Theater spotlight: 'The Gathering' returns to Libertyville's Improv Playhouse

Posted March 20, 2018 6:00 am

Romeo Sobrepena plays Judas in Improv Playhouse's “The Gathering,” a contemporary take on the Last Supper. Courtesy of Improv Playhouse

Annual 'Gathering'

The Improv Playhouse presents its annual production of “The Gathering,” a contemporary take on the Last Supper by Josephine Raciti, one of the pioneers of Chicago improv, and Rolf Forsberg. David Brian Stuart adapted and directed the production, which features Shahab Astabraghpour and Tyler Ankey as The Teacher and Romeo Sobrepena as Judas. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 23-24 and 30-31, at 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. $5-$15 in advance; $5-$20 at the door. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com.

Family drama

Stage Left Theatre concludes its 36th season with “The Luckiest People,” a domestic drama by Meredith Friedman, which is part of a rolling world premiere in conjunction with the National New Play Network. After his mother dies, Richard is faced with caring for his elderly, irascible father in Friedman's examination of our responsibilities to family and how we cope with generational and personality differences. Stage Left co-artistic director Jason A. Fleece directs. Previews are at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 24; 3 p.m. Sunday, March 25; and 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. Opens Thursday, March 29. $20-$32. (773) 935-6875 or athenaeumtheatre.org or stagelefttheatre.com.

Heather Chrisler stars in "Mary's Wedding" at First Folio Theatre.

RSVP please

First Folio Theatre presents “Mary's Wedding,” an interracial love story by Stephen Massicotte set against World War I. Melanie Keller directs the play, which chronicles the romance of Mary (Heather Chrisler) and Charlie (Debo Balogun) from their first meeting to their wartime separation to their postwar struggles. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 31st St., Oak Brook. Opens March 30. $25-$44. (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org.

Curtis Edward Jackson, left, and Rudy Galvan star as William Inge and Tennessee Williams in Raven Theatre's premiere of "The Gentleman Caller" by Philip Dawkins. Courtesy of Christopher Semel

'Gentleman Caller'

Raven Theatre premieres Philip Dawkins' “The Gentleman Caller” about the personal and professional struggles of seminal American playwrights William Inge and Tennessee Williams. Set in 1944 and inspired by an actual meeting between the two men, the drama unfolds in the St. Louis apartment of then entertainment critic Inge, who invited Williams over for an interview before Williams' “The Glass Menagerie” premiered in Chicago. Curtis Edward Jackson and Rudy Galvan star. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. Opens April 2. $29-$46. (773) 338-2177 or raventheatre.com.

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