Theater events: BoHo stages Jez Butterworth thriller 'The River'

• Kate returns from New York City to her childhood home in Texas with her African-American wife to the chagrin of her mother, Ellie, who prefers Kate marry her childhood sweetheart Alan, in "Sweet Texas Reckoning" by Traci Godfrey. Artemisia Theatre artistic director Julie Proudfoot directs the production, which features Molly Lyons, Scottie Caldwell, Anita Kavuu Ng'ang'a and John Wehrman. Performances run Friday, June 7, through Sunday, June 30, at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. See artemisiatheatre.org.

• The Factory Theater concludes its season with the premiere of "Prophet$" by ensemble member Anthony Tournis. Previews begin Friday, June 7, for the "slack to riches story" about a pair of con men who get into the evangelism business. The production opens June 14 at 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago. (866) 811-4111 or thefactorytheater.com.

• ComedySportz Chicago's LGBTQ members will be featured in ComedySportz Chicago's Pride Month celebration Friday, June 7, through Saturday, June 22, at 929 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The series includes the adults-only Rainbow A-Go-Go Variety Show at 10 p.m. June 22. The ensemble also hosts family-friendly performances at 6 and 8 p.m. Fridays through June 21. (773) 549-8080 or cszchicago.com.

• Attention preschoolers: Catboy, Owlette and Gekko take over the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago, for a brief run Friday through Sunday, June 7-9, in "PJ Masks Live: Save the Day!" It's a stage adaptation of the Disney Junior animated series about three friends who transform into their alter egos and embark upon adventures after they don their pajamas at night. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• Previews begin Saturday, June 8, for BoHo Theater's production of "The River," a new play by Jez Butterworth, 2019 Drama Desk Award winner for "The Ferryman." A combination thriller and ghost story, "The River" unfolds at a remote cabin where a man is staying with his new girlfriend. The production, directed by Jerrell L. Henderson, opens June 15 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-7336 or bohotheatre.com.

• Underscore Theatre Company concludes its season with "The Ballad of Lefty & Crabbe," a musical by Brian Huther, Ben Auxier and Seth Macchi about the "death of vaudeville and the rise of Hollywood." It centers on two talented but down-on-their-luck friends and performers trying to navigate show business. Previews begin Saturday, June 8, at The Understudy, 4609 N. Clark St., Chicago. The show, directed by Rusty Sneary, opens Tuesday, June 11. See underscoretheatre.org.

• Silk Road Rising showcases new plays created through EPIC, its Empathic Playwriting Intensive Course held for residents of Brookdale Senior Living. The staged readings take place at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 8-9, at the Historic Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St., Chicago. (312) 857-1234 or silkroadrising.org.

• Eta Creative Arts Foundation premieres the musical "Stand Up!" about the 1963 Birmingham Children's March during which youngsters were arrested when they marched to protest segregation. Performances begin Saturday, June 8, at 7558 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago. (773) 752-3955 or etacreativearts.org.

• Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, hosts a family day on Sunday, June 9, for its regional premiere of "Matilda the Musical" adapted from Roald Dahl's book about a precocious girl forced to attend a school run by a bullying headmistress. The family day includes a 2 p.m. matinee preceded at 1 p.m. by preshow activities and a meet-and-greet with the young actresses - Audrey Edwards and Natalie Galla - who share the titular role. (630) 530-0111 or drurylanetheatre.com.

• Chicago Children's Theatre hosts its family festival Boing! from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 9, at 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. Activities include: aerial arts with members of the Actors Gymnasium, air brush tattoos, cookie decorating, mini-golf, storytelling, green screen movie making and other activities. Tickets are $10. (312) 374-8835 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org/boing.

• Pride Films and Plays hosts a fundraiser and season preview from 8 to 11 p.m. Tuesday, June 11, at the company's dual venues at 4139 N. Broadway and 4147 N. Broadway, Chicago. Hosted by drag artist Wendy Sitti, the "It's Raining Men" fundraiser features performances of scenes from current and upcoming productions, including "Afterglow." The $50 admission includes two drink tickets. (866) 811-4111 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

• Previews begin Wednesday, June 12, for Oak Park Festival Theatre's production of "Elizabeth Rex," Timothy Findley's tale that unfolds on the evening of the execution of the Earl of Essex, Elizabeth I's reported lover. Elizabeth spends the evening conversing with Ned, an actor in William Shakespeare's company who specializes in playing women. Wendy Robie plays the titular monarch in director Barbara Zahora's production, opening June 15 at Austin Gardens, 167 Forest Ave., Oak Park. (708) 300-9396 or oakparkfestival.com.

• Barrel of Monkeys presents its annual Celebration of Authors beginning at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St., Chicago. The event honors the students whose stories were included in BOM's sketch comedy and variety show "That's Weird, Grandma." (773) 506-7140 or barrelofmonkeys.org/coa.

• Downers Grove native Kelli Harrington received a 2019 non-equity Joseph Jefferson Award this week for her performance as a lonely Iowa farm wife in Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's revival of "The Bridges of Madison County," which also earned awards for director Fred Anzevino, music director Jeremy Ramey and for best musical. Theo Ubique shared top honors with The Artistic Home and Raven Theatre. Artistic Home's revival of "Requiem for a Heavyweight" was named best play. The production also earned awards for director John Mossman, principal performer Mark Pracht and sound designer Petter Wahlback. Raven Theatre's awards included one for Netta Walker's supporting performance in "Yen," another one for Brianna Buckley's supporting performance in "Crumbs From the Table of Joy," an award for Philip Dawkins' play "The Gentleman Caller" and Sam Hubbard's violence and intimacy direction in "Yen." The non-equity Jeffs recognize excellence in Chicago's nonunion theater companies.

• Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, has extended director David Cromer's revival of "Next to Normal," Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's musical about the impact of a woman's mental illness on her family. The production runs through June 23. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.

• Pride Films and Plays has extended its Chicago-area premiere of "Afterglow," S. Asher Gelman's drama about a gay, married couple whose open relationship is tested after they invite another man to share their bed one night. Performances run through July 28 at 4147 N. Broadway, Chicago. (866) 811-4111 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

• "Admissions," Joshua Harmon's satire about a couple whose son believes his deferred admission to Yale University resulted from reverse discrimination, has been extended. Performances for Theater Wit's Chicago premiere run through June 23 at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

• Court Theatre has extended "The Adventures of Augie March," David Auburn's play based on Saul Bellow's coming-of-age novel about a freewheeling young man growing up during the Great Depression who tries out various occupations and various women. Performances run through June 23 at 5535 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago. (773) 753-4472 or courttheatre.org.

• Chicago Shakespeare Theater has extended its acclaimed North American premiere of "Six," a musical revue in which Henry V's wives step out from the shadow of their famous spouse. Performances run through Aug. 4 at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

• In other theater news, A Red Orchid Theatre welcomed new ensemble members including actors Karen Aldridge, Levi Holloway, Travis A. Knight, Sadieh Rifai and Steve Schine; costume designer Myron Elliott-Cisneros; director Jess McLeod; set designer Grant Sabin and stage managers Stephanie Heller and Christa van Baale.

• Goodman Theatre named director Kimberly Senior, resident director at Writers Theatre and an associate artist at TimeLine Theatre, as the newest member of its artistic collective. "As I was 'growing up' in Chicago's off-Loop theater, the Goodman was a model for me - a pillar of excellence in our local and national arts community," said Senior in a prepared statement. "I hope to contribute new ideas and connections to build upon the Goodman's incredible success as an arts and civic organization."

• Writer, performer and producer Jorge Silva - who recently designed lighting for the Neo-Futurist Theater production "Remember the Alamo" - has been named the company's new managing director. "Jorge connects with and has a vision for every part of what we do and why we do it. Plus, he works hard to get stuff done," said artistic director Kurt Chiang in a prepared statement.

• The House Theatre of Chicago announced its 18th season will begin with the 10th anniversary production of the company's family-friendly, ballet-free "The Nutcracker" (Nov. 7-Dec. 29), an updated version of E.T.A. Hoffmann's story. It's followed by "Verböten" (Jan. 16-March 8, 2020), a musical by writer Brett Neveu and composer/lyricist Jason Narducy set in 1983, about a teenage, punk-rock band preparing for a big show at The Cubby Bear. The main stage season concludes with William Shakespeare's "Henry V" (March 19-May 10, 2020), starring ensemble member Brenda Barrie as the titular monarch who, with a ragtag army, defeats the French at Agincourt and solidifies his claim to the French throne. Continuing at The House is "The Magic Parlour," a magic show featuring ensemble member Dennis Watkins in an open run at The Palmer House, 17 E. Monroe St., Chicago. Main stage performances take place at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. A basic membership is $65 and includes two productions. The main stage membership is $99 for three productions. A full season membership is $169 and includes The Magic Parlour. Single tickets go on sale Aug. 1. (773) 769-3832 or thehousetheatre.com.