Spotlight: See Shakespeare as originally performed during Elgin’s Unrehearsed Shakespeare Festival
Unrehearsed Shakespeare fest
Janus Theatre Company, in cooperation with the Elgin Shakespeare Project and Moonlight Repertory, presents the Unrehearsed Shakespeare Festival. Three productions — two comedies and a problem play — will be performed without advance rehearsals using cue scripts, as Shakespeare’s company originally intended. “The Comedy of Errors” at 8 p.m. Friday, July 26; “The Merchant of Venice” at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 27; and “The Taming of the Shrew” at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 28, at Moonlight Theatre, 7 S. 2nd Ave., St. Charles. Doors open an hour before showtime. Food and beverages available. $15 online, $20 at the door. (630) 549-0072 or moonlighttheatre.com.
‘Les Mis’ revival
Uptown Music Theater of Highland park stages “Les Miserables,” the Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel musical based on Victor Hugo’s novel centered around Jean Valjean, a starving peasant sent to prison for stealing a loaf of bread who breaks his parole upon release and begins a new life. He’s pursued by a relentless police inspector in this sprawling tuner set against the French Revolution. A portion of the proceeds benefits the Highland Park Shooting Recovery Fund to benefit victims’ family members and survivors of the fatal shooting of July 4, 2022. 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 26-27, and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 28, and through Aug. 11 at 1959 Waukegan Road, Deerfield. $30-$60. (708) 469-6269 or uptownhp.org.
Tony winners in conversation
Two-time Tony Award-winner Norbert Leo Butz (“Catch Me If You Can,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”) joins actor/writer/radio host Seth Rudetsky in conversation at The Studebaker Theater in Chicago’s Fine Arts Building as part of “Seth’s Broadway Concert Series.” Butz will also perform Broadway selections. Rudetsky will interview Tony winner Lillias White (“Hadestown,” “The Life”) the following day. Norbert Leo Butz at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 28, and Lillias White at 7 p.m. Monday, July 29, at 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $60-$100. (312) 753-3210, ext. 102, or fineartsbuilding.com/events.
‘Spring Awakening’ at Steel Beam
In a bit of a departure, Steel Beam Theatre revives “Spring Awakening,” the Tony Award-winning musical by composer Duncan Sheik and writer/lyricist Steven Sater based on Frank Wedekind’s 1891 play chronicling teenagers struggling with their burgeoning sexual desires and the failure of their parents and other adults to offer proper guidance. Note: “Spring Awakening” references abortion, verbal and sexual abuse, suicide and has sexual content, including partial nudity. No one younger than 16 will be admitted. 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 1-3 and 8-10, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 and 11, at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $22-$28. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.
Lookingglass returns
After a one-year hiatus, Lookingglass Theatre Company returns, teaming up with The Actors Gymnasium for “Portal,” produced in conjunction with the Chicago Park District’s “Night Out in the Parks.” The no-dialogue, family-friendly show incorporates dance, circus arts and puppetry to tell stories in Chicago parks. 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, at Chase Park, 4701 N. Ashland Ave.; 5:30 p.m. Aug. 8 at Columbus Park, 500 S. Central Ave.; 3 p.m. Aug. 10 at Gage Park, 2411 W. 55th St.; and 5 p.m. Aug. 11 at Tallmadge Park, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. Free. lookingglasstheatre.org.