Theater events: Victory Gardens stages neighborly 'Native Gardens'

Good fences

Robert Frost wrote "good fences make good neighbors." Playwright Karen Zacarias tests that adage in "Native Gardens," about neighbors whose disagreement over a property line escalates into a comedic class war. Libertyville native Marti Lyons directs Victory Gardens Theater's production starring Patrick Clear, Paloma Nozicka, Gabriel Ruiz and Janet Ulrich Brooks. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 2, at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens June 9. $15-$60. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.

Workplace comedy

Theatre Nebula premieres "Cubicle," a workplace comedy by Kevin Wiczer about a man who tries to entice a couple of Chicago venture capitalists to invest in his family's failing shoe company. Wiczer directs the production. Performances continue at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday through June 11 at Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine. $10-$20. (847) 202-5222 or cuttinghall.org.

Make our garden grow

Music Theater Works opens its season with a revival of Leonard Bernstein's "Candide," based on Voltaire's 18th-century satire on the "folly of optimism" about a naive young man caught up in a series of incredible events. Drury Lane Theatre veteran Gary Alexander plays the perpetually optimistic Professor Pangloss, who tutors Candide (Ben Barker from Marriott Theatre's "Spring Awakening"). Cecilia Iole (Paramount Theatre's "Sweeney Todd") plays Candide's beloved Cunegonde. Rudy Hogenmiller directs, and Roger L. Bingaman conducts a 24-member orchestra. Opens at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston. $34-$96. (847) 920-5360 or musictheaterworks.com.

Other theater events

• En route to colonize a newly discovered planet, a teenage girl, a soldier and an outdated robot are quarantined in "Pilgrims," a new drama by Claire Kiechel about the creation of a new society. The Gift Theatre presents the world premiere, codirected by artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton and guest artist Jessica Thebus. Previews begin Friday, June 2, at 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show opens June 8. (773) 283-7071 or thegifttheatre.org.

• Teatro Vista transfers its hit show "La Havana Madrid" from its sold-out run at Steppenwolf Theatre to The Miracle Center, 2311 N. Pulaski Road, Chicago. Ensemble member Sandra Delgado's play with music tells the stories of the regulars at a 1960s Caribbean nightclub, located on Chicago's North Side. Performances run through June 11. See teatrovista.org.

• The all-female sketch comedy troupe Improvised Jane Austen performs in the style of the 19th-century writer every Friday beginning June 2 at McKaw Theater, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave., Chicago. See mckayarts.com.

• Theater companies from Germany, Great Britain, France and Finland along with Chicago's own Portmanteau are gathering here for the fourth Physical Festival Chicago, which begins Friday, June 2, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The nine-day festival celebrates physical theater, which incorporates clowning, puppetry, mime, dance-theater, vaudeville and other formats. Passes range from $45 to $60; individual shows are $12 to $18. See physicalfestival.com for the schedule and tickets.

• Steppenwolf Theatre's LookOut Series continues with The Neo-Futurists' "The Infinite Wrench" made up of two-minute plays ranging from comedic to profound to terrifying. Created and performed by Neo-Futurist ensemble members, the show runs at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 2-3, at 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• The Actors Gymnasium showcases its professional circus training program graduates in "Passage," a show about struggles and triumphs. Performances are on Saturday and Sunday, June 3-4, at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. (847) 328-2795 or actorsgymnasium.org.

• "Late Nite Catechism," which opened in 1993 at Live Bait Theatre in Chicago, celebrates its 24th anniversary at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 4, at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Twenty-four tickets for that performance will be available at the 1993 ticket price of $8. Lisa Braatz, who has played the wisecracking Sister for 15 years, stars. (312) 988-9000 or nuns4fun.com.

• Performances begin Sunday, June 4, for Pride Films and Plays' double-bill dubbed "Beds." It includes the two-hander "Jerker," by Robert Chesley, about a relationship between a veteran and a businessman during the early years of the AIDS crisis. The second play on the bill is James Edwin Parker's "Two Boys in a Bed on a Cold Winter's Night," about two gay men in the aftermath of their first sexual tryst. Performances run through June 16 at 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. (800) 737-0984 or prideartscenter.com.

• Victory Gardens Theater and Emerald City Theatre teamed up to develop a new theater initiative dubbed Play Pals that will keep young children engaged in theater education workshops while their parents attend a performance of "Native Gardens." While adults attend the 3 p.m. performance of Karen Zacarias' comedy on Sunday, June 4 and 11, children ages 4 to 11 will participate in theater games and activities under the direction of Emerald City teaching artists. Victory Gardens is at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.

• Erasing the Distance, an ensemble that uses performance to educate people about mental illness and counter the stigma surrounding it, premieres a new production. "My Other Full Time Job" examines mental health and the workplace. Performances take place Monday through Wednesday, June 5-7, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or erasingthedistance.org.

• The 44th annual Non-Equity Jeff Awards celebrating excellence in Chicago's nonunion theater, takes place Monday, June 5, at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the award ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m. (773) 609-2530 or jeffawards.org.

• Lookingglass Theatre Company concludes its 29th season with a remount of its award-winning "Moby Dick," adapted and directed by ensemble member David Catlin from Herman Melville's book. Presented in collaboration with The Actors Gymnasium, this examination of obsession and revenge centers on Captain Ahab's pursuit of the legendary white whale. Previews begin Wednesday, June 7, at the Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. The show opens June 17. (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.

• Nothing Without a Company recently announced its 12th season will center on the theme of identity. The company kicks off its 2017-2018 season July 8 with its New Play Festival showcasing works developed through previous 24 Hour Play Festivals. The mini-fest takes place at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago. The season opens officially in November with "Bobby Pin Girls," ensemble member Janey Bell's tale of roommates who bond over the course of a wild night. That's followed in February by "Cornerstone." Devised by ensemble member Kevin Sparrow, it's about motivational speakers who become increasingly belligerent while attendees become increasingly rebellious. The season concludes in June 2018 with "Not One Batu," the story of a former meth user turned successful drug dealer struggling to stay clean, by co-artistic director Hannah Li-Epstein. Performances take place at the Berger Park Cultural Center, 6205 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago. See nothingwithoutacompany.org.

• Adventure Stage Chicago explores literacy during its 2017-2018 season. It begins Oct. 25 with "Akeelah and the Bee," adapted by Cheryl West from Doug Atchinson's screenplay about a young girl who dreams of winning the national spelling bee. That's followed on March 31, 2018, by Lucas Baisch's adaptation of Guatemalan creation myths known as "The Popol Vuh." Tentatively titled "The Ceiba Network," the play centers on twins Honey and Blanca who come upon a magical tree in the alley behind their grandmother's house. Performances take place at the Northwestern Settlement's Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago. (773) 342-4141 or adventurestage.org.

• Chicago Children's Theatre performs its 2017-2018 season at its new home at The Station, 100 S. Racine St., Chicago. CCC's 12th season begins Sept. 19 with "A Year With Frog and Toad," which follows best pals through four seasons. "Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party," an interactive show for ages 2 to 6, runs Dec. 2-17. Performances begin Jan. 16, 2018, for the world premiere of "My Wonderful Birthday Suit!" Gloria Bond's tale of best friends who learn to appreciate each other's inner and outer beauty. Beginning March 10, 2018, CCC transforms The Station for "An Epic Tale of Scale," a new show by Henry Wishcamper and Jo Cattrell with original music by Gabriel Ruiz that incorporates theater, science experiments, art projects and games. The season concludes with a co-commission with the Children's Theatre Company of Minneapolis titled "Last Stop on Market Street" (April 24-June 3, 2018). It is inspired by Matt de la Pena's tale of a city kid and his grandmother, who teaches him to find joy in ordinary things. Early-bird subscription packages are $55 through June 19. Prices increase to $75 in July and $100 in August. (872) 222-9555 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org.