Theater events: Interrobang goes for 'Utility' while Marriott cuts 'Footloose'

Previews begin Friday, April 5, for Interrobang Theatre Project's Midwest premiere of “Utility” by Emily Schwend. Ensemble member Brynne Barnard plays a woman juggling two jobs and a failing marriage all while trying to plan a birthday party for her 8-year-old. Artistic director Georgette Verdin helms the production, which opens Tuesday, April 9, at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. (312) 219-4140 or interrobangtheatre.org.

Otherworld Theatre premieres a pair of plays inspired by Greek tragedies that will run in repertory at the company's home at 3914 N. Clark St., Chicago. The premiere of “Corona,” by Elizabeth A.M. Keel, begins previews Friday, April 5, and opens on April 12. The play centers on Captain Ariadne Minos, who ferries 14 people who will be sacrificed to a fearsome bull on her home planet, Crete. Along the way she develops a friendship with two of them: Prince Theseus and a healer named Pneuma. The second production marks the Midwest premiere of Bella Poynton's “Medusa Undone,” which begins previews Wednesday, April 10, and opens April 13. It tells the back story of the mythic monster who was a kindly sea-nymph before she caught the eye of Poseidon, who didn't respond well when she rejected his advances. See otherworldtheatre.org.

Theatre Above the Law opens its production of “Iron Kisses” by James Still on Friday, April 5, at The Side Project Theatre Company, 1439 W. Jarvis St., Chicago. Two actors play both the siblings and the parents in this examination of love, family and sexuality in the 21st century. (773) 655-7197 or theatreatl.org.

The Fifth Ace begins late-night performances Friday, April 5, at the Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Also at the Cornservatory, a quartet called Dijon presents the “Fancy Mustard Improv Hour” at 11 p.m. Saturdays beginning Saturday, April 6. See cornservatory.org.

On The Spot Theatre Company stages a pair of one-act farces under a double bill titled Brit Twist. Performances begin Saturday, April 6, at the Berger Park Coach House Theater, 6205 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago. “Roundelay,” by Mike Brayndick, is about an actress who reunites the production team from her British TV mystery series. “The Open Window,” adapted by Pete Blatchford from Saki's short story, is about a mushroom collector seeking a cure for his nervous disorder. (800) 838-3006 or onthespottheatrecompany.weebly.com.

Music Theater Works hosts its annual gala titled “A Technicolor Celebration: An Evening of Colorful Songs” beginning with a VIP reception at 4:45 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at the Glen View Club, 100 Golf Road, Golf. The event includes cocktails, dinner featuring entertainment paired with each course and a silent auction. Tickets start at $225 per person. Proceeds benefit the company's season and its youth outreach programs. (847) 920-5360 or musictheaterworks.com.

Former “Jersey Boys” star Michael Ingersoll and Under the Streetlamp alum Christopher Kale Jones perform at the Theatre at the Center as part of the Artists Lounge Live Series showcasing theater professionals in a cabaret-style setting. Ingersoll and Jones perform tunes from the 1950s and 1960s during their show “Lean on Me: The Brotherhood of Rock and Roll.” Performances are at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. (219) 836-3258 or theatreatthecenter.com.

Barrel of Monkeys hosts its annual fundraiser Fancy Schmancy - Setting: Ocean from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at The Drucker Center, 1535 N. Dayton Ave., Chicago. Attendees can choose to dress fancy (dress to impress) or schmancy, meaning a nautical or beach-themed costume. The event includes an open bar, dinner, dancing, performances and a silent auction. Proceeds support BOM's arts education in Chicago Public Schools. Tickets range from $80 to $110. See barrelofmonkeys.org/fancy.

Comedian, Top 10 “America's Got Talent” finalist and Nick @ Nite's funniest mom in America Vicki Barbolak brings her “Trailer Nasty Tour” to The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Barbolak headlines the 7 p.m. Sunday, April 7, show, which also features host Mike Vinn and Jesse Egan. (773) 697-3830 or thedentheatre.com.

Steppenwolf Theatre's LookOut Series continues with a storytelling showcase. Ada Cheng and Archy Jamjun celebrate their Asian-American community's cultural traditions as part of “Talk Stories: An Asian-American/Asian Diaspora” at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 11, in the 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org/lookout.

Schaumburg native Allie Ring performs her solo show, “Mayor of Schaumburg,” a reflection of her experiences growing up in the suburbs. It runs Mondays, April 8, 15 and 22, at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

An all-female cast performs a staged reading of Reginald Rose's 1954 teleplay “Twelve Angry Men” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 8, at Pride Films and Plays, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. The 1957 film adaptation, directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Henry Fonda, centered on a lone juror who during murder trial deliberations raises reasonable doubts as to the defendant's guilt. The reading is part of a nationwide initiative by the organization 12,000 Voices in an effort to promote gender equality. Dana N. Anderson plays Juror 8, Fonda's role. Brittany Gillespie directs. (866) 811-4111 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

Previews begin Wednesday, April 10, for Marriott Theatre's production of “Footloose,” adapted from the 1984 film about a young man from the city who moves to a small town where the local minister has convinced local officials to ban dancing and rock music. Joseph Jefferson Award-winner Gary Griffin directs. In a prepared statement Griffin said, “this musical is the most relevant production to be working on right now ... there is such a divide among us ... dance and music is a way to connect, celebrate life and cope with loss. It is wonderfully universal.” Jeff winner William Carlos Angulo choreographs. The show opens April 17 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

Porchlight Music Theatre concludes its main stage season with a revival of “A Chorus Line,” directed by Libertyville native Brenda Didier and choreographed by Chris Carter with music direction by Linda Madonia. Created from sessions in which Broadway dancers shared stories about their pursuit of their dreams, the musical centers on dancers vying for a spot in the chorus of a new Broadway show. Previews begin Wednesday, April 10, at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. It opens April 18. (773) 777-9884 or porchlightmusictheatre.org.

Theater and cabaret performer Scott Gryder stars in the off-Broadway hit “Buyer and Cellar,” Jonathan Tolins' solo comedy about a struggling actor “managing a make-believe shopping mall in the basement of Barbra Streisand's Malibu home.” Previews begin Thursday, April 11, at Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. The show, directed by Donterrio Johnson, opens April 15. (866) 811-4111 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

Mount Prospect native and Prospect High School graduate Kathrynne Wolf plays Iago in Babes With Blades Theatre Company's all-female production of “Othello,” William Shakespeare's tragedy about a great general unhinged by prejudice, jealousy and madness. Brianna Buckley stars as Othello and Sarah Liz Bell plays Desdemona in director Mignon McPherson Stewart's production. Previews begin Thursday, April 11, at The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago. The show opens April 20. (773) 904-0391 or babeswithblades.org.

Trap Door Theatre celebrates 25 years in Chicago's Bucktown with a showcase of 25 scenes from the company's favorite productions, most of them by contemporary playwrights, specifically European writers, and performed according to European acting techniques. The showcase, titled 25/25, runs Thursday, April 11, through April 20 at 1655 W. Cortland Ave., Chicago. Tickets are $25 and all proceeds go toward Trap Door's future expansion. (773) 384-0494 or trapdoortheatre.com.

City Lit Theater is accepting works for its 12th annual Art of Adaptation Festival scheduled to run May 31 through June 2 at the Edgewater Presbyterian Church, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. City Lit staff will select six to eight adaptations whose authors will receive $200, with an additional $300 to the writer of the piece judged the festival's best. Submitted works must be new works of 20 minutes or less and adapted from nondramatic material (short story, essay, poetry, novel excerpt, memoir or video game). Submit pdf entries to Katy Nielsen at aofa@citylit.org by April 15.

Writer/performer Adam Strauss announced the postponement of the Chicago-area premiere of his off-Broadway show “The Mushroom Cure,” which was set to open April 6 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The new dates are May 9 to June 9. (773) 404-7336 or greenhousetheater.org.

Classic tales and modern works are among the plays and musicals making up Lifeline Theatre's 37th season. The main stage season begins Sept. 6 with a revival of “Whose Body,” adapted by ensemble member Frances Limoncelli from mystery writer Dorothy L. Sayers' 1923 novel about amateur detective Lord Peter Wimsey, who helps investigate a dead body found in a bathtub. That's followed by an adaptation of Charles Johnson's “Middle Passage” (Feb. 14-April 5, 2020), about newly freed slave Rutherford Calhoun's 1830 journey from Illinois to New Orleans to escape debtors and a forced marriage. The main stage season concludes with the premiere of “LOKI, The End of the World Tour” (May 22-July 12, 2020), a rock musical inspired by Norse mythology. Lifeline's KidSeries includes a revival of “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile” (Oct. 19-Nov. 24) about a family who discovers a crocodile in the bathtub of their new home. That's followed by the premiere of “Bunny's Book Club” (Jan. 11-Feb. 16, 2020), adapted from Annie Silvestro's tale of a bunny who decides to share his love of books with his furry friends. The KidSeries concludes with the premiere of “Neither” (March 14-April 19, 2020), a musical based on Airlie Anderson's book about the land of This and That, where there are only two kinds of animals: these and those, until something different hatches. Additionally, Lifeline's 23rd Annual Fillet of Solo Festival, showcasing solo performers and storytellers, runs Jan. 10-26, 2020. Performances take place at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. Mainstage subscriptions start at $80. KidSeries subscriptions are $120. (773) 761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.

Among the plays featured during Victory Gardens Theater's 45th season is the Chicago-area premiere of “Tiny Beautiful Things,” adapted by Nia Vardalos from Cheryl Strayed's book about a struggling writer who takes over the anonymous position of advice columnist. It runs Sept. 6 to Oct. 13. That's followed by the premiere of “The First Deep Breath” (Nov. 15-Dec. 22). Developed as part of VGT's 2018 Ignition Festival of New Plays, Lee Edward Colston II's drama is about a pastor holding a memorial service on the anniversary of his daughter's death, whose plans are disrupted by the unexpected arrival of his ex-convict son. A co-premiere with Actors Theatre of Louisville of Lily Padilla's “How to Defend Yourself” follows on Jan. 24, 2020. It's about college students who take a self-defense workshop after a sorority sister is raped. That's followed by the world premiere of “Dhaba on Devon Avenue,” Madhuri Shekar's play about the family-owned Dhaba Canteen, a restaurant that has operated since the 1960s now on the verge of bankruptcy. It runs March 27-April 26, 2020. The season concludes with Sharyn Rothstein's “Right to be Forgotten” (May 29-June 28, 2020), about a man who goes to extraordinary lengths to remove from the internet an indiscretion he committed when he was 17. Performances take place at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Subscriptions start at $99. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.