A theater banquet: Fans hungering for new works have a lot to look forward to this fall

For theater fans hungering for new works on suburban and Chicago stages, this fall promises a banquet.

Among the dozen or more premieres scheduled this fall is the new punk/hip-hop musical by Rage Against the Machine co-founder and former Libertyville resident Tom Morello at Goodman Theatre as part of its centennial celebration, which also includes the premiere of the Chicago-set dramedy “Ashland Avenue.”

Writers Theatre presents the Chicago-area premiere of a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” by Shania Taub, composer of Broadway’s “Suffs,” while the Q Brothers Collective premieres “Julius Caesar,” its latest Shakespeare-inspired rap adaptation at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

The national tour of the musical “Hell’s Kitchen,” inspired by the life of R&B star Alicia Keys, stops at the James M. Nederlander Theatre. At Steppenwolf Theatre, ensemble members — actor/director K. Todd Freeman and playwright Rajiv Joseph — team up for the Chicago premiere of “Mr. Wolf.”

Here are 12 world and Chicago premieres worth savoring this fall.

“Come from Away”

Through Oct. 12 at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, (630) 896-6666, paramountaurora.com. Inspired by a Newfoundland town’s real-life response to the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, this heartwarming musical is about the small-town residents in Gander who fed, housed, clothed and consoled thousands of travelers diverted to the town’s airport following the attacks. Director Trent Stork’s terrific regional premiere features an 18-person cast, including six offstage vocalists, whose performances are among the most heartfelt in recent memory.

“Things With Friends”

Through Oct. 5 at American Blues Theater, 5627 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, (773) 654-3103, americanbluestheater.com. ABT premieres a dark comedy about a couple hosting a dinner party at their Manhattan home by artistic affiliate and Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz, who wrote the book for the musical “Hell’s Kitchen,” which plays Chicago later this fall.

“The First Lady of Television”

Sept. 4 through Oct. 5 at Northlight Theatre, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, (847) 673-6300, northlight.org. Artistic director BJ Jones helms Northlight’s world premiere of James Sherman’s play inspired by pioneering actress, writer and producer Gertrude Berg, creator of television’s first family sitcom. Cindy Gold stars as Berg, who is forced to weigh loyalty to a colleague against deference to a sponsor.

“Ashland Avenue”

Sept. 6 through Oct. 5 at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, (312) 443-3800, goodmantheatre.org. Artistic director Susan Booth launches Goodman’s centennial season with Lee Kirk’s Chicago-set story about what happens when the heir to a family business decides her future lies elsewhere. Emmy-nominated Jenna Fischer (“The Office”) stars opposite Chicago favorite Francis Guinan in this world premiere.

“Mr. Wolf”

Sept. 11 through Nov. 2 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago, (312) 335-1650, steppenwolf.org. Steppenwolf launches its 50th season with the Chicago premiere of this play by Pulitzer Prize finalist and ensemble member Rajiv Joseph (“Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo,” “Guards at the Taj”). The action centers on the reunion of a teenager and her family from whom she was kidnapped 12 years earlier. Ensemble member K. Todd Freeman directs.

“Wish You Were Here”

Sept. 18 through Oct. 19 at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, (773) 975-8150, remybumppo.org. Remy Bumppo commences its 30th anniversary season with the Chicago premiere of “Wish You Were Here” by Pulitzer Prize winner Sanaz Toossi (“English”). Set in an Iran suburb during the escalating 1978 revolution, the dramedy is about a group of female friends who must make the decision to emigrate or face an uncertain future in their native country.

“Rome Sweet Rome”

Sept. 23 through Oct. 19 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, (312) 595-5600, chicagoshakes.com. The Q Brothers Collective debuts its ad-rap-tation of William Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” in which a charismatic tyrant’s increasingly ludicrous executive orders spark a revolt from his once-loyal supporters in this ever-timely hip-hop examination of power politics.

“Revolution(s)”

Oct. 4 through Nov. 9 at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, (312) 443-3800, goodmantheatre.org. Grammy Award-winner Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) composed the score and Zayd Ayers Dohrn wrote the book for this punk/metal/hip-hop tuner about an Afghanistan War veteran who returns home to another war zone, Chicago’s South Side. Steve H. Broadnax III directs.

“Hundreds and Hundreds of Stars”

Oct. 8 through Nov. 9 at TimeLine Theatre at Lookingglass Theatre, Water Tower Water Works, 163 E. Pearson St., Chicago, (773) 557-7973, ext. 6, timelinetheatre.com. Actor/playwright Sandra Delgado wrote and stars in this timely family drama about a single mom caring for her aging father, raising a teenage daughter and supporting her ex-husband, whose immigration status comes under scrutiny ahead of an overseas trip. TimeLine associate artist Kimberly Senior directs.

“Strange Cargo: The Doom of the Demeter”

Oct. 10 through Nov. 23 at City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, (773) 293-3682, citylit.org. Chapter seven of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” inspired this world premiere collaboration between City Lit and Black Button Eyes theaters. Timothy Griffin’s play examines the events on board the cargo ship transporting Count Dracula’s belongings from Transylvania to England. Ed Rutherford directs.

“As You Like It”

Oct. 30 through Dec. 14 at Writers Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, (847) 242-6000, writerstheatre.org. Writers stages the Chicago premiere of the musical version of William Shakespeare’s comedy about battling brothers, devoted cousins, obsessed shepherds and fools stumbling into romance in the forest of Arden. The score is by Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist Shania Taub (“Suffs”).

“Hell’s Kitchen”

Nov. 11-30 at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago, broadwayinchicago.com. Broadway in Chicago presents the first national tour of the Tony Award-winning bio-musical based on the life of Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys, featuring some of her biggest hits as well as music composed specifically for the show.

Not to miss

Other world and/or Chicago-area premieres worthy of note include: Strawdog Theatre Company’s “The (expletive) House” through Oct. 11 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, strawdog.org; Lifeline Theatre’s “Rabbits in their Pockets” by Chicago playwright Kimberly Dixon-Mays, which runs Sept. 5 through Oct. 5 at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago, lifelinetheatre.com; and A Red Orchid Theatre’s “Veal,” running Sept. 25 through Nov. 2 at 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago, aredorchidtheatre.org.

Also, Drury Lane Theatre revives “Dial M for Murder,” Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation of Frederick Knott’s 1952 thriller running through Oct. 26 at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, drurylanetheatre.com.

The ever-popular “The Lion King” plays the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago, Oct. 3-19. The Neil Diamond bio-musical “A Beautiful Noise,” whose brief run here last fall was a hit, plays the same theater Nov. 19-30. For details, see broadwayinchicago.com.