Theater events: Interrobang stages Chicago premiere of “I Call My Brothers”

• Beginning Friday, Jan. 4, theatergoers can exchange an unwanted present for a $10 ticket to "Bible Bingo: An Act of Charity in Two Acts" currently running at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Gifts collected during the January promotion will benefit the Little Sisters of the Poor at 2325 N. Lakewood, Chicago. Use the code "regift" when ordering. (312) 988-9000 or theroyalgeorgetheatre.com.

• Previews begin Saturday, Jan. 5, for Interrobang Theatre Project's Chicago premiere of "I Call My Brothers." Jonas Hassen Khemiri's drama is about a car bombing in typically peaceful Stockholm, Sweden, and the effect it has on an Arab-Swedish man who finds himself under suspicion in the wake of the terrorist attack. Abhi Shrestha directs the translation by Rachel Willson-Broyles. It opens Monday, Jan. 7, at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. (312) 219-4140 or interrobangtheatre.org.

• Filament Theatre presents "Forts: Build Your Own Adventure," an immersive, family-friendly production conceived by artistic director Julie Ritchey. The production, for which kids and parents use cardboard boxes, sheets and clotheslines to build new worlds, begins previews Saturday, Jan. 5, at 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 270-1660 or filamenttheatre.org.

• "La Ruta" playwright Isaac Gomez and the play's director Sandra Marquez will engage in an audience talkback following Steppenwolf Theatre's 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Jan. 6, at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• The national tour of "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical," adapted from the novel by Rick Riordan about the adventures of Poseidon's son Percy Jackson who attempts to forestall a war between the Greek gods, comes to Chicago for a brief run. Performances run Tuesday, Jan. 8, through Jan. 13 at the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000, broadwayinchicago.com or lightningthiefmusical.com.

• The Chicago Magic Lounge announced a new series titled The Showcase: New and Experimental Works, a weekly showcase for new material. Ryan Plunkett and Lee Benzaquin kick off the series at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, at 5050 N. Clark St., Chicago. (312) 366-4500 or chicagomagiclounge.com.

• Chicago Theatre Week tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8, at chicagotheatreweek.com for the seventh annual festival. It runs Feb. 7-17 at participating companies including Goodman, Northlight, Paramount, Porchlight, Lookingglass and Writers theaters among others. Tickets are $30, $15 and less during the event, which is produced by the League of Chicago Theatres in association with Choose Chicago.

• Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, presents a limited engagement of "St. Nicholas," Conor McPherson's 1997 solo thriller about a Dublin Theater critic (Brendan Coyle from PBS' "Downton Abbey") who strikes a bargain with vampires to win the beautiful young actress he fancies. Performances run Wednesday, Jan. 9, through Jan. 27. Simon Evans directs the production, which comes from London's Donmar Warehouse. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

• Redtwist theatre revives Stephen Adly Guirgis' 2015 Pulitzer Prize-winning drama "Between Riverside and Crazy" about a retired New York City policeman pressing a personal injury lawsuit against the department and his relationship with his ex-con son, his former partner and her new fiance. Previews begin Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. The production, directed by Rinska Carrasco-Prestinary, opens Jan. 12. (773) 728-7529 or redtwist.org.

• Windy City Playhouse remounts its Joseph Jefferson Award-winning production of "Southern Gothic," a 1960s-set drama by Leslie Liautaud about dinner party guests who reveal secrets that threaten their longtime friendships. Performances are at the company's new space at 2229 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (773) 891-8985 or windycityplayhouse.com.

• About Face Theatre continues its season with "Dada Woof Papa Hot," a comedy about gay parents and modern families by Peter Parnell ("The Cider House Rules"). Artistic associate Keira Fromm directs the play, which examines the problems married couple Alan and Rob encounter raising their young daughter. Previews begin Thursday, Jan. 10, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens Jan. 17. (773) 975-8150 or aboutfacetheatre.com.

• Pride Films and Plays presents the U.S. premiere of "I Know My Own Heart" by Irish-Canadian author Emma Donoghue ("Room" novel and screenplay). Donoghue's first play, "I Know My Own Heart" is inspired by the diaries of Anne Lister, a lesbian who lived during the Regency era. Previews begin Thursday, Jan. 10, at 4147 N. Broadway, Chicago. The production, directed by Elizabeth Swanson, opens Jan. 13. (866) 811-4111 or pridefilmsandpays.com.

• Exit 63 Theatre presents the Chicago-area premiere of the thriller "Dark Matters" by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Set in an isolated Virginia community, it's about a woman who goes missing, prompting a search by her family and the sheriff. When the woman reappears describing strange visions and otherworldly beings, her family must decide if she's lying or if supernatural forces are at work. Nora Lise Ulrey directs the production, which runs Thursday, Jan. 10, through Jan. 27 at the Rogers Park Women's Club, 7077 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. See exit63theatre.com.

• More than 1,000 artists are expected to participate in the 18th Annual Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival, which runs Thursday, Jan. 10, through Jan. 20 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Reportedly one of the largest events of its kind, the Sketch Comedy Festival features local entertainers like standup comedian and WGN radio host Patti Vasquez, The Cupid Players, Off Off Broadway and Rehner and Nixon, plus international ensembles Hot Raw Fire from Montreal along with headliners Parv and Pudi, a duo made up of Danny Pudi from the NBC sitcom "Community" and Parvesh Cheena. Individual tickets are $15; festival passes range from $24 to $60 for select days; a $120 flex pass is good for up to 10 shows. The all-festival pass is $225. Performances run hourly from 8 to 10 p.m. Thursdays, 8 to 11 p.m. Fridays, 6 to 11 p.m. Saturdays and 3 to 7 p.m. Sundays. (773) 327-5252 or stage773.com.