Theater events: George Wendt returns to Northlight for 'Funnyman'

'Funnyman' premiere

George Wendt ("Cheers" and TBS' "Clipped") and Tim Kazurinsky return to Northlight Theatre for the world premiere of Bruce Graham's "Funnyman," about a fading comedian in 1959 whose agent urges him to revive his career with a role in an avant-garde off-Broadway play. This marks Northlight's fourth premiere of a Graham play, whose "White Guy on the Bus" received multiple Joseph Jefferson Award nominations. Artistic director BJ Jones helms the production, which features Amanda Drinkall, Steve Haggard, Rob Lindley and Michael Perez. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11, at 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The show opens Sept. 18. $25-$79. (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org.

Shakespeare revised

Three actors perform all of William Shakespeare's works, including the sonnets, as part of Theatre-Hikes' next production "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]," featuring performers Brian Gale, Tommy Lukrich and Matt Lunt. Ron Popp directs. Performances begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at 4100 Route 53, Lisle. $10-$20. (630) 725-2066 or theatre-hikes.org.

Oklahoma OK

Paramount Theatre, which earned a leading 16 equity Jeff Award nominations last month, begins its season with the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic "Oklahoma!" Paramount artistic director Jim Corti helms the production, starring Paramount newcomers Colte Julian ("Million Dollar Quartet") and Allison Sill (Drury Lane Theatre's "Young Frankenstein") as the young lovers Curly and Laurie. Previews begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. The show opens Sept. 19. $41-$56. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

Other theater events

• Performances continue for Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's Chicago-area premiere of "How the World Began," Catherine Trieschmann's examination of people navigating relationships in light of seemingly irreconcilable beliefs. In the play, high school biology teacher Susan relocates to a small Kansas town from New York City and finds herself unprepared for the backlash she gets after commenting on the origins of the universe. Performances continue through Oct. 10 at 5779 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. (773) 334-7728 or rivendelltheatre.org.

• MadKap Productions presents "Next to Normal," the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical about a woman battling depression and the effect her struggles have on her family. Quest Theatre Ensemble's Andrew Park directs the show, which begins performances Friday, Sept. 11, at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. (847) 677-7761 or skokietheatre.org.

• Previews begin Friday, Sept. 11, for Lifeline Theatre's season-opening world premiere "Miss Buncle's Book," adapted from D.E. Stevenson's novel by ensemble member and Joseph Jefferson Award-winner Christina Calvit and directed by artistic director Dorothy Milne. Ensemble member Jenifer Tyler plays Barbara Buncle, who publishes a novel - under an assumed name - describing her sleepy hometown and its quirky residents. When it becomes a best-seller, it thrusts the entire community into the national spotlight. The show opens Sept. 21 at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. Also, Lifeline announced writer and Whiskey Rebellion co-founder Jessica Wright Buha has joined the ensemble. Buha previously adapted "Lyle Finds His Mother" and "One Came Home" for the Rogers Park ensemble, which is in its 33rd season. (773) 761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.

• The preview is Friday, Sept. 11, for Subtext Theater Company's inaugural production, the world premiere of "Brothers Keeper," comprised of two one-acts by Leigh Johnson. "Dolly Llama" is about siblings concerned for their wayward brother now that their mother has died. "Orion's Belt" is about a man who returns home after many years to find his unstable brother on the verge of a meltdown and his mother unable to stop it. The shows open Saturday, Sept. 11, at St. Bonaventure Church, 1625 W. Diversey St., Chicago. (773) 908-6124 or subtextnfp.org.

• Dan Jackson and Kate Yeagle re-enact literary classics at 7 p.m. Fridays, beginning Friday, Sept. 11, at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. "Dan and Kate's Book Club" runs through Oct. 16. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• Pride Films & Plays presents staged readings of five new works from Friday through Sunday, Sept. 11-13, as part of its LezPlay Weekend at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The plays, which center on lesbian characters and themes, include: "Black-Hearted (expletive)" by Lynn Kear, "The Patron Saint of Dead Dogs" by Katie Grotzinger, "Resolution" by Nancy Nyman, "Missed Connections" by Hallie Palladino and "The Terror Fantastic" by Nicole Jost. (773) 472-6469 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

• Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, presents Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning "Disgraced," an examination of race, identity and class that unfolds during a dinner party hosted by a lapsed Muslim attorney and his wife. Kimberly Senior directs the play, which premiered in 2012 at American Theater Company, and begins previews on Saturday, Sept. 12. The show opens Sept. 20. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

• Emerald City Theatre begins its 2015-2016 season with "The Three Little Kittens." Created and directed by Ernie Nolan, the play is about kittens hunting for their missing mittens. Performances begin Saturday, Sept. 12, at 2933 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. See emeraldcitytheatre.com.

• The registration deadline is Saturday, Sept. 12, for the Chicago Theater Memorial Bike Ride commemorating the lives and contributions of Chicago-area theater artists who have passed away. Founded by actor Joe Foust in honor of his wife, actor Molly Glynn, who died last year following a bike accident, the ride benefits The Actor's Fund, which assists performing arts professionals. The minimum donation is $25. The 12-mile ride begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Rainbow Beach Park, 2873 E. 75th St., Chicago, and continues north on the Lakeshore Bike Path to Burnham Park. See chicagotheatermemorialbikeride.weebly.com.

• GayCo, the LGBTQ sketch company, previews its new variety revue, "50 States of Gay," on Saturday, Sept. 12, at Under the Gun Theater, 956 W. Newport Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 19. (773) 270-3440 or gayco.com.

• Raven Theatre presents the Midwest premiere of "Direct From Death Row The Scottsboro Boys (An Evening of Vaudeville and Sorrow)," beginning previews Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. Michael Menendian directs the satirical recounting - by writer Mark Stein and composer/lyricist Harley White Jr. - of nine young African-American men accused of raping two white women in 1931 Alabama. Nine actors play multiple roles in the revival, which opens Sept. 22. (773) 338-2177 or raventheatre.com.

• The Elgin Fringe Festival, which in its inaugural year attracted about 2,000 people and generated $10,000, returns for its second year Thursday, Sept. 17, and runs through Sept. 20 at Elgin venues including: Blue Box Cafe, Elgin Art Showcase, Elgin Public House, Imago Studios and Next Door Theater. The festival includes more than 120 performances including music, dance, theater and visual arts. Admission buttons are available for $3 at Fringe headquarters, Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court, Elgin. Buttons are required for admission to the shows, which range from $5 to $10. See elginfringefestival.com.

• "East of Eden," the inaugural production in Steppenwolf Theatre Company's 40th season, begins previews Thursday, Sept. 17, at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Adapted from John Steinbeck's novel by ensemble member Frank Galati (who also adapted and directed the company's landmark 1988 production of Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath"), this world premiere is directed by co-founder Terry Kinney and features ensemble members Kate Arrington, Francis Guinan, Tim Hopper and Alan Wilder along with an original score by Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen. Aaron Himmelstein and Casey Thomas Brown star as battling siblings Caleb and Aron. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• An old man dressed in a military uniform and a Santa hat is left at a police station on Christmas Eve with a note that reads: "arrest me." It's up to a lawyer, a police officer and a translator to uncover the mystery in Nicolas Billon's "Butcher." Signal Ensemble Theatre presents the U.S. premiere of the drama by the Canadian playwright. Ensemble member Bries Vannon directs the show, which begins previews Thursday, Sept. 17, at 1802 W. Berenice Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 19. (773) 698-7389 or signalensemble.com.

• Theater Wit launches its season with the Chicago premiere of "The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence," a time-jumping play about people and the machines they depend on by Madeleine George ("Seven Homeless Mammoths Wander New England"). It begins in 2011 with a lonely programmer perfecting her new artificial intelligence design just as IBM's Watson wins Jeopardy. It then jumps to 1891 as Dr. Watson takes on his first case without Sherlock Holmes. Previews begin Thursday, Sept. 17, at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. It opens Oct. 4. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

• Previews begin Thursday, Sept. 17, for Theatre at the Center's revival of "Monty Python's Spamalot," a gleeful sendup of the 1975 film, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," centered on the quest by the comical King Arthur and his oddball knights. Director David Perkovich and choreographer Lina Fortunato team up for the show, which features Larry Adams as King Arthur. It opens Sept. 20 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. (219) 836-3255 or (800) 511-1552 or theatreatthecenter.com.

• Strawdog Theatre Company has extended its production of "After Miss Julie," Patrick Marber's modern take on August Strindberg's classic drama about the social and sexual relationships between a master and her servant. Marber sets the action in 1945, on the night of Britain's Labor Party's victory over Winston Churchill's Conservative Party. Performances continue through Oct. 3 at 3829 N. Broadway St., Chicago. (866) 811-4111 or strawdog.org.

• iO's long-running improvised show "Whirled News Tonight" moved to the 150-seat Mission Theater as iO Chicago begins producing in the space. "A big advantage of our new space is the ability to add shows rather than turning audiences away from a packed house, so it'll be great for people to see ('Whirled News Tonight') on a new stage," said iO Theater owner Charna Halpern in a prepared statement. Performances are at 8 p.m. Saturdays at 1501 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago. (312) 929-2401 or ioimprov.com/chicago.

• The Joseph Jefferson Awards Committee announced the recipients of the 2015 special Equity Award recognizing excellence and contributions to Chicago-area theater will be Paula Scrofano and John Reeger. The longtime spouses and award-winning theater artists will receive the award during the Oct. 5 equity Jeff Awards ceremony at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace. Throughout their 44-year marriage, the couple - who met their freshman year at Northwestern University - have appeared together in 48 productions. "We wanted to do our best work, earn our health insurance and raise our children as we had been raised. We somehow got our kids through college, own our home, are still happily married and are debt-free ... it's a tribute to the Chicago theater scene of the past 40 years as much as it is to us," said Reeger in a prepared statement. See jeffawards.org.