Theater

Spotlight: Evanston native Elizabeth McGovern channels Ava Gardner

Posted September 16, 2025 9:51 am

Elizabeth McGovern and Aaron Costa Ganis star in the two-hander “Ava: The Secret Conversations,” running Sept. 24 through Oct. 12 at Chicago’s Studebaker Theater. Courtesy of Jeff Lorch

Ava Gardner in her own words

Actress and Evanston native Elizabeth McGovern (“Downton Abbey,” “Once Upon a Time in America,” “Ordinary People”) channels screen legend Ava Gardner in “Ava: The Secret Conversations,” written by McGovern from interviews Gardner gave to writer Peter Evans (Aaron Costa Ganis), who she enlisted to write her biography but ultimately dismissed before it was completed.

Previews at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24, and 7 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Studebaker Theater, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 27. $40-$170. (312) 753-3210, ext. 102, or fineartsbuilding.com.

Musical tackles big question

Composers from Chile, Argentina, Colombia and the United States contributed music to “These Days: What Makes a Good Life,” a musical by Marc Collins about an individual’s struggle to find life’s meaning. The Henry David Theatre Troupe produces the show at The Bit Theater.

7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, and 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, at 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $25. bitimprov.org.

Cameron Raasdal-Munro stars in his semi-autobiographical play “Gangsta Baby” in its U.S. premiere at Open Space Arts.

Playwright stars in U.S. premiere

Open Space Arts, in collaboration with GB Productions, presents the American premiere of “Gangsta Baby,” a semi-autobiographical play by Cameron Raasdal-Munro about a young, gay sex worker in a working-class London suburb and his relationship with his homophobic, gangster father. Raasdal-Munro stars.

7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 19-20 and 26-27 and Oct. 3-4, and 2 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 21 and 28 and Oct. 5, at 1411 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago. $25, $30. openspacearts.org.

The Q Brothers Collective premieres “Rome Sweet Rome,” its adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Courtesy of Jeff Kurysz

‘Hail Caesar’

The Q Brothers Collective returns to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater with “Rome Sweet Rome,” its new satirical “add-rap-tation” of William Shakespeare’s political tragedy “Julius Caesar,” set to 1990s hop-hop and New Jack Swing. The play with music centers on the tyrannical Caesar, whose increasingly ludicrous executive orders, including the prohibition of carbs, upset his citizens, prompting Brutus, Cassius and their crew to end the madness. The Q Brothers Collective (GQ, JQ, JAX and POS) created and directed the premiere in collaboration with artistic director Edward Hall and literary manager Ericka Ratcliff.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Sept. 23-27, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 28. $49-$95. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

A Red Orchid Theatre’s world premiere of “Veal” includes Jasper Johnson, left, Alice Wu, Jojo Brown, Carmia Imani and Alexandra Chopson. Courtesy of Travis A. Knight

Red Orchid premieres dark comedy

After a young woman named Chelsea becomes Queen of North America in the wake of a coup, three middle school friends who she hasn’t spoken to in years visit her palace to ask for a favor in “Veal,” Jojo Jones’ dystopian dark comedy in its world premiere at A Red Orchid Theatre. Ensemble member dado directs the play, which stars Alexandra Chopson as Chelsea.

Previews at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 25-27; 3 p.m. Sept. 28; and 7 p.m. Oct. 2-3, at 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 4. $33-$55. (312) 943-8722 or aredorchidtheatre.org.