Theater spotlight: 'Pinkalicious' brings sparkle and fun to Marriott stage
Tickled pink
Marriott Theatre presents its musical adaptation of "Pinkalicious," based on the children's book by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann about a girl who develops Pinkitis after eating too many pink cupcakes. Amanda Tanguay directs and choreographs this production for young audiences, which stars Landree Fleming in the titular role. Previews begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 14-15, at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The show opens July 21. $18.23. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.
Shrewd Shakespeare
First Folio Theatre premieres "Shrew'd!" - a new musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's comedy "The Taming of the Shrew" starring Sierra Schnack as the willful Kate and Christopher W. Jones as Petruchio, the suitor who promises to "tame" her. First Folio executive director David Rice and Lydia Hiller's adaptation features a score by Christopher Kriz with lyrics by Hiller and Rice. Johanna McKenzie Miller directs the production, which unfolds under the stars on the grounds of the Mayslake Peabody Estate. Last preview at 8:15 p.m. Friday, July 13. Opens at 8:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 14-15, and runs through Aug. 19 at 1717 31st St., Oak Brook. $29-$44. (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org.
Fairy tale time
The Chicago Kids Company brings to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre its production of "Cinderella," about a lonely young woman saddled with spiteful siblings and a malevolent stepmother whose Fairy Godmother grants her wish to attend the royal ball. Opens at 10 a.m. Monday, July 16, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $12-$14. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.
New work carnaval
Chicago playwright Carlos Murillo and directors Ricardo Gutierrez and Denise Yvette Serna are among the theater artists whose work is featured during Carnaval 2018: ConeXion! consisting of free readings of new Latino and Latina works taking place at DePaul University. Also participating in the festival hosted by Latinx Theatre Commons, a national movement devoted to expanding the visibility of Latino and Latina artists, are Aguijon Theater, the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance, Teatro Vista and Urban Theater Company. Featured plays include Murillo's "Killing of a Gentleman Defender" about a young artist commissioned to make a docudrama about youth violence; Marisela Trevino Orta's "Shoe" about a young woman who gave up college to care for her younger siblings; and Paz Pardo's "Milton, MI" about two onetime hotshot poets and an ambitious young woman. The showcase also includes Alexis Scheer's "Our Dear Drug Lord" about a group of teenage girls who worship kingpin Pablo Escobar; Guadalis del Carmen's "My Father's Keeper" about a Dominican family whose secrets surface after the patriarch passes; and Noah Diaz's "Richard & Jane & Dick & Sally" about the now-estranged siblings from the popular 1950s children's books who struggle to make peace before it's too late. Thursday through Saturday, July 19-21, at The Theatre School at DePaul University, 2350 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. Readings are free, but tickets are required. They're available at latinxtheatrecommons.com.