Spotlight: Hell in a Handbag presents popular parodies, drive-in style
Drive-in series
Hell in a Handbag Productions presents Under the Stars With Handbag: A Drive-in Festival beginning this weekend. Handbag will showcase a different camp-enfused satire beginning with this weekend's prophetic "Poseidon! An Upside Down Musical." That's followed by the 1980s sitcom parody "The Golden Girls, The Lost Episodes, Vol. 4 - Lockdown!" (Aug. 28-29); "Caged Dames" (Sept. 4-5), a parody of 1950s women-in-prison films; and "Bewildered" (Sept. 11-12), a sendup of the 1960s TV comedy "Bewitched." The drive-in season concludes with the new "Airport 1970Something," which consists of performers dubbing new dialogue for one of the 1970s "Airport" films.
8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 21-22, and weekends through Sept. 19, outdoors at The Red Box Workshop, 4242 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. Physically distanced outdoor space for up to two people is $40; physically distanced outdoor space for up to four people is $60; vehicles with up to four passengers is $60. Cars have space for outside seating. The lot opens at 7:30 p.m. Tickets include popcorn and nonalcoholic beverages. Advance reservations required at handbagdrivein.bpt.me.
Manual Cinema 'FUN-draiser'
Manual Cinema hosts a live, virtual fundraiser featuring characters from past productions and guest artists and hosted by co-founder and co-artistic director Julia Miller. Concluding the event is a live performance of the company's latest work by Miller and fellow artistic directors Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, Ben Kauffman and Kyle Vegter and featuring shadow puppetry, toy theater, sound, music and cinematic techniques.
8-9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Donations accepted. See manualcinema.com/cal.
In other news
• Porchlight Palooza, Porchlight Music Theatre's three-day virtual festival and fundraiser, concludes with an interview with Tony and Academy Award winner Joel Grey. A celebration of Porchlight's 25-year history, the mini-festival features performances from past productions by some of the Chicago area's top musical theater stars along with surprise guests and a raffle. Chicago newsman Bill Kurtis will interview Broadway icon Grey, known for his performances in "Cabaret" and "Chicago," among others. The event begins at 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Aug. 21-23. See porchlightmusictheatre.org.
• Citadel Theatre hosts an outdoor, bring-your-own-chair cabaret featuring children from its production of "Annie" performing Broadway favorites. The physically distanced performances are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, in the parking lot of the Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest. Suggested donations range from $10 to $50. See citadeltheatre.org/outdoor-cabaret.
• The Resident Theatre at Edge of the Wood Theatre presents a Zoom reading of James Goldman's "The Lion in Winter," an examination of the personal and political battles waged by Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine and their children over the course of an unpleasant, 12th century Christmas celebration. The reading is at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at edgeofthewood.com/resident-theatre.
• Having moved its fall and winter shows to 2021-22, First Folio Theatre announced it will transition from season subscriptions to show passes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. One-, two- and three-show passes can be used in any combination for upcoming productions. See firstfolio.org.
• Lifeline Theatre will replace its subscription model with a new membership program in advance of its digital programming, which begins Sept. 10 with a virtual production of "Pride and Prejudice." The full membership is $125 and includes access to all digital programs including the Zoom version of "Pride and Prejudice," the radio drama "Miss Holmes," another show to be named as well as readings, talkbacks and other programs. A digital-only membership is $60 and includes the "Pride and Prejudice" Sept. 3 performance, a performance of the radio play "Miss Holmes," a show to be named and additional digital programming. Memberships are available at (773) 761-4477 or online at lifelinetheatre.com.