Spotlight: First local production of ‘Jersey Boys’ opens at Mercury Theater Chicago
Homegrown premiere
Mercury Theater Chicago presents the first built-in-Chicago production of “Jersey Boys,” the rags-to-riches-to-reconciliation story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Co-directed by L. Walter Stearns and Libertyville native Brenda Didier, the production features Michael Metcalf as Valli, Aurora native Adrian Aguilar as Tommy DeVito, Andrew MacNaughton as Bob Gaudio and Jason Michael Evans as Nick Massi. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 15 and 22; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16 and 23; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, March 17 and 24; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 and 27; and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. The show opens March 28. $60-$90. mercurytheaterchicago.com.
Kettenring in concert
Joseph Jefferson award-winner and leading lady Heidi Kettenring shares her professional triumphs and trials in her solo show, “Something Wonderful,” at Marriott Theatre. Part of its ongoing Artists Lounge Live series, the concert includes such pop and Broadway hits as “People,” “Close To You,” “Wouldn't It Be Loverly,” “So Long, Dearie” and “You've Got A Friend,” among others. 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 18, at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. $60. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.
International collaboration
Filament Theatre, in partnership with the Scottish theater company Constellation Points, presents that company’s production of “Cloud Man.” Suitable for ages 4-7, the play incorporates a storyteller and puppets to tell about cloud expert Cloudia, who has dreamed all her life of meeting the Cloud Man who lives quietly in the sky. Preview at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, at Filament Theatre, 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sunday, March 17. $12 for kids, $15 for adults. filamenttheatre.org.
Family-friendly ‘Frindle’
Griffin Theatre’s popular, family-friendly show “Frindle,” adapted from Andrew Clements novel by adapter/director and Griffin artistic director William Massolia, returns to Chicago for a brief run. The play centers on young Nicholas, who creates a new word causing a buzz in his town and soon after throughout the country. Joey Walsh plays Nick and Lynda Shadrake plays his teacher, Mrs. Granger. Noon and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 17 and 24, and 2 p.m. March 31 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. $24.50. raventheatre.com.
Gloria Estefan tuner returns
“On Your Feet!,” the sweetly sentimental jukebox tuner chronicling the lives of Cuban crossover star Gloria Estefan and her producer/composer husband Emilio, had audience members dancing in the aisles when it premiered here in 2015. This new production, directed and choreographed by Luis Salgado, returns for a brief run for the first time since 2018. 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 21; 1 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 20; 7:30 p.m. March 22; 2 and 7:30 p.m. March 23; and 1 p.m. March 24 at The CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., Chicago. $30-$100. broadwayinchicago.com.
Romantic comedy
In John Kolvenbach’s romantic comedy “Love Song,” a reclusive, quirky young man named Beane returns to his apartment to find a burglar, a young woman with whom he falls in love. His subsequent transformation troubles his suspicious sister Joan and her husband, who begin to re-examine their own relationship in response to Beane’s newfound love. Remy Bumppo Theatre’s revival is directed by artistic director Marti Lyons and stars ensemble members Terry Bell, Sarah Coakley Price, Ryan Hallahan along with Isa Arciniegas. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 21-23, and 2 p.m. March 24 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens March 25. $30-$52. (773) 975-8150 or remybumppo.org.