Theater events: GayCo brings night of sketch comedy to Metropolis

Love is love, is love

GayCo Productions, a sketch ensemble that specializes in comedy rooted in LGBTQ themes, brings "Love is Love is Love Handles" to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. The production, showcasing some of GayCo's most popular sketches from the last 20 years, is part of the Metropolis' comedy series. 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 31, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $25. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

Life's enigmas

While longtime pals Charlotte and Jonny struggle with their close friendship and whether it could evolve into something more, Charlotte's parents wrestle with secrets of their own in "The Mystery of Love & Sex," Bathsheba Doran's examination of friendship, race, sexuality and gender. Marti Lyons directs Writers Theatre's production, which stars Hayley Burgess and Travis Turner as Charlotte and Jonny. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 5, at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The show opens April 12. $55-$80. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.

Happy Birthday

Kathleen Ruhl stars in Shattered Globe Theatre's production of "For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday," a modern spin on the J.M. Barrie tale written by Ruhl's daughter Sarah Ruhl ("The Clean House," "Eurydice"). Jessica Thebus directs the Chicago-area premiere of this 2016 play about five siblings in their 50s and 60s reunited at the bedside of their dying father, where they confront what it means to be a grown-up. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 6, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens April 11. $20-$35. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org or shatteredglobe.org.

Other theater events

• Previews for Goodman Theatre's premiere of Lauren Yees' family comedy "King of the Yees" begin Friday, March 31, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Developed through Goodman's New Stages Festival, Yees' semi-autobiographical play is about a daughter reconciling her family and culture. The show opens April 9. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

• Red Horse Theatre Company and Forte Productions present a concert version of "Hairspray," the 1960s-set musical about tolerance and acceptance, accompanied by a 15-piece orchestra. Forte founder Frank Roberts directs the performances at 7 p.m. Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, at Wentz Concert Hall, North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. See redhorsetheatre.org.

• The equestrian spectacle "Odysseo" - combining horses, stage performances and technical effects - begins Saturday, April 1, under the massive white big top in the Soldier Field South Lot at 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago. The family-friendly show opens Tuesday, April 4, and runs through April 23. (866) 999-8111 or cavalia.com.

• Music Theater Works, formerly known as Light Opera Works, hosts its annual "Make Our Garden Grow" spring benefit beginning with a VIP reception at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at the Sunset Ridge Country Club, 2100 Sunset Ridge Road, Northfield. A nod to the company's June production of "Candide," the event includes dinner, performances and a silent auction. (847) 920-5360 or musictheaterworks.com.

• "Fancy Schmancy: Flashback to 1997," Barrel of Monkeys' 20th anniversary 1990s retro benefit takes place from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 1, at The Drucker Center, 1535 N. Dayton Ave., Chicago. The adults-only event includes entertainment, hors d'oeuvres, an open bar and a silent auction. Proceeds benefit the company, which conducts creative writing workshops in Chicago Public Schools, then adapts students' works to the stage. See barrelofmonkeys.org/fancy.

• Chicago Kids Company brings its production of "Beauty and the Beast" to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Performances run Monday, April 3, through April 14. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

• Tony Award winner and Evanston native Jessie Mueller joins Goodman Theatre director of education and engagement Willa J. Taylor for a discussion of theater in education as part of Goodman's annual "Education and Engagement Luncheon" beginning at noon Tuesday, April 4, at the Standard Club, 320 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago. Proceeds benefit the theater's education programs. (312) 443-3811, ext. 586.

• The Neo-Futurists premiere "The? Unicorn? Hour?" a show created and performed by Leah Urendowski and Anthony Courser about discovering and promoting joy. Previews for the show, inspired by "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" and "Pee-Wee's Playhouse," begin Thursday, April 6, at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. The show opens April. 10. (773) 275-5255 or neofuturists.org.

• Chicago Shakespeare Theater takes its production of "Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet" on the road next week. The first stop, on Thursday, April 6, at Wheaton Warrenville South High School marks a homecoming for cast member Peter Sipla, who experienced a Short Shakespeare production of "Romeo and Juliet" there when he was a student. On April 7, the production travels to Libertyville High School, director Marti Maraden's alma mater. Maraden, who also saw a Short Shakespeare "Romeo and Juliet" while a student there, credits the experience with inspiring her to pursue a career in theater.

• Emerald City Theatre, which has performed its family-friendly productions at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights, recently received a $500,000 gift from the North Avenue Day Nursery, a Chicago child care and early eduction center that closed in 2016. The gift will pay off company debt, shore up cash reserves and fund productions for children ages 1 to 13.

• Pride Films & Plays seeks submissions from transgender, gender-fluid and nonconforming gender identities for its inaugural Great Trans* Play Contest showcasing works centered on the trans community. The winning playwright will receive a cash award along with a weeklong development workshop headed by theater artist Delia Kropp. Two finalists will receive a cash award and a recorded reading of their work. The entry fee is $45. Deadline for submissions is April 16. (800) 737-0984 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

• "Dysfunctional Family Fun: 1776-1926" is the theme of ShawChicago's 2017-2018 season, which begins Oct. 14 with George Bernard Shaw's "The Devil's Disciple," about a disgruntled Brit who joins Americans revolting against the British crown and relies on an estranged couple to save him. Next up is Margaret Raether's "Jeeves in Bloom" (Feb. 3-26, 2018). Adapted from P.G. Wodehouse's stories, it centers on the misadventures of upper-crust, marriage-averse playboy Bertie Wooster and his wise manservant Jeeves. The season concludes with Noel Coward's "Hay Fever" (April 14-May 7, 2018) about an eccentric family, their unexpected houseguests and subsequent romantic entanglements. Performances take place at 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 587-7390 or shawchicago.org.