Theater events: Naperville native Kaye Winks brings solo show 'Token' to Chicago

Winking at race

Actress, writer and Naperville native Kaye Winks returns to Chicago after six years with "Token," her solo show examining race and what it's like to often be the only African-American among Caucasians. Winks also examines clashes within the African-American community in her politically incorrect comedy, which she claims skewers everyone equally. Opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 19, at Judy's Beat Lounge, Second City Training Center, 230 W. North Ave., Chicago. $13. (312) 337-3992 or secondcity.com.

Chekhov re-imagined

There's something about "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike." Christopher Durang's farcical homage to Anton Chekhov's masterworks has proved popular in the suburbs, prompting two revivals in as many months. Steel Beam Theatre's production opens as Citadel Theatre's revival in Lake Forest draws to a close. Helmed by artistic director Marge Uhlarik-Boller, Steel Beam's revival stars Douglas Orlyk, of West Chicago, Karen Bronson and Mary Nigohsian, of Aurora, as middle-aged siblings reflecting on missed opportunities and unrealized ambitions. Opens at 8 p.m. Friday, May 19, at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $23-$28. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.

True story on 'Parade'

The true story of Leo Frank - a Brooklyn-born, Jewish factory manager in 1913 Atlanta charged with murdering a 13-year-old girl - inspired "Parade," a musical by composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown ("The Last Five Years") and writer Alfred Uhry ("Driving Miss Daisy"). Writers Theatre concludes its season with director Gary Griffin's revival, starring Patrick Andrews as Leo and Brianna Borger as his devoted wife, Lucille. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 24, at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The show opens May 31. $35-$80. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.

Other theater events

• The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre revives "Hair," the adults-only rock musical by writer/lyricists Gerome Ragni and James Rado and composer Galt MacDermot. Set in the late 1960s, this theatrical counterculture snapshot centers on a diverse group of hippies and activists. Among them is the conflicted Claude, a draftee wrestling with the decision of whether to go to war or resist. Resident director Lauren Rawitz helms the production, which continues previews through Sunday, May 21, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. The show opens May 26. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

• A father and his daughter, both of whom served in the U.S. Marines, battle post-traumatic stress disorder in "Johnny 10 Beers' Daughter" by Dana Lynn Formby. Produced by Something Marvelous and Joseph Jefferson Award winner Randy Steinmeyer in cooperation with Chicago Dramatists' Grafting Project, the production begins previews Friday, May 19, at 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. The show, starring Steinmeyer and Arti Ishak, opens Sunday, May 21. See somethingmarvelous.org.

• Previews begin Friday, May 19, for Goodman Theatre's world premiere of "Pamplona," Jim McGrath's drama about Ernest Hemingway's life after he received the Pulitzer and Nobel prizes, during which his physical and psychological health and his relationships declined. The production reunites Goodman artistic director Robert Falls and actor Stacy Keach, who stars as Hemingway. The production opens May 28 at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

• In the city of Sandicago, where superheroes and super villains compete for dominance, Hank ignores his powers and lives a normal life until he's dragged kicking and screaming back into the conflict in "The Incredible Hank" by Alex B. Reynolds. New Millennium Theatre Company's production begins previews Friday, May 19, at The Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The show opens Wednesday, May 24. See nmtchicago.org.

• Subtext Theatre Company presents the world premiere of Leigh Johnson's "A Prayer for the Sandinistas," a dramedy about a Polish family in Chicago confronting secrets, guilt and broken promises against the backdrop of Pope John Paul II's 1979 visit. The show opens Friday, May 19, at Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. (773) 908-6124 or subtextnfp.org.

• ShawChicago Theater Company hosts its annual gala Shaw's Speakeasy from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 19, at 195 E. Delaware Place, Chicago. The 1920s-themed event includes dinner, music, a scene from "Cashel Byron's Profession" and an auction. (312) 587-7390 or shawchicago.org.

• Victory Gardens Theater's Up Close and Personal Series showcasing solo performers continues with playwright Luis Alfaro's "St. Jude," chronicling Alfaro's return to his childhood home following his father's stroke. The production runs select days through June 4 at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Also running through June 4 at VGT is Brian Quijada's autobiographical "Where Did We Sit on the Bus?" inspired by a third grade Latino boy's question during a lesson on the Civil Rights movement. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.

• Chicago-area storytellers share their experiences related to the state of Israel as part of "Israel: Many Voices, Stories From and of the Land." Dan Tatar, of Naperville, hosts the event, supported by the Spertus Institute of Chicago. It takes place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at the Double Tree by Hilton, 9599 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. (312) 322-1773 or spertus.edu/community.

• Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald performs Monday, May 22, at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Joining McDonald for an evening of behind-the scenes Broadway stories and songs is pianist Seth Rudetsky and McDonald's husband, Will Swenson. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• Pride Films and Plays showcases musical theater artists nominated for 2017 non-equity Joseph Jefferson Awards during its annual Nominee Night cabaret at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, at the Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. (800) 737-0984 or prideartscenter.com.

• Genesis Theatrical Productions presents a staged reading of Brett Busang's "Two Lights/The Hopper Play." It's loosely based on artists Edward and Jo Hopper, whose marriage suffered because one was more successful than the other. The reading takes place Wednesday, May 24, at The Pride Arts Center, 4147 N. Broadway, Chicago. See genesistheatricals.com.

• Performances continue through June 17 for Trap Door Theatre's production of "Into an Empty Sky," a new work created and directed by Monica Payne and based on the poetry of the late Polish poet and Nobel Prize winner Wislawa Szymborska. Performances take place at 1655 W. Cortland St., Chicago. (773) 384-0494 or trapdoortheatre.com.

• Chicago Shakespeare Theater has extended its production of "Shakespeare in Love," adapted by Lee Hall from the Academy Award-winning screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard. Performances of the romantic comedy about young Will Shakespeare - who suffers from writer's block until he meets his muse - run through June 18 at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

• Random Acts and the Greenhouse Theater Center announced a second extension of the world premiere of "Strangest Things! The Musical," inspired by the Netflix series about a quirky town in the 1980s. Performances run through July 8 at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-7336 or greenhousetheater.org.

• Cavalia's "Odysseo," the combination equestrian and theatrical event, has been extended. Performances continue through May 28 under the white big top at Soldier Field South Lot, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago. (866) 999-8111 or cavalia.com.

• The Joseph Jefferson Award Committee announced actor/writer/director David Cerda will receive a special non-equity Jeff Award during the non-equity ceremony on June 5 in recognition for his theatrical and charitable contributions. Co-founder and artistic director of Hell in a Handbag Productions, a company known for its drag and camp productions, Cerda has helped raise more than $58,000 for causes including the American Cancer Society and The Wounded Warrior Project.

• Comings and goings: Steppenwolf Theatre announced the addition of actor and Chicago native Glenn Davis to its ensemble. Murphy Monroe, formerly of Columbia College Chicago, takes over as The Actors Gymnasium's new executive director next month. Joseph Schupbach will end his tenure as Barrel of Monkeys' artistic director later this summer to pursue a master's degree in dramatic arts. Brown Paper Box Co. co-founders Anna Schutz and M. William Panek have been named executive director and marketing director respectively.

• Collaboraction will address racism and racial healing during its 2017-2018 season. It begins Aug. 26 with the second annual Peacebook Festival, which takes place at several venues and showcases 21 world premiere theater, dance and spoken-word pieces about achieving peace. That's followed by "Encounter: An Explorative Event Series" (Jan. 17-21, 2018), a festival showcasing theater, visual art, music, dance and video projects centered on the theme "Racism and Racial Healing." Collaboraction's season concludes with "A Blue Island in the Red Sea" (April 19-May 27, 2018), an original theater piece examining the root cause of racism and how the city can begin to heal itself. Except for Peacebook, performances take place at 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (312) 226-9633 or collaboraction.org.