Theater

Spotlight: ‘Amadeus’ at Steppenwolf, ‘Million Dollar Quartet Christmas’ at Marriott

Posted October 28, 2025 10:10 am

Ambition and competition

It’s 18th-century Vienna and Antonio Salieri is the preeminent composer at the court of Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II. Or he was until the impudent prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart shows up according to Peter Shaffer’s “Amadeus,” a fictionalized examination of artistic ambition and competition between the composers. Steppenwolf Theatre’s revival of the 1979 play is directed by Robert Falls and stars ensemble member Ian Barford as Salieri and Steppenwolf newcomer David Darrow as Mozart.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 6-7, also Nov. 12-14; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8 and 15; and 3 p.m. Nov. 9 at 1646 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The show opens Nov. 16. $20-$143.50. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

‘Dracula’ as a radio play

Improv Playhouse presents Orson Welles’ radio play adaptation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” which premiered in 1938 as part of Mercury Theatre’s radio series. The production marks the company’s 25th anniversary at its newly expanded home. Daniel Plumhoff plays the titular vampire.

8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, and 7 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at 130 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Advance tickets: $18 adults, $16 seniors, $12 students. At the door; $23 adults, $20 seniors, $15 students, $2 off for anyone in costume. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com.

Sean Blake, left, and Rachel Blakes star as James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni in Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre’s premiere of “The Baldwin Giovanni Experience,” inspired by a TV conversation between the literary greats.

Fleetwood-Jourdain salutes great thinkers

Evanston’s Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre premieres “The Baldwin Giovanni Experience,” an original work by writer/director Tim Rhoze and writer/educator Bria Walker-Rhoze that examines the ideology and artistry of poet/activist/educator Yolande Cornelia “Nikki” Giovanni Jr. and novelist/social critic James Arthur Baldwin (“The Fire Next Time,” “No Name in the Street”). The play, which incorporates spoken word, poetry, prose and original music, is inspired by a 1971 televised conversation between the literary giants about Black relationships, classism, theology and writing.

The preview is at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. The show opens at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, and runs at 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday through Nov. 16. $32. (847) 866-5914 or fjtheatre.com.

Chicago story

The relationship between a white 1960s activist and owner of a failing doughnut shop in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood and his new employee, a young Black man and aspiring novelist, animates “Superior Donuts,” Tracy Letts’ 2008 play in a revival courtesy of The Artistic Home. Ensemble member John Mossman directs fellow ensemble member Scott Westerman as shop owner Arthur Przybyszewski and John N. Williams as employee Franco Wicks.

Previews at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 4-5, at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show opens Thursday, Nov. 6. $20-$35. (773) 697-3830 or theartistichome.org.

‘Million Dollar Quartet’ holiday edition

Marriott Theatre celebrates the holidays with “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,” a sequel to the jukebox tuner “Million Dollar Quartet,” the fictionalized account of the real-life 1956 meeting between Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley at Memphis’ famed Sun Studios. Scott Weinstein, who served as associate and resident director for Apollo Theatre’s long-running “Million Dollar Quartet,” directs this holiday edition.

Previews at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 5-6; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 7; 4 and 8 p.m. Nov. 8; 1 and 5 p.m. Nov. 9; and 1 p.m. Nov. 12 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The show opens at 7 p.m. Nov. 12. $70-$90.28. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

A devilish tale

Paolo Maurensig’s novel “A Devil Comes to Town” inspired Trap Door Theatre’s production of the same name. Adapted and directed by Jeremy Ohringer, the play is about a town filled with aspiring writers of various abilities who are tempted by a mysterious publisher, who offers a cash prize for the best novel in this satire on literary ambition.

8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 6-8, and through Nov. 22 at 1655 W. Cortland St., Chicago. $22. (773) 384-0494 or trapdoortheatre.com.