Theater events: Shakespeare and a new Cubs musical are on tap this week

• The group Night Moose headlines improv shows at Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles, this weekend. The lineup for the 7 p.m. Friday, May 3, and Saturday, May 4, performances also includes blues-rock-country duo Sour Crow and the improv team 4ofDiamonds. Tickets are $10. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.

• Actor/comedian/writer Paul Reiser headlines an 8 p.m. Friday, May 3, show at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Reiser - creator, writer and co-star of the hit NBC comedy "Mad About You" which will reboot later this year - currently appears in the acclaimed FX miniseries "Fosse/Verdon." Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets range from $36 to $56. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org.

• The next incarnation of Barrel of Monkeys' ongoing "That's Weird, Grandma" series opens Friday, May 3, with "Stories That Sing and Dance" consisting of musical adaptations of stories written by Chicago public school students. Performances run through May 25 at The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. (773) 506-7140 or barrelofmonkeys.org.

• Next up at Goodman Theatre is artistic director Robert Falls' re-imagined version of William Shakespeare's "The Winter's Tale," a late work in which a king's unwarranted jealousy sparks "a calamitous series of events" that conclude with reconciliation and redemption. Previews begin, Saturday, May 4, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The show opens May 13. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

• Eclectic Full Contact Theatre concludes its 7th season with "The Secret of the Biological Clock," Andi Arthur's coming-of-age story of a now 30-something former teenage detective grappling with career, relationships and motherhood. The show previews Saturday, May 4, and Sunday, May 5, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. It opens Monday, May 6. (773) 935-6860 or eclectic-theatre.com.

• Stand-up comedian Greg Fitzsimmons, a veteran of the Conan O'Brien, Chelsea Handler and Jimmy Kimmel shows and award-winning writer/producer for "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," headlines an adults-only show at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Fitzsimmons performs at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4. (773) 697-3830 or thedentheatre.com.

• Steppenwolf Theatre's LookOut Series continues Saturday, May 4, with BAPS Comedy Spring Showcase featuring women of color performing standup, solo sketches, music and stories. On Wednesday May 8, the Q Brothers ("Funk it Up About Nothin';" "Othello: The Remix," "Q Brothers Christmas Carol") perform "Dress the Part," their two-hander, hip-hop retelling of William Shakespeare's "Two Gentlemen of Verona" Wednesday, May 8, through Friday, May 10. Performances take place at the 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org/lookout.

• The ragtag crew responsible for cleaning up space messes get too close to the sun endangering themselves and their ship in "Space Scum: The Musical." by writer/director Brandon Sherman. The show opens Sunday, May 5, at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• Broadway in Chicago hosts the eighth annual Illinois High School Musical Theatre Awards Monday, May 6, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. NBC 5 entertainment reporter LeeAnn Trotter hosts the event which will reveal the best actor and best actress from the 24 nominees representing 72 participating schools. The male and female best actor winners will travel to New York City to represent Illinois at The Jimmy Awards which determine the nation's top high school musical theater performers.

• The Tony Award-winning musical "Chicago," starring former NFL running back turned song-and-dance man Eddie George as shady criminal defense attorney Billy Flynn, returns to Chicago for a brief run. The tour plays the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago, from Tuesday, May 7, through May 12. The musical by John Kander and Fred Ebb tells the story of a pair of comely murderesses who vie for headlines in 1920s Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com or chicagothemusical.com.

• Previews begin Wednesday, May 8, for Lookingglass Theatre Company's premiere of "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" written and directed by ensemble member David Catlin from Shelley's 200-year-old tale. "I'm fascinated by the blur between Mary Shelley's story of creation, rejection and destruction and her own life of love, loss and abandonment. How does the human heart survive desolation and misery?" said Catlin in a prepared statement. The production, in collaboration with Evanston's Actors Gymnasium, consists of five actors including Cordelia Dewdney as Mary Shelley and Walter Briggs as her poet husband Percy Bysshe Shelley and as Victor Frankenstein. The show opens May 19 at Water Tower Water Place, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.

• The 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs inspired "Miracle," a musical 108 years in the making. It begins previews Wednesday, May 8, at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Joseph Jefferson Award winner Michael Mahler composed the music and lyrics and Jason Brett wrote the book for the show directed by Damon Kiely, former American Theatre Company artistic director. The musical centers around the members of a North Side family, each of whom has a special affinity to the Cubs. (312) 988-9000 or theroyalgeorgetheatre.com.

• Court Theatre concludes its 64th season with the premiere of "The Adventures of Augie March," adapted by David Auburn from Saul Bellow's novel about a young man growing up during the Great Depression and the adventures and romances he experiences traveling the world. Previews begin Thursday, May 9, at 5535 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago. the show, directed by artistic director Charles Newell, opens May 18. (773) 753-4472 or courttheatre.org.

• Writer/performer Adam Strauss brings his show "The Mushroom Cure," about his use of psychedelics to treat his obsessive-compulsive disorder, to the Chicago area. The play begins previews Thursday, May 9, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show, developed with and directed by Jonathan Libman, opens May 11. (773) 404-7336 or greenhousetheater.org.

• Theatre Above the Law premieres "Amicable," Ross Compton's "nerdist drama" about the difficulty of letting unhealthy relationships die. Performances begin Thursday, May 9, at The Side Project, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave., Chicago. (773) 655-7197 or theatreatl.org.

• Margaret Trudeau, former wife of Canada's late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and the mother of current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, premieres her solo show at UP Comedy Club at The Second City. Co-written by Trudeau and Alix Sobler, "Certain Woman of an Age" recounts Trudeau's experiences as Canada's former first lady, mother and feminist who also struggled with depression after the death of her son, Michel. Kimberly Senior directs the show, which runs Thursday, May 9, through Sunday, May 12, at Piper's Alley, 230 W. North Ave., Chicago. Also, in collaboration the world premiere, The Second City hosts a wellness week that includes a panel discussion on performing with mental health issues, an improv class for people with anxiety and a Q&A with author Scott Stossel who will share his experience battling anxiety. (312) 337-3992 or secondcity.com.

• Victory Gardens Theater has extended its acclaimed Chicago area premiere of "Cambodian Rock Band," Lauren Yee's drama with music about a young woman trying to uncover her family history. Performances run through May 12 at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.

• Theater Wit has extended its timely Chicago area premiere of Joshua Harmon's "Admissions," a satirical look at private school admissions, racial diversity, liberal guilt and political correctness. Performances run through May 26 at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

• Restaurateur Amy Morton will open a new upscale restaurant at 5 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, next to the Paramount Theatre. The eatery, which will occupy the first floor of the John C. Dunham Aurora Arts Center, is scheduled to open in September around the time Paramount's main stage season commences with a revival of the musical "Newsies." The restaurant will anchor the arts center development, which will include affordable apartments for working artist tenants and a gallery to display residents' art as well as rehearsal space, classrooms and a black box theater.

• Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament offers a limited number of Mother's Day promotions through May 12. Mothers are admitted free with the purchase of one regular-priced adult ticket. Use the code MOM19. For an additional $25, mothers receive a sash, souvenir glass of champagne or mimosa and a framed family photograph. Medieval Times is located at 2001 N. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. (847) 882-1496 or medievaltimes.com/chicago.

• Comings and goings. Prop Thtr named Peter Bucci, former not-for-profit consultant and co-founder of Springboard Theater Company, as its new managing director.

• Haven Theatre associate artistic director Ian Damont Martin has been named the company's new artistic director. Also at Haven, former production manager Angela Salinas has been named managing director.

• Greenhouse Theater Center announced its 2019 season consisting of three coproductions with Chicago theater companies. The season begins Aug. 29, with the U.S. premiere of "Sons and Lovers," adapted from D.H. Lawrence's novel by director Mike Brayndick. Coproduced with On The Spot Theatre, the play chronicles Lawrence's parents' ill-suited marriage, his own early romances and his mother's jealousy over the women he brought home. That's followed by a Greenhouse collaboration with Proxy Theatre on the Midwest premiere of David Greig's "Midsummer (A Play with Songs)" about the adventure-filled weekend fling between a petty thief and a high-powered lawyer. It runs Sept. 5 to Oct. 6. The season concludes with the premiere of "N" (Oct. 24-Nov. 17) by former Hoffman Estates High School teacher David Alex. The play is about a 70-year-old, politically conservative African-American widow who admires Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and her young Caucasian caregiver, an aspiring actor whose breakout role requires him to use the N-word. Performances take place at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Single tickets go on sale at a later date. See greenhousetheatercenter.org.

• Chicago Children's Theatre begins its 14th season Sept. 24 with "The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show" based on the book by Eric Carle about "an insatiable herbivore that munches its way to become a full-fledged butterfly." That's followed by the return of the interactive "The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party" (Dec. 7-29), made up of favorite Potter tales. "Wake Up, Brother Bear!" (Jan. 21-Feb., 27, 2020) takes audiences on a journey through the four seasons. For children with autism, there's "Red Kite, Brown Box" (Feb. 28-March 21, 2020), in which ordinary boxes morph into forts, vehicles and robots. The season concludes with a new version of the 2017 Kennedy Center Family Theater production of "Me ... Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of a Young Jane Goodall" (March 31-April 26, 2020), adapted by Andy Mitton, Aaron Posner and Patrick McDonnell and based on McDonnell's book about the famous primatologist as a young girl. Performances take place at 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. Subscriptions go on sale Saturday, May 4. Early bird subscriptions are $45 for three shows. The price increases to $60 on July 1 and $80 on Aug. 1. Single tickets go on sale July 1. (312) 374-8835 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org.