Steel Beam presenting 'The Dixie Swim Club'
College friends reunite for a long weekend every summer in "The Dixie Swim Club," a comedy by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten spanning 30 years in the lives of five southern BFFs. Steel Beam Theatre founder Donna Steele co-stars in the company's production.
Info: Opens 3 p.m. Friday, May 21 at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.
Next in ChicagoEvanston's Next Theatre Company teams up with Loyola University to present "War With the Newts," based on Karel Capek's 1936 satire about a species of salamanders, enslaved and exploited by man, who revolt against their oppressors. Former artistic director Jason Loewith ("Adding Machine: A Musical"), collaborates with artistic associate Justin D.M. Palmer and puppet artist Michael Montenegro on this world premiere.Info: Previews begin Friday, May 21, at the Kathleen Mullady Theatre, Loyola University, 1125 W. Loyola Ave., Chicago. (847) 475-1875, ext. 2 or nexttheatre.org.Conway and companyFunny man Tim Conway, known for his comic turns on "The Carol Burnett Show," joins Chuck McCann and Louise DuArt for an afternoon of stories and sketch comedy at Aurora's Paramount Theatre.Info: 3 p.m. Sunday, May 23, at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.What's newbull; Theater Oobleck presents an encore performance of David Isaacson's one-man show, "Casanova Takes a Bath." Written and performed by Isaacson, it examines events from the life of the famed writer and lover against the present-day recession. The show opens Friday, May 21, at Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. (773) 347-1041 or theateroobleck.com.bull; "Fuerza Bruta: Look Up," a combination of dance-club and theater, begins performances Friday, May 21, at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress, Chicago. The partially interactive show features female performers slipping and sliding in a mylar swimming pool just above audience members' heads. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.bull; Previews begin Friday, May 21, for Theatre Seven of Chicago's "Hunting and Gathering," Brooke Berman's comedy about urbanites, their troubled relationships and impermanent housing situation. The show opens Wednesday, May 26, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. See theatreseven.org or the greenhousetheater.org.bull; Tony Award winner Heather Headley headlines Goodman Theatre's annual gala to be held on Saturday, May 22, at the Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago. The black tie event begins with a 6:30 p.m. cocktail reception, followed by Headley's performance, dinner and dancing to the Ken Arlen Orchestra. Call (312) 443-3811, ext. 586 for tickets. bull; Previews continue through Sunday, May 23, for Victory Gardens Theater's world premiere of "Jacob and Jack," by ensemble member James Sherman and directed by artistic director Dennis Zacek. The show centers around TV personality Jack Shore, who wrestles with self doubt as he prepares to perform a tribute to his grandfather Jacob, a Yiddish theater star. Meanwhile, 75 years earlier, Jacob confronts his own fading fortunes. Craig Spidle stars in the dual roles. The show opens Monday, May 24, at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.bull; Infamous Commonwealth Theatre invites its supporters to unleash their inner rock star at the company's second annual Rock Band Tournament fundraiser based on the Wii game. Twelve "bands" can compete at the event which begins at 4 p.m. Sunday, May 23, at the Plan B Bar and Kitchen, 1635 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. It's $30 to play, $5 to watch and preregistration is recommended. Proceeds benefit the theater. See infamouscommonwealth.org.bull; Bailiwick Chicago presents a benefit performance of its cabaret revue, "Show Us Your Love" at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 23, at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. Proceeds will help fund Bailiwick's upcoming production of Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida." Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. (847) 677-7761, skokietheatre.com or bailiwickchicago.com.bull; Northwestern University students, faculty, alumni and Chicago area theater professionals celebrate director Dominic Missimi, longtime faculty member of the School of Communication, on 30 years with the university with a gala performance at 8 p.m. Monday, May 24, at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston. Scheduled performers include Chicago area veterans Mary Ernster, Hollis Resnik, Alene Robertson, director/choreographer Marc Robin, Bernie Yvon and others along with Broadway's Gregg Edelman, Heather Headley, Brian d'Arcy James and Kate Shindle. Tickets are $100. Proceeds benefit the Dominic Missimi Fund for Music Theatre. Call (847) 491-4788 or see communication.northwestern.edu/missimi.bull; Collaboraction commemorates its 10th annual Sketchbook Festival with a screening and release party of its video anthology showcasing last year's festival on Monday, May 24, at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. The screening party also includes music and drinks. Tickets are $10 and are available online at collaboraction.org or by phone at (312) 226-9633. Sketchbook X, a mixed media theater festival featuring 20 world premiere works, runs from June 10 to 27 at the Chopin Theatre. bull; Cast members from the long-running hit "Million Dollar quartet" entertain at the annual League of Chicago Theatres gala beginning at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Mary 24, at the Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe St., Chicago. The event honors Pegasus Players founder Arlene Crewdson; Steep Theatre, recipient of the emerging theater award; director and educator Sheldon Patinkin, recipient of the lifetime achievement award and The Prince Charitable Trusts, recognized for its support of Chicago theaters. The evening includes a cocktail reception and dinner. Tickets are $300 per person. Proceeds benefit the League of Chicago Theatres. (312) 554-9800.bull; The Silver Project, American Theater Company's yearlong 25th anniversary celebration, continues at 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 24, at 1909 W. Byron St., Chicago. The project consists of the world premieres of 30 short plays. The full cycle runs June 16 to 20. (773) 409-4125 or atcweb.org.bull; UrbanTheater Company celebrates its fifth anniversary with a fundraiser from 6 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, May 25, at Tumbao, 3213 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago. The evening includes scenes from the company's previous works and the sixth season announcement along with Latin Caribbean cuisine and a raffle. General admission at 7:30 p.m., reservations required before that. For tickets, call (708) 370-3138 or e-mail Ivan Vega at ivanvega@urbantheaterchicago.org. bull; Theater fans who purchase a ticket to the 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 25, performance of Broadway in Chicago's production of the comedy whodunit "The 39 Steps" can receive a free three-course, murder-mystery dinner at Petterino's, 150 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, before the show. See broadwayinchicago.com/mystery for information on the special promotion. "The 39 Steps" runs through May 30 at the Bank of America Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., Chicago.bull; Annoyance Theatre hosts a fundraiser for "Salem! The Musical" at 8 p.m. May 27, at 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. The event features a performance by the improv troupe Bassprov. Proceeds will help the company travel to the Cincinnati Fringe Festival in June and the Capital Fringe Festival in Washington, D.C. in July. (773) 561-4665 or theannoyance.com.bull; Trap Door Theatre's world premiere of "Chaste" opened recently at 1655 W. Cortland St., Chicago. The third in the company's trilogy of plays inspired by German thinkers, "Chaste" centers around Friedrich Nietzsche, his friend Paul Ree and a Russian woman named Lou Salome whose attempt at a celibate but cerebral menage a trois concludes rather differently than they imagined. The show runs through June 19. (773) 384-0494 or trapdoortheatre.com.bull; TimeLine Theatre Company has extended its production of "The Farnsworth Invention," Aaron Sorkin's screenplay turned stage play about the race to lay claim to television. The show runs through July 24 at 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. (773) 281-8463 or timelinetheatre.com.bull; The improv comedy troupe CakeWalk hosts a late-night variety show Fridays through May 25 at the Playground Theatre, 3209 N. Halsted St., Chicago. "CakeWalk Midnight Extravaganza" begins at 11:59 p.m. and features comedians, magicians and assorted burlesque entertainers. (773) 871-3793 or the-playground.com.bull; Writer/performer Michael Sidney Fosberg's search for his biological father results in a rather surprising revelation which he recounts in his one-man show "Incognito," running through May 29, at the 16th Street Theater, in the Berwyn Cultural Center, 6420 16th St., Berwyn. (708) 795-6704 or 16thstreettheater.org.