Theater events: Route 66 opens season with world premiere of 'The Source'

Route 66 premiere

Route 66 Theatre Company opens its ninth season with the world premiere of "The Source," about two journalists who travel halfway around the world to interview a hacker who leaked classified government information. Inspired by former government contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked classified National Security Agency documents in 2013, Gabe McKinley's psychological drama examines the conflict between privacy and security. Jason Gerace directs. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2, at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show opens March 7. $25, $35. See route66theatre.org.

Cold War farce

Steel Beam Theatre's season continues with a revival of Woody Allen's 1966 farce, "Don't Drink the Water." Set in a rundown American embassy behind the former Iron Curtain, the comedy centers on an American family who seek refuge when they are accused of being spies after they take photographs of an off-limits area. Opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $23-$28. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.

'Madagascar'

Marriott Theatre presents the Chicago-area premiere of "Madagascar - A Musical Adventure," the stage adaptation of the 2005 DreamWorks film about a group of zoo pals who escape from the Central Park Zoo and wind up in the East African island nation. Matt Raftery directs and choreographs the one-hour production, which is part of Marriott's young audiences series. Previews begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The show opens March 4. $17.23. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

Other theater events

• Halcyon and A-Squared theaters will collaborate on the Midwest premiere of "American Hwangap," Lloyd Suh's examination of family and forgiveness. Joseph Anthony Foronda stars as Min Suk Chun, who abandons his family to return to his native South Korea. Years later, he reappears on the day of his hwangap, his 60th birthday, hoping for forgiveness and reconciliation. Helen Young directs the production, which begins previews Friday, Feb. 24, at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3253 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago. The show opens March 2. (773) 413-0454 or halcyontheatre.org.

• "Flanagan's Wake," an interactive improvised comedy that enjoyed several extended Chicago-area productions over the years, returns courtesy of Chicago Theater Works. Set in a fictional Irish town, the show unfolds at a wake for "local roustabout Flanagan," where colorful characters gather to pay their respects. Previews begin Friday, Feb. 24, at 1113 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, where it will run in repertory with "Tony n' Tina's Wedding." The show opens March 3.(312) 391-0404 or chicagotheaterworks.com.

• Eta Creative Arts Foundation presents the U.S. premiere of "By the Apricot Trees," by South African playwright Ntsako Mkhabela. It's set during the aftermath of the 1976 Soweto uprising, where South African police opened fire on students (killing hundreds) who were peacefully protesting the imposition of the Afrikaans language in the schools. The play chronicles the real-life experience of the playwright's mother, sentenced to jail for her part in the demonstration. Performances begin Friday, Feb. 24, at 7558 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago. (773) 752-3955 or etacreativearts.org.

• Steppenwolf Theatre presents "black as eye wanna be" a burlesque-inspired performance examining oppression. The 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, performance is part of the theater's LookOut series at its 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• Silk Road Rising's "Semitic Commonwealth," a staged reading series made up of six plays by Arab and Jewish playwrights addressing the human toll of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, continues with Mona Mansour's "Urge for Going." It's about a Palestinian teen whose only way out of her Lebanon refugee camp is to ace a university exam. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, and 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at 77 W. Washington St., Chicago. Ken Kaissar's "The Victims" consists of two parallel stories. In one, two people live seemingly happily in a garden except for the daily beatings they endure. In the other, a Jewish American writer travels to Israel and gets caught up in the violence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Tickets are $10. (312) 857-1234, ext. 201, or semiticcommonwealth.org.

• Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents "Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet," a 75-minute abridged version of William Shakespeare's tragedy, beginning Saturday, Feb. 25. Libertyville native Marti Lyons makes her CST directing debut with the production, which runs at 11 a.m. Saturdays, through March 25, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

• The Annoyance Theatre remounts "Purity Ball the Musical," about Christian congregations where young girls symbolically give their virginity to their fathers to guard until they find a husband. The show reopens Friday, Feb. 24, at 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Also at The Annoyance, "(Expletive) Show" an adults-only show that combines sketch comedy with burlesque, opens Wednesday, March 1. Lastly, the long-form improv show "Trigger Happy" opens an extended run on Thursday, March 2. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago, hosts a talkback following its 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26, performance of "The Assembled Parties," Richard Greenberg's drama that examines a politically ambitious family over two Christmas celebrations, 20 years apart. Loyola University history professor Dr. Michelle Nickerson discusses American Politics in 1980 and 2000 following Sunday's performance. (773) 338-2177 or raventheatre.com.

• Firebrand Theatre, a new company dedicated to expanding opportunities for female theater artists on and offstage, inaugurates its first season with a benefit. Nothin' Like a Dame: A Celebration of Women in Musical Theatre takes place at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. Tickets are $40 and $75 for VIP tickets which include two drink tickets, premium seats and a gift. See firebrandtheatre.org. Additionally, Firebrand announced its season will begin Nov. 11 with the Chicago area premiere of "Lizzie" about the woman accused of murdering her parents with an ax in 1892. The season continues April 7, 2018, with "9 to 5 The Musical" adapted from the hit 1980 film about three unlikely friends who demonstrate how well they can succeed in a man's world. Performances take place at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago.

• Black Ensemble Theater founder and artistic director Jackie Taylor will be featured in "Legacy Leaders of Color Video Project" created by the Theatre Communications Group. BET hosts a screening of the video project beginning at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at 4450 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 769-4451 or blackensembletheater.org.

• Raven Theatre artistic director Michael Menendian directs The Agency Theater Collective's world premiere of "Skin for Skin." Paul Pasulka's play imagines the biblical Job as a Muslim-American contractor in Baghdad who's suspected of aiding Al-Qaeda and ends up imprisoned in a "black site" and subjected to "enhanced interrogation." Previews begin Tuesday, Feb. 28, at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. The show opens March 4. (773) 680-4596 or wearetheagency.org.

• Porchlight Music Theatre's next installment of its staged concert series showcasing "lost" musicals continues Tuesday, Feb. 28, with a semi-staged production of "Little Me." The musical by composer Cy Coleman, lyricist Carolyn Leigh and writer Neil Simon is about a glamorous, big-hearted woman born on the "wrong side" of the tracks who migrated to the "right side" along with assorted husbands and lovers. Performances run through Thursday, March 2, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Michael Weber directs the production, which stars Genevieve Thiers and Matt Crowle. (773) n 327-5252 or porchlightmusictheatre.org.

• "The Year I Didn't Go to School: A Homemade Circus," the stage adaptation of Giselle Potter's children's book about a 7-year-old girl who spent a year traveling with her family's puppet theater company, begins performances Tuesday, Feb. 28, at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Directed by Lookingglass Theatre's Heidi Stillman, the Chicago Children's Theatre production incorporates circus arts. (872) 222-9555 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

• Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, debuts Gorilla Tango Originals, on Thursday, March 2. The new program will produce up to five new plays per month. " ... Because I Love You: A Comedy About Parenting," a puppet show for young children titled "Super Jane!" and the family-friendly "Jack and the Beanstalk: A Panto Adventure" open March 4. "Chicago is filled with incredibly talented artists and this high volume process of producing opens up so much opportunity for everyone," said executive producer Ellen Domonkos White in a prepared statement. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

• WGN TV reporter Ana Belaval hosts Emerald City Theatre's adults-only fundraiser Read More, Be More: A Seussian Celebration of Arts and Literacy from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2, at Alhambra Palace, 1240 W. Randolph St., Chicago. The event includes food, beverages, entertainment and a silent auction. See emeraldcitytheatre.com.

• "I Love You, But I Don't Like You," a sketch comedy show about mothers, runs through March 8 at iO Chicago, 1501 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago. (312) 929-2401 or ioimprov.com/chicago.

• Producer Scott Rudin announced that Steppenwolf Theatre's production of Tracy Letts' new play "The Minutes" will transfer to Broadway after its world premiere (directed by Anna D. Shapiro) here later this year. The dark comedy is about a small town whose mythology may not be rooted in truth. Previews begin Nov. 9 at Steppenwolf. The show will transfer to Broadway in February, 2018. In other Steppenwolf news, the theater has extended its Chicago premiere of Young Jean Lee's "Straight White Men," about a Christmas reunion between a widower and his three grown sons. Performances run through March 26 at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• Refuge Theatre Project has extended its remount of "High Fidelity: The Musical" adapted from the 2000 movie starring John Cusack as a record store owner trying to make sense of his romantic failures. Performances run through March 25 at 1415 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. See refugetheatre.com.

• Stage 773 is accepting applications for the 6th Annual Chicago Women's Funny Festival, running June 15 to 18 at the theater. Producers Jill Valentine and Liz McArthur seek stand-up, sketch, solo, vaudeville, musical and improvisational performers for the festival, which showcases more than 500 performers. "It's as important as ever right now to celebrate women in comedy and empower our community as a whole," said Valentine in a prepared statement. Applications are available at chicagowomensfunnyfestival.com.

• Porchlight Music Theatre announced recently it will spend its 2017-18 season as an artist-in-residence at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Ave., Chicago. The company is moving to accommodate an increase in subscribers and single ticket buyers, said executive director Jeannie Lukow in a prepared statement.

• Goodman Theatre announced Jess McLeod as the recipient of the 2016/2017 Michael Maggio Fellowship for Chicago-based directors. The award is named for the late associate artistic director. McLeod, a teaching artist for Storycatchers Theatre (which partners with the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice to provide programs for incarcerated juveniles), has directed for American Theatre Company, House, Griffin, Victory Gardens and Strawdog theaters among others.

• Hell in a Handbag Productions kicks off its 15th season with "Lady X - The Musical" (April 27-June 3, at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago), a film noir parody about a 1940s female crime boss, a tough-minded prosecutor and a savvy nightclub hostess. That's followed by the world premiere of "Bewildered" (Sept. 27-Nov. 11, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago), inspired by the 1960s TV sitcom "Bewitched" and told through the eyes of nosy neighbor Gladys Kravitz. The season concludes with the adults-only "Rudolph The Red-Hosed Reindeer" (Nov. 25-Dec. 30, at Mary's Attic), in which the lead character of the children's TV special turns 21. Season subscriptions and single tickets are available at handbagproductions.org.

• Broadway in Chicago announced that it will partner with 30 Chicago Public Schools as part of an educational initiative involving the blockbuster musical "Hamilton." After studying the Founding Fathers in class, students will attend a matinee performance of the show that will be followed by a talkback with cast members. Some student representatives will perform original songs, poetry, rap or scenes onstage at the PrivateBank Theatre. Producer Jeffrey Seller developed the program in New York City with "Hamilton" creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, the Rockefeller Foundation and other organizations. "Our goal is to ensure that students have a shot to see "Hamilton" and use its words, music and staging to further their understanding of American history, music and drama," said Seller in a prepared statement.

• American Theater Company has teamed up with the National Public Housing to create a 50-minute touring production of ATC's acclaimed documentary play "The Project(s)." Students will study the show and produce a portion of it under the guidance of ATC artists. The company's youth ensemble will perform that work later this summer.