In theater

Comedy

Comedy Comedy, |at Walter Payton's Roundhouse, 205 N. Broadway, Aurora: Jeff Wayne with special guest Frank Townsend; 8:30 p.m. Aug. 22 and 8 p.m. Aug. 23. Doors open at 7 p.m. $15. For ages 21 and older. Bob Jay with JT Newton and other special guests. 8:30 p.m. Aug. 28. Doors open at 7 p.m. Special "Yuk for a Buck" admission. For ages 21 and older. (630) 264-2739.

"The Comedy Shrine's Whose Line?" |The Comedy Shrine, 22 E. Chicago Ave., Above Bar Louie, Naperville: Fast-paced interactive short-form theatrical improvisation. Open run. 8 p.m. Fridays; 8 and 10 p.m. Saturdays. $23. (630) 355-2844.

The Improv Comedy Showcase and Restaurant, |5 Woodfield Road, In Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg: Flip Orley; 8 and 10:15 p.m. Aug. 22; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Aug. 23; 7 p.m. Aug. 24. $12-$15. (847) 240-2001.

Jay Leno, |The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, 777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond, Ind.: 8 p.m. Aug. 22. $50-$100. (312) 559-1212.

Jim Gaffigan, |Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan: 8 and 10:30 p.m. Aug. 22. $42.75/8 p.m. sold out. Also at Star Plaza Theatre, I-65 and U.S. 30, Merrillville, Ind.: 7 and 10 p.m. Aug. 23. $42.75. (312) 559-1212.

Laugh Out Loud Theater, |601 N. Martingale Road, Suite 171, Schaumburg: Improvisational comedy in the style of "Whose Line is it Anyway?" 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. $12-$18. (847) 240-0386.

Mission Improvable, |Harper College Quad, between Buildings D and L, 1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine: Comedy improvisation performance in the style of the TV show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" 11:30 a.m. Aug. 27. Free. (847) 925-6242.

The Second City's "Pratfall of Civilization," |Noble Fool Theatricals at Pheasant Run Resort & Spa, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles: The famed comedy troupe presents it's touring show looking at societal dysfunction. 8 p.m. Aug. 22. $38. (630) 584-6342.

Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, |4051 E. Main St., St. Charles: Larry Reeb; 8 p.m. Aug. 22; 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Aug. 23. $23. Ken Sevara; 8 p.m. Aug. 27-29. $22 plus a two-item food/beverage minimum. (630) 584-6342.

Zanies, |230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills: Will Durst; 8:30 p.m. Aug. 22. $25. Tom Wilson; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Aug. 23. $25. Patti Vasquez; 8 p.m. Aug. 28; 8:30 p.m. Aug. 29; 8 p.m. Aug. 30. $23. (847) 549-6030.

Zanies, |1548 N. Wells St.: Tom Wilson; 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Aug. 22. $25. Will Durst; 7, 9 and 11:15 p.m. Aug. 23; 8:30 p.m. Aug. 24. $25. Patti Vasquez; 8:30 p.m. Aug. 26-27; 10:30 p.m. Aug. 31. $23. Emo Philips; 8:30 p.m. Aug. 28; 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. Aug. 29 ; 7, 9 and 11:15 p.m. Aug. 30. $25. (312) 337-4027.

Community theater

"The Star Spangled Girl," |Cutting Hall, 150 E. Wood St., Palatine: Hidden Talent Theatre Company presents Neil Simon's comedy about two roommates who fight over the same girl because she "smells nice"; through Aug. 31. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sunday. $15-$18. $13-$15 seniors/students. (847) 815-2409.

"Walkabout: Theater on your Feet," |Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., 8th Floor, Elgin: Elgin Cultural Arts Commission sponsors a combination performance and art gallery tour featuring Janus Theatre's "Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson," Nothing Special Productions' production and Vex Theatre's "Netherlands." 1 p.m. Saturdays through Aug. 30. $12. (847) 841-1713.

Kids theater

"Jack and the Beanstalk," |Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave., Wilmette: Chicago Kids Company presents a musical version of the fairytale of a hungry Englishman and how he steals from a grumpy giant. 10 a.m. Aug. 23. $10. (773) 205-9600.

"Once Upon a Mattress," |Noble Fool Theatricals at Pheasant Run Resort & Spa, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles: Noble Fool Theatricals' Youth Ensemble presents the 1950s Broadway musical comedy that retells the tale of the Princess and the Pea; 10:30 a.m. Saturdays through Aug. 30. Also 7:30 p.m. Aug. 29. $13 (630) 584-6342.

"The Princess and the Pea," |Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire: Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents a contemporary musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale of an odd test to prove a woman is actually a princess; through Aug. 30. 10 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. Saturdays. $12 (excludes tax and handling fees). (847) 634-0200.

"Willy Wonka Jr.," |Nazareth Academy, 1209 W. Ogden Ave., La Grange Park: BAM Theatre presents a shortened version of the Road Dahl tale of a boy who tours a fantastical Chocolate factory. Featuring songs from the 1970s film. 2 and 7 p.m. Aug. 23 and 24. $13. bamtheatre.com.

"The Wizard of Oz," |The Comedy Shrine, 22 E. Chicago Ave., Above Bar Louie, Naperville: Kidz Kabaret's Teen Kidz present the famed tale of a Kansas girl who goes over the rainbow via a tornado to a magical land; Aug. 23 through Aug. 31. Noon and 4 p.m. Aug. 23 and 30, 1 and 4 p.m. Aug. 24, 7 p.m. Aug. 25 and 26; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. Aug. 31. $6-$10. (630) 355-9212.

Theater

"A Comedy Spectacular," |First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Ave., Elgin: Elgin Theatre Company presents a re-enactment of old time radio comedy shows featuring routines by Groucho Marks, Laurel and Hardy, Abbott and Costello and more; 8 p.m. Aug. 22, 3 p.m. Aug. 23. $12. $10 seniors/kids. (847) 741-0532.

"Dancing at Lughnasa," |Austin Gardens, Ontario Ave. and Forest Ave., Oak Park: Oak Park Festival Theatre presents Brian Friel's multi-award-winning drama of an out-of-wedlock son looking back on his time living with his mother and her four unmarried Irish sisters. 8 p.m. Aug. 22 and 23. $17-$27. (708) 445-4440.

"Early One Evening at the Rainbow Bar and Grill," |Riverfront Playhouse, 11-13 S. Water Street Mall, Aurora: Six rural bar patrons face a terrifying unknown monster outside in Bruce Graham's off-beat comedy; through Aug. 30. 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. $12-$15. (630) 897-9496.

"Hay Fever," |Circle Theatre, 7300 W. Madison St., Forest Park: The eccentric Bliss family theatrically torment a group of visitors for a weekend in Noel Coward's classic comedy. 8 p.m. Aug. 22 and 23, 3 p.m. Aug. 24. $20-$26. (708) 771-0700.

"Iolanthe," |Cahn Auditorium at Northwestern University, 600 Emerson St., Evanston: Light Opera Works presents Gilbert and Sullivan's 1882 comic operetta about a fairy's son who enacts a peculiar revenge against the British House of Lords when a marriage proposal is disputed. 8 p.m. Aug. 22-23, 2 p.m. Aug. 24. $29-$85 ($16.50-$41.50 ages 21 and under). (847) 869-6300.

"The Juliet Letters" |Skokie Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie: Devin DeSantis stars alongside the Mercutio String Quartet for a song cycle about a professor who has kept up a correspondence with a certain Juliet Capulet in Verona, Italy. 8 p.m. Aug. 25 and 26. $15. (847) 677-7761.

"Key Exchange," |Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle: Theatre-Hikes presents its first-ever "bike hike" of Kevin Wade's 1980s off-Broadway romantic comedy about New Yorkers who decide to take their relationship one step further; through Sept. 20. 5 p.m. Aug. 23, 30 and Sept. 13 and 20. $40 (includes post-show "Picnic in Central Park" light supper). (630) 725-2066.

"Love in the Middle Ages: A Baby Boomers Guide to Love and Sex," |Village Players Theatre, 1010 W. Madison St., Oak Park: World premiere musical comedy by Scott Urban and Robert Solone about entering the dating pool after age 40; through Sept. 21. 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays. $20-$25. (708) 524-9892.

"Nixon's Nixon," |Writers' Theatre at Books On Vernon, 664 Vernon Ave., Glencoe: Actors William Brown and Larry Yando return to Russell Lees' political comedy guessing what happened on the final night of President Richard M. Nixon's time in office; through Sept. 28. Previews through Aug. 26. 7:30 p.m. opening Aug. 27 and 28. Regular run: 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 and 6 p.m. Sundays. Extra shows 2 p.m. Sept. 10. No show Sept. 9. $60-$75. (847) 242-6000.

"SpeeDating the Musical," |Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights: World premiere musical comedy by playwright Scott Woldman and composer/lyricists John and Sandi Stoesser that draws on the highs and lows of speed dating; through Aug. 30. 10 p.m. Saturdays. $16.50. (847) 577-2121.

"The Taming of the Shrew," |Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle: Shakespeare's classic comedy of a fortune-seeker who weds a head-strong woman for her fortune; through Sept. 21. 1 p.m. Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays; $22. (630) 968-0074.

"20th Annual Mary-Arrchie Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Theater Festival," |Angel Island Theater, 731 W. Sheridan: Some 40 to 50 different theater companies and performance artists perform non-stop from 2 p.m. Aug. 22 through midnight Aug. 24. $10 day pass. $25 weekend pass. (773) 871-0442.

"Apples from the Desert," |Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.: Theater Or presents a reading of Savyon Liebrecht's romantic comedy of Sephardi-Jewish parents who must deal with their only daughter who runs away to live on a kibbutz. Part of OnStageIsrael, a Festival of Israeli Play Readings; 8 p.m. Aug. 23 and 1 p.m. Aug. 24. $10 per reading or $35 for a five-show pass. (773) 871-3000.

"Glengarry Glen Ross," |Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr: A gender-blind production of David Mamet's award-winning drama of savage salespeople scratching their way to the top; through Aug. 31. 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 3 p.m. Sundays (No show Aug. 28). $22-$30. $17-$25 seniors/students. (773) 728-7529.

"J'arrive...!," |Goodman Theatre, Owen Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.: Marta Carrasco and her ensemble from Barcelona perform a performance art piece full of spectacle and mischief. Part of the Latino Theatre Festival. 8 p.m. Aug. 22 and 23; 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24. $25. (312) 443-3800.

"The Last Exodus of American Men," |Elsewhere Theater, 3036 W. Chicago Ave.: Jackalope Theatre Company presents a new play by Andrew Burden Swanson about four friends who seek shelter in the woods after a nuclear war; through Aug. 30. 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. $10-$15. (773) 687-9058.

"Lookingglass Alice," |Lookingglass Theatre, Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave.: Alice meets an oddball assortment of characters in her quest to become a queen in this return engagement of David Catlin's hit adaptation of Lewis Carroll's "Alice" children's novels in a collaboration between Lookingglass Theatre Company and Actors Gymnasium; through Sept. 7. 3 p.m. Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (select Wednesdays). $30-$58. (312) 337-0665.

"Medea," |Dream Theatre, 556 W. 18th St.: Dream Theatre Company presents Jeremy Menekseoglu's new adaptation on the Greek tragedy, this time focusing mainly on the children's psychological trauma caused by divorce and abandonment. 8 p.m. Aug. 22 and 23, 7 p.m. Aug. 24. $10-$15. (773) 552-8616.

"Onto Infinity," |Victory Gardens Greenhouse, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.: Azusa Productions presents the premiere of David Alex's May/December romance inspired by mathematics, poetry and notions of infinity. 8 p.m. Aug. 22 and 23, 3 p.m. Aug. 24. $15-$20. (773) 871-3000.

"The People's History of the United States," |Blue Theatre, 1609 W. Gregory St.: Quest Theatre Ensemble presents a revue of stories and songs looking at American history. 8 p.m. Aug. 22 and 23, 2 p.m. Aug. 24. Free, but donations appreciated. Reservations requested. (312) 458-0895.

"Tell Me on a Sunday," |Bailiwick Repertory, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.: Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1980s song cycle from the double bill of "Song and Dance" about a 30-year-old hat designer finding love and more in New York City; through Sept. 7. 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7 p.m. Sundays. $20-$25. (773) 883-1090.

"To Pay the Price," |Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave.: Theater Or presents a reading of Peter-Adrian Cohen's drama about the 1976 Israeli rescue of hostages from a hi-jacked airliner in Uganda. Part of OnStageIsrael, a Festival of Israeli Play Readings; 8 p.m. Aug. 22, 1 p.m. Aug. 23 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24. $10 per reading or $35 for a five-show pass. (773) 871-3000.

"Wicked," Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.:The 2003 hit Broadway musical based upon Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel about the friendships and rivalries between the witches of Oz before Dorothy drops in; through Jan. 25. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. $25-$90 ($25 ticket lottery drawing 2 hours prior to curtain). (312) 902-1400.