On stage: Red Theater's 'You Are Happy' showcases deaf theater artists

• Nine members of Connective Theatre Company share their experiences as survivors of sexual and domestic violence and gender-based discrimination in "Me Too Monologues" consisting of original works by the performers. Performances take place through Friday, Oct. 25, at Awakenings, 4001 N. Ravenswood Ave., Chicago. Admission is free, but donations are accepted with the proceeds going to Awakenings, an organization "dedicated to making visible the artistic expression of survivors of sexual violence." See connectivetheatrecompany.com.

• Comedian Paula Poundstone returns to the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, for one show. Poundstone - a veteran of NPR's "Wait, Wait ... Don't Tell Me!," "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" and "Nerdist" - performs at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. Tickets are $30. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

• Saint Sebastian Players opens its season with a revival of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" about the lives of the residents of the fictional, early 20th-century town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire. Performances begin, Friday, Oct. 25, at Saint Bonaventure Church, 1625 W. Diversey Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-7922 or saintsebastianplayers.org.

• Silent Theatre Company's site-specific, immersive new work "Incomplete Conversations" begins previews Friday, Oct. 25, at the Tapestry Fellowship Church, 3824 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. The play centers on members of a church community who prepare to bury their young pastor. The play, written and directed by Nell Voss, opens Monday, Oct. 28. See silenttheatre.com.

• Red Theater's first production of its 2019/2020 season is an English and American Sign Language production of "You Are Happy," Rebecca Deraspe's play about a woman determined to cheer up her suicidal brother by finding him a wife. The preview is Friday, Oct. 25, at The Edge Off Broadway, 1133 W. Catalpa Ave., Chicago. The show opens Saturday, Oct. 26. See redtheater.org.

• Drury Lane Theatre invites theatergoers attending the 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, matinee of "The Color Purple" to meet the characters Celie (Eben K. Logan) and her sister Nettie (Kyrie Courter) for a preperformance tea at 1 p.m. Celie's Southern Tea is $37 for adults and $27 for kids 12 and younger. The menu features Southern comfort food including fried green tomatoes, cornbread muffins and hummingbird cake and a glimpse behind the scenes courtesy of the actors. (630) 530-0111 or drurylanetheatre.com.

• Previews begin Saturday, Oct. 26, for one of Black Ensemble Theater's signature productions, "The Other Cinderella," founder/artistic director Jackie Taylor's African-American version of the fairy tale in which Cinderella lives in a housing project and her Fairygodmama hails from Jamaica. Jayla Williams-Craig plays the titular role in the revival, which opens Nov. 3 at 4450 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 769-4451 or blackensemble.org.

• Brandon Bennett, who channeled Elvis Presley in Chicago's long-running "Million Dollar Quartet," brings his show "Elvis: My Way" to Theatre at the Center as part of its Artists Lounge Live series showcasing theater artists in a cabaret setting. Bennett performs at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. (219) 836-3255 or theatreatthecenter.com.

• Adventure Stage Chicago presents "La Ofrenda," Jose Casas' play about a boy who - after losing both parents on Sept. 11, 2001 - moves across the country to live with his grandmother who helps him navigate his grief. The family-friendly performances are at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at Vittum Theatre, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago. (773) 342-4141 or adventurestage.org.

• Actor/writer John Leguizamo brings his solo show "Latin History for Morons" to the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago, for a brief run. The show, which earned Leguizamo a Tony Award last year, chronicles Latino history from the Mayans to the Aztecs to Latin Revolutionary War heroes to today's political and cultural icons. Performances run Tuesday, Oct. 29, through Nov. 3. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• Jeff Award winner Angela Ingersoll hosts Porchlight Music Theatre's New Faces Sing Broadway series showcasing music from various Broadway seasons. These concerts by up-and-coming theater artists feature music from 1956 including such musicals as "My Fair Lady," "The Most Happy Fella" and "Bells are Ringing." Performances take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston, and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, at The Arts Club of Chicago, 201 E. Ontario St., Chicago. (773) 777-9884 or porchlightmusictheatre.org.

• Babes With Blades Theatre Company hosts a Halloween Hambingo fundraiser beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Hamburger Mary's, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago. See babeswithblades.org.

• About Face Theatre artistic associate Scott Bradley performs his solo show, "Packing," about how the Iowa native and "genderqueer vagabond" reinvented himself over three decades by adopting new identities across multiple cities. Previews begin Thursday, Oct. 31, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens Nov. 7. (773) 975-8150 or aboutfacetheatre.com.

• Previews begin Thursday, Oct. 31, for Chicago Shakespeare Theater's production of "Romeo and Juliet." Artistic director Barbara Gaines helms the production, which stars Edgar Miguel Sanchez and Brittany Bellizeare as the star-crossed lovers. The show opens Nov. 8 at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

• "Little Black Dress," a musical sendup of the wardrobe staple and the women who swear by it, is from the team responsible for "Spank! The Fifty Shades Parody." It has a short preview at Stage 773 ahead of its official opening next year. Performances run Thursday, Oct. 31, through Sunday, Nov. 3, at 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show follows two friends and the life events they experience while wearing the LBD. (773) 327-5252 or littleblackdressthemusical.com.

• In celebration of the season, the Chicago Magic Lounge presents a Signature Show that combines magic and the macabre. It stars shock illusionist Dan Sperry, the anti-conjuror performing a "show for people who hate magic shows," according to promotional materials. Sperry, a former Schaumburg resident, performs Thursday, Oct. 31, through Saturday, Nov. 2, at 5050 N. Clark St., Chicago. Tickets range from $45 to $60. (312) 366-4500 or chicagomagiclounge.com.

• Submissions for the worst 10-minute play worthy of performance during DrekFest 2019 are due to Stage Left Theatre by Nov. 10. Finalists will compete for cash prizes on Dec. 9 at ComedySportz Theatre Chicago, 929 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Stage Left seeks intentionally awful plays for this "DrekMas" showcase. Send submissions to drekfest@stagelefttheatre.com. See stagelefttheatre.com for information.

• Collaboraction Theatre Company has expanded its ensemble. Dr. Marcus Robinson was named executive director, writer/director/actress J. Nicole Brooks joins the ensemble as associate artistic director and Teh'Ray Hale (PHENOM) was named director of creative community cultivation. Emmy Weldon is the new director of production, Tweed Thornton is managing director and Elsa Hiltner now serves as director of development.