Theater events: Chicago Fringe Fest returns to Jefferson Park

• Drury Lane Theatre's summer cabaret series concludes with Joan Curto's salute to "Broadway Women," from Angela Lansbury and Mary Martin to Carole King and Sara Bareilles. Curto performs at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, and 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Tickets cost $40 and $50, with a $25 food or beverage minimum per person. (630) 530-0111 or drurylanetheatre.com.

• Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, presents "Silent No More," a "theatrical documentary" consisting of stories by people with hearing loss about the struggles and successes they have experienced. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, and concludes with a question-and-answer session with cast members and audience members from the deafSign and deafSpeak communities. Tickets are $25. Proceeds benefit No Limits, an organization that assists deaf children. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org/silentnomore.

• Previews begin Thursday, Aug. 30, for the premiere of "Monger: The Awakening of J.B. Benton," the fourth production in Her Story Theater's Chicago Sex Trafficking Cycle. Mary Bonnett's play examines men who buy women and girls online for sex. Directed by Artistic Home co-founder John Mossman, the play centers on a criminal defense attorney with a secret sex life, who's dealing with his teenage son's legal problems on the day he deposes the mother of a teenage murder victim. The play opens Sept. 7 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. See herstorytheater.org.

• Gay people wrestle with love, relationships and intimacy in "Homos, or Everyone in America," a 2016 dramedy by Jordan Seavey. Derek Van Barham directs Pride Films and Plays' Chicago-area premiere. Previews begin Thursday, Aug. 30, at 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. The show opens Sept. 5. (866) 811-4111 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

• Newcomer Phoenix Rising Productions presents its inaugural production, "The Fires of Nero: The Rise of a Dictator," a cautionary tale by writer/producer Aaron Harris Woodstein born out of his study of the tyrannical Roman emperor. The action incorporates the first eight years of the emperor's reign and concludes with the burning of Rome. Performances begin Thursday, Aug. 30, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. See phoenixrisingproductions.com or stage773.com.

• The Chicago Fringe Festival returns to Chicago's Jefferson Park for its ninth year beginning with a preview party at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 30, at The Copernicus Center, 5216 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Artists from the Chicago area, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Canada and France will perform during the three-day fest, which features a Kids Fringe for ages 5 to 12. Performers include: Emily Cox in her solo show "Swipe Left: Dating in the Windy City"; comedy writers Drew Antzis and Tamara Bick who discuss parenting, sex and in-laws in "Settle This Thing"; Jenni Reinke who channels Frank Lloyd Wright's wife in "Mrs. Wrights"; and With a Machete Productions' show "Hildegard of Bingen Musical." Performances take place at the following Chicago locations: The Gift Theatre, 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave.; The Playhouse, 4766 N. Milwaukee Ave.; Fringe Central, 4872 N. Milwaukee Ave.; The Copernicus Center; and the Congregational Church of Jefferson Park, 5320 W. Giddings St. See chicagofringe.org for a complete schedule.

• Writer/performer Maureen Muldoon inaugurates Madison Street Theatre's Power of One solo series with her show "Big Giant Love" about the impact of a child changing gender. The performance is at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31, at 1010 W. Madison St., Oak Park. (708) 406-2491 or mstoakpark.com.

• Underscore Theatre Company announced a final extension of its hit musical "Haymarket" inspired by the true story of the violent 1886 confrontation between striking Chicago workers and the police department. Performances run through Sept. 16 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or underscoretheatre.org.

• The Second City revue "She the People" has been extended. Performances of the show run through Nov. 11 at the Up Comedy Club at Piper's Alley, 230 W. North Ave., Chicago. Additionally, Second City announced it will co-host a preshow women's health fair with Howard Brown Health from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, at Up Comedy Club.

• In other theater news, the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, recently unveiled its renovated lobby, which has been renamed the Whisler Family Lobby. The renovation was made possible by a donation from spouses Jack Whisler and Helen Jensen.

• Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago, recently announced accessible performances for its 2018-2019 main stage and KidSeries productions. Select performances include: touch tours and audio-described performances; open-captioned performances; assistive listening devices; autism/sensory-friendly performances; and wheelchair accessible seating. Audience members can make reservations for accessible performances by contacting accessibility coordinator Erica Foster at (773) 761-4477, ext. 703, or emailing access@lifelinetheatre.com.

• The Factory Theater announced Scott Oken has stepped down from his role as artistic director but will remain a member of the Factory ensemble.

• Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, is accepting applications from solo artists and ensembles for the 18th Annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival running Jan. 10-20, 2019. Applications are available at chicagosketchfest.com. They are due by Oct. 15. Tickets for the 2019 festival go on sale at noon Dec. 1 at the box office, (773) 327-5252 and stage773.com.

• Barrel of Monkeys has announced its 2018-2019 season of "That's Weird, Grandma," a sketch show featuring adaptations of stories written by Chicago elementary school children. BOM's 18th season begins Oct. 7 with the Halloween-themed "Ghosts, Ghouls and Talking Potatoes." That's followed by "That's Weird, Grandma Rings in the Holidays" (Dec. 10-22). "Star-Studded Stories" runs Jan. 20-Feb. 17, 2019, followed by "Stories That Sing and Dance" (May 3-25, 2019). The season concludes with "Fantastic Beasts and Stories About Them" (June 24-Aug. 12, 2019). See barrelofmonkeys.com.