Theater events: Music Theater Works' 'Peter Pan' flies into Evanston's Cahn

Off to Neverland

Music Theater Works concludes its season with the family-friendly musical "Peter Pan," based on the J.M. Barrie tale about a boy who refuses to grow up. The show features music by Morris Charlap and lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, with additional music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Paramount Theatre veteran Aubrey Adams stars as Peter Pan opposite Larry Adams' Captain Hook. Artistic director Rudy Hogenmiller directs. Opens at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston. $34-$96. (847) 20-5360 or musictheaterworks.com.

'Burning Bluebeard'

Dec. 30, 2017, marks the 114th anniversary of the Iroquois Theatre Fire, which claimed the lives of more than 600 theatergoers - many of them women and children - attending a performance of the folk tale-inspired "Mr. Blue Beard." The Ruffians commemorate the tragedy with a revival of their acclaimed show "Burning Bluebeard," by co-founder Jay Torrence. Produced in association with The Neo-Futurists, the play is about six clowns who emerge from "the burned remains of history" to perform the show they never got to finish. Halena Kays directs. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. $25, $35, $75 for a VIP New Year's Eve package. See neofuturists.org.

Ha-Ha-Holidays

The Comedy Shrine puts a seasonal spin on its weekly improv show. "The Greatest Holiday Improv Show Ever" runs weekends in December and is suitable for ages 16 and older. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Dec. 30 at 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $20 plus a two-beverage minimum. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com.

Other theater events

• The Prop Thtr hosts A Renaissance Holiday, a family-friendly variety show fundraiser, at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at 3502 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. Singers, dancers, a juggler, a belly dancer and other performers will entertain. Proceeds from the $20 tickets benefit the theater's spring season. (773) 742-5420 or propthtr.org.

• Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, hosts its first sensory-friendly, relaxed performance of "A Christmas Carol" at 2 p.m. Dec. 30. Presented in partnership with Autism Speaks Chicago, the performance is for people who have autism or other cognitive or physical challenges that are accompanied by sensory sensitivities. It will feature lower sound levels, limited crowds, dimmed house lights, open doors, quiet areas in the lobby and designated areas in the theater for standing and movement. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org/sensoryperformance.

• Pride Films & Plays hosts a holiday version of PAC the House, it's monthly variety showcase of standup, burlesque and drag performance hosted by Ryan Royale and Coco Iman. Artists scheduled to perform at the 8 p.m. Dec. 30 show include actor/comedian Jake Dewar, dancer Cyn S. Tease Ya, drag performer Michel'le Rose, standup musical comedian Joey Mayberry and burlesque artist Miss Bailey Irish. (800) 737-0984 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

• The Neo-Futurists host a combination New Year's Eve party and performance of their show "The Infinite Wrench" at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. The evening begins at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31 with a preshow reception featuring selections from Metropolitan Brewery and Poems-While-You-Wait (typewritten poems on demand). That's followed at 11 p.m. by "The Infinite Wrench," which will finish in time for a champagne or apple juice toast at midnight. Tickets are $50. (773) 878-4557 or neofuturists.org.

• The Blue Man Group has added two family-friendly, New Year's Eve performances, including preshow face painting, at 1 and 4 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The performances also include post-show countdowns to midnight. Adult performances at 7 and 10 p.m. include a champagne toast and party favors. Tickets range from $39 to $99. (773) 348-4000 or blueman.com/chicago.

• The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, wraps up 2017 with a New Year's Eve performance of "Steamworks: The Musical" about a naive newcomer to Chicago who accidentally stumbles into a Boystown bathhouse. The adults-only performance takes place at 9:30 p.m. Dec. 31 and includes appetizers, desserts and a champagne toast. Tickets cost $40. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• Firebrand Theatre has once again extended its hit production of "Lizzie," a rock musical based on the story of Lizzie Borden, charged and acquitted of the 1892 ax murders of her parents. After a brief holiday hiatus, the show resumes performances Jan. 3 at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Broadway veteran Ciara Renee joins original cast members Liz Chidester, Leah Davis and Jacquelyne Jones. See firebrandtheatre.org.

• Eclectic Full Contact Theatre co-artistic director Andrew Pond announced recently the company will "embrace digital technology to help support an analog entertainment medium." To that end, EFCT has debuted its new Patreon website where it will offer online content in addition to its main stage productions. That content includes: comedy videos, podcasts and how-to videos from company designers. Subscriptions to the site start at $5. See patreon.com/EFCT or eclectic-theatre.com.

• Circle Theatre announced that its 32nd season will begin March 2 with the premiere of "The Condition of Femme," Lauren Marie Powell's drama chronicling a year in the life of a woman working for a sexual assault hotline. That's followed by "The View Upstairs" (June 22-July 22, 2018), Max Vernon's drama about self-exploration set in a 1970s gay bar in New Orleans' French Quarter. Performances take place at Pride Arts Center, 4147 N. Broadway, Chicago. Tickets will be available in 2018. See circletheatrechicago.org.