Shattered Globe's 'Menagerie' opens Sept. 4

Shattered Globe's 'Menagerie'

Shattered Globe Theatre artistic director Kevin Hagan stages Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" in the dreamy, highly theatrical style the playwright intended in Shattered Globe's season-opening production. The terrific Linda Reiter stars as Wingfield matriarch Amanda.

Previews begin Sept. 4. The show opens Sept. 7 at the Victory Gardens Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or shatteredglobe.org.

Late-night humor

"The Naughty Show" is The Comedy Shrine's decidedly grown-up version of "Whose Line," the club's weekend improv show inspired by the TV series. The 'naughty' set runs late nights at the Naperville club.

10 p.m. Fridays at 22 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. (630) 355-2844 or comedyshrine.com.

Short play fest

LiveWire Chicago Theatre presents VisionFest 2008, the company's first short play festival showcasing emerging playwrights. The plays center on control, a theme chosen from LiveWire's online poll. The 10 best will be staged this weekend at the Chemically Imbalanced Theater.

8 p.m. Aug. 29 and 30 at 1420 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. (312) 533-4666 or livewirechicago.com.

Auditions

• The Lyric Opera of Chicago seeks supernumeraries and actors for its 2008-09 season.

Two male actors are needed to play servants in "Manon." Auditions are 6 p.m. Sept. 3. Also, two 9-year-old boys and two 14-year-old girls are needed in "Manon" to play pages and aristocrats. Auditions are 6 p.m. Sept. 5. Those cast must be available from Sept. 6 through Oct. 31.

Six men and six women are needed to play Ceylon priests and priestesses in "The Pearl Fishers." Auditions are 6 p.m. Sept. 8. Those cast must be available Sept. 12 through Nov. 4.

One German-speaking actor is sought to play Pasha Selim in Mozart's "The Abuduction From the Seraglio." Auditions are from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 26.

Sixteen Black or African-American supernumeraries are needed to play Catfish Row residents in "Porgy and Bess" (six boys and six girls are also needed). Auditions are 6 p.m. Oct. 14. Those cast must be available Oct. 15 through Dec. 19.

All auditions at the Civic Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Call (312) 827-3538 for more information.

• Lake Zurich Park District's Village Singers seeks new members for its non-audition community chorus. Rehearsals are Monday evenings from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Lakeview Community Church, 330 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich. Call (847) 726-2011 for more information.

• The forthcoming Skokie production of the comedy "Church Basement Ladies" is holding a contest for Chicagoans to nominate their favorite "Church Basement Lady." The winner gets a chance to meet the show's star, William Christopher ("M*A*S*H"), at a dinner at Geja's Cafe and receives two complimentary tickets to the show. Now through Sept. 8, entrants of all faiths are invited to submit a 150-word nomination essay. Visit cbi-chicago.com.

• Auditions for children's roles in Moscow Ballet's touring "Great Russian Nutcracker" are 5:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at S.P.A.C.E., 3433 W. Peterson Ave., Chicago. The performance is in Rosemont on Dec. 14. Call (773) 880-1701 for more information or visit nutcracker.com.

• Up to $2,000 in cash prizes and purchase awards are to be bestowed upon artists chosen for the College of Lake County's "Recent Works 2008," the 28th annual juried exhibit. Up to two works completed in the past two years that have never been shown may be submitted by Lake County artists (ages 18 and older). The entry deadline is 3 p.m. Sept. 12. Call (847) 543-2240 or visit gallery.clcillinois.edu for more information.

• Cold reading auditions for an October production of Arthur Miller's "The Crucible" at Oakton Community College are 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 2 and 3 at 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines. Call (847) 376-7059 for more information.

• Encore Theatre in collaboration with the David Adler Music and Arts Center in Libertyville has open auditions for its 2008-09 season from 5 to 7 p.m. Sept. 3 and from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 4 at 1700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Scheduled productions include "Dead Certain," "Mass Appeal" and "'Night Mother." Call (847) 708-8880 for more information.

• Improv Playhouse has auditions for its Young Actors Workshop (ages 10-17) production of Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island" from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 2. Auditions for Improv Playhouse's Actors Conservatory for Teens (ages 14-17) production of Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" is from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 3. Auditions for Improv Playhouse's Showstoppers production of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" are from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 5. Kids ages 11-17 are sought. Each audition is at 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Call (847) 968-4529 or visit improvplayhouse.com.

• Teatro Luna seeks Latina actresses (bilingual with English and Spanish required in some cases) for four productions: "Jarred: A Hoodoo Comedy," "Restaurant Spanish" and touring productions of "S-E-X-OH" and "Machos." Prepare a two-minute contemporary monologue and/or an original two-minute piece created by yourself for the audition from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 6 at St. Luke's Church, 2649 N. Francisco Ave., Chicago. Reservations required. E-mail casting@teatroluna.org for more information.

• Noble Fool Theatricals seeks local kids ages 11 to 18 to perform in a production of Stephen Schwartz's "Godspell." Auditions are noon to 5 p.m. Sept. 7 and 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 10 at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. Call (630) 443-0438 for more information.

• Theatre-on-the-Hill has auditions for a November production of the Tony Award-winning film noir musical "City of Angels" from 6 to 10 p.m. Sept. 5 and 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 6 at Bolingbrook's Performing Arts stage, 375 W. Briarcliff, Bolingbrook. Visit tothbolingbrook.com for more information.

• Trilogy Performing Arts School seeks students to perform in productions (including Disney's "High School Musical" and "The Aristocats") taught by Improv Playhouse faculty at 490 E. Route 22, Lake Zurich. Call (847) 438-6424 or visit trilogydance.com.

• Stage Coach Players has auditions for its holiday production of "A Christmas Carol" from 3 to 7 p.m. Sept. 7 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 8 at 126 S. Fifth St., DeKalb. Call (815) 758-1940.

• McHenry County College has auditions for Alan Ayckbourn's outrageous British comedy "Table Manners" from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 8 and 9 on campus at 8900 Route 14, Crystal Lake. Call (815) 455-8746 for more information.

• The TownSquare Players has auditions for a November production of Mary Chase's comedy "Harvey" from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Sept. 8 and 9 at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 W. Van Buren St., Woodstock. Call (815) 338-5407 for more information.

• The Palatine/Inverness Arts Council is seeking donations for its Fourth annual An Art Affair Around the Square fair, which is held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 13 and 14. Call (847) 963-6451 or visit palatineinvernessarts.org for more information.

• The Geneva Film Festival is accepting submissions through Sept. 15. Entry fees range from $10 to $45 depending upon category. Visit genevafilmfestival.org for more information.

• Steel Beam Theatre has auditions for kids ages 9 to 16 for a tuition-based production of the play "Legend of Pocahontas" from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 13 at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. Call (630) 587-8521 for more information.

• The Albright Theatre Company has auditions for a November production of John Patrick Shanley's award-winning drama "Doubt: A Parable" at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14 and 15 at the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave., Batavia. Albright Theatre Company also has auditions for an October production of "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16 and 17. Auditions are cold readings from the script. Call (630) 406-8838 or visit albrighttheatre.com.

• Pianists are invited to audition for the internationally acclaimed Six Piano Ensemble at Oakton Community College. Audition times are 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 15 and 17 in Room 1360 at 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines. Music is provided, but pianists may also prepare their own selection. Call (847) 635-1905 for more information.

• The North Shore Theater of Wilmette has auditions for its November production of the musical "Little Shop of Horrors" at 7 p.m. Sept. 15 and 17 at the Wilmette Park District's Community Recreation Center, 3000 Glenview Road, Wilmette. Call (847) 256-9694 for more information.

• Improv Playhouse seeks Lake County residents between the ages of 5 and 18 to compete in its family friendly "Lake County's Got Talent Showcase." There is a $20 application fee and applications must be submitted by Sept. 15 to 116 W. Lake St., Libertyville. Call (847) 968-4529 or visit improvplayhouse.com for more information.

• Auditions for student productions of "Cinzano and Smirnova's Birthday," "The Foghorn," "Pillar of Fire" and "A Christmas Carol" are at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 and noon Sept. 6 at College of DuPage McAninch Arts Center Studio Theatre, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Call (630) 942-2137 for more information.

• The Mystery Shop has general auditions for its adult and children's interactive mystery programs from 7 to 10 p.m. Sept. 22 at Downers Grove Park District Lincoln Center, 935 Maple Ave., Room 506, Downers Grove. Have a one-minute monologue prepared and be ready for cold script readings. Visit TheMysteryShop.com or call (630) 690-1105 for more information.

• The Elmhurst Choral Union seeks additional singers for the 2008-09 season. Seasoned choral singers or those who can read music are sought, especially tenors and basses. Call (630) 758-1100 or visit elmhurstchoralunion.org to schedule an audition for Sept. 22 at Elmhurst College, 190 Prospect Ave., Elmhurst.

• The Northwest Cultural Council seeks artists to submit works for its 2008 juried international visual art and poetry exhibition with the theme "Life's Unique Journey." There are cash prizes. There is a $25 jury fee for artwork and a $15 fee for two poetic entries. Deadline is Sept. 30. Visit northwestculturalcouncil.org or call (847) 991-7966 for more information.

• The Chicago Zoological Society is now accepting submissions for its annual photo contest. Photos (8-by-10 inches) of animals are due by Oct. 7. Visit CZS.org or call (708) 688-8351 for entry forms and more information.

• WTA's 16th Annual Actor's Scene Showcase invites actors to perform a five-to-eight minute, two-person scene of their choosing before a panel of local directors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18 at the Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Find applications at wtachicago.org for more information.