Theater events: Paramount stages African-American 'Jesus Christ Superstar'

'Shakespeare in Love'

Chicago Shakespeare Theater concludes its 30th anniversary season with the U.S. premiere of "Shakespeare in Love," Lee Hall's stage adaptation of the Academy Award-winning film written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard. Rachel Rockwell directs the tale of young Will Shakespeare, struggling to write a new play, who finds his leading man and muse in Thomas Kent. Except that Kent is really Viola, a wealthy young woman who disguises herself as a man to pursue a career as an actor, a vocation denied to women. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. The show opens April 23. $48-$88. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

'Superstar'

Evan Tyrone Martin, King Triton in Paramount Theatre's "The Little Mermaid," returns to Aurora to star as Jesus of Nazareth in the theater's all African-American revival of "Jesus Christ Superstar," the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice rock opera chronicling Christ's last seven days. Producer/director Ron Kellum helms the production, which boasts a 14-member rock band under music directors Tom Vendafreddo and Kory Danielson. Previews begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. The show opens April 22. $44-$59. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

'Chicago'

Broadway veterans Kelly Felthous and Alena Watters star as Roxie and Velma, a pair of murderous showgirls who try to parlay their infamy into vaudeville stardom in Drury Lane Theatre's revival of the Fred Ebb-John Kander musical "Chicago." Artistic director William Osetek helms the production. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. The show opens April 28. $43-$60. (640) 530-0111 or drurylanetheatre.com.

Other theater events

• The last preview for redtwist theatre's production of "Circle Mirror Transformation" takes place Friday, April 14, at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago. Annie Baker's play about a theater game that leads to all-out war between acting students opens Saturday, April 15, under Scott Weinstein's direction. (773) 729-7529 or redtwist.org.

• Teatro Vista re-creates Chicago's real-life Caribbean-Latino nightclub in its world premiere of Sandra Delgado's "La Havana Madrid," beginning previews on Friday, April 14, at Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Delgado plays a mystical hostess who conjures stories from the 1960s nightspot. Comedian Mike Oquendo plays former Havana Madrid owner Tony Quintana who presides over patrons, musicians and nightclub workers. The production opens Thursday, April 20, under director Cheryl Lynn-Bruce. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org or teatrovista.org.

• Porchlight Music Theatre concludes its season with a rare revival of the Stephen Sondheim two-hander "Marry Me a Little," about two lonely singles living a floor apart in an apartment complex who may be the answer to each other's longings. Joseph Jefferson Award-winners Austin Cook and Bethany Thomas star in the production, which begins previews Friday, April 14, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens Tuesday, April 18. (773) 327-5252 or porchlightmusictheatre.org.

• City Lit Theater celebrates 37 years with the premiere of "Forty-Two Stories," a comedy by Douglas Post set in a Lake Shore Drive high-rise condominium. It centers on the efforts of a janitor, manager and assorted residents and employees to determine who is breaking into apartments and stealing women's lingerie. Previews begin Friday, April 14, at Edgewater Presbyterian Church, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. The show opens April 23. (773) 293-3682 or citylit.org.

• Friends and Ph.D. candidates Sanam and Ariel spent years studying vanishing bee populations. But just as they are about to publish their findings, Sanam discovers a miscalculation that could destroy their reputations in "Queen," Madhuri Shekar's examination of what happens when conscience and friendship collide. Victory Gardens Theater's premiere begins previews Friday, April 14, at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show, under director Joanie Schultz, opens April 21. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.

• A couple attempts to solve relationship problems by inviting a stranger into the bedroom in Yussef El Guindi's "Threesome," in its Chicago-area premiere at The Other Theatre Company. Previews begin Friday, April 14, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show, directed by American Theater Company's Jason Gerace, opens April 23. See theothertheatrecompany.com.

• Previews begin Saturday, April 15, for Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's world premiere of Lynn Rosen's coming-of-age tale "The Firebirds Take the Field." Inspired by real events that took place in 2011 in LeRoy, New York, the play is about a scientist who returns to her hometown to investigate the mysterious ailment that has affected local girls. The play opens April 26 at 5779 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. (773) 334-7728 or rivendelltheatre.org.

• The International Voices Project showcase of plays from Spain, Romania, Serbia, India and Wales among other countries runs Monday, April 17, through May 18 at the Instituto Cervantes, 31 W. Ohio St., Chicago. Spanish playwright Guillem Clua's "Promised Land" runs at 7 p.m. Monday, April 17. Irish playwright Jimmy McAleavey's "The Virgin Father" runs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 18. For the complete schedule, see ivpchicago.org.

• Joseph Jefferson Award-winner E. Faye Butler hosts Bending Genders: A Swingin' Cabaret benefit for Season of Concern, which assists theater artists living with AIDS-related illnesses. The concert takes place at 7 p.m. Monday, April 17, at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• Actors who performed at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre during the 2015-2016 season return for Metropolis Sings: An Alumni Cabaret. Matthew Huston and Jessica Miret ("Spamalot"), Brandy Miller ("Ring of Fire") and Jonathan Stombres and Monica Szaflik ("Rent") are among the theater artists performing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

• Friends and comedians Shayna Ferm and Tracey Tee examine what it's like to parent young children in "The Pump and Dump Show." They perform at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, at The Chicago Improv, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com.

• Curious Theater Branch's Jenny Magnus is among the artists discussing the impact of the current political climate on their work as part of the next Pivot Arts talk series Wednesday, April 19, at Uncommon Ground, 1401 W. Devon Ave., Chicago. See pivotarts.org.

• Politically incorrect 1970s sitcoms inspired David Adjmi's "3C" at A Red Orchid Theatre. After a raucous party, Brad, a new transplant to Los Angeles, finds himself passed out in Connie and Linda's kitchen prompting the three to strike up a new living arrangement that soon spirals out of control. Previews begin Thursday, April 20, at 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago. The show opens April 24. (312) 943-8722 or aredorchidtheatre.org.

• Deaf and hearing actors collaborate on Neverbird Project's production of "Pinocchio" at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. The tale of Pinocchio's quest to become a real boy is told using signed and spoken dialogue. Performances begin Thursday, April 20. (773) 227-0180 or neverbirdproject.org or chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

• Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, in residence at Morton College Building A, 3801 S. Central Ave., Cicero, announced Steve Calzaretta as its new artistic director. His inaugural show is "Gypsy," the musical inspired by the life of striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee. Nancy Hays stars as stage mother Rose, whose drive for fame threatens her family. Performances begin April 21. See jpactheatre.com.

• Cavalia's "Odysseo," the combination equestrian and theatrical event, has been extended. Performances continue through April 30 under the white big top at Soldier Field South Lot, 1410 Museum Campus Drive, Chicago. (866) 999-8111 or cavalia.com.

• Promethean Theatre Ensemble "casts a classically satirical eye on modern society" during its 2017-2018 season with "Marisol," Jose Rivera's comedy about a young woman battling angels to preserve the universe. Performances begin Oct. 20 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. That's followed by Jean Giraudoux's "The Madwoman of Chaillot," about an eccentric countess' attempts to save Paris from corrupt executives who plan to dig up the streets in their search for oil. It runs Feb. 9 to March 17, 2018, at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. The season concludes with Jami Brandli's "Bliss (or Emily Post is Dead!)" about pill-addicted housewives Clytemnestra and Medea and their teenage neighbor Antigone whose state of bliss is upended by the arrival of newcomer Cassandra. It runs July 20 to Aug. 25, 2018, at the Athenaeum. See prometheantheatre.org.

• Red Theater announced it will spend its sixth season in residence at Strawdog Theatre Company, 1802 W. Berenice Ave., Chicago. The 2017-2018 season opens Aug. 18 with Kristoffer Diaz's Pulitzer Prize finalist "The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity" about a professional wrestler whose job it is to lose to more famous wrestlers. In November, the company stages "Red Cyrano." Director Aaron Sawyer's adaptation of Edmond Rostand's 1897 romantic play about the soldier-poet features both deaf and hearing actors. The season concludes in June 2018 with Abbey Fenbert's "Sickle." Inspired by Josef Stalin's forced famine in 1932 that killed more than seven million people, the play is about five women's struggle against a tyrant. (773) 733-0540 or redtheater.org.