Spotlight: Marriott Theatre premieres 1980s jukebox tuner ‘Always Something There …’
All things ’80s
Marriott Theatre premieres “Always Something There …” a “musical mixtape” tribute to the 1980s by Sandy Rustin (“Clue,” “Mystic Pizza”). James Vásquez directs the jukebox tuner, which stars Heidi Kettenring as Samantha Craig, who wakes up on the morning of her 45th birthday as her 18-year-old self (played by Christina Priestner), then proceeds to relive her senior year in high school in suburban Chicago. The score includes hits made popular by Whitney Houston, Madonna and The Go-Go’s, among others.
Previews at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, June 18-19; 7:30 p.m. June 20; 4 and 8 p.m. June 21; and 1 and 5 p.m. June 22 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The show opens June 25. Tickets start at $73. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.
Magic to do
BrightSide Theatre concludes its season with a revival of “Pippin,” composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz’s 1972 musical about a young prince who becomes disillusioned by his father’s war and leaves the kingdom to seek fulfillment. Artistic director Jeffrey Cass helms the production, which includes a 17-person cast accompanied by seven musicians.
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 13-14, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 15, and through June 29 at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville. $32-$37. (630) 447-8497 or brightsidetheatre.com.
An epic work revived
Invictus Theatre revives Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America,” his Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning, sprawling, two-part mediation on love, loss, identity and politics. Subtitled “A Gay Fantasia on National Themes,” the play is set in 1980s New York City during the height of the AIDS crisis and consists of “Part One: Millennium Approaches” and “Part Two: Perestroika,” which Invictus will perform in repertory under the direction of founder/artistic director Charles Askenaizer.
“Millennium Approaches” previews: 7 p.m. Fridays, June 13 and 20; noon Saturdays, June 14 and 21; 7 p.m. Monday, June 16, and Thursday, June 26. “Perestroika” previews: 7 p.m. Saturdays, June 14 and 21; noon Sundays, June 15 and 22; 7 p.m. Monday, June 23, and Friday, June 27, at the Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. The shows open June 28 and run through Sept. 7. Previews: $25 or $50 for both parts; regular run: $38 or $76 for both parts. invictustheatreco.com.
Summer thriller at the Annoyance
High Stakes Productions reprises its improvised thriller “Hitch*Cocktails” this summer at the Annoyance Theatre. This adults-only, Alfred Hitchcock homage combines comedy, jazz, specialty cocktails and suspense.
9:30 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 3, with 8:30 p.m. Saturday shows in July at 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $20. (773) 697-9603 or theannoyance.com.
Links Hall bids farewell
The longtime Chicago performance venue Links Hall closes this month. But before that happens, it will host its final Co-MISSION Festival of New Works showcasing dance, performance art, puppetry and spoken word. “There could not be a more dynamic way to celebrate the extraordinary artistry of Chicago’s independent performance community than with the Co-MISSION Festival,” said executive director SK Kerastas in a prepared statement. “As Links Hall concludes our final chapter, we encourage folks to come to the space and revel in the work of these seven independent artists and their wildly different and adventurously creative worlds of expression.”
Sunday, June 15, through June 29 at 3111 N. Western Ave., Chicago. $16-$42. (773) 281-0824 or linkshall.org.
Limited tix for Second City’s 65th
Tickets are selling fast for The Second City’s 65th anniversary show at Copley Theatre. The two-week run features some of the legendary improv company’s most popular sketches and songs.
7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, June 17-19 and 24-26, and 8 p.m. June 20, 27 and 28 (June 21 performance sold out) at 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $44. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.