Theater on the hoof coming back to Elgin
Walkabout returns
Janus and Vex are among the six Elgin theater companies participating in the second annual "Walkabout: Theater on Your Feet," an event combining performances of short theatrical works with a walking tour of downtown Elgin.
Other participants include Nothing Special Productions, Envision Theatre, GreenRoom Productions, Independent Players and Tower of Strength Players.
Aug. 1, 8, 15 and 22 beginning at the Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St., Elgin. Reservations required. (847) 841-1713.
Not just for girls
Second City divas, plus one divo, bring "Girls' Night Out: Uncensored" to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre for a limited, late summer run. The comedy, which addresses everything from dating and romance to shopping and chocolate, is part of the Metropolis comedy series.
Opens Thursday, Aug. 6, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.
A night of magic
Magician Bill Blagg made such an impression at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre fundraising gala, he earned himself a headlining spot. Blagg brings his Las Vegas-inspired, family friendly revue to the theater for one night only.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.
• Previews begin Friday, July 31, for Circle Theatre's production of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," Tennessee Williams' examination of mendacity and sexual repression. Jim Schneider directs Circle's revival whose cast features actors from Downers Grove, Lombard, Naperville, Itasca and Mount Prospect. The production opens Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 7300 W. Madison St., Forest Park. (708) 771-0700 or circle-theatre.org.
• The Tony Award winning musical "Spring Awakening," the coming-of-age pop-rock musical inspired by the late 19th century play by Frank Wedekind, comes to the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre for a brief run. Performances begin Tuesday, Aug. 4, and run through Aug. 16, at 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (312) 902-1400 or broadwayinchicago.com.
• The Chicago Park District's 57th annual Theatre on the Lake season showcasing some of Chicago's best theater productions from the past year continues Wednesday, Aug. 5, with Eclipse Theatre Company's charming, artfully acted "Plaza Suite," Neil Simon's comedy about three couples, whose stay at an upper-crust Manhattan hotel coincides with some life-altering moments. Performances run through Aug. 9, at the theater located at Fullerton Avenue and Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. (312) 742-7994 or chicagoparkdistrict.com.
• Annoyance Theatre's weekly "Triple Feature" adopts a magic theme on Wednesday, Aug. 5, and Wednesday, Aug. 12, when each of the three one-act plays features a different style of magic. The show begins at 8 p.m. at 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or annoyanceproductions.com.
• Purchase four or more Gold Circle seating tickets to any Wednesday or Thursday performance of "Cirque Shanghai: Bright Spirit" from Wednesday, Aug. 5, through Sept. 3, and receive a voucher for free parking at Navy Pier. Gold Circle tickets are $29.50 each. Purchase the ticket and parking package at the Skyline Stage box office at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave., Chicago or through ticketmaster.com/shanghai.
• LiveWire Chicago Theatre hosts its second short play festival Aug. 6 through 16, at the Chemically Imbalanced Theater, 1420 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. "VisionFest 2009: Six Worlds on One Street Corner" featuring six new works, including a retelling of "Macbeth," titled "The Corner of Glamis and Cawdor" by Aurora's Michael W. Moon, and "Waiting for Oprah" by LiveWire member Madeline Long about strangers waiting outside Harpo Studios for a chance to meet the talk show diva. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays. (312) 533-4666 or livewirechicago.com.
• "Deal or New Deal," a new sketch comedy show by Half Naked Productions runs at 10:30 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 28, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-7336 or greenhousetheater.org.
• La Red Music Theatre's theatrical retelling of the report by the September 11th commission, "The 9/11 Report: A Bipartisan Musical Fantasia," closes Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Karger Center, 1850 Green Bay Road, Highland Park. For information, see laredmusictheatre.org.