Theater

Spotlight: ‘Drunk Dracula’ monster mashup and Elgin’s Fringe Fest continues

Posted September 23, 2025 10:46 am

Carson Fox Harvey plays the titular count in Drunk Shakespeare Society’s adult-only production of “Drunk Dracula” at Chicago’s Lion Theatre. Courtesy of the Drunk Dracula

Seasonal tales

• The creators of “Drunk Shakespeare” introduce their latest 21-and-older show, “Drunk Dracula,” a boozy monster mashup of Bram Stoker’s vampire tale about “Transylvania’s thirstiest bachelor” who needs fresh blood to maintain his good looks.

7 and 9 p.m. Fridays, Sept. 26 and Oct. 3; 3, 5, 7 and 9 p.m. Saturdays, Sept. 27 and Oct. 4; 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 30-Oct. 2; 5 and 7 p.m. Oct. 5; and through Nov. 2 at The Lion Theatre, 182 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago. Tickets start at $49. drunkdracula.com.

• An investigative journalist and her private-eye ex-girlfriend look into a series of murders in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood in “The Wolfman of Wrigleyville” by writer/director Cody Lee Walker. Walker imagines the wolfman as a “hungry drag king” in this Annoyance Theatre comedy.

8 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 2-30, at 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $20. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com/show/the-wolfman-of-wrigleyville.

Elgin Fringe Fest returns

The Elgin Fringe Festival showcasing theater, sketch comedy, music, dance, magic, performance art and visual arts returns. Local performers include: The 2NBs, Moebius Theatre, Grimmoire Productions, Memorian Development and others. Performances take place in Elgin at Fringe Central/Side Street Studio Arts, 15 Ziegler Court; DuPage Court outdoor plaza between South Grove Avenue and South Spring Street; Habitat for Humanity, 56 S. Grove Ave.; Elgin Public House, 217-219 E. Chicago St.; the Martini Room, 161 E. Chicago St.; and the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St.

Performances begin at 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Sept. 25-26; 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 and 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. $4 festival button required for admission is available at Fringe Central, which opens two hours before performances begin. The $95 festival pass includes the button and admission to all shows. Admission to individual shows ranges from free to $12. elginfringefestival.com.

Brandon Acosta makes his Chicago Children’s Theatre debut as a mouse who saves the day in Leo Lionni’s family-friendly musical “Frederick.” Courtesy of Joe Mazza, brave lux inc.

For young audiences

• Chicago Children’s Theatre kicks off its 2025-26 20th anniversary season with “Frederick,” a musical based on Leo Lionni’s award-winning tale about a field mouse and his family. While they gather food for winter, Frederick spends the summer daydreaming. Little do they know, he has been storing up something special for winter. Brandon Acosta plays the titular character in director/choreographer Tommy Rapley’s production.

Previews at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. The show opens at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. $47.25. (312) 374-8845 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

• The Young People’s Theatre of Chicago opens its season with “Elephant and Piggie’s ‘We Are In A Play!’,” a musical adapted by Mo Willems from his popular series for early readers. In this vaudeville-style tuner, elephant Gerald and best pal Piggie attend a party hosted by the Squirrelles.

Previews at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 27-28, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28. Peak showtimes: $36.50 for adults; $24.50 for kids. Supersaver showtimes: $32.50 for adults, $21.50 for kids. (773) 404-7336 or yptchi.org.

Suspense drama revived

Oil Lamp Theater revives “Gaslight,” Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 suspense drama whose multiple incarnations include its 1941 Broadway transfer “Angel Street” as well as George Cukor’s 1944 film “Gaslight” starring Ingrid Bergman and Charles Boyer. The play centers on Jack Manningham’s attempts to convince his anxious wife, Bella, that she is going insane. Susan Gorman directs.

The preview is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. $30, $50. oillamptheater.org.

Laura Leonardo Ownby, left, and Tina Shelley co-star in Iambe Theatre Ensemble’s all-female production of William Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost.” Courtesy of Heidi Swarthout and Kate Grimaldi

Shakespeare re-imagined

Iambe Theatre Ensemble opens its fifth season with a re-imagined, all-female production of William Shakespeare’s comedy “Love’s Labour’s Lost” about a king and his three noblemen who vow to devote themselves to scholarly pursuits and abstain from the company of women for three years. All goes well until the princess of France and her ladies arrive and catch the eyes of the men. Buffalo Theatre Ensemble member Lisa Dawn adapted the play and directs.

7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 3-4; 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5; and through Oct. 19 at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., 8th floor, Elgin. $22, $24. iambetheatreensemble.com.