Steel Beam Theatre examines life journeys during 2017-2018 season
Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles expands its season from six productions to seven as part of its 2017-2018 season, an examination of the paths people pursue to find love, get ahead and connect with others.
The season, titled "Taking Journeys," begins Sept. 8 with "100 Years of Broadway: A Sentimental Journey Through a Century of American Musicals," conceived and directed by Doug Orlyk. That's followed by "Making God Laugh" (Oct. 13-Nov. 5), Sean Grennan's comedy about the changing relationships between adult siblings and their empty-nester parents.
For the holidays, Steel Beam presents a double bill consisting of Joe Landry's "It's a Wonderful Life: Radio Play," adapted from Frank Capra's beloved 1946 film, and Tom Mula's "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol," in which Ebenezer Scrooge's late partner tries to unshackle himself by helping to save Scrooge's soul. The shows run in repertory Nov. 24 through Dec. 30.
Janus Theatre artistic director Sean Hargadon directs Sarah Burgess' "Dry Powder" (Jan. 12-Feb. 4, 2018), a 2016 dramedy set in the world of high finance. It centers around the efforts of partners in a private equity firm to minimize damage after the president throws himself a lavish engagement party the same week the firm lays off employees at a supermarket chain it recently acquired.
Three sisters reunite in a Reno hotel to make arrangements for their gambler father's funeral and make sense of their relationships in Linda Eisenstein's "Three the Hard Way" (Feb. 23-March 18, 2018). Next up is the Joe DiPietro-Jimmy Roberts' relationships revue "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change" (April 6-29, 2018).
The season concludes with "4,000 Miles" (May 18-June 10, 2018), Amy Herzog's domestic dramedy about growing up and growing old in which an adrift 21-year-old man moves in with his grandmother.
Performances take place at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. Season subscriptions are $140, $125 for seniors. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.