Theater spotlight: Elvis, ‘West Side Story’ and AI-generated ‘sister’ grace suburban stages
Elvis, Bennett’s way
Award-winning Elvis Presley tribute artist Brandon Bennett brings his show “Brandon Bennett: Elvis May Way” to the Drury Lane Theatre. Produced by Artists Lounge Live, the show combines heartfelt storytelling with hit songs, including “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” “That’s Alright Mama” and “Suspicious Minds.”
• 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. $77-$137. (630) 530-0111 or DruryLaneTheatre.com.
‘West Side Story’ returns
A 24-musician orchestra under the direction of conductor and Darien native Justin Kono accompanies Music Theater Works’ revival of “West Side Story,” the seminal musical by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim that sets William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” as a battle between rival New York City gangs. Sasha Gerritson directs the production, which stars Luke Nowakowski and Isabella Ruano as star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria.
• The preview is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The show opens Aug. 14. $19.50-$106. (847) 673-6300 or MusicTheaterWorks.org.
Writers Theatre’s season begins
Writers Theatre marks the opening of its 25th season and the 10th anniversary in its reimagined space with “Sisters,” Matthew Libby’s play chronicling the relationship between sisters Matilda and Greta, who fight then reconcile and drift apart then reunite over 90 years. The twist is Greta is an artificial intelligence computer program. Jessica Thebus directs Brenda Barrie and Chloe Johnston in Libby’s two-hander.
• Previews are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Aug. 13-14; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15 and 19; 2 and 7 p.m. Aug. 16; and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 20 at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The show opens Aug. 21. Tickets start at $75. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.
PrideArts premiere
PrideArts opens its 2026-2027 season with the premiere of “Windows,” Matt Schutz’s comedy — developed through the theater’s Queery Playwrights Lab — about LGBT Generation Z-ers finding their ways through career and relationship challenges. Taylor Pasche directs.
• Previews are at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre in the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The show opens at 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10. $25, $35, with a $5 discount for seniors and students. (773) 661-0770 or pridearts.org.
Confronting one’s legacy
The Metal Shop Performance Lab, in collaboration with JunkHeart, presents “Anatomy of a Suicide.” Alice Birch’s drama is about three generations of women — grandmother, mother and daughter — whose individual stories unfold simultaneously, forcing each to question whether she will be able to escape her legacy. Alex Mallory directs.
• Previews are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 12-13, at Redtwist Theatre, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. The show opens Aug. 14. $20-$35. TheMetalShop.org.
Kokandy stages Sondheim
For the next in its series of Stephen Sondheim revivals, Kokandy Productions stages “Sunday in the Park With George,” the composer/lyricist’s Pulitzer Prize-winning examination of life, love and creation inspired by Georges Seurat’s modernist masterpiece, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” Producing artistic director Derek Van Barham directs and choreographs. Nick Sul is the music director for the production, which stars Kevin Webb and Missy Wise Vanderzee.
• Previews run 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 13-15, 20-22 and 27-28, and 5 p.m. Aug. 16 and 23, at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. Chicago. The show opens Aug. 29. $28.52-$65.87. kokandyproductions.com.