Spotlight: ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ returns to Aurora’s Stolp Island Theatre for its last encore

‘MDQ’ returns to Stolp Island

More than two years after it debuted at Aurora’s Stolp Island Theatre, the intimate, immersive, highly lauded revival of “Million Dollar Quartet” returns for its final extension. Inspired by the real-life meeting between Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley in December 1956 at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee, the jukebox musical inaugurated the theater in July 2024 and was extended multiple times. It includes such favorites as “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Who Do You Love?” “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Real Wild Child,” “I Walk the Line,” “Hound Dog” and “Great Balls of Fire” among others.

Wednesday, Oct. 7, through Jan. 3, 2027, at 5 E. Downer Place, Aurora. $87 if purchased in person, additional fees for phone and online orders. 630-896-6666 or ParamountAurora.com.

Shattered Globe’s Midwest premiere

Shattered Globe Theatre opens its 36th season with the Midwest premiere of “Vladimir,” Erika Sheffer’s profile of political resistance directed by ensemble member Lou Contey. The story centers on journalist Raya (based on real-life murdered journalist Anna Politkovskaya and played by ensemble member Rebecca Jordan), who teams up with whistleblower Yevgeny (based on real-life lawyer Sergei Magnitsky and played by Tristan Odenkirk), to investigate Russian war crimes during the Chechnya conflict. As the investigation proceeds, Raya and her family become targets of the state.

Friday, Oct. 2, through Nov. 14 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $25-$60. 773-975-8150 or SGTheatre.org.

Lifeline’s KidSeries premiere

Lifeline Theatre premieres “Sugar Plum Fairy, P.I.” an immersive “fairy tale noir mystery” adapted from Dashiell Hammett’s “The Maltese Falcon” by ensemble member Aly Amidei for Lifeline’s KidSeries. Fellow ensemble member Robert Kauzlaric directs this tale set during Candy Prohibition in which detective Sam Sugarplum (Anthony Kayer) and his partner Goldilocks (Cris King) set out to solve the case of a missing black sheep.

Saturdays and Sundays, Oct. 3 through Nov. 8, at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. $17-$22. 773-761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.

About Face and Raven Theatre collaborate on musical revival

Raven Theatre and About Face Theatre collaborate on a revival of “A Strange Loop,” writer/composer/lyricist Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical about Usher, a Black queer playwright who works days as an usher on Broadway and spends his nights writing a musical about a Black queer playwright working as a Broadway usher and struggling to write a musical. Mikael Burke directs the production, which stars Eddie Weaver as Usher, an artist struggling to break free from this creative loop.

Thursday, Oct. 8, through Nov. 8 at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. $30-$45. 773-338-2177 or raventheatre.com.

A tuner for parrot heads

Music Theater Works stages the Chicago-area’s first original production of “Escape to Margaritaville” since the jukebox tuner’s 2017’s pre-Broadway run here. Inspired by Jimmy Buffett’s catalog, the breezy, opposites-attract rom-com centers on the romance between Tully, a laid-back, island crooner, and Rachel, a career-driven tourist on vacation at a beachfront resort. Lincolnshire native Brenda Didier directs and choreographs the revival, which includes Buffett favorites such as “Fins,” “It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere,” “Come Monday” as well as the titular tune.

Thursday, Oct. 8, through Nov. 1 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $19.50-$106. 847-673-6300 or MusicTheaterWorks.com.

Absurdist comedy with a touch of vaudeville

After his authoritative parents kick him out on his 25th birthday, Will returns with a street performer who sparks the rebel in him in SL Daniels’ absurdist comedy “Any Rebellion of Will.” Spencer Huffman directs Trap Door Theatre’s production.

Thursday, Oct. 8, through Nov. 1 at 1655 W. Cortland St., Chicago. $10-$30. 773-384-0494 or trapdoortheatre.com.

Murder at the manor

“The Annoyance Theatre” premiered “Murder at Moidah Manor,” a 75-minute, 1950s-set comedy thriller about a group of people invited by a mysterious tycoon to “play a game” at a remote manor.

Thursdays, Oct. 8, through Nov. 5 at 851 Belmont Ave., Chicago. $20. theannoyance.com.

All-new ‘Exquisite Corpse’

Just in time for Halloween, Rough House Puppet Arts remounts “House of the Exquisite Corpse,” its sixth immersive puppet horror experience for ages 13 and older. This year’s theme is “Lullabies,” which organizers say are sure to keep visitors up at night. New this year, Rough House offers an all-inclusive experience that includes the show, drink tickets, a giveaway and a backstage encounter with the puppet stars.

Timed, dated entry Thursday, Oct. 8, through Nov. 1 at Steppenwolf Theatre’s The Merle, 1624 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $22-$47. RoughHousePuppets.org.

HotTix discount

The League of Chicago Theatres announces its second “It’s Theatre Season” campaign inviting theatergoers to sample productions at a variety of Chicago-area theaters for half price. From Oct. 6-31 at HotTix.org, prospective theatergoers who buy one ticket can get a second ticket at half-price for select shows. For a list of productions and to purchase tickets, see hottix.org/itstheatreseason and use the promo code SEASON.