Spotlight: Marriott grooves with jukebox tuner ‘Beehive: The 60’s Musical’
Groovy tuner
Just in time for summer, Marriott Theatre revives “Beehive: The 60’s Musical,” a frothy tuner that pays homage to 1960s girl groups and female solo artists. The jukebox musical features such pop hits as “My Boyfriend’s Back,” “Be My Baby” and “Me and Bobby McGee,” among others. Deidre Goodwin directs and choreographs. Previews at 1 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, June 19-20; 8 p.m. June 21; 4 and 8 p.m. June 22; and 1 and 5 p.m. June 24 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The show opens June 26. Tickets start at $60. (847) 634-0100 or marriotttheatre.com.
‘Journey of a People’
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre presents “1619: The Journey of a People,” a musical by Ted Williams III, produced in cooperation with Northwestern University and the Evanston Public Library. The musical traces the journey of African Americans toward equality and freedom from slavery and Reconstruction to the Great Migration and the struggle for civil rights and the modern social justice movement. The preview is at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 15, at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Ave., Evanston. The show opens at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 16. $32. (847) 866-5914 or fjtheatre.com.
New from the League of Chicago Theaters
Theater artists from Uptown Music Theatre of Highland Park, Broadway in Chicago, Teatro ZinZanni and iO Theater are among those performing at the first of two League of Chicago Theaters’ “Sundays on State” programs. Performances take place on Chicago’s State Street, which will be closed between Lake and Adams streets. 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 16, and July 14 on State Street, Chicago. Free. loopchicago.com/events/sundays-on-state.
• Also, The League of Chicago Theaters introduced Youth Night at the Theater, a program that offers a free ticket for audience members 18 and younger with the purchase of an adult ticket for select theaters and performances. Participating theaters include: Marriott, MadKap Productions, The Neo-Futurists and Broadway in Chicago, among others. To purchase, see chicagoplays.com and use the promo code LOCTYOUTH when purchasing tickets.
Corduroy the bear at Chicago Shakes
Chicago Shakespeare Theater brings a beloved Teddy bear named Corduroy to life in “Corduroy,” Barry Kornhauser’s 2018 adaptation of Don Freeman’s beloved children’s books “Corduroy” and “A Pocket for Corduroy.” The play tells the story of the Teddy bear’s search to find a button to replace the one missing from his overalls. Jean Claudio plays the titular bear and Demetra Dee plays his human friend Lisa in director Amber Mak’s 60-minute production. 11 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, June 18-19, and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday through Sunday through July 14 at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $42 for adults, $26 kids 12 and younger. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.
Tasty dramedy
Writers Theatre concludes its season with a revival of “The Hot Wing King,” Katori Hall’s 2021 Pulitzer Prize-winning play about hot wing master Cordell, his partner Dwayne and their friends as they prepare for a Memphis cooking contest. Lili-Anne Brown directs Hall’s examination of family and masculinity, which features Breon Arzell as Cordell and Jos N. Banks as Dwayne. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 20-21 and 26-27; 7:30 p.m. June 22; and 2 p.m. June 23 at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The show opens June 28. $35-$90. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.
Token Theatre debuts full production
Asian American ensemble Token Theatre launched its inaugural season in 2020 with online performances of “Zac Efron,” a play about two Queer Asian Americans whose love affair challenges expectations. Now, the company is staging its first full production of the play by artistic director David Rhee and managing director Wai Yim. Previews at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 20-21, and 3 and 7 p.m. June 22 at A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago. The show opens June 23. $40; $20 students and military. tokentheatre.net.