Theater spotlight: Musical favorites Belle, Dorothy & Joseph return to suburban stages
Tale as old as time
Erica Stephan plays the inquisitive, compassionate Belle opposite Brandon Contreras' tortured Beast in Drury Lane Theatre's production of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast." Undeterred by the terrifying Beast, Belle attempts to break the spell that binds him and his lovable misfit minions who inhabit his castle. Alan Souza directs.
Previews at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9; 5 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10; 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11, and through Nov. 14 at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. The show opens Thursday, Nov. 15. $55-$75, dinner and show packages extra. (630) 530-0111 or drurylanetheatre.com.
Broken Nose premiere
Suburbanites Elise Marie Davis, of Lake Zurich; Rob Frankel, of Aurora; and Stephanie Shum, of Buffalo Grove, co-star in Broken Nose Theatre's "Plainclothes," a dark comedy by ensemble member Spenser Davis, who co-directs the world premiere with Kanomé Jones. The story centers on a group of security guards working at a downtown Chicago store whose violent confrontation with a shoplifter prompts an investigation that threatens to dismantle the team.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 9-10, at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sunday, Nov. 11. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. See brokennosetheatre.com.
No place like home
Amber Mak, whose innovative "The Little Mermaid" wowed Paramount Theatre audiences, returns to direct its revival of "The Wizard of Oz." Elizabeth Stenholt stars as Dorothy, a young girl longing for excitement who gets her wish when a twister transports her and her dog Toto to the magical world of Oz where she meets new pals and battles a wicked witch in an effort to return home to Kansas. Joining Stenholt are Kyle Adams as the Scarecrow, Carl Draper as the Tin Man and 2018 Joseph Jefferson Award winner Paul-Jordan Jansen ("Sweeney Todd") as the Cowardly Lion.
Previews at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 14-15, and 3 and 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at 23. E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. The show opens Saturday, Nov. 17. $36-$69. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.
Go, go, go Joseph
Citadel Theatre revives the family favorite "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," adapted from the Old Testament story of Jacob's favorite son who is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. When the Pharoah learns of Joseph's ability to interpret dreams, he enlists the young man as his chief adviser to the chagrin of his brothers. Robert D. Estrin directs.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 14-15, at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. The show opens Friday, Nov. 16. $20-$45. (847) 735-8554, ext. 1, or citadeltheatre.org.