Theater spotlight: World War I drama 'Private Peaceful' opens at Greenhouse Theater
Ghost stories
The regulars at a rural pub in Ireland swap spooky stories in an attempt to impress a newcomer - a young woman from Dublin who's recently moved to town - in "The Weir," by Irish playwright Conor McPherson. Steel Beam Theatre's timely revival of McPherson's supernatural drama is directed by Larry Boller. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12-13, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14; runs through Nov. 4 at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $22-$28. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.
Margo Jones Project
Janus Theatre salutes women theater artists during a monthlong project showcasing three plays written by female playwrights and helmed by female directors, running in rotating repertory at the Elgin Art Showcase. Titled the Margo Jones Theatre Project, the festival honors the director/producer credited with launching the regional theater movement and introducing theater-in-the-round. Featured plays include: Marsha Norman's "'Night Mother," about the final hour in the life of a troubled young woman, directed by Lori Holm; Annie Baker's "Circle Mirror Transformation," about adult students in a community theater acting class, directed by Steel Beam Theatre's Marge Uhlarik-Boller; and Theresa Rebeck's "Sunday on the Rocks," about housemates breakfasting on scotch, directed by Tara Morrison. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12-13, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14; runs through Nov. 4 at 164 Division St., Elgin. $18, $35 for a three-show pass. See janusplays.com.
History lesson
Thomas "Tommo" Peaceful, a young soldier during World War I, contemplates facing a firing squad after he's accused of cowardice in "Private Peaceful," adapted for the stage by Simon Reade from Michael Morpurgo's novel. The production, starring Shane O'Regan, earned rave reviews during its 2017-2018 Ireland tour. It comes to Chicago's Greenhouse Theater Center for a brief run that coincides with the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Oct. 17-20, at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Opens Oct. 21. $40-$45. (773) 404-7336 or privatepeacefulusa.com or greenhousetheater.org.
Squabbling siblings
After the death of their father, two brothers continue their constant squabbling despite the parish priest's pleas for them to reconcile in "The Lonesome West" by Martin McDonagh ("Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"). The drama is the third in McDonagh's Leenane Trilogy, which also consists of "The Beauty Queen of Leenane" and "A Skull in Connemara." AstonRep Theatre Company's revival stars Robert Tobin and Dylan Todd as brothers Coleman and Valene. Previews at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 18-19, at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. Opens Oct. 20. $12-$25. (773) 828-9129 or astonrep.com.