Theater

Spotlight: Marriott Theatre revives Sondheim favorite ‘A Little Night Music’

Posted June 09, 2026 6:21 am

Barbara Vitello

Alexandra Silber plays Desirée opposite Andrew Samonsky’s Fredrik in Marriott Theatre’s revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music.”

Summer romance

Tangled romances among turn-of-the-20th-century aristocrats animate “A Little Night Music,” Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s 1973 musical adaptation of Ingmar Bergman’s 1955 film “Smiles of a Summer Night.” The story unfolds during a summer weekend at the home of actress Desirée Armfeldt, who is hosting her former lover Fredrik Egerman and her would-be lover Count Carl-Magnus Malcom along with their respective spouses. Joseph Jefferson Award-winner Nick Bowling returns to Marriott Theatre to helm the revival, which stars Alexandra Silber as Desirée, Andrew Samonsky as Fredrik and Carmen Roman as the dowager Madame Armfeldt.

Andrew Samonsky plays Fredrik opposite Alexandra Silber’s Desirée in Marriott Theatre’s revival of “A Little Night Music.”

Previews at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, June 17-18; 7:30 p.m. June 19; 4 and 8 p.m. June 20; 1 and 5 p.m. June 21; and 1 p.m. June 24 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The show opens at 4 p.m. June 24. Tickets start at $78. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

BrightSide Theatre artistic director Jeffrey Cass helms the Naperville theater’s revival of the musical “The Producers.”

‘The Producers’

BrightSide Theatre concludes its 14th season with a revival of the beloved Mel Brooks tuner “The Producers.” Adapted from Brooks’ 1967 film of the same name, the musical is about veteran producer Max Bialystock and his protégé Leo Bloom as they attempt to make a fortune by staging a flop titled “Springtime for Hitler.” BrightSide artistic director Jeffrey Cass directs.

7:30 p.m. Friday, June 12; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 13; 2 p.m. Sunday, June 14, and through June 28 at Meiley-Swallow Hall, North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville. $32-$37. (630) 447-8497 or BrightSideTheatre.com.

Salute to America

Improv Playhouse premieres “Voices of Liberty,” an original radio theater production commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary. Presented in the style of a live 1940s broadcast, the show combines historical dramatizations, vintage-style commercials and music to tell America’s story.

7:30 p.m. Fridays, June 12 and 19, and 7 p.m. Saturdays, June 13 and 20, at 130 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. $25 seniors, $20 students. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com.

Tim Felton performs his solo show “Softie” as part of Steppenwolf Theatre’s LookOut series. Courtesy of Joe Gallagher

Growing old gracefully

Chicago comedian Tim Felton — described as a combination of Mr. Rogers, Pee-wee Herman and Buster Bluth — explores how he connects with people as he grows older gracefully in his solo show “Softie” as part of Steppenwolf Theatre’s LookOut series.

7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 12-13, at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $20. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Redtwist Theatre premiere

Redtwist Theatre’s season of “Defiant Femmes” continues with the premiere of “Deserted” by Chicago playwright Melanie Coffey. After deciding they no longer want to live in the city, Jodie and Emma head to the desert where “they nurture their garden in a dying world” while battling a scorching climate and a hungry neighbor. Macaria Chaparro Martinez plays Jodie and Hannah McCauley plays Emma in director Laura Sturm’s production.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, June 11-13, at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sunday, June 14. $10-$60. RedtwistTheatre.org.

AstonRep Productions stages a new adaptation of Anton Chekov’s “Uncle Vanya” featuring Mike Rogalski, back row from left, Rian Jairell, Natalię Hurdle, Robert Tobin, Andi Muriel and Geoff Isaac and Liz Cloud, front row from left, and Mary Mikva. Courtesy of Derek Bertelsen

AstonRep stages new ‘Vanya’ adaptation

AstonRep Productions stages the U.S. Premiere of Liisa Repo-Martell’s adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya,” about the titular character and his niece Sonya, who serve as caretakers on a Russian estate owned by Sonya’s professor father and her late mother. When the professor returns with his much younger wife, the couple upend the lives of Vanya, Sonya and their neighbors. Derek Bertelsen directs.

Preview at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18, at the Edge Off-Broadway, 1133 W. Catalpa Ave., Chicago. The show opens June 19. $25. (312) 620-4583 or astonrep.com.

Collaboration examines Jewish history and culture

Arts Judaica teams up with Florida’s YI Love Jewish for “A People,” an examination of Jewish identity, heritage and humanity by L.M. Feldman consisting of a series of vignettes featuring historical and fictional characters. The director is Avi Hoffman, founder and CEO of Yiddishkayt Initiative, an organization that promotes Jewish history and culture.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 18-19, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens June 20. $36. (773) 975-8150 or artsjudaica.com.

Free rides to Broadway in Chicago shows

Broadway in Chicago and Metra are offering free rides to and from Broadway in Chicago theaters this summer with proof of a show ticket. The free, round-trip ride is valid with a ticket on the day of the performance only. Free rides accompany the shows “Kinky Boots,” “Water for Elephants,” “Suffs,” “& Juliet,” “The Notebook” and “The Outsiders.” Participating theaters include: Cadillac Palace Theatre, James M. Nederlander Theatre, CIBC Theatre and The Auditorium. Tickets are available at BroadwayInChicago.com.