Spotlight: New kids’ shows open this week
Chicago Children's Theatre premieres bilingual tuner
A pack of delightful dogs drive, swim and play baseball on their way to a dog party in Chicago Children’s Theatre’s world premiere of the bilingual musical “Go Dog Go! (Ve Perro ¡Ve!),” which Allison Gregory and Steven Dietz adapted from P.D. Eastman’s 1961 children’s book for the stage in 2003. Now the playwrights have collaborated with CCT to create the family-friendly musical, which features Jean Carlos Claudio as MC dog and Melanie Brezill as Hattie.
Preview at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, March 15, at 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. The show opens at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday, March 16, and runs at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays through May 18. $42.25. (312) 374-8835 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
Another new show for kids
When a polar bear arrives in their woods, its animal inhabitants avoid him, believing him to be dangerous and odd when they discover him collecting leaves. It turns out he’s fashioning them into wings in order to fly home in “Leaf,” a picture book by author/illustrator Sandra Dieckmann. Lifeline Theatre premieres the stage adaptation by ensemble member Amanda Link as part of its KidSeries. Nathaniel Niemi directs a cast featuring Jake Busse, Amanda de la Guardia, Bradley Halverson and Shea Lee, along with Caitlin McLeod’s puppets.
Previews at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. The show opens at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sunday, March 16, and runs Saturdays and Sundays through April 20. $15 previews, $20 regular run. (773) 761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.
Chicago premiere
A 15-year-old named Thyme, who's expecting a baby with her teenage husband Erry, develops an interest in social justice in the drama “Splash Hatch on the E Going Down” by Kia Corthron. Definition Theatre’s Chicago premiere — featuring Jada Jackson as Thyme and Jabari Khaliq as Erry — is directed by Cheryl Lynn Bruce.
Previews at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16, and 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 17, at 1160 E. 55th St., Chicago. The show opens Thursday, March 20. Tickets start at $25. definitiontheatre.org.
A (mostly true) history lesson
Stage Left Theatre examines the life of famed Chicago rogue George Streeter in “The Distrikt of Lake Michigun: A Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Ridiculous Tragedy (and also completely factual and also true)” by ensemble member Stephanie Murphy. Directed by ensemble member Seth Wilson, the new play tells the story of how Chicago’s Streeterville began as a con man’s get-rich-quick scheme and became one of the toniest neighborhoods in the city. The performance is preceded by a vaudeville-style variety show.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, March 14-15 and 21-22, and 2:30 p.m. Sundays, March 16 and 23, at Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 7080, Chicago. The show opens March 28. $40; previews are free. stagelefttheatre.com.
Trap Door reprises 2024 hit
Trap Door Theatre reprises its 2024 hit revival of “Mother Courage and her Children,” Bertolt Brecht’s famous condemnation of war and war profiteering. Trap Door resident director Max Truax directs Holly Cerney, who reprises her performance as the titular character, the ultimate survivor.
8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 20-22 and 27-29, at 1655 W. Cortland St., Chicago. $32.50. (773) 384-0494 or trapdoortheatre.com.