'Candide' gets a new look at Goodman

Goodman revivalResident director Mary Zimmerman re-imagines Leonard Bernstein's "Candide," inspired by Voltaire's 18th century satire about an optimist whose faith in mankind is tested by fate. Music director Doug Peck oversees the cast of singing actors including favorites Larry Yando and Hollis Resnik. Previews begin Friday, Sept. 17, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 27, (312) 443-5564 or goodmantheatre.org.'Bee' at MetropolisFollowing on the heels of several recent suburban revivals is Metropolis Performing Arts Centre's "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," a charming little musical about six middle school students competing for a trip to the national spelling finals. Resident director Robin M. Hughes leads the creative team featuring choreographer Kristen Jacobson, set designer Adam Veness and music director Micky York. Previews begin Thursday, Sept. 23, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. The show opens Sept. 26. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.Remy Bumppo rewindRemy Bumppo Theatre begins its 14th year the way it began the first, with Tom Stoppard's "Night and Day," a satire on the media centered around journalists covering an uprising in an African nation. The production, which marks founding artistic director James Bohnen's swan song, features ensemble members David Darlow, Linda Gillum, Shawn Douglass and Greg Matthew Anderson. Previews begin Wednesday, Sept. 22, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 27. (773) 404-7336 or remybumppo.org.What's Newbull; Circle Theatre inaugurates its new home at 1010 Madison St. in Oak Park with the musical version of "The Wedding Singer," based on the 1998 Adam Sandler film about a New Jersey guy whose fiance leaves him at the alter and sours his opinion of weddings. Artistic director Kevin Bellie directs and choreographs the show. Previews begin Friday, Sept. 17. The show opens Sept. 22. (708) 771-0700 or circle-theatre.org.bull; Previews begin Friday, Sept. 17, for Theo Ubique's "The Lady's Not for Burning," Christopher Fry's 1948 verse-play set during the Middle Ages but underscored by a post World War II mentality about a soldier who wants to die and an accused witch who wants to live. Fred Anzevino, who directed the company's 1999 production, directs this one as well. The show opens Sunday, Sept. 19, at No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. A special Halloween performance begins at 5 p.m. Oct. 31 and includes cocktails, dinner, costume contest and the show. For information, call (773) 347-1109. Call (800) 595-4849 or see theoubique.org for tickets. bull; Emerald City Theatre presents the Midwest premiere of "Pinkalicious," inspired by the children's books by Elizabeth Kann and Victoria Kann about a young girl who turns pink after eating too many pink cupcakes. The family-friendly performances begin Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. Families can also attend one of five "Pinkalicious" cupcake parties held on select days beginning Sept. 25. (773) 529-2960 or emeraldcitytheatre.com.bull; Pride Films Plays continues its salute to playwright Terrence McNally with a staged reading of "Love! Valour! Compassion" at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago. The play centers around three summer weekends eight gay friends spend together to search their souls and rehearse for a drag version of "Swan Lake." (800) 838-3006 or pridefilmsandplays.com.bull; Victory Gardens presents the world premiere of Arlene Malinowski's one-woman show "Aiming for Sainthood" as part of its ongoing Fresh Squeezed performance series. The second in Malinowski's autobiographical trilogy, "Aiming for Sainthood" chronicles a middle-aged woman's revelations as she returns home to care for her ailing, deaf mother. The piece incorporates voice and sign language. The show runs from Monday Sept. 20, to Sunday, Sept. 26, at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.bull; The national tour of the 1980s jukebox musical "Rock of Ages," starring "American Idol" contestant Constantine Maroulis, arrives in Chicago for a brief run. Performances begin Tuesday, Sept. 21, and run through Oct. 3, at the Bank of America Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.bull; The unaware residents of an apartment building are being watched in "Obscura: A Voyeuristic Love Story" by Jennifer Barclay. Red Tape Theatre presents the world premiere, directed by Julieanne Ehre. Previews begin Thursday, Sept. 23, at 621 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 26. (312) 909-4432 or redtapetheatre.org.bull; Infamous Commonwealth Theatre hosts its 8th annual "Infamous Idol Karaoke Contest" from 8 to 11 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, at the Hidden Cove, 5356 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. ICT ensemble members will play the judges, selecting five finalists from which audience members will pick a winner. The grand prize is a round-trip ticket from Southwest Airlines. Proceeds from the $5 admission will benefit to ICT's upcoming season dedicated to the theme of sacrifice. (312) 458-9780 or infamouscommonwealth.org.bull; Four longtime girlfriends take a cross-country vacation together and uncover some unexpected truths in "The Trip," by Crystal V. Rhodes, who wrote the play as a one-act 20 years ago, and revised it to include older and wiser characters for this full-length production. The show opens Eta Creative Arts Foundation's 40th season on Thursday Sept. 23, at 7558 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago. (773) 752-3966 or etacreativearts.org.bull; For its inaugural performance, the new Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago, welcomes Broadway veteran and Tony Award winner Sutton Foster ("Shrek The Musical," "The Drowsy Chaperone") for "An Evening with Sutton Foster." She performs Thursday Sept. 23, to Sunday, Sept. 26, at the former Drury Lane Water Tower place which has been completely renovated. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.bull; "Bernhardt on Broadway," a one-woman show with music, book and lyrics by Carol Dunitz, has its world premiere at Maxims, 24 E. Goethe St., Chicago. Dunitz stars in the show which runs for four consecutive Thursdays, beginning Sept. 23. (312) 742-8497 or maximschicago.org.bull; The League of Chicago Theatres launched a new website ChicagoPlays.com earlier this month. Theater fans can access information on current and upcoming shows at the website which allows users to create their own profile page to receive reminders about openings and production reviews. bull; Northlight Theatre seeks nominations for its new Daddy Long Legs Award, to recognize the philanthropic efforts of Chicago area residents. The new award coincides with Northlight's Chicago area premiere of "Daddy Long Legs" about an anonymous donor who provides a scholarship for an orphaned girl. The show runs through Oct. 24 at the theater located in the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Submit nominations by e-mail at deardaddylonglegs@northlight.org or mail nominations to The Search for Daddy Long Legs, Northlight Theater, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. 60077. Nominations are due by Oct. 3.bull; The very popular Writers' Theatre show "The Minister's Wife," the original musical by Michael Halberstam, Austin Pendleton, Josh Schmidt and Jan Tranen, will be produced at Lincoln Center during the upcoming season. Performances begin April 7, 2011, at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, 150 W. 65th St., New York City.bull; 16th Street Theater's production of Robert Koon's "Menorca," an examination of identity set in an archeological dig and a California desert, continues through Oct. 16 at 6420 16th St., Berwyn. (708) 795-6704, ext. 105 or 16thstreettheater.org.