Theater events: 'Beauty and the Beast' opens BrightSide's sixth season

BrightSide's 'Beauty'

BrightSide Theatre opens its sixth season with "Beauty and the Beast" adapted from the 1991 animated film with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. Jesek West plays Belle, whose attempt to rescue her imprisoned father leads her to the Beast (Jacob Huddilston), who can reclaim his human form only after he falls in love and is loved in return. Opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at Meiley-Swallow Hall, North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville. $24, $27. (630) 447-8497 or brightsidetheatre.com.

Marriott's 'Nutcracker'

Marriott Theatre gets a jump on the holiday season with its re-imagined production of "The Nutcracker" set to Tchaikovsky's music with additional music and lyrics by Marc Robin. Leryn Turlington plays Marie, a young girl who attempts to reclaim the crown for her beloved nutcracker. Matt Raftery directs and choreographs. Previews begin at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The show opens Nov. 19. $17.23. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

A new 'Cinderella'

The Hypocrites premieres "Cinderella at the Theater of Potatoes," Andra Velis Simon's adaptation of the fairy tale based on composer Pauline Viardot's 1904 chamber opera "Cendrillon." In Simon's version happily ever after doesn't necessarily include acceptance by a prince. Sean Graney directs the family-friendly play with music, which features actors serving as their own orchestra. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at The Den Theatre, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show opens Nov. 21. $28-$36. the-hypocrites.com.

Other theater events

• Against the backdrop of the early days of the AIDS epidemic, a single father of twin hemophiliac boys seeks help from a doctor who appears to have a miracle drug in Karen Hartman's "Roz and Ray" in its world premiere at Victory Gardens Theater. Artistic director Chay Yew directs the production, which stars Mary Beth Fisher and James Vincent Meredith. Previews begin Friday, Nov. 11, at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Nov. 18. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.

• Three stepsisters argue over the flaws of their father in Beau O'Reilly's new comedy "One Boppa." Curious Theater Branch opens its season with the world premiere on Friday, Nov. 11, at Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. (773) 492-1287 or curioustheatrebranch.com.

• Eta Creative Arts Foundation presents "In De' Beginnin'," a musical based on the Book of Genesis with music and lyrics by singer/songwriter Oscar Brown Jr. Performances begin Friday, Nov. 11, at 7558 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago. (773) 752-3955 or etacreativearts.org.

• Steven Strafford returns home to recount his three years as a crystal meth addict in his autobiographical solo show, "Methtacular!" Strafford performs Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12, at Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• Theatreworks USA brings its show "Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School" to the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Based on the children's books by Barbara Park, the show by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich is a compilation of school-age student Junie's tips on everything from riding the bus to recess. The group performs at 1 p.m. Saturday. Nov. 12. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org.

• AstonRep Theatre Company presents its eighth annual Writer's Series, a daylong mini festival of staged readings of in-development works. It takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, at The Edge Theatre, 5451 N. Broadway, Chicago. Participating writers include James McLindon, Francis DiClemente and Leland Frankel. $5 suggested donation. (773) 828-9129 or astonrep.com.

• The LIVINGroom solo performance series continues Sunday, Nov. 13, with "From Where I'm Sitting," in which eight women discuss how they've extricated themselves from "personal messes." The performance takes place at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or stage773.com.

• Nothing Without a Company and The Living Canvas collaborate on the world premiere of the adults-only "[Trans]formation," a work performed by transgender, intersex and non-binary artists. It incorporates dance, text and projections (performed by unclothed actors) to examine gender identity. Performances begin Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Collaboraction Studios, Flat Iron Arts Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. See nothingwithoutacompany.org.

• Previews begin Wednesday, Nov. 16, for Citadel Theatre's production of "A Christmas Story: The Musical," based on the stories of Jean Shepherd and the 1983 film by Bob Clark. The story unfolds in the weeks before Christmas as the Parker family prepares for the holidays and young Ralphie dreams of his ideal gift: a Red Ryder air rifle. Previews begin Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. On Thursday, Nov. 17, Citadel, in cooperation with the USO of Illinois, hosts a benefit performance for the military men and women from the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. (847) 735-8554 or citadeltheatre.org.

• An ordinary woman living a relatively happy life begins to recognize the pain that surrounds her after a sea turtle waddles into her life in Jake Jeppson's "Turtle." Damon Kiely directs redtwist theatre's world premiere production, beginning previews Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago. The show opens Nov. 19. (773) 728-7529 or redtwist.org.

• The percussive revue "Stomp" returns to Chicago on Wednesday, Nov. 16. The production runs through Jan. 1, 2017, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• Short Story Theatre hosts an evening of storytelling on Thursday, Nov. 17, at Miramar Bistro, 301 Waukegan Ave., Highwood. Martie Sanders, Judith MK Kaufman, Ron Levitsky and Elizabeth Brown are among those telling true tales from their lives. See shortstorytheatre.com.

• "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical," the stage version of the 1964 animated TV special, comes to the Chicago Theatre for a limited run. Performances run Thursday, Nov. 17, to Nov. 20, at 175 N. State St., Chicago. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com.

• The League of Chicago Theatres hosts the next performance in its Theatre Thursdays Series beginning at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The monthly series introduces audiences to world premiere productions while offering a glimpse at the creative process. The next production is The Hypocrites' "Cinderella at the Theater of Potatoes," a retelling of the fairy tale written by Andra Velis Simon and adapted from Pauline Viardot's composition "Cendrillon." See chicagoplays.com.

• The Irish Theatre of Chicago kicks off its 22nd season with a ceili fundraiser beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at Chief O'Neill's, 3471 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. A $25 donation includes food and music. (773) 878-3727 or irishtheatreofchicago.org.

• The Defiant Thomas Brothers announce an extension of their adults-only "neo-vaudeville" comedy show. Performances continue Saturdays through Dec. 10 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or stage773.com.

• Performances continue through Saturday, Nov. 19, for "Bye Bye Liver Presents: Shakespeare Not Stirred," a comedic, interactive look at how William Shakespeare incorporated alcohol and sex into his plays. Performances are at The Public House Theater, 3914 N. Clark St., Chicago. See pubhousetheatre.com.

• 16th Street Theater opens its 10th season with a revival of Jon Steinhagen's "Blizzard '67" (Jan. 12-Feb. 18, 2017) inspired by the blizzard that paralyzed Chicago and the suburbs nearly 50 years ago. The play, which premiered in 2012 at Chicago Dramatists, is about how four colleagues in a carpool cope with snow and professional jealousies. That's followed by the premiere of "Into the Beautiful North," beginning previews April 13, 2017. Karen Zacarias' adaptation of Luis Alberto's Urrea's novel is inspired by the film "The Magnificent Seven," in which Mexican villagers seek seven good men from across the border to protect their town. The season concludes with Minita Gandhi's "Muthaland" (Aug. 31-Oct. 7, 2017), about an Indian-American woman who uncovers family secrets during a visit to her homeland. The season also includes staged readings of works by the company's playwrights-in-residence. Performances take place at 6420 16th St., Berwyn. Season subscriptions range from $50 to $150. (708) 795-6704 or 16thstreettheater.org.

• Adventure Stage Chicago seeks original 10-minute plays on the subject of bullying from middle school students. A panel of theater professionals will judge the plays with the winning entry entered in the National Young Playwrights for Change competition. ASC hosts workshops from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 and 19, at Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago. (773) 342-4141 or adventurestage.org.

• To raise money for the Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival in January, Blair Thomas & Co. will embark on a living room tour from Friday, Nov. 11, to Sunday, Nov. 13. Thomas and Magali Chouinard will perform in private living rooms in Logan Square, Bronzeville and Hyde Park. Tickets are $100. (312) 753-3234 or chicagopuppetfest.org/living-room-tour-2017.