ruined My Life … And David Bowie Saved It" this weekend at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. The 90-minute show incorporates music and stories to chronicle Hollis' lifelong pursuit of "being adored." It opens a little more than a year after Hollis underwent lifesaving brain surgery. Hollis performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22. (847) 677-7761 or skokietheatre.org.

• Chicago's International Puppet Theater Festival continues at The Northwestern Settlement, 1400 W. Augusta Blvd., Chicago, with performances by Minneapolis' Open Eye Figure Theatre and Montreal's Theatre Puzzle. Theatre Puzzle performs "Plastique," consisting of characters crafted from plastic bags, Saturday through Monday, Jan. 21-23. Open Eye performs "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," about a young man unable to control his magic, Jan. 27 and 28. (773) 342-4141 or adventurestage.org.

• Citadel Theatre stages "Defamation," Todd Logan's courtroom drama about a Jewish man who accuses an African-American woman of stealing a family heirloom. The audience is cast as the jury. The subscribers-only performance is at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. (847) 735-8554, ext. 1.

• Porchlight Music Theatre presents the next installment of its "New Faces Sing Broadway" series Monday, Jan. 23, at Skokie Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie, and Tuesday, Jan. 24, at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway, Chicago. Paramount and Drury Lane Theatre veteran Keely Vasquez hosts the performances showcasing emerging Chicago-area theater artists who'll perform tunes from "The Full Monty," "Jane Eyre," "The Producers," "Urinetown" and other shows. See porchlightmusictheatre.org.

• Previews begin Wednesday, Jan. 25, for Raven Theatre's Midwest premiere of "The Assembled Parties." Richard Greenberg's Tony Award-nominated play offers a glimpse of the Bascov family during two Christmas celebrations 20 years apart. In 1980, the family is hopeful a favorite son will become president of the United States. By 2000, they recognize that hopes don't always pan out. Artistic director Cody Estle helms the production, which opens Jan. 31 at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 338-2177 or raventheatre.com.

• Windy City Playhouse presents "Bootycandy," Robert O'Hara's semi-autobiographical coming-of-age tale about growing up gay and black. O'Hara directs the production, which begins previews Wednesday, Jan. 25, at 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. The show opens Feb. 2. (773) 891-8985 or windycityplayhouse.com.

• After uncovering a disturbing form of entertainment, a young detective finds himself inside a "virtual wonderland" known as "The Nether." A Red Orchid Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of Jennifer Haley's drama about love and connection. Ensemble member Karen Kessler directs. Previews begin Thursday, Jan. 26, at 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago. The show opens Jan. 30. (312) 943-8722 or aredorchidtheatre.org.

• The League of Chicago Theatres' Theatre Thursday series continues Jan. 26 at Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, with a behind-the-scenes look at the world premiere of "Mr. and Mrs. Pennyworth." The $35 tickets include the performance and a preshow discussion. See leagueofchicagotheatres.org.

• A daughter questions her father about the Holocaust, a survivor recounts a plane crash and a mother talks about the son she gave up. These are among the real experiences - collected from people around the country - shared during the next installment of Short Story Theatre. Storytellers will narrate the tales at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26, at Miramar Bistro, 301 Waukegan Road, Highwood. (847) 433-1078 or shortstorytheatre.com.

• Performances continue through Feb. 19 for "Fable-ous!" Lifeline Theatre's latest KidSeries production adapted by ensemble member Chris Hainsworth from Aesop's fables. Performances run Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 19 at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. (773) 761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.

• "The Rosenkranz Mysteries," a magic show by Dr. Ricardo Rosenkranz, a Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine professor, has been extended. Performances run through Feb. 12 at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 988-9000 or theroyalgeorgetheatre.com.

• iO Chicago hosts "Write or Die," a battle among Chicago's comedy writers, at 8 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 26 at 1501 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago. Each week two writers compete to pen the best comedy pilot given a specific set of challenges ranging from oddball characters to unusual catchphrases. The final six competitors will compete in a TV pitch-off that will conclude with a "writer's brawl" between two finalists. (312) 929-2401 or ioimprov.com.

• The DuPage Foundation recently awarded a $20,000 grant to Buffalo Theatre Ensemble to support upcoming productions, including "Good People," which begins performances Feb. 2. The foundation has awarded more than $200,000 to arts, environmental and educational organizations. "We're thrilled to receive this much needed support," said BTE artistic director Connie Canady Howard in a prepared statement. "In addition to the assist to our bottom line, it is an endorsement of our place as a valued member of our community."

• Engaged couples have a chance to win a reception courtesy of Tony and Tina. The producers of "Tony 'n Tina's Wedding" are asking couples to submit a "fun photo" of themselves with a brief caption about why they deserve a reception to receptioncontest@gmail.com. Submissions are due by Feb. 4. They'll be posted on the production's Facebook page on Feb. 6, after which people can vote on the most deserving. The photo that receives the most "likes" will get the first prize, which includes flowers for the bride and groom, hair and makeup for the bride, a photo booth, five tuxedos, use of the Chicago Theatre Works reception hall, catering and a cake. The production runs through April at 3309 N. Seminary Ave. and 1113 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. (773) 327-3778 or tonylovestina.com.

• Mount Prospect native Jamil Khoury, founding artistic director of Silk Road Rising, received the University of Chicago's Diversity Leadership Alumni Award in recognition of his efforts to advance social justice, equity and diversity.

• American Blues Theater has named Idris Goodwin ("How We Got On," "This is Modern Art" with Kevin Coval, "And in This Corner: Cassius Clay") the recipient of the 2017 National Blue Ink Playwriting Award, which supports a playwright's new work. In this case it's Goodwin's "Hype Man" about a police shooting that divides an interracial hip-hop trio. ABT will help develop the play, which was selected from 543 submissions.

• Redtwist theater named James Fleming as associate artistic director and Matthew Moynihan as literary manager as part of the company's efforts to expand its production of new works.