Politics prominent this fall, but theater forecast also calls for farce and fairy tales

Buffalo Theatre Ensemble artistic directors no doubt had the upcoming general election in mind when they scheduled the farcical “The Outsider,” about an inept politico tapped for his state’s top elected office, as the season opener.

The Glen Ellyn ensemble wasn’t the only theater whose 2024-2025 season was inspired by politics and the civic responsibilities citizens share.

To that end, “1776,” running through Oct. 13 at Marriott Theatre, depicts “the fragmented political landscape, the spiraling nature of debate and the monumental task of upholding democracy” that confronted the Founding Fathers and remains a challenge today.

Drury Lane and Chicago Shakespeare theaters explore the role of the monarch in civic life. Drury Lane’s “The Audience” (through Oct. 20) offers an imagined portrait of the famously self-contained Queen Elizabeth II, while CST’s “Henry V” (through Oct. 6) examines nationalism, power and the consolidation of an empire.

Timely subjects indeed. Add to them Goodman Theatre’s “Inherit the Wind,” which explores the age-old conflict between progress and tradition while championing free thought and cautioning against censorship — issues that remain front and center today.

But there’s more in store for theater lovers than politics. Listed here are 15 productions worth seeing this fall, among them farces, fairy tales, love stories and a mass media satire that after nearly 50 years still stings.

‘Network’

Runs through Sept. 29 at Invictus Theatre Company at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago, invicttustheatreco.com.

Unstable network news anchor Howard Beale’s announcement that he intends to commit suicide on air sends the ratings skyrocketing and transforms him into a folk hero in “Network,” Lee Hall’s stage adaptation of Paddy Chayefsky’s 1976 Academy Award-winning screenplay. Invictus Theatre Company’s Chicago production marks the Chicago premiere of this scathing satire of the broadcast media, corporate greed and celebrity culture. James Turano plays newsman Beale and Naperville resident Anne Trodden plays programming chief Diana Christensen, who exploits him for profit. Artistic director Charles Ashkenaizer directs.

‘The Audience’

Runs through Oct. 20 at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace, (630) 530-0111, drurylanetheatre.com.

Janet Ulrich Brooks, who played Queen Elizabeth II in TimeLine Theatre’s 2017 production of “The Audience,” reprises the role in Drury Lane Theatre’s revival, which also features co-stars Matt DeCaro and Mark Ulrich from TimeLine’s production. Written by Peter Morgan (2006’s “The Queen,” Netflix’s “The Crown”), “The Audience” is a portrait of the monarch revealed through imagined weekly meetings she held with her prime ministers who included Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair, among others.

‘The Outsider’

Runs through Oct. 6 at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, (630) 942-4000, btechicago.com or atthemac.org.

A sex scandal thrusts bumbling lieutenant governor and policy wonk Ned Newley into the state’s highest office in this political comedy that premiered in 2015 at Peninsula Players in Wisconsin. Buffalo Theatre ensemble member Kurt Naebig directs the satire, which is timed to coincide with the upcoming election.

‘Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812’

Runs through Oct. 27 at Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, (847) 242-6000, writerstheatre.org.

Writers’ Chicago premiere stars Aurora Penepacker and Evan Tyrone Martin as the titular Natasha and Pierre in this sung-through musical adapted from part of Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace.” It centers on Natasha’s romance with married womanizer Anatole, whose depressed brother-in-law Pierre struggles to find meaning in his life. The score for this “electro-pop opera” combines Russian folk music with electronica and Broadway-style ballads. Director/choreographer Katie Spelman and music director Matt Deitchman (the duo responsible for Writers’ lovely 2023 revival of “Once”) helm the production.

‘The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk’

Runs through Oct. 6 at Northlight Theatre, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, (847) 673-6300, northlight.org.

Known as “the Chagall musical,” “The Flying Lovers of Vitebsk” is a play-with-klezmer-music chronicling the love affair between painter Marc Chagall and his first wife, writer Bella Rosenfeld, who served as his muse even after her death. The title refers to a series of paintings he created inspired by their relationship. Jack Cahill-Lemme and Emma Rosenthal star as the titular couple.

‘Cinderella’

Sept. 26 through Oct. 20 at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, (847) 577-2121, metropolisarts.com.

Metropolis’ revival of “Cinderella” marks the third suburban production of the beloved Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein musical since 2021, suggesting that family-friendly, happily-ever-after tales are never out of style.

‘The Secret Garden’

Nov. 8 through Dec. 22 at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre, 721 Howard St., Evanston, (773) 939-4101, theo-u.com.

Adapted from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s coming-of-age children’s novel, the musical by writer/lyricist Marsha Norman and composer Lucy Simon tells the story of Mary, an 11-year-old orphan sent from her home in India to live with her reclusive uncle Archibald and his sickly son Colin in England. There, she discovers a sanctuary whose magic helps heal Mary and her grieving extended family.

‘Noises Off’

Sept. 12 through Oct. 27 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago, (312) 335-1650, steppenwolf.org.

Produced in association with Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles, Steppenwolf’s revival of Michael Frayn’s backstage farce is helmed by former artistic director Anna D. Shapiro. The cast includes ensemble members Audrey Francis, Francis Guinan, Ora Jones and James Vincent Meredith, who play members of a hapless theater troupe touring England’s provinces with a third-rate sex comedy sarcastically described by its embattled director as a play about “doors and sardines.”

‘Inherit the Wind’

Sept. 14 through Oct. 13 at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, (312) 443-3800, goodmantheatre.org.

The 1925 trial of a high school science teacher charged with breaking a Tennessee law that made it illegal for educators to teach Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution inspired Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee’s 1955 courtroom drama, which examines the conflict between faith and science while encouraging intellectual freedom. Goodman’s revival stars Harry Lennix (Steppenwolf Theatre’s Broadway-bound “Purpose”) as defense attorney Henry Drummond, a character inspired by celebrated attorney Clarence Darrow. Alexander Gemignani plays special prosecutor Matthew Harrison Brady, a character inspired by three-time presidential candidate William Jennings Bryan. Goodman resident artistic director Henry Godinez directs.

‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’

Sept. 12 through Feb. 1, 2025, at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago, broadwayinchicago.com.

Inspired by J.K. Rowling’s novels, writer Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany’s Tony Award-winning play (an original story by Rowling, Thorne and Tiffany) picks up 19 years after the books conclude with grown-up Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger sending their children off to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. There, Harry’s son Albus befriends Scorpius Malfoy, son of Draco Malfoy. Matthew Mueller plays Ron and Chicago favorite Larry Yando plays Severus Snape in this play-with-magic, which earned Tonys for set, costumes, lighting and sound. This production, which will be here for more than four months, marks the show’s first national tour.

‘Misery’

Sept. 20 through Oct. 26 at American Blues Theater, 5627 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, (773) 654-3103, americanbluestheater.com.

American Blues Theater ensemble members Steve Key and Wandachristine star in the company’s production of “Misery,” adapted from Stephen King’s psychological thriller by William Goldman, who also wrote the screenplay for the 1990 film. Key plays romance writer Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car accident by superfan Annie (Wandachristine), who becomes distraught when she learns Paul has killed off her favorite character, Misery. Halena Kays directs.

‘Ironbound’

Sept. 26 through Oct. 27 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago, (773) 338-2177, raventheatre.com.

Raven Theatre Company inaugurates its 42nd season with the Chicago premiere of Martyna Majok’s “Ironbound,” a darkly comic, heartbreaking tale of a Polish immigrant struggling in America and the choices she makes to survive. Lucy Carapetyan stars in director Georgette Verdin’s revival.

‘Some Like it Hot’

Oct. 22 through Nov. 3 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago, broadwayinchicago.com.

The Broadway tuner adapted from Billy Wilder’s classic 1959 comedy stops briefly in Chicago as part of its national tour. A comedic examination of gender and race, the musical centers on musicians Joe and Jerry, who witness a mob hit and escape by disguising themselves as women — Josephine and Daphne — and joining an all-female orchestra, whose members include chanteuse Sugar Kane. Romance ensues, with Joe/Josephine pursuing Sugar and Daphne fending off the advances of millionaire Osgood Fielding III.

‘Disney’s Frozen’

Oct. 30 through Jan. 19, 2025, at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, (630) 896-6666, paramountaurora.com.

Paramount Theatre offers an alternative to holiday programming in the form of its regional premiere of the stage adaptation of the beloved animated film, a coming-of-age story about royal sisters Anna and Elsa. The latter struggles with her magical powers as well as her identity.

‘Falsettos’

Nov. 8 through Dec. 8 at TimeLine Theatre and Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave., Chicago, (773) 492-5452, timelinetheatre.com.

TimeLine and Court theaters collaborate on a revival of this sung-through musical about a modern family in all its incarnations. The tuner by writer/composer/lyricist William Finn and writer/director James Lapine centers on Marvin, who has left his wife, Trina, for his younger male lover, Whizzer. Trina subsequently marries Marvin’s therapist as Marvin and Trina’s son Jason struggles with his upcoming bar mitzvah.