Theater news
"30 Rock" cast members figure prominently in this year's Chicago Improv Festival, featuring more than 60 acts from around the country and Canada.
Paul Scheer and Jack McBrayer headline the festival's opening night Monday at the Lakeshore Theatre, 3175 N. Broadway, Chicago. Other "30 Rock' alums headlining the main stage include Scott Adsit, who teams up with Chicago's own Susan Messing and the Annoyance Theater's Mick Napier for a show Tuesday. Joining them are Chicago duos Bassprov and T.J. and Dave. John Lutz, also of "30 Rock," teams up with "MADtv" vet Ike Barinholtz and "The Colbert Report's" Peter Grosz for a show June 7. I.O. Chicago's all female team Children of a Lesser God opens.
Other improvisers scheduled to perform include "MADtv's" Frank Caeti and Keegan-Michael Key, Chicago's Pimprov and Whirled News Tonight among others.
Performance take place at the Lakeshore Theatre; The Playground, 3209 N. Halsted St.; The Second City Skybox 1608 N. Wells St.; Chemically Imbalanced Theatre, 1420 W. Irving Park Road; The Annoyance Theater, 4830 N. Broadway; I.O. Chicago, 3541 N. Clark St.; ComedySportz, 929 W. Belmont Ave.; Martyr's 3855 N. Lincoln Ave. and Gorilla Tango Theater, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Admission ranges from free to $30. For tickets and schedule information, see chicagoimprovfestival.org.
Lookingglass Theatre remounts "Nelson Algren: For Keeps and a Single Day," its multimedia portrait of the Chicago writer starring Thomas J. Cox and directed by John Musial. This remount of the play marks Lookingglass' first collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art. Performances begin Wednesday at the MCA, 220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago. (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org
Last chance
Noble Fool's production of "Late Nite Catechism," closes Saturday at the Pheasant Run Resort and Spa, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 584-6342.
"Neverwhere: A Circus Underground," the Actors Gymnasium's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's novel "Neverwhere" closes Sunday at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. (800) 838-3006.
Writers' unleashes 'Lion'
Writers' Theatre presents James Goldman's biting history drama, "The Lion in Winter," about the attempts of England's cunning Henry II and his equally manipulative wife Eleanor to manage the succession of Henry's crown. Steppenwolf's Rick Snyder directs husband and wife Michael Canavan and Shannon Cochran in the roles of the regals.
Previews continue through Tuesday. The play opens Wednesday at Writer's Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.
Vasquez returns
Self-styled Latin diva of comedy Patty Vasquez, who quit graduate school 13 years ago to emcee at Zanies, headlines the Vernon Hills club this weekend.
Show time is 8:30 p.m. today, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills. (847) 549-6030 or zanies.com.
Next by Neveu
Brett Neveu's "Gas for Less," about the generational, cultural and economic conflicts affecting the family who owns a filling station on Chicago's North Side, gets its world premiere at the Goodman Theatre. Dexter Bullard, who helmed Tracy Letts' breakout "Bug," directs.
Previews through Sunday. The play opens Monday at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.
-Barbara Vitello
- Barbara Vitello