Spotlight: Elgin’s Janus updates ‘School for Lies’ and Aurora’s Paramount stages ‘Come From Away’

Moliere reimagined

Janus Theatre presents “School for Lies,” David Ives’ adaptation of “The Misanthrope,” Moliere’s 17th-century comedy of manners about a man named Frank who cannot abide hypocrisy. Frank is taken with the young widow Celimene, who’s fending off three suitors, one of whom takes offense when Frank insults his poetry. Artistic director Sean Hargadon imagines the satire as a 1970s romantic-comedy.

8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 15-16, 22-23 and 30; 2 p.m. Aug. 24 and 31; and 8 p.m. Aug. 28, at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., Elgin. $25. janusplays.com.

‘Forever Plaid’ encore

MadKap Productions stages an encore of its revival of the doo-wop revue “Forever Plaid.” It’s about four teenage crooners who are killed on the way to their first gig who then get an opportunity to return to earth to perform the concert that never was.

2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. $30. (847) 677-7761 or skokietheatre.org.

The comedy with the unwieldy title

The Factory Theater and Unheard of Company premier the mockumentary “The Meaningful Action Theatre Company Presents A Workshop Reading of ‘Muffed: A Recounting of Farmington, Maine’s 43rd Annual Chester Greenwood Day Devised by the Members of the Meaningful Action Theatre Company and Produced by David New.’” Written by Zack Peercy and directed by Kayla Menz, “Muffed” is described as a cross between “Waiting for Guffman” and “The Muppets.” It’s about a group of theater artists staging a documentary theater piece about the inventor of the earmuff.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Aug. 15-16, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago. The show opens Monday, Aug. 18. $10-$30. (312) 275-5757 or thefactorytheater.com.

Paramount regional premiere

Paramount Theatre launches its 14th Broadway series with the regional premiere of “Come From Away,” the Tony Award-winning musical by composer/lyricists/writers Irene Sankoff and David Hein. Inspired by the real-life events of Sept. 11, 2001, the musical is based on the true story of small town Gander, Newfoundland, whose residents took in passengers stranded after air travel was suspended in the wake of the terror attacks. “It feels like every day we get another reason to be reminded that we are stronger together,” said director Trent Stork in a prepared statement. “It feels like we need a story right now that shows people coming together, helping each other out because ‘that’s just what you do.’”

Previews at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 20-21 and 28; 7 p.m. Aug. 22; 2 and 7 p.m. Aug. 23; 1 and 5:30 p.m. Aug. 25; and 1 and 7 p.m. Aug. 27, at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $31-$88. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

Living newspaper fest

One-act plays by Ike Holter, Jesse Jae Hoon, Nora Leahy, Paloma Nozicka and Jasmine Sharma are among the works based on current events to be showcased during Jackalope Theatre Company’s 16th Living Newspaper Festival. The fest is inspired by the 1935 Federal Theatre Project initiative to “produce plays that often brought to light social injustices, challenged ideals and criticized the government.” “At a time when the speed of the news stream can dull the senses, the 16th Annual Living Newspaper Festival slows down and explores the human stories beyond the articles,” said artistic director Kaiser Ahmed in a prepared statement.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21 (produced as part of Goodman Theatre’s 100 free acts of theater) and Aug. 22, 23 and 25, and 3 p.m. Aug. 24, at the Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway, Chicago. $15-$30. (773) 340-2543 or jackalopetheatre.org.