What's new in theater
• The Annoyance Theatre's latest show “American Lit” — comprised of memorable passages from great books — tips its hat to Ray Bradbury's “Fahrenheit 451” by imagining a time when literature is passed orally rather than in printed form. Of course, this being Annoyance, the lines get crossed resulting in a mash-up of literature and pop culture. The show opens Wednesday, Jan. 5, at 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or theannoyance.com.
• Goli Rahimi, from Vernon Hills, and Christine Lin, from Barrington, are among the performers appearing in Halcyon Theatre's premiere of “Trickster,” written and directed by artistic director Tony Adams. The adults-only play takes place at a time when a wolf presides over humans who reside in a southwestern wasteland where they wait for the gods to dispatch the monsters who torment them. Performances begin Thursday, Jan. 6, at the Greenhouse Theatre Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-7336 or halcyontheatre.org.
• The Ruckus Theater marks its second year in Chicago with the premiere of the original musical “Escape From the Haltsburg Boys Choir,” a coming-of-age/sexual awakening tale that echoes the Brothers Grimm. In it a group of young boys try to give their heartless choirmaster the slip as they experience the pangs of first love. Performances of the show, by Aaron Dean and Jason Rico, begin Thursday, Jan. 6, at The Side Project Theater, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave., Chicago. (773) 769-7257 or ruckustheater.org.
• Former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Nora Dunn previews selections from her one-woman show “Mythic Proportions” Thursdays, Jan. 6 to 27, at IO Chicago, 3541 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 880-0199 or ioimprov.com.
• A doctor rescues the misshapen John Merrick from a freak show in order to study his disease, then watches as his smart, well-spoken patient becomes the toast of Victorian London in “The Elephant Man.” June Eubanks directs Bohemian Theatre Ensemble's revival of Bernard Pomerance's Tony Award-winning play starring Mike Tepeli as John Merrick. The preview is Friday, Jan. 7. The show opens Saturday, Jan. 8, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or bohotheatre.com.
• Writer/performer Stacey Smith performs her solo show, “Confessions of a Chubby Tomboy” at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Also, the theater has indefinitely extended its adults-only “A Super Mario Burlesque.” (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.
• The ski-themed musical “Skiing Is Believing” previews on Friday, Jan. 7, at the Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or theannoyance.com.
• A redtwist theatre has extended its environmental production of Kenneth Lonergan's “Lobby Hero,” staged in the storefront windows of the theater at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago. The play is about a security guard at a Manhattan high-rise who finds himself in the middle of a murder investigation. Performances continue through Sunday, Jan. 16. (773) 728-7529 or redtwist.org.
• The Annoyance Theatre has added Saturday night performances of its remount of the adults-only “Co-Ed Prison Sluts,” about prison inmates who fear the arrival of a clown. The show runs at 10:01 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or theannoyance.com.