First Folio's 'Design for Living' opens Jan. 31
First Folio Theatre's season of passion continues with "Design for Living," Noel Coward's droll examination of a love triangle between two friends vying for the same woman. Artistic associates Kevin McKillip and Melanie Keller star.
Facts: Previews begin Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook. Opens Jan. 31. (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org.
Marriott salutes American spirit
Theatergoers have an incentive to dress in red, white and blue when they come to see Marriott Theatre's "The Bowery Boys," author/director David H. Bell's new musical inspired by Horatio Alger's rags-to-riches tales about an enterprising shoeshine boy living in 19th-century New York City. The theater will give a free pair of tickets to an upcoming production to any "Bowery Boys" audience member who arrives at the theater to pick up their tickets wearing patriotic colors.
Facts: Promotion and performances continue through Feb. 15 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.
'Wake' returns
Noble Fool recently revived its long-running "Flanagan's Wake," the interactive, improvised comedy in which the residents of a small Irish burg mourn the passing of one of their own.
Facts: Runs Fridays through Sundays through March 29 at Pheasant Run Resort & Spa, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 584-6342 or noblefool.org.
What's new
• Those nonpartisan satirists The Capitol Steps close out inaugural week by sending up politicians in songs like "Monster Crash" and "Flock Around Barack" at Skokie's Centre East, The group performs through Sunday, Jan. 25, at the theater located in the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. (847) 673-6300 or centreeast.org.
• TUTA, The Utopian Theatre Asylum, presents the U.S. premiere of Russian playwright Oleg Bogaev's "Maria's Field," which until now has not been performed outside Russia. It opens Friday, Jan. 23, at the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St., Chicago. (312) 742-8497 or tutato.com.
• "Chasing Dumb," a dark comedy about pursuing something you don't really want, which was first performed as part of the Annoyance Theatre's director showcase Triple Feature, opens Friday, Jan. 23, at 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. Also at the Annoyance, founder Mick Napier's comedy "Bandicoot!", runs Thursdays at the theater. (773) 561-4665 or annoyanceproductions.com.
• A doctor dreams up a cure for love in "Lea. A Nightmare," a play by Augie Praley that chronicles the doctor's rocky relationship with his wife, Lea, even into the afterlife. The play originated in Gorilla Tango Theatre's Experimental Series. It opens Friday, Jan. 23, at 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549.
• Black Ensemble Theater continues its salute to the men who advanced soul and R&B with the world premiere of "I Gotcha (The Story of Joe Tex and The Soul Clan)" about the singer torn between his devotion to Nation of Islam leader Elijah Mohammed and music stardom. Lyle Miller stars as Joe Tex in the production written by Joe Plummer and David Barr and directed by BET founder Jackie Taylor. Previews begin Saturday, Jan. 24, at 4520 N. Beacon St., Chicago. The musical opens Sunday, Feb. 1. (773) 769-4451 or blackensemble.org.
• Nick Bowling directs Timeline Theatre Company's world premiere of "Not Enough Air," Masha Obolensky's drama about journalist-playwright Sophie Treadwell whose fascination with the real life trial of accused murderer Ruth Snyder inspired Treadwell's famed "Machinal," one of the premier examples of American expressionism. The production remarks a two-year collaboration between the theater and the playwright. The play opens Saturday, Jan. 24, at 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. (773) 281-8463 or timelinetheatre.com.