Theater events: The Gift presents the Midwest premiere of David Rabe's 'Cosmologies'

• The Gift Theatre concludes its 17th season with the Midwest premiere of "Cosmologies," an absurdist comedy by Tony Award-winning playwright and Gift ensemble member David Rabe, in which a "young man's negotiation for a date goes very wrong and we are transported through a kaleidoscopic world of possibilities, identities and loves." Previews begin Friday, Oct. 19, at 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show, directed by artistic director Michael Patrick Thornton, opens Oct. 28. (773) 283-7071 or thegifttheatre.org.

• Just as she is about to publish a study that could revolutionize cancer research, hotshot scientist Amy gets scooped by a researcher from a competing lab and may be the victim of sabotage in "Scientific Method" by Jenny Connell Davis. Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's premiere is directed by Devon de Mayo. It begins previews Friday, Oct. 19, at 5779 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 30. (773) 334-7728 or rivendelltheatre.org.

• Writer/actress Dael Orlandersmith and director and Victory Gardens Theater artistic director Chay Yew - who collaborated on Orlandersmith's "Black n Blue Boys/Broken Men" at Goodman Theatre in 2012 - reunite for Goodman's premiere of Orlandersmith's "Lady in Denmark." Linda Gehringer stars in the solo piece about a Danish-American woman who is grieving her late husband and finds comfort in Billie Holiday's music. Previews begin Friday, Oct. 19, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 29. Also the Goodman will hold a costume and headwear sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. More than 100 items will be available ranging from $1 to more than $300. Admission is free. Proceeds benefit the theater. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

• In keeping with the season, Theatre Above the Law opens "Poe" on Friday, Oct. 19, at 1439 W. Jarvis St., Chicago. Adapted by Christina Lepri and consisting of favorite Edgar Allan Poe stories, the show unfolds at the fictional Mystic Moon cabaret where Poe's characters gather to swap tales. (773) 655-7197 or theatreatl.org.

• Black Ensemble Theater augments its 2018 season with "Women of Soul (With a Tribute to the Queen)" beginning previews Saturday, Oct. 20, and opening Oct. 28 at 4450 N. Clark St., Chicago. Written and directed by BET associate Daryl D. Brooks, the biomusical revue salutes Chaka Khan, Diana Ross and Tina Marie with a special tribute to the late Aretha Franklin. (773) 769-4451 or blackensemble.org.

• In late 19th-century London, the perfect wife must decide between her clergyman husband and the homeless poet who shows up on the church doorstep in George Bernard Shaw's "Candida." ShawChicago Theater Company's revival runs Saturday, Oct. 20, through Nov. 12 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 587-7390 or shawchicago.org.

• Lifeline Theatre KidSeries presents the musical "Bunnicula," about a family whose adopted rabbit raises the suspicions of family cat Chester after vegetables turn up mysteriously drained of their juices. Lifeline emeritus member James Sie adapted Deborah and James Howe's children's book and wrote the lyrics for the show, which features music by Doug Wood. Performances begin Saturday, Oct. 20, at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sunday, Oct. 21. (773) 761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.

• Hip-hop artist and TV host Snoop Dogg teams up with writer/director/producer Je'Caryous Johnson for the musical based on Snoop Dogg's life titled "Redemption of a Dogg," featuring a score comprised of Snoop Dogg's music. The musical is about a man who has to choose between fame and fortune or faith and family. Tamar Braxton co-stars. Performances are at 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Arie Crown Theatre, 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. (312) 791-6900 or (800) 745-3000 or jecaryous.com.

• Performances begin Sunday, Oct. 21, for Trap Door Theatre's "There is No Power for the Electric Chair," by Bulgarian writer Alexander Sekulov. The play is about a prisoner and an executioner trapped in a room with no idea what's happening outside the execution chamber. Performances run through Nov. 5 at 1655 W. Cortland St., Chicago. (773) 384-0494 or trapdoortheatre.com.

• WildClaw Theatre presents "A Taste of Deathscribe" at 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., Chicago. The 21-and-older event consists of selections from the company's annual showcase of radio horror tales complete with music and Foley effects. The program includes wine pairings. Tickets are $25. See citywinery.com.

• Broadway veteran and Ruth Page School of Dance alum Kenny Ingram (currently co-starring in Marriott Theatre's "Sweet Charity") performs a one-man concert reading of the musical "Shane Boy Darling." Written by Ingram, with music and lyrics by Peter Candela, the musical consists of vignettes based on true stories from Ingram's life. The adults-only performance is at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. Proceeds benefit the Young Men's Scholarship Program at the Ruth Page School of Dance. See ruthpage.org.

• Our Perspective: Asian-American Play Readings continue at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The series showcases works by Asian Pacific American playwrights as part of Steppenwolf's LookOut Series. (312) 335-1650 or Steppenwolf.org/lookout.

• "Destinos," the Chicago International Latino Theater Festival produced by the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance and featuring artists from Chicago, Los Angeles, Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Puerto Rico, concludes this week at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Performances run Tuesday, Oct. 23, through Nov. 4 for the North American premiere of "Acéléré," from the Colombian circus troupe Circolombia. The production combines aerialists, acrobats and other circus performers with live music and dance. For tickets and information, see clata.org or call (312) 631-3112.

• Also opening at Chicago Shakespeare Theater this week is "Fight Night," the Belgian ensemble Ontroerend Goed's contribution to CST's WorldStages series. It's an examination of politics and free will in which five contenders compete for audience members' votes. Performances run Tuesday, Oct. 23, through Nov. 4. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

• Tony Award-winner and Broadway favorite Betty Buckley stars in the national tour of the award-winning revival of "Hello Dolly!," the 1964 musical by Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart that begins performances Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Buckley stars as matchmaker Dolly Levi, who is determined to see all of her clients happily wed. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• Performer/composer/lyricist Michael Mahler celebrates a pop music icon with his show "Silly Love Songs: The Paul McCartney Collection," which he brings to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre as part of the Artists Lounge Live series. The award-winning Mahler performs at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

• Previews begin Wednesday, Oct. 24, for Invictus Theatre's production of William Shakespeare's "Love's Labour's Lost," in which a young king and his three friends vow to refrain from fun, food and frolicking with women for three years while they complete their studies. Then, a French princess and her three ladies throw a monkey wrench into their plans. The show opens Oct. 29 at The Frontier, 1106 W. Thorndale Ave., Chicago. See invictustheatreco.com.

• Storytellers share tales of bad first dates and growing up in a rural town during the next installment of Short Story Theater at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 25, at Miramar Bistro, 301 Waukegan Ave., Highwood. (847) 433-1078 or shortstorytheatre.com.

• Writer/performer Lydia House examines a woman's everyday fears in her solo show "Haunted House," running at 8 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 28 at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• Trap Door Theatre has extended its production of Luigi Pirandello's "Naked," about a despairing young woman who returns to Rome where several men push her to her limit. Performances run through Nov. 3 at 1655 W. Cortland Ave., Chicago. (773) 384-0494 or trapdoortheatre.com.

• About Face Theatre announces free tickets for economically disadvantaged seniors living at Chicago's Town Hall Apartments beginning Nov. 11 with About Face's production of "This Bitter Earth." Residents will receive one ticket to each About Face production throughout the season, including transportation and accommodations for people with special needs. "Though About Face Theatre has a long and nationally recognized history of working with LGBTQ and allied youth, to date, the organization has never specifically undertaken any initiatives involving the senior population of Chicago," said director of institutional giving Benjamin Sprunger in a prepared statement. "Knowing that there's a direct corollary between health and participation in the arts, we hope to not only provide Town Hall residents with transformative, enriching theater that is relevant to their lives and experiences, but to improve their overall health as well." The initiative was made possible by a grant from ComEd and the League of Chicago Theatres.