Theater spotlight: A monarch takes charge in Chicago Shakes’ ‘Henry V’

A king comes into his own

Artistic director Edward Hall helms Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s production of “Henry V,” an examination of war, power and leadership ideally timed to the upcoming general election. Elijah Jones makes his CST debut in the titular role of the once wayward prince who takes to the international stage to flex his muscles as England’s monarch. Previews at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6-7, and Sept. 10-12, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 13. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

A safe place

In rural Texas, circa 1955, friends and acquaintances gather at the Top O’ the Hill Café — a haven for members of the Black community — to share stories and trade barbs in “East Texas Hot Links,” Eugene Lee’s suspense-filled dramedy that tips its hat to Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson. Court Theatre resident artist Ron OJ Parson directs the revival. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6-7, and Sept. 11-12, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, at 5535 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 13. $42-$90. (773) 753-4472 or courttheatre.org.

‘South Pacific’ revived

MadKap Productions revives “South Pacific,” Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s tale of love and prejudice inspired by James Michener’s “Tales of the South Pacific” set against the backdrop of World War II. 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6-7, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, and through Oct. 6 at Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. $42, $48. (847) 677-7761 or skokietheatre.org.

A tragedy re-imagined

Curious Theatre Branch opens its 35th season with a new staging of writer/director Chris Bower’s “The Ship and the Sea,” a re-imagining of the sinking of the 17th-century Swedish warship Vasa on its maiden voyage. The play, which premiered at 2023’s Rhinoceros Theater Festival, tells the story from the perspective of the ship (too big and beautiful to fail), the sea (unable to relate to the creatures that live and die in her body) and two doomed sailors. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6-7, and 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, and through Sept. 29 at the Facility Theatre, 1138 N. California Ave., Chicago. $20 or pay-what-you-can. curioustheatrebranch.com.

Theo Ubique stages in-progress tuner

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre presents a developmental production of “Never Better,” a folk-punk musical by writer/composer/lyricist Preston Max Allen. It centers on a college sophomore coping with what she thinks is a cold but what may be something much more serious. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, and Sept. 13-14, and 6 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 8 and 15, at 721 Howard St., Evanston. The show opens Sept. 19. $30, $45. (773) 939-4101 or theo-u.com.

Nuns4Fun on the road

Madison Street Theater hosts a series of interactive, religious comedies produced by Vicki Quade’s Nuns4Fun. Erin Olson, Nancy Greco and Quade, co-creator of “Late Nite Catechism,” alternate playing the role of Sister. “Late Nite Catechism” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8; “Holy Ghost Bingo: God, Goblins & Games” at 3 p.m. Oct. 27; “Christmas Bingo: It’s a Ho-Ho-Holy Night” at 3 p.m. Dec. 1 at 1010 Madison St., Oak Park. $35. madisonstreettheater.org/events.

Broadway in Chicago double shot

• “The Book of Mormon,” the gleefully subversive, Tony Award-winning musical by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (“South Park”) and Robert Lopez (“Avenue Q”), returns to Chicago for a brief run. The adults-only musical is a fish-out-of-water, coming-of-age tale about two young Mormons serving as missionaries to an impoverished African village where their efforts are not entirely welcome. 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 10-12; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 14; and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $56.50-$225. broadwayinchicago.com.

• “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” a play-with-magic inspired by the characters J.K. Rowling made famous, commences its national tour with an extended run in Chicago. The story centers on the relationship between Harry and Ginny’s middle son Albus and his best friend Scorpius, son of Harry’s nemesis Draco Malfoy, and the young Hogwarts students’ efforts to save a life. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, through Sept. 25, also 2 p.m. Sept. 21 and 25, at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 26. $45.50-$199.50. broadwayinchicago.com.

Romantic comedy

Lovers Beau and Sylvia arrive for their annual tryst at a cottage in the English countryside, but their plans for a romantic weekend are thwarted by their spouses who have planned a getaway of their own in the farcical “The Cottage” by Sandy Rustin. Former Oak Park Festival Theatre artistic director Jack Hickey directs Citadel Theatre’s revival. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 11-12, at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. The show opens Sept. 13. $20, $45. (847) 735-8554, ext. 1, or citadeltheatre.org.

Inspired by real life

Actual events inspired “The Delicate Tears of the Waning Moon (“Las delicadas lágrimas de la luna menguante”),” Rebeca Alemán’s drama about journalists and the risk they encounter reporting on human rights atrocities. Water People Theater’s production, produced in cooperation with the Instituto Cervantes of Chicago, is performed in English with Spanish subtitles and stars playwright Alemán as a Latin American journalist who is brutally attacked after she reports on Indigenous victims of femicide. 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 11-13, and through Oct. 4 at 31 W. Ohio St., Chicago. $25, $30. waterpeople.org.