On stage
Evergreen gives back: Evergreen Theatre Ensemble presents David Mamet's gently humorous and melancholic "Duck Variations," about two old friends ruminating on life and waterfowl. Profits from the production go to Loaves & Fishes, a local food pantry.
Opens Friday, Oct. 24, at the Naperville Women's Club, 14 S. Washington St., Naperville; (630) 544-9504 or evergreentheatre.org.
Lewis' 'Lion' on stage: The musical adaptation of C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," about siblings who stumble upon an enchanted land and help the noble Aslan defeat the White Witch, comes to the Paramount Theatre for one day only.
9:30 and 11:45 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora; (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.
Halloween 'Passion': First Folio Theatre invites audiences to dress in costume for the company's Halloween performances of "The Passion of Dracula." The combination show/fundraiser includes post-show cocktail and hors d'oeuvres receptions with the cast. Proceeds help fund theater improvements.
8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30 ($65 per person), and Friday, Oct. 31 ($75 per person), at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook; (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org.
• "The Woman in Black," Stephen Mallatratt's adaptation of Susan Hill's ghost story that ran for years in London's West End, opens Friday, Oct. 24, at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, 3801 S. Central Ave., Cicero. The thriller centers on a lawyer, desperate to unburden himself of the terrors of his past, who hires an actor to dramatize his story. (708) 656-1800 or jpactheatre.com.
• Friday, Oct. 25, is the last preview of Lookingglass Theatre's adaptation of "The Brother's Karamazov," Fyodor Dostoevsky's novel about passion, lust, greed and betrayal in which a father and his son compete over the same woman. Ensemble member Heidi Stillman adapts and directs Lookingglass' 50th world premiere. The show opens Saturday, Oct. 25, at 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.
• Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich deconstruct the original broadcast of H.G. Hells' "The War of the Worlds," Sunday, Oct. 26, and Monday, Oct. 27, at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. "Martian Invasion! Decoding the War of the Worlds" examines the broadcast against the America's psychological state at the time. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.
• As part of its search for the zaniest person in Chicago, Zanies, 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, hosts an Open Call standup competition on Monday, Oct. 27. Ten comedians will perform a three- to five-minute routine in front of a live audience. Two of them will move on to the finals Nov. 30, where they will compete with Chicago's zaniest attorney, zaniest medical professional, zaniest educator and zaniest accountant. The club also hosts a Father & Son comedy show Thursday, Oct. 30. (312) 337-4027 or zanies.com.
• Tricks and treats. Comedian/chanteuse Sandra Bernhard, accompanied by the Rebellious Jezebels, host a Halloween show and costume party Monday, Oct., 27, at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.
• Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago, hosts I-Fest 2008 from Thursday, Oct. 28 to Nov. 2. The mini-festival showcases solo performers from around the world. This incarnation features Oleg Liptsin's take on Fyodor Dostoevsky's "Notes from the Underground" and William El-Gardi performing "Yasser," Abdelkader Banali's monologue about a Palestinian actor preparing to play Shakespeare's Shylock, who's conflicted about his identity and the role he is to play. (773) 278-1500.
• A conservative academic and a liberal political activist clash over the building of a museum devoted to liberty on the grounds of George Washington's home and slave quarters in "A House With No Walls," the second in Thomas Gibbon's race trilogy including "Bee-luther-hatchee" and "Permanent Collection." TimeLine Theatre Company's Chicago premiere begins previews Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. The play opens Saturday, Nov. 1. (773) 281-8463 or timelinetheatre.com.
• Collaboraction teams up with writer George Saunders in the world premiere stage adaptation of Saunder's short story "Jon," a teenage love story set in a future where commercials have replaced real life experiences. Previews begin Thursday, Oct. 30 at the Building Stage, 412 N. Carpenter St., Chicago. The play opens Nov. 3. (312) 226-9633 or collaboraction.org.