Theater events: 'Bad Jews' at Royal George to close Dec. 27
'Jews' bids farewell
Theater Wit's acclaimed, oft-extended world premiere of Joshua Harmon's comedy "Bad Jews" - the most successful production in the theater's 11-year history - will close Dec. 27. Ian Paul Custer and Cory Kahane have been with the show - about twenty-something cousins grappling with faith, identity and family - for its entire eight-month run, which included a stint at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie. Performances continue at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; and 2 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 27 at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $24-$58. (312) 988-9000 or badjewschicago.com.
Comedy in St. Charles
Russ Williamson, who moved to Chicago from New Jersey to begin his career as a stand-up comedian and wound up as an actor on NBC's "Chicago Fire," the Starz series "Boss" and the film "Contagion" headlines Zanies Comedy Club this weekend. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, and 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $20, plus a two-item minimum (630) 524-0001 or zanies.com.
Coming soon
Comedian, illusionist and actor Harry Anderson headlines a pair of New Year's Eve shows at the Comedy Shrine in Aurora. A veteran of late-night talk shows, Anderson starred as judge Harry Stone on the TV sitcom "Night Court" from 1984 to 1992 and as the titular character in "Dave's World" from 1993 to 1997. 8 and 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, at 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $40 (early show); $45 (late show) plus a two-beverage minimum. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com.
Other theater events
• About Face Theatre presents a benefit staged reading of its 2011 show "The Homosexuals" by artistic associate Philip Dawkins. Bonnie Metzgar returns to direct the original cast at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., Chicago. The play chronicles the experiences of a young gay man from a small town in Iowa who relocates to a big Midwestern city. See aboutfacetheatre.com.
• EEK! Theatre Company presents an adults-only holiday comedy showcase titled "A Very Merry (expletive) Christmas." Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.
• Performers from the Black Ensemble Theater productions "Men of Soul" and "Dynamite Divas" perform excerpts from the shows during BET's New Year's Eve celebration beginning at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at 4450 N. Clark St., Chicago. The evening includes hors d'oeuvres, champagne, dancing, a jazz trio and an open mic hour. Tickets are $125 for singles, $200 for couples. (773) 769-4451 or blackensembletheater.org.
• Blue Man Group has added kid-friendly New Year's Eve performances at 1 and 4 p.m. Dec. 31. They'll include preshow face-painting and an early NYE countdown. The Blue Men host shows for adults at 7 and 10 p.m. Dec. 31. Those shows include party hats, a preshow toast and, for the late show, a champagne toast and confetti drop at midnight. Performances are at the Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Tickets range from $49-$99. (773) 348-4000 or blueman.com/chicago or ticketmaster.com/bluemanchicago.
• Redmoon Theater hosts its third annual New Year's Revolution beginning at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at 2120 S. Jefferson St., Chicago. Tickets are $125 for general admission and include drinks, dessert bites, entertainment and a mask. VIP tickets are $150 and include access to a private lounge with gourmet desserts and specialty entertainment. (312) 850-8440 or redmoon.org.
• The National Endowment for the Arts awarded The Neo-Futurists an Art Works grant for "Saturn Returns," developed through the company's new works residency Neo-Lab and its companion event, The Neo-Futurist Kitchen, a mini art and performance festival. "Saturn Returns" is a two-year project examining time and the universe inspired by Saturn's 29-year solar orbit. The company also announced the creation of Neo-Access designed to promote inclusive and collaborative work for audiences and artists. The NEA's Art Works category supports the creation and presentation of both new and existing work, lifelong learning in the arts, and public engagement with the arts. No matter where you live, said NEA Chairman Jane Chu in a prepared statement, "the arts have the power to transform individuals, spark economic vibrancy in communities, and transcend the boundaries across diverse sectors of society." See neofuturists.org.
• Porchlight Music Theatre announced two-time Joseph Jefferson Award-winner Summer Naomi Smart will co-star in the Chicago-area premiere of "Far From Heaven," the musical adaptation of writer/director Todd Haynes' 2002 film about a housewife confronting identity, forbidden desires and the unraveling of her seemingly perfect marriage in 1950s Connecticut. Smart plays housewife Cathy Whitaker, Brandon Springman plays her husband, Frank, and Evan Tyrone Martin plays their gardener in the musical by Richard Greenberg (book), composer Scott Frankel and lyricist Michael Korie. Porchlight artistic associate Rob Lindley directs the show, which begins previews Feb. 5, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or porchlightmusictheatre.org.
• Steppenwolf Theatre announced it will honor Emmy Award-winning actress Claire Danes ("Homeland," "Temple Grandin") at its annual Steppenwolf Salutes Women in the Arts fundraiser on Feb. 4, 2016. The luncheon will include a conversation with Danes about her career. See steppenwolf.org.