Theater events: 'My Brilliant Divorce' makes Midwest premiere

A woman on her own

A woman whose husband left her navigates her newly single life, including assorted suitors, imagined diseases and help-line counselors, in "My Brilliant Divorce," by Irish playwright Geraldine Aron. Irish Theatre of Chicago presents the Midwest premiere of the solo show starring ensemble member Barbara Figgins (First Folio, Jackalope and Writers theaters). Siiri Scott directs. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, at Chief O'Neill's Pub & Restaurant, 3471 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 8. $12, $25. See irishtheatreofchicago.org.

Silver-screen salute

Light Opera Works showcases classic songs featured on the silver screen in "Hollywood's Greatest Song Hits." Rudy Hogenmiller directs LOW veterans Alicia Berneche, Mary Robin Roth, Sarah Larson and Amanda Horvath. Opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. $30-$60. (847) 920-5360 or lightoperaworks.com.

Wilson at Zanies

Standup comedian Tom Wilson, a veteran of 30 films, including the "Back to the Future" movies in which he played Biff, headlines Zanies in St. Charles this weekend. In addition to voicing characters on the "SpongeBob SquarePants" TV show and film, Wilson appeared on TV in "Franklin & Bash" and HBO's "Big Love" and on talk shows "The Tonight Show" and "Late Night With David Letterman." 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1, and 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $25 plus a two-item food or beverage minimum. (630) 524-0001 or zanies.com.

Other theater events

• Mismatched newlyweds - free-spirit Corie and straight-arrow Paul - struggle during the early months of their marriage in Neil Simon's romantic comedy "Barefoot in the Park," Step Up Productions' season-opening show. Alex Fisher and Colin Sphar star in director Michael Driscoll's show, which begins previews Friday, Oct. 2, at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 6. (773) 935-6875 or stepupproductions.org.

• City Lit Theater opens its 36th season with its world-premiere adaptation of "The Seven-Per-Cent Solution," Nicholas Meyer's revisionist Sherlock Holmes novel in which an 87-year-old John Watson recounts his attempts to cure Holmes of his cocaine addiction. Previews begin Friday, Oct. 2, at Edgewater Presbyterian Church, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago. The show opens Oct. 11. (773) 293-3682 or citylit.org.

• The Neo-Futurists bring "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind" to the Don Nash Community Center, 1833 E. 71st St., Chicago, at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. Admission is free. See chicago parkdistrict.com.

• Chicago Slam Works kicks off its season at 8:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, with "Handsome Animals," in which ensemble members examine how gender and body image affect our lives. Performances continue through Nov. 5 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. See chicagoslamworks.com.

• Set in the kitchen of an upscale New York City restaurant, "My Mañana Comes" is a snapshot of the lives of four immigrant busboys, who are pursuing the American dream while dealing with difficult customers and an opportunistic manager. Teatro Vista's production begins previews Saturday, Oct. 3, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Wednesday, Oct. 7. The Thursday, Oct. 8, performances celebrates the company's 25th anniversary, founders Eddie Torres and Henry Godinez as well as Carlos Tortolero, president and founder of the National Mexican Museum in Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or teatrovista.org.

• Previews begin Saturday, Oct. 3, for Underscore Theatre Company's world premiere of "The Story of a Story (The Untold Story)," a musical comedy by writer/lyricist Peter Gwinn ("The Colbert Report") and composer Jody Shelton ("50 Shades! The Musical"). It's about a writer and artist who try to prevent clichés from invading our world. Christopher Pazdernik directs and choreographs the show, which opens Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. (312) 646-0975 or underscoretheatre.org.

• Christina Rossetti's poem "Goblin Market" inspired Black Button Eyes Productions' adaptation by Polly Pen and Peggy Harmon, with music by Pen. Performances begin Saturday, Oct. 3, for the play about a pair of sisters who return to their childhood home where they relive dark, adolescent fantasies. Performances run through Oct. 21 at Collaboraction, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. See goblinmarketchicago.com.

• Emerald City Theatre opens its season on Saturday, Oct. 3, with "Magic Tree House: A Night in New Orleans," in which Jack and Annie venture through the streets of 1915 New Orleans where they meet a teenage Louis Armstrong. Performances run through Jan. 3, 2016, at the Apollo Theater, 2400 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. See emeraldcitytheatre.com.

• Madison Kaufman and Alex Campea play Bridget and Stephen, siblings on a sleepover at their grandmother's house who act out their favorite story with items found in the attic and clothes from a wardrobe in "Red Riding Hood, A New Musical." It opens Saturday, Oct. 3, at Windy City Music Theatre. Performances run through Oct. 18 at Jefferson Playhouse, 4766 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (312) 324-3700 or windycitymusictheatre.org.

• EEK! Theatre Company presents the Halloween show "Schlocktoberfest! A Killer Komedy Show" at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

• Collaboraction begins its 20th season with its Beggars' Banquet, beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Chop Shop/1st Ward Events, 2023 W. North Ave., Chicago. This year's fundraiser honors Collaboraction founder and director Kimberly Senior, whose production of Ayad Akhtar's "Disgraced" is running at Goodman Theatre. It includes dinner, dancing, a raffle, auction, a performance by Los Angeles pop performer Gavin Turek, a preview of the company's Sketchbook Festival coming in January and a preview of "Connected," a new theater piece written and directed by artistic director Anthony Moseley that examines how technology is changing our lives. Tickets are $175. (312) 226-9633 or collaboraction.org.

• Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, hosts its Sunday Soiree fundraiser from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Metropolis Ballroom. The event includes hors d'oeuvres, wine, shopping and a concert by The Student Body Band. Tickets are $50. Proceeds benefit Metropolis' theatrical and arts education programs. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

• Filament Theatre's ongoing concert series continues at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, with a performance by 4 Shillings Short, a Celtic and American folk band inspired by Indian raga. The theater is at 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. See filamenttheatre.org/2015concerts.

• Joseph Jefferson Award-winning writer and former Lifeline Theatre ensemble member James Sie returns to the theater at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago, Sunday, Oct. 4, for a book signing. Sie will sign copies of his debut novel, "Still Life Las Vegas: A Novel," from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (773) 761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.

• Blue Man Group presents an autism-friendly performance at 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The production will accommodate individuals with autism by reducing the sound levels, offering noise-isolating headphones and providing dim lighting and quiet corners for those needing a sensory break. "We are grateful to Blue Man Group for continuing our partnership with an additional autism-friendly performance and for their generous support of our organization," said Mary Rios, director of the Chicago-area chapter of Autism Speaks in a prepared statement. See blueman.com/autismspeaks.

• Performances begin Tuesday, Oct. 6, for the Chicago premiere of "Unspeakable," a "dramatic fantasia" based on the life of legendary comedian Richard Pryor. Writer/producer James Murray Jackson Jr. stars as Pryor in the show, which features Chicago-area theater artists E. Faye Butler, Lamar N. Barnes, Ebony Joy, Akilah Perry and others. Performances run through Nov. 8 at the Broadway Playhouse Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. The adults-only production is neither supported nor endorsed by Pryor's family or estate. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• Joseph Jefferson Award-winner Katherine Keberlein plays Richard Gloucester in Oracle Productions' world premiere of "No Beast So Fierce," Max Truax's 90-minute adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Richard III." In Truax's version, the titular character is a female "fighting for power in a male-dominated arena." Previews begin Tuesday, Oct. 6, at The Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St., Chicago. The play, produced in association with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, opens Oct. 9. Admission is free, but donations are accepted and reservations are recommended. See publicaccesstheatre.org.

• Dead Writers Theatre Collective presents a production of "The Learned Ladies of Park Avenue," adapted from Moliere's "Les Femmes Savants" by David Grimm, who sets the comedy in the 1930s. Dead Writers Theatre describes it as "a timeless romp with a bit of bite to it." Performances for the benefit production begin Thursday, Oct. 8, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, and run through Oct. 10. Tickets are $40. See deadwriters.net.

• Performances continue for Strawdog Theatre Company's U.S. premiere of "With Love and a Major Organ," Julia Lederer's drama about a young woman who gives her actual beating heart to a young man she meets on the subway. The show runs through Oct. 14 at Hugen Hall, 3829 N. Broadway St., Chicago. (866) 811-4111 or strawdog.org.

• "The Rainmaker," N. Richard Nash's Depression-set drama about a con man who romances a spinster while he attempts to convince her father and brothers that he can bring rain to their struggling farm, continues through Oct. 3 at Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, 3801 S. Central Ave., Cicero. (708) 656-1800 or jpactheatre.com.

• Redtwist theatre's More Red, an off night series for mature audiences, continues with the world premiere of ensemble member Johnny Garcia's semi-autobiographical look at his family and upbringing, "That's (expletive) Up." Written in association with and directed by Mary Reynard and performed by Garcia, the show runs Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday through Oct. 25 at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago. (773) 728-7529 or redtwist.org.

• "Generals," in which a guest actor performs three monologues that will serve as inspiration for improvisers Antoine McKay and Christy Bonstell, continues Sundays through Nov. 15 at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• The League of Chicago Theatre's Theatre Thursdays continues Thursday, Oct. 8, with a performance of Steep Theatre's world premiere of Hamish Linklater's "The Cheats." The play, directed by Joanie Schultz, is about what happens when the neighbors a man has been spying on drop by for a visit. "The Cheats" opens Friday, Oct. 1, at 1115 W. Berwyn Ave., Chicago. (866) 811-4111 or steeptheatre.com. For information on Theatre Thursdays, see bit.ly/theatrethursdays.

• Theatre at the Center presents the family-friendly musical "Alice in Wonderland" Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 8-10, at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana. (219) 836-3255 or theatreatthecenter.com.

• Redtwist theatre extended its revival of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" directed by Jason Gerace. Performances continue through Oct. 25 at 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago. (773) 728-7529 or redtwist.org.

• Theater Wit's hit show "Bad Jews," Joshua Harmon's comedy about young Jews "grappling with faith, family and identity," has been extended. Performances continue through Nov. 1 at Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 988-9000 or badjewschicago.com.

• Stage Left Theatre announced the addition of stage manager Adam Greye and director Amy Szerlong, formerly an artistic associate, to its ensemble. Additionally, Stage Left welcomed new artistic associates Celeste Cooper, Elly Green, Nick Mikula and Michael Reyes. See stagelefttheatre.com.

• Chicago Dramatists begins its 37th season Feb. 4, 2016, with the world premiere of the dark comedy "Beautiful Autistic" by Scott Woldman, resident playwright for Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, redtwist theatre and Chicago Dramatists. Set in the early 1990s, the play is about socially awkward Eric, who takes as his protégé Jimmy, a brilliant and handsome 24-year-old who suffers from autism. That's followed by resident playwright Dana Lynn Formby's "American Beauty Shop" (April 28-June 5, 2016), about a woman struggling to make her basement beauty shop a success to pay for her daughter's college. Performances take place at 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. (312) 633-0630 or chicagodramatists.org.

• As a result of building permit issues that have slowed construction at Factory Theater, Idle Muse Theatre announced that it will postpone its intended production and replace it with a staged reading of H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds" on Oct. 30 at the Geek Bar Chicago, 1941 W. North Ave., Chicago. That's followed by the Athena Festival, a staged reading series showcasing works by female writers and directors with women playing principle roles, running Dec. 5 and 6 at Jackalope Theatre, 1106 W. Thorndale Ave., Chicago. An adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Hound of the Baskervilles" runs March 5 to April 3, 2016, at Edge Theatre, 5451 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago. Idle Muse presents the Chicago premiere of Victor Lodato's "The Woman Who Amuses Herself" about Vincenzo Peruggia, the Louvre Museum worker who stole the Mona Lisa and kept it for inspiration for two years. It runs June 25 to July 24, 2016, at Edge Theatre. (773) 340-9438 or idlemuse.org.

• Genesis Theatrical Productions announced its 2016 season will begin Feb. 8, 2016, with "Muse of Fire," by Jake Rosenberg. Produced in association with redtwist theatre, it centers on a farce produced in 1942 by a group of Jewish prisoners at the Auschwitz concentration camp. That's followed by "Satie et Cocteau," Mike Czuba's surreal love story about an actor playing the role of composer Erik Satie, battling with the play's writer/director Jean Cocteau. The season continues with "Einstein's Gift," a loose memoir of early 20th-century Nobel laureate Fritz Haber, as imagined by Albert Einstein. The season concludes with "I Now Pronounce," a dramedy about a curse that befalls a couple after their rabbi dies during their wedding. Season tickets are $90. Single tickets go on sale later. See genesistheatricals.com.

• The League of Chicago Theatre announced that Chicago Theatre Week will return for its fourth year Feb. 11, 2016. Tickets are $30 and $15 and will go on sale at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016. "Last season's theater week was a huge success and it offered Chicagoans and visitors even more opportunities to visit their favorite theaters and explore new companies all across the city and suburbs," said League of Chicago Theatre chairwoman Kate Lipuma, executive director of Writers Theatre, in a prepared statement. See chicagotheatreweek.com.