'The Spew', 'Catechism' part of comedy series at Metropolis
Metropolis Performing Arts Center is the latest to jump on the "Late Nite Catechism" bandwagon with its revival of Vicki Quade's sendup of Roman Catholicism dogma. The show is part of the theater's comedy series whose lineup also includes "The Spew," a spoof of TV's "The View" coming later this month and another Quade show, "Sunday School Cinema," in which Sister turns movie critic, which opens in January.
Facts: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.
'Old Times' at Vex
The arrival of a former college roommate who Kate has not seen in 20 years disrupts the relationship between her and her husband Deeley in "Old Times," Harold Pinter's memory play about memories that can't be verified. The Palatine-based Vex Theatre stages the drama at the Elgin Art Showcase.
Facts: Opens Friday, Nov. 7, at 164 Division St., Elgin. For tickets, see vextheatre.org.
'Greatest Show' time
"Over The Top," the latest Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey incarnation, opened at Rosemont's Allstate Arena this week. The new production features headliner clown Tom Dougherty, formerly of the Big Apple Circus and Cirque du Soleil.
Facts: Runs through Nov. 16 at 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. The circus moves to the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago Nov. 18-30. (312) 559-1212 or ticketmaster.com.
What's new
• The New York City-based SITI Company, a progressive ensemble with international flavor founded by Anne Bogart and Tadashi Suzuki, returns to Court Theatre for the Chicago premiere of "Radio Macbeth," a radio play riff on Shakespeare's tragedy that finds a group of actors rehearsing the Scottish play in an abandoned theater. Previews are Thursday, Nov. 6, and Friday, Nov. 7. The play opens Saturday, Nov. 8 at 5535 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago. (773) 753-4472 or courttheatre.org.
• Previews continue for Provision Theater's holiday production of a pair of Truman Capote stories. Artistic director Tim Gregory adapts Capote's autobiographical "A Christmas Memory" and "The Thanksgiving Visitor," which center on seven-year-old Buddy who develops a bond with his elderly cousin Miss Sook Faulk over a couple of memorable holidays. The play opens Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted. St., Chicago. (312) 988-9000 or provisiontheater.org.
• Dramatis Personae begins its inaugural season with "Where's My Money?" a comedy about revenge and relationships by John Patrick Shanley ("Doubt," "Moonstruck"). The show opens Friday, Nov., 7, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.
• Playwright Ken Weitzman explores sibling rivalry and identity in his comedy "Arrangements" in its Chicago premiere courtesy of the Pavement Group. The production opens Friday, Nov. 7, at EP Theater, 1820 S. Halsted St., Chicago. (773) 278-9083 or pavementgroup.org.
• Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre graduate Noel Williams brings "Party of One," inspired by clowning and bouffon (a 16th century form of clowning where especially ugly characters were charged with entertaining the beautiful people), to the Studio Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph St., Chicago. The show, about a woman who "loves a little too much," opens Friday, Nov. 7. (312) 742-8497 or dcatheater.org.
• "Jigsaw," a "broken narrative" improv show put together exactly like the title suggests - as a puzzle which isn't fully perceived until complete - opens Friday, Nov. 7, at Oracle Theatre, 3809 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 857-3858 or theatremomentum.com.
• Emmy winner Sally Struthers comes to the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, as part of the 25th anniversary tour of "Nunsense," a musical about a group of nuns who stage a variety show to raise money to bury their fellow sisters who have succumbed to food poisoning. Performances are at 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.
• Two teenage Iranian boys exploring their sexuality are publicly rebuked and tried as criminals in "Haram Iran," Jay Paul Deratany's drama examining human rights violations resulting from the Iranian legal system's misinterpretation of the Muslim law of Sharia. David Zak directs Permoveo Productions' world premiere of Deratany's play, which does not criticize Muslims or the Muslim faith. The show opens Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport, Chicago. (312) 559-1212 or ticketmaster.com.
• Attempting to reclaim his former glory, Hollywood bad boy John Barrymore returns to Broadway to play Richard III in William Luce's "Barrymore." Michael Pacas stars in the production which opened this week at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 539-6383 or pacas.ws.
• A man desperately tries to rescue his brother who is slipping into madness in "The Gurney," Chicago playwright David Hauptschein's examination of the human psyche and brotherly bonds. Secret Life Theatre, a company founded by United Kingdom-based director Julio Maria Martino to produce Hauptschein's plays, presents the world premiere which opened this week at Strawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 329-1088.
• "Are You There God? It's Me Satan," a new show by Robot vs. Dinosaur, in which Satan has to make a tough choice to preserve overcrowded Hell, opened recently at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.