Theater spotlight: 'La Havana Madrid' gets third remount at Goodman

'La Havana Madrid'

"La Havana Madrid," a Teatro Vista premiere and one of the season's biggest hits, gets a third remount at the Goodman Theatre, coming on the heels of sold-out runs at Steppenwolf Theatre and The Miracle Center in Chicago. Inspired in part by a long-shuttered Chicago club popular during the 1960s, "La Havana Madrid" tells the stories of the Cuban, Puerto Rican and Columbian immigrants who frequented the nightspot. Sandra Delgado wrote and co-stars in the production, directed by Cheryl Lynn Bruce. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Friday, July 21, at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The show opens Wednesday, July 26. $20-$50. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

'Fairways' revival

Steel Beam Theatre former artistic director Donna Steele returns to the company she founded to helm a revival of the golf-inspired musical "Fairway." Written by Steele's sister Mary Hutchings Reed (book and lyrics) and Curt Powell (music), the musical tells the story of several avid golfers' attempts to interest their children in the game and the unlikely romance that arises as a result. Performances begin at 8 p.m. Friday, July 21, at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $28. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.

'Song' revived

When an award-winning composer meets a quirky, talented lyricist, a successful partnership is born. Problems arise when their professional relationship turns romantic in "They're Playing Our Song," a musical by composer Marvin Hamlisch and lyricist Carole Bayer Sager, with book by Neil Simon. Brown Paper Box Co. revives the 1979 tuner in a production featuring Carmen Risi as lyricist Sonya and Dan Gold as composer Vernon. The preview is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 21, at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. The show opens Saturday, July 22. $27. brownpaperbox.org.

Other theater events

• Goodman Theatre resident director Chuck Smith helms the Chicago-area premiere of "An Octoroon," a timely examination on race by Pulitzer Prize finalist Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins ("Gloria"). Jacobs-Jenkins reframes his contemporary riff on Dion Boucicault's 19th-century melodrama - about the love affair between the Caucasian owner of a failing Southern plantation and a woman who is part African-American - as a critique of the original's depiction of race. Definition Theatre Company's production, in collaboration with Goodman Theatre, begins previews Friday, July 21, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens July 24. (773) 781-3000 or victorygardens.org or definitiontheatre.org.

• The press preview is Friday, July 21, for The Arc Theatre's all-female production of William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew." Arc's free production offers a fresh perspective on the courtship and marriage dramedy. Produced in association with Ridgeville Park District, the show opens Saturday, July 22, at Ridgeville Park, 908 Seward St., Evanston. Natalie Sallee and Teddy Boone direct. See arctheatrechicago.org or ridgeville.org/shakespeare for the schedule.

• Cirque du Soleil returns to Chicago with its newest big-top production "Luzia." Subtitled "a waking dream of Mexico," the show pays homage to the country and its people. Performances begin Friday, July 21, under the big top at the United Center parking lot, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. See cirquedusoleil.com/luzia.

• Strawdog Theatre Company hosts its weeklong Chicago Theatre Marathon beginning Friday, July 21, at 1802 W. Berenice Ave., Chicago. Subtitled "I Am Indomitable," the festival consists of 27 new works centered on characteristics - race, sexual orientation, gender and age among others - that make people unique. See chicagotheatremarathon.com for a schedule.

• Black Ensemble Theater offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at a fictional reality dance competition in its latest production "Last Dancer Standing (More Than Hip-Hop)." Written, directed and choreographed by Ruben Echoles, the world premiere begins previews Saturday, July 22, at 4450 N. Clark St., Chicago. The show opens July 30. (773) 769-4451 or blackensemble.org.

• Director/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's 2015 Broadway revival of "An American in Paris" - which earned Tony Awards for choreography, orchestrations, set and lighting design - comes to Chicago as part of its North American tour. Performances for the three-week run begin Tuesday, July 25, at the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• iO Chicago's monthly variety show "Ayahuasca Baby" continues with Bryant Smith presiding over a production that includes improv, music, animation and audience interaction. It runs Tuesday, July 25, and Aug. 22 at 1501 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago. (312) 929-2401 or ioimprov.com.

• Chicago Shakespeare Theater's annual Chicago parks tour features a 75-minute abridged production of William Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet." Free performances begin Wednesday, July 26, at Polk Bros. Park on Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. They run through Aug. 27 at city parks including Gage, Garfield, Ridge and Loyola parks, among others. For a schedule, see chicagoshakes.com/parks.

• The Neo-Futurists examine the ramifications of changing a beloved family recipe in their world premiere "The Food Show," a play about relationships and traditions that begins previews Thursday, July 27, at Metropolitan Brewing, 3057 N. Rockwell St., Chicago. Created and directed by Dan Kerr-Hobert, the show was inspired by an argument his grandmother and her sisters had over the family recipe for arroz con pollo. Performances run through Sept. 2. (773) 275-5255 or neofuturists.org.

• Previews begin Thursday, July 27, for Mercury Theater Chicago's revival of "Hair," the "American tribal love-rock musical" by James Rado, Gerome Ragni and Galt MacDermot celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Brenda Didier, of Lincolnshire, directs and Eugene Dizon serves as music director for the musical, which offers a glimpse into New York City's late 1960s counterculture. The show opens Aug. 3 at 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. (773) 325-1700 or mercurytheaterchicago.com.

• Barrel of Monkeys presents "Kids Write It: 20 Years of Intergenerational Storytelling" showcasing student-written stories from the company's first two decades. Artistic director Joseph Schupbach directs the show, which takes place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6875 or athenaeumtheatre.org or barrelofmonkeys.org.

• Performances of "Hog's Belly: A Fable Noir" by Dead Whale Productions continue through July 29 at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. A mashup of film noir and animal fables, the play examines the "destructive power of fear and hate through the eyes of disgruntled rats and roaches" inhabiting the sewer beneath a shuttered restaurant. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

• "Kamikaze: A Mentally Ill Comedy Show," which examines the highs, lows and laughs that accompany mental illness, continues through Aug. 20 at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• Steppenwolf Theatre has extended "How to be a Rock Critic (Based on the Writings of Lester Bangs)." An homage to the writer by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, the solo show features Jensen as Bangs. The LookOut Series production runs through July 29 at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• Broken Nose Theatre has extended its remount of "At The Table," Michael Perlman's comedy about a group of longtime friends confronting some heretofore hidden issues. The production runs through Aug. 26 at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. See brokennosetheatre.com.

• Raven Theatre founders and co-artistic directors Michael Menendian and JoAnn Montemurro announced they will retire at the end of the 2017-2018 season, the company's 35th. The Joseph Jefferson Award-winning couple have produced, directed, designed and/or appeared in more than 100 Raven productions. Founded in 1983, the company called Rogers Park home from 1985 to 1999 before moving into its own space in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood in 2002. Walter Pophin, president of Raven's board of directors, praised the couple's contributions. "Through their effort and inspiration, Raven Theatre has offered high quality, accessible modern drama to Chicago audiences and established a dynamic education program in the local public schools," he said in a prepared statement.