Theater spotlight: Northlight honors new moms with 'Cry It Out'
Here's to new moms
Northlight Theatre concludes its season with the Chicago-area premiere of "Cry It Out," Molly Smith Metzler's comedy about new motherhood directed by Jessica Fisch. Laura Lapidus, Elk Grove Village native Darci Nalepa and Kristina Valada-Viars co-star as new mothers struggling to balance family, work and life. Previews at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 11-12; 2:30 and 7 p.m. Sunday, May 13; 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, May 15-17; and 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 16. Opens at 8 p.m. May 19 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $30-$81. (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org.
Capitol Steps return
The Capitol Steps, the comedy troupe founded in 1981 by U.S. Senate staffers that specializes in political satire, return to the suburbs for two performances at the College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center. In addition to some old favorites, the group performs material from its newest album, "Orange is the New Barack," including a parody of Donald Trump's tweets set to the tune "Rockin' Robin." 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $42-$49. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org.
'Rip in the soul'
Against the backdrop of urban decay and despair, a young woman rebels against her aunts while a similarly defiant young man rebels against his grandfather in Caridad Svich's "De Troya." The play's Chicago-area premiere is courtesy of Halcyon Theatre. In a prepared statement, director Rinska Carrasco-Prestinary describes "De Troya" as a "rip in the soul" that reminds us "how violence has steeped in our world and how peace can come from unsuspected places." Previews begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, May 16, and run through May 23 at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3253 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago. The show opens May 24. $20. halcyontheatre.org.
See you on 'Avenue Q'
"Sesame Street" for grown-ups is probably the best way to describe "Avenue Q," the charming puppet musical by composer/lyricists Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx in a revival at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. Lauren Rawitz directs the show about 20-something hipsters living in a boho New York City neighborhood where they struggle with romantic relationships, personal finances and unsatisfying jobs. This show contains explicit lyrics and content and is for adults only. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 17 and 24, and Friday, May 18; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19; and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 20. The show opens May 25 at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $35, $40. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.