Spotlight: Writers Theatre concludes its season with Tom Stoppard’s final play, ‘Leopoldstadt’

Epic season-ender

Writers Theatre concludes its season with “Leopoldstadt,” the late Tom Stoppard’s sweeping, final play that he and director Carey Perloff revised especially for Writers. The play centers on a wealthy Jewish family living in Vienna between 1899 and 1955. Perloff directs the revival, which features a 29-member cast, the largest in the theater’s history.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 4-5 and June 11; 2 and 7:30 p.m. June 6 and 10; and 2 and 7 p.m. June 7 at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The show opens June 12. $55-$125. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.

World premiere

Definition Theatre premieres “Keerah,” Netta Walker’s dramedy about a summer romance between aspiring writers — Black American poet Ciara and Irish writer Cormac — that’s upended by bad decisions and immigration issues. Seven years later, a journalist confronts successful TV writer Ciara about her and Cormac’s relationship.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 29, and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31, at 1160 E. 55th St., Chicago. The show opens Monday, June 1. Tickets start at $28.52. definitiontheatre.org.

Curious Theatre revives 1996 show

Curious Theatre Branch launches its 38th season with a revival of its 1996 production “Talking About Godard.” Written and directed by Beau O’Reilly with Briavael O’Reilly, this examination of female friendship and the artistic process centers on three restless artists who reside awkwardly together.

8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 29-30, and 3 p.m. Sunday, May 31, and through June 28, at Facility Theatre, 1138 N. California Ave., Chicago. Pay-what-you-can, $25 suggested. CuriousTheatreBranch.com.

Accessories to murder

When Eden and Michael’s Rottweiler Jock becomes violent, kills their neighbor’s toy poodle and takes a bite out of the neighbor, the couple is forced to confront some dark truths about their relationship in “A Dog’s House” by Micah Schraft. Ego Death Theatre Collective director Carol Kelleher helms the production, which depicts violence.

7:30 p.m. Friday, May 29; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 30; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 31; and 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 4, and through June 14 at the Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Tickets start at $27. greenhousetheater.org.

Ever-relevant classic revived

Promethean Theatre Ensemble performs the Lewis Galantiere adaptation of Jean Anouilh’s “Antigone,” which is itself an adaptation of Sophocles’ play about young Antigone, who defies her uncle King Creon’s decree that her brother should not receive a proper burial. Anouilh’s adaptation casts Antigone’s actions as a choice between following one’s conscience and capitulating to an authoritarian government. Ensemble member Elaine Carlson helms the production, which examines the age-old question of whether one should do what is right or what is expedient.

Previews at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 31, and 8 p.m. Monday, June 1, at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show opens Wednesday, June 3. $25, $35. (773) 697-3830 or prometheantheatre.org.

Physical theater fest returns

International artists including Peruvian mask theater ensemble Compañia de Teatro Físico; Argentine artist Luciano Rosso; Korean-American performer Sora Baek; and Portland’s all-ages clown duo A Little Bit OFF join Chicago-area headliners Full Out Formula, a circus ensemble, and director/choreographer/performer INSÉKTA (Camila Rivero Pooley) for Chicago’s annual Physical Theater Festival. The festival showcases contemporary and movement-based performing arts, including clown, mime, improv, circus arts and puppet theater.

Various times Monday, June 1, through June 7, with most performances at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, and some shows at The Dance Center at Columbia College Chicago, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. All-festival pass: $189, $119 for industry/students/seniors/veterans. Headliners-only festival pass: $159, $89 for industry/students/seniors/veterans. Workshop pass $210. Single tickets to Theater Wit shows $36, $26 for industry/students/seniors/veterans, $40 Dance Center tickets. General admission tickets for individual shows at The Dance Center at Columbia Chicago are $40, $26 industry/students/seniors/veterans tickets; $36 at Theater Wit, $23 for industry/students/seniors/veterans. PhysicalFestival.com.

Steppenwolf members reunite for Chicago premiere

Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member and Rolling Meadows native Gary Cole joins fellow ensemble members Audrey Francis, Tim Hopper and director Amy Morton for the Chicago-area premiere of Mia Chung’s “Catch as Catch Can.” Each of the actors plays dual roles in Chung’s kitchen-sink dramedy about a prodigal son whose return home upends two families.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 4-5 and 11-12; 3 and 7:30 p.m. June 6 and 13; 3 p.m. June 7; and 7:30 p.m. June 10 at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The show opens June 14. $20-$120. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Lookingglass premieres vampire rom-com

A vampire tries to negotiate dating while dealing with centuries worth of relationship baggage in “The Untitled Vampire Play,” a romantic-comedy-meets-horror-story tale by Lookingglass Theatre Company ensemble member Kevin Douglas. Devon DeMayo directs the world premiere.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, June 4-6; 2 p.m. June 7; and 7:30 p.m. June 10-12 at Water Tower Water Works, 163 E. Pearson St., Chicago. The show opens June 13. $20-$92.65. (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.

A wrestling tale

The true story of American pro wrestler Bruiser Brody, who was stabbed to death in a locker room in 1988 shortly before a match, inspired The Factory Theater’s “Two Out of Three Falls,” by playwright Bill Daniel. Directed by Ashley Yates, Daniel’s fictionalized account imagines the wrestler’s daughter, distraught that her father’s killer was acquitted, resolves to take her revenge in the middle of the ring, live on pay-per-view.

Previews at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, June 4-6, at 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago. The show opens June 11. $30. thefactorytheater.com.