Kids Company to present 'Little Red'

Chicago Kids Company traveled over the river and through the woods to wind up at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre where it presents its family-friendly, musical version of "Little Red Riding Hood." The show runs about one hour and is suitable for children ages 2 to 12.

Facts: Opens Tuesday, Oct. 21, and runs through Oct. 29 at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

McDonald at Zanies

Norm McDonald began his television career as a writer for "Roseanne" and "The Dennis Miller Show." He then graduated to "Saturday Night Live" and eventually to his own sitcom, which lasted three years on ABC. These days, the comedian divides his time between standup and professional poker. He performs the former this weekend at Zanies Vernon Hills.

Facts: 8 and 9:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17, and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills. (847) 549-6030 or zanies.com.

Seasonal scares

Theatre-Hikes' production of "Dracula" runs two more weekends at the Morton Arboretum. Inspired by the Bram Stoker novel, the story centers around the Count's pursuit of young Lucy Seward, whose father calls in the expert Dr. Van Helsing, who attempts to free her from the vampire's clutches.

Facts: 1 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 26 at 4100 Route 53, Lisle. (630) 725-2066 or mortonarb.org.

Whats' new

•"Shakesploitation!" a show that re-imagines Shakespeare tragedies as 1970s exploitation films had a couple of successful runs in Chicago and one in Philadelphia. The show featuring "Grand Theft Othello," "Romeo and Juliet II: Apocalypse" and "Ninja Hamlet: Burning Fist of Denmark" returns to Chicago for a two-week run beginning Friday, Oct. 17, at the Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

•Chicago's Halcyon Theatre begins its third season with the world premiere of "Militant Language," Sean Christopher Lewis' play examining the challenges and culture clashes involved in the rebuilding Iraq. The production opens Friday, Oct. 17, at 4745 N. Kedzie Ave., Chicago. (312) 458-9170 or halcyonetheatre.org.

•Unsatisfied with jailing the violent Marquis de Sade to prevent him acting out his sexual fantasies, a puritanical doctor and a repressed priest try to prevent him from writing in Doug Wright's "Quills." Errol McLendon, who works as a Tantric coach, stars as the marquis in The Shadowmen's production. It opens Friday, Oct. 17, at Trap Door Theatre, 1655 W. Courtland Ave., Chicago. See shadowmenchicago.com for tickets.

•"Moon Over Buffalo," Ken Ludwig's farce centers around never-was actors George and Charlotte Hay, who learn they have one last shot at fame when word arrives that famed filmed director Frank Capra is coming to see their matinee to decide whether to cast them in his latest production. Saint Sebastian Players' production opens Friday, Oct., 17 at St. Bonaventure, 1625 W. Diversey Parkway, Chicago. (773) 404-7922 or saintsebastianplayers.org.

•The Annoyance Theatre's series "Laughing in the Face of Death" examines the bad decisions that result in unfortunate deaths. Founding company member Susan Messing directs the show, which previews Saturday, Oct. 18, and Oct. 25 and opens Nov. 1 at 4830 N. Broadway St., Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or annoyanceproductions.com.

•A play by poet William Carlos Williams opens Caffeine Theatre's 2008-2009 season. Set during the final rehearsals of a play, "Many Loves" centers around a director trying to keep his relationship with his leading lady a secret from his financial backer. The play opens Saturday, Oct., 18, at Lincoln Square Arts Center, 4754 N. Leavitt St., Chicago. (312) 409-4778 or caffeinetheatre.com.

•Black Ensemble Theater revives "The Other Cinderella," the (nearly) all-black, musical version of the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale. This version, produced, written and directed by BTE founder Jackie Taylor, tells the story with an "Afro-centric twist," in which the step-mama works at the post office and the fairy Godmama hails from Jamaica. The musical opens Saturday, Oct. 18, at 4520 N. Beacon St., Chicago. (773) 769-4451 or blackensemble.org.

•Broadway veteran John Herrera plays the titular psychic in "The Medium at Large," a new musical by author Julia Cameron ("The Artist's Way) and Emma Lively opening Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Village Players Performing Arts Center, 1010 W. Madison St., Oak Park. (866) 764-1010 or village-players.org.

•Bailiwick Theater collaborates with n.u.f.a.n. ensemble on Bailiwick's annual festival of plays utilizing a set comprise of one table and two chairs. The 2008 edition, "Tables and Chairs: Duets," opens Monday, Oct. 20, at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. See nufanensemble.com.

•An all-black version of Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" marks the opening of Steppenwolf Theatre Company's Steppenwolf for Young Adults season. Previews begin Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The play opens Oct. 25. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

•Director David Cromer, who recently directed "Picnic" at Writers' Theatre and the remount of The Hypocrites' production of "Our Town" (in which he also starred), directs Itamar Moses' "Celebrity Row" for American Theater Company. An examination of American justice, the play is about a young attorney defending the civil rights of a criminal mastermind who hatches a plot involving some of the country's most notorious prisoners - gang leader Luis Felipe, World Trade Center bomber Ramzi Yousef, Unabomber Ted Kaczynski and Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh - all of them inmates at Colorado's Supermax facility. Currently in previews at 1909 W. Byron St., Chicago. The Chicago premiere opens Wednesday, Oct. 22. (773) 929-1031 or atcweb.org.

•A successful novelist tries to seduce a young woman in "Red Angel," Eric Bogosian's examination of shifting power in a relationship. LiveWire Chicago Theatre's production opened this week at The Side Project Theatre, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave., Chicago. (312) 533-4666 or livewirechicago.com.