What’s new on stage

Ÿ Profiles Theatre pays homage to Will Kern’s iconic Chicago play “Hellcab” on the 20th anniversary of its Famous Door Theatre premiere with a revival featuring 34 actors. The long-running (nearly nine years) show about a hellacious Christmas Eve day- in-the-life of a Chicago cabdriver usually featured a cast of seven actors playing multiple roles. Konstantin Khrustov stars as the driver in the production directed by Profiles co-artistic director Darrell W. Cox. Previews begin Friday, Nov. 9, at 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. The show opens Thursday, Nov. 15. (773) 549-1815 or profilestheatre.org.

Ÿ Playwright/pianist/performer Hershey Felder brings his one-man show “Gershwin Alone” to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 North Shore Blvd, Skokie, at 8 p.m. Saturday Nov. 10, at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11. The musical biography draws upon the composers correspondence and his music to create a portrait of the celebrated composer of “Porgy and Bess,” “Rhapsody in Blue” and such standards as “The Man I Love,” “I Got Rhythm” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org.

Ÿ “Fuddy Meers,” David Lindsay-Abaire’s farcical tragedy about an amnesiac who wakes up every day with no idea what happened the day before, is the next production from Ka-Tet Theatre. The show opens Saturday, Nov. 10, at City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. (800) 838-3006 or katettheatre.org.

Ÿ Adventure Stage Chicago presents the Midwest premiere of the family-friendly “Six Stories Tall: a play about mermaids, monsters and spray paint!” by Marco Ramirez, beginning Saturday, Nov. 10, at Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago. Inspired by comic books, video games, hip-hop and myths, these tales suggest that children can become superheroes through the power of their imagination. Artistic director Tom Arvetis directs. (773) 342-4141 or adventurestage.org.

Ÿ Erasing the Distance, a not-for-profit organization that uses theater to spread awareness of mental health issues, opens its season with “Will You Stand Up?” based on true stories examining the effect of violence on an individual’s mental health. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12; Tuesday, Nov. 13; Monday, Nov. 19; and Tuesday, Nov. 20, at The Center on Halsted, Hoover-Leppen Theater, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago. See erasingthedistance.org for information.

Ÿ Short Story Theatre hosts an evening of storytelling beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, at Bertucci’s Italian Steakhouse, 246 Green Bay Road, Highwood. (847) 432-6663 or shortstorytheatre.com.

Ÿ A Red Orchid Theatre ensemble member and Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon hosts A Red Orchid’s 20th anniversary gala beginning at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, at Sunda, 110 W. Illinois St., Chicago. The evening includes cocktails, dinner and performances from upcoming shows. There’s also a benefit cocktail part from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Underground, 56 W. Illinois St., Chicago. (312) 943-8722 or aredorchidtheatre.org.

Ÿ Broadway in Chicago presents the Midwest premiere of “Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience — A Parody by Dan and Jeff,” in which the former BBC television hosts Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner condense all seven Harry Potter books into “70 madcap minutes.” Performances begin Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Broadway Playhouse, Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. The show opens Sunday, Nov. 18. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com or pottedpotter.com.

Ÿ Chicago area stalwart and 2012 Jeff Award winner Hollis Resnik plays Mother Superior in the U.S. tour of “Sister Act,” based on the Whoopi Goldberg film about showgirl Deloris Van Cartier who is put into protective custody at a convent after she witnesses a murder. Ta’Rea Campbell plays Doris in the musical with music by Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid”) and lyrics by Glenn Slater (“The Little Mermaid”). Performances begin Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Auditorium Theatre or Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

Ÿ “Waiting for Pierrot” is an original two-person commedia dell-arte show by Allison Latta and Noel Williams, formerly of the Chicago theater company TriArts Inc., inspired by Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot.” In this version, the elderly Ruby and Gert chat with younger counterparts Grace and Chastity about friendship, love, aging, dementia and dying. The show opens Tuesday, Nov. 13, at Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago. See brownpapertickets.com.

Ÿ Theater Oobleck presents “Possession,” its fifth installment of its ongoing “Baudelaire in a Box” series based on Charles Baudelaire’s 19th century poetry tome “Les Fleurs du mal” (Flowers of Evil). Musicians Jeff Dorchen, Ronnie Kuller and Chris Schoen will perform the poems they’ve adapted accompanied by scrolling paintings by Dave Buchen. Performances run at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, through Sunday, Nov. 18, at Links Hall, 3435 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago. See theateroobleck.com or linkshall.org.

Ÿ The musical “Les Miserables” returns to Chicago in a new 25th anniversary production that features a reworked score from Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil. Performances begin Wednesday Nov. 14, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

Ÿ Chicago Children’s Theatre brings its new musical adaptation of “Harold and the Purple Crayon,” based on Crockett Johnson’s book and directed by Sean Graney, to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Performances run Wednesday, Nov. 14, to Sunday, Nov. 18. The family-friendly show is about a 4-year-old boy who creates his own world simply by drawing it. (847) 673-6300 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

Ÿ PH Productions, a comedy improv group, celebrates its 10th anniversary with a move to their new Andersonville home at 1515 W. Berwyn Ave., Chicago. The celebration begins Wednesday, Nov. 14, and includes performances from past pH shows, music, open mic and improv performances. See whatisph.com for more information.

Ÿ “Plaid Tidings,” the holiday version of the doo-wop revue “Forever Plaid,” begins previews Thursday, Nov. 15, at Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Ind. The show opens Sunday, Nov. 18. Artistic director William Pullinsi directs the show featuring Rod Thomas, Scott Stratton, Frank J. Paul and Jonathan Wagner. (800) 511-1552 or (219) 836-3255 or theatreatthecenter.com.

Ÿ Lookingglass Theatre has extended its acclaimed remount of writer/director Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses.” Performances continue through Jan. 6, at Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.

Ÿ Gorilla Tango’s adults-only “The Empire Brings Sexy Back: A Star Wars Burlesque Sequel” runs at 10:30 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 29, at 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

Ÿ Hail and farewell to director and choreographer Kevin Bellie the longtime Circle Theatre artistic director who steps down Wednesday, Nov. 14, after nine years at the helm of the Oak Park company. “Circle Theatre has been a major part of my life since I was a teenager,” said the 26-year ensemble member in a prepared statement. “Who I am as a theater professional was formed by my mentors Circle Theatre co-founders Karen Skinner and Wayne Buidens,” said Bellie who added that it was time for someone with a new vision to take over. That would be company member Jon Landvick, who has also appeared in productions at Porchlight Music Theatre, Light Opera Works, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, Next Theatre and Bohemian Theatre Ensemble among others.

— Barbara Vitello