Spotlight: Drury Lane revives ‘Father of the Bride’

Time for a wedding

Joe Dempsey plays Stanley Banks, a devoted father dealing with the engagement and wedding of his daughter Kay (Glenview native and recent Joseph Jefferson Award-winner Aurora Penepacker) in Drury Lane Theatre’s revival of “Father of the Bride,” adapted by Caroline Francke from Edward Streeter’s 1949 novel. Michael Heitzman directs the comedy, which inspired the 1950 film starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor, the 1991 remake starring Steve Martin and Kimberly Williams, and the 2022 version starring Andy Garcia and Gloria Estefan.

Previews at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 8; 1:30 and 7 p.m. Thursday, April 9; 7 p.m. April 10; and 3 and 8 p.m. April 11 at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. The show opens April 12. $65-$125. (630) 530-0111 or DruryLaneTheatre.com.

The secret lives of Windsor wives

Ora Jones plays Mistress Page and Issy van Randwyck plays Mistress Ford, married women and best friends who attempt to dissuade the attentions of the amorous Sir John Falstaff (Jason Simon) in Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s production of William Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” Nancy Voigts plays Mistress Quickly, who helps the women turn the tables on Falstaff in director Phillip Breen’s production.

Previews at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 2-4, and April 7-8, and 2 p.m. April 5 at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. The show opens April 9. $51-$127. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

Chicago premiere

Noted Chicago director David G. Zak, seven-time Jeff Award-winner, helms the local premiere of “A Third Way.” Lee Osorio’s examination of love, marriage and family in the 21st century centers on married couple Matt and Nico, who are “committed to building a relationship that exists outside traditional binaries.” Open Space Arts’ production stars Zak Wilson and Chris Sylvie.

7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 3-4, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 5, and through April 19, at 1411 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago. $25, $30. openspacearts.org.

Screwball comedy

Northlight Theatre concludes its season with Paul Slade Smith’s farce “The Angel Next Door.” It’s about writer Oliver Adams, whose first novel “The Angel Next Door” is about to be adapted to the Broadway stage by famed playwrights Arthur and Charlotte Saunders. The couple are considering Margot Bell as their leading lady, but things go awry when the parties converge for a weekend at a Rhode Island mansion. Joseph Jefferson Award-winner Linda Fortunato directs.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 9-11 and April 14; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. April 12; and 1 and 7:30 p.m. April 15 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The show opens April 16. $46.05-$94.45. (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org.

Career crossroads

After a video of her having a breakdown at work goes viral, tech employee Jane must meet with therapist Lloyd before she’s reinstated in the psychological thriller “JOB” by Max Wolf Friedlich. Writers Theatre’s Midwest premiere of the Broadway two-hander stars Rae Gray and Christopher Donahue. David Esbjornson directs.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 9-10; 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 11, 15 and 16; and 2 and 7 p.m. April 12 at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The show opens April 17. Tickets start at $50. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.

Steppenwolf premiere

Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s 50th anniversary season continues with the world premiere of “Windfall,” by ensemble member and Academy Award-winning screenwriter Tarell Alvin McCraney. Awoye Timpo directs the drama about a father who loses his son during a clash with police who’s forced to make a decision. Does he take the city’s cash settlement and leave, or does he remain and continue to be haunted by the memories of his child? The cast includes ensemble members Alana Arenas, Glenn Davis, Jon Michael Hill and Namir Smallwood.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, April 9-10 and April 15-17; 3 and 7:30 p.m. April 11 and 18; and 3 p.m. April 12 at 1646 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $20-$148.50. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Meat Loaf tuner plays The Auditorium

The jukebox tuner “Bat out of Hell — The Musical,” featuring music by Meat Loaf and book writer Jim Steinman, plays The Auditorium for one performance. The Romeo and Juliet-inspired story centers on Strat, leader of the rebellious lost boys and girls, who falls in love with Raven, the daughter of the city’s ruler, Falco.

7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 9, at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. $73.42-$236.74. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org.