New on stage
Greasy Joan & Co. begins its 12th year with Moliere's "The Misanthrope," a satire on aristocrats whose empty lives revolve around gossip. The play opens today at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, Chicago. (312) 902-1500 or greasyjoan.org.
Socially conscious Will Act For Food, a theater company that serves the body and the mind, presents Wendy MacLeod's black comedy "The House of Yes," about an upper-crust East Coast family steeped in dysfunction and permissiveness. The play opens today at The Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-9725 or willactforfood.com.
Oscar-winner (for documentary short) Eric Simonson directs Steppenwolf Theatre's production of "Carter's Way," a Depression-era drama about a black saxophonist in love with the white girlfriend of a local mobster. The show opens Sunday at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1659 or steppenwolf.org.
Previews begin Tuesday for The Utopian Theatre Asylum's production of "Uncle Vanya," in a new translation by Steppenwolf's Yasen Peyankov and Peter Christensen. The show opens March 14 at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. (773) 680-0826 or tutato.com
House Theatre of Chicago debuted its latest rock 'n' roll, multi-media production "The Attempters," about a 17-year-old guitar slinger destined who believes he's destined for fame, this week at The Building Stage, 412 N. Carpenter St., Chicago. (773) 251-2195 or thehousetheatre.com.
The Cole Porter inspired musical "Can-Can," about a French judge's attempt to ban the popular dance, opened this week at Circle Theatre, 7300 W. Madison St., Forest Park. (708) 771-0700 or circle-theatre.org.
-- Barbara Vitello