Theater events: Divas sing, Potter parody gets extension
Delicious divas
"Lettin' the Good Times Roll," a cabaret concert showcasing award-winning singers/actresses E. Faye Butler and Felicia P. Fields continues at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater. Backed by a top-flight septet, Butler and Fields - whose credits include productions at Marriott, Drury Lane, Northlight, Goodman and Court theaters among others - pair Broadway, jazz, gospel and blues tunes with insider tales and sassy banter. The New Year's Eve VIP package includes a post-show party with the divas and their special guests. 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Dec. 29-31, at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Performances run through Jan. 7. $15-$65. New Year's Eve tickets cost $80 or $150. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.
A good son struggles
"The Obedient Son," a new play by Lake Zurich writer Ken Wiczer, gets a staged reading at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. A discussion with Wiczer follows the performance of the play about a closeted gay man struggling with his sexuality, who fears his family will disown him if they uncover his truth. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.
More 'Potted Potter'
Promises of a live game of Quidditch might be exaggerated, but the announcement that "Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Potter Experience" has added performances is 100 percent accurate. The brainchild of former BBC television hosts Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, "Potted Potter" parodies J.K. Rowling's best-selling series, distilling her seven books into a 70-minute show. Performances run at various times Tuesday through Sunday through Jan. 21 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. $25-$69.95. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.
Other theater events
• The Goodman Theatre partners with Candlelighters NYC - which supports families who travel to New York City for pediatric cancer treatment - for the Tiny Tim Drive, which supports a charitable organization selected by the actor playing Tiny Tim in Goodman's "A Christmas Carol." Yorkville's Paris Strickland, who plays Tim in this year's production, selected Candlelighters NYC, which benefited her family during Strickland's battle with pediatric cancer. Contributions can be made in the form of Walgreens/Duane Reade gift cards in any amount. Goodman will accept the cards during Thursday and Friday, Dec. 28-29, performances. Online donations can be made through Jan. 2 at candlelightersnyc.org/tiny-tim-drive.
• Block St. Theatre, a company founded in Arkansas that now calls Chicago home, premieres "Flamingo & Decatur," by poker player turned playwright Todd Taylor. Set in Las Vegas in the aftermath of 2008's housing crisis, the play centers around professional gambler Jackson who - along with his pal Ben - squats illegally in one of the city's many foreclosed homes until next-door-neighbor Simon intervenes. Previews begin Thursday, Jan. 4, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens Jan. 10. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org or blocksttheatreco.org.
• Pegasus Theatre Chicago presents its 31st Young Playwrights Festival Thursday, Jan. 4, through Jan. 27 at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. The festival consists of staged, professional productions of four plays by Chicago high school students selected from more than 500 submissions. (866) 811-4111 or pegasustheatrechicago.org.
• Vicki Quade, co-creator of "Late Night Catechism," and her company Nuns4Fun invite theatergoers to trade an unwanted holiday gift for a $10 ticket to "Bible Bingo: An Act of Charity in Two Acts," which returns on Jan. 5 to the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The gifts collected during January will be donated to the Little Sister of the Poor, who operate St. Mary's Home at 2325 N. Lakewood Ave., Chicago. "Bible Bingo" is Quade's one-woman, interactive, improvised comedy in which a former nun turned archdiocese fundraiser presides over a night of Bible trivia. Quade shares the role with Kathleen Puls Andrade, Liz Cloud and Cheryl Roy. Reserve tickets at (312) 988-9000 using the code REGIFT.
• Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Jan. 9 for Chicago Theatre Week. Produced in partnership with the League of Chicago Theatres and Choose Chicago, the sixth annual celebration runs from Feb. 8-18 at city and suburban theaters including Paramount, Drury Lane, Writers, Northlight, Goodman, Steppenwolf, Court and Porchlight theaters among others. A limited number of tickets, designated for specific dates, will be priced at $15 and $30 (or less). See chicagotheatreweek.com.