What’s new

Ÿ Start off 2012 with a laugh. The Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival begins Thursday, Jan. 5, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. More than 130 local, national and international comedy groups will perform Thursdays through Sundays through Sunday, Jan. 15. Tickets range from $13 to $15 and are available at the theater or by phone at (773) 327-5252. See chicagosketchfest.com for a complete schedule.

Ÿ Michael Montenegro’s puppet theater company Theatre Zarko has embarked upon a fundraising campaign to finance the original work “He Who,” which is scheduled for February as part of Steppenwolf Theatre’s Garage Rep program. The company hopes to raise $11,000 as part of its Kickstarter campaign to stage the dark comedy about the birth of a Big Idea destined to deliver either joy or calamity. The show runs Feb. 3 to April 8 at 1624 N. Halsted St., Chicago. For more information see theatrezarko.org.

Ÿ Charlie Beck has taken over as the new executive director for the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre. “As a native of the Northwest suburbs and a former actor on the Metropolis stage, taking this job has been a homecoming for me,” said Beck in a prepared statement. For information on upcoming productions, see metropolisarts.com.

Ÿ Michael Patrick Thornton, artistic director and co-founder of The Gift Theatre Company, and Meghan Beals McCarthy, associate artistic director at Chicago Dramatists, will serve as co-artistic curators for the Theater on the Lake’s 2012 season. Thornton and McCarthy replace Hallie Gordon, director of Steppenwolf for Young Adults, who has held the position for the last six years. Operated by the Chicago Park District, Theater on the Lake presents remounts of Chicago theater company productions each summer at Fullerton Avenue and Lake Michigan. See chicagoparkdistrict.com for more information.

Ÿ The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation has awarded Adventure Stage Chicago a $120,000 continuing innovation grant. The funds will go toward ASC’s community involvement efforts, including community-based performances, Head Start family workshops devoted to literacy and summer camps. In addition to the $120,000, ASC received a $30,000 grant for general operations. The company hired ensemble member Allison Latta Lashford to serve as associate artistic director and help manage projects during the 18-month grant period. For information on the company, see adventurestage.org.

— Barbara Vitello