Theater events: Teatro Vista's 'American Jornalero' transfers to UrbanTheater

What's happening on the Chicago-area theater scene this week:

• Performances continue for Teatro Vista's Chicago-area premiere of "American Jornalero," which transferred to UrbanTheater, 2620 W. Division St., Chicago. Ed Cardona Jr.'s play about a group of Latino immigrant day laborers who are confronted by America First vigilantes was Teatro Vista's entry into the recently concluded Destinos, the Chicago Latino International Theatre Festival. Performances run through Nov. 18. (773) 599-9280 or teatrovista.org.

• Performances begin Friday, Nov. 2, for MadKap Productions' revival of David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama "Proof." MadKap co-founder Wayne Mell directs the play about Catherine, the daughter of a mathematical genius, who shows a proof she claims to have written for her father's former student who subsequently accuses her of stealing it. Performances run through Nov. 18 at Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. (847) 677-7761 or skokietheatre.org.

• Previews begin Friday, Nov. 2, for City Lit Theater's commissioned world premiere of "The Safe House," Kristine Thatcher's play about a failed New York City actress who returns home to Michigan to find her widowed grandmother declining physically and cognitively. The production, directed by Terry McCabe, opens Nov. 11 at 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. See citylit.org.

• Lucky Plush Productions brings its production of "The Better Half" and in-progress selections from "Rink Life" to Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago, for a limited run beginning Friday, Nov. 2. The performances, which run through Nov. 17, are part of Steppenwolf's LookOut series. Inspired by the film "Gaslight," "The Better Half" is a 2011 piece about domestic relationships. On Nov. 10 and 17, Lucky Plush will also present selections from "Rink Life," a dance-theater piece inspired by 1970s roller rink culture. (312) 336-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• Master puppeteer Mimmo Cuticchio brings his production "The Great Duel Between Orlando and Rinaldo for the Beautiful Angelica's Sake" - about soldiers who desert the French army to pursue a princess and the adventures they encounter along the way - to the University of Chicago. The performance takes place at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, Theater East, 915 E. 60th St., Chicago. Admission is free, but reservations are required. (312) 822-9545 or cuticchiospettacolo.eventbrite.com.

• The Improv Playhouse Theater for Young Audiences brings its touring production of "Chicken Little!" to the theater's main stage at 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. The play with music, part of the company's "Smilin' Saturdays" series, is about Chicken Little and his friends' attempts to save their town from disaster. The performance is at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com.

• Bros do Prose, an ensemble established in 2017 by Christian Libonati, Ella Raymont and Omen Sade, premieres "Peter Pan," a contemporary, physical theater version of J.M. Barrie's tale about the boy who refuses to grow up. Told by two actors (Raymont and Sade), the story unfolds against an original score by Michael Huey and Raymont. Performances begin Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. (773) 325-1700 or mercurytheaterchicago.com.

• Emerald City Theatre presents Ken Ludwig's "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," in which Emily teams up with a mouse named Amos to search for Santa's Naughty and Nice List. The preview is Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. The show opens Sunday, Nov. 4. (800) 775-2000 or emeraldcitytheatre.com or broadwayinchicago.com.

• The Neo-Futurists unveil the four artist finalists vying to have their portraits of Donald Trump added to the theater company's wall of presidents. The unveiling at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago, accompanies "Trump's Mug: Portraits of the President" consisting of writer-performers reading their essays lampooning the president. Audiences can vote for their favorite selections through Dec. 2 at the theater. See neofuturists.org.

• Pride Films and Plays hosts its fall benefit Simply Sensational from 5 to 7:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, at 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. Singer/songwriter/actor and Evanston native Jose Maxi Ramos ("Hamilton") headlines the event. (800) 811-4111 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

• Chicago Dramatists continues its Monday Night Drama Series consisting of public readings of in-progress plays at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, at 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Next up is resident playwright Kristiana Rae Colon's "suspension." See chicagodramatists.org.

• Previews begin Thursday, Nov. 8, at The Understudy, 4609 N. Clark St., Chicago, for Underscore Theatre Company's season-opening production of "Wife Material." The adults-only show by composer/lyricist/writer Jamie Shriner is about an Indiana native described as a "queer, sex-positive feminist" who understood the concept of "wife material" but never fit the bill yet still found herself married to a man. Shriner co-stars with Caitlin Dobbins and Natalie Rae in director Dana Anderson's production. The production opens Nov. 13. The Dec. 1 performance benefits Sarah's Circle, an organization that supports homeless, at-risk women. See underscoretheatre.org.

• The House Theatre of Chicago remounts its ballet-free, family-friendly adaptation of "The Nutcracker," which begins previews Thursday, Nov. 8, at The Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. Adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's 1816 story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King," House's version centers on young Clara's efforts to save her family from their grief over the loss of her brother. Director Tommy Rapley's production opens Nov. 16. (773) 769-3832 or thehousetheatre.com.

• The Factory Theater hosts its third annual fundraiser the Shameless Ball from 7 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago. The event includes refreshments, entertainment, raffles and an auction. Tickets are $50 in advance, $60 at the door. See the factorytheater.com.

• The Blue Man Group debuts new material, instruments, technology, social commentary and audience interaction opportunities beginning Thursday, Nov. 8, at Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St., Chicago. A preshow party including photo opportunities and music instruction takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. that day. "In both the new and iconic content for the Chicago show, we follow the Blue Men as they explore various aspects of our rapidly changing world and celebrate our shared joy of being alive," said director Michael Dahlen in a prepared statement. Tickets range from $49-$99. (800) 258-3626 or blueman.com.

• "Take it Back!" - a variety show in which a diverse array of performers take on historically typecast roles they've always dreamed of playing (but could not because they didn't fit the "type" - begins Thursday, Nov. 8, at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• Chicago Children's Theatre has extended its musical adaptation of Leo Lionni's "Frederick" about a field mouse who prepares for winter not by gathering food, but by storing up something else that will help his friends survive the winter. Performances run through Dec. 1 at The Station, 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. In other Chicago Children's Theatre news, the company received a $200,000 Invest for Kids Award in recognition of its efforts to reach out to low-income families and children with special needs. (312) 374-8835 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

• First Folio Theatre's online auction fundraiser continues through Sunday, Nov. 4, at firstfolio.org. Items available for bid include theater, concert and professional sports tickets, gift baskets, vacation packages, jewelry and other options.

• Otherworld Theatre, a company that specializes in translating science fiction and fantasy to the stage, announced the appointment of Katie Ruppert as its new sketch and improv curator.