Theater events: Edge Theater stages Mona Lisa whodunit

For the love of art

Idle Muse Theatre Company concludes its 10th season with the Chicago premiere of Victor Lodato's "The Woman Who Amuses Herself." The play is inspired by the true story of Vincenzo Peruggia, a Louvre Museum worker who in 1911 stole the Mona Lisa by concealing it under a smock. Claiming he took the painting for patriotic reasons, he kept it in his apartment for two years before returning it to its native Italy where he was caught. Nathan Thompson stars as Peruggia in director Nathan Pease's production. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago. The show opens June 25. $10-$20. (773) 340-9438 or idlemuse.org.

Classic tale revisited

One of Chicago's smallest theaters stages one of Chicago's largest theatrical offerings when The Gift Theatre revives "The Grapes of Wrath," adapted by Frank Galati from John Steinbeck's novel. Set during the Depression, the play chronicles the fate of Tom Joad and his family, who travel from their native Oklahoma to California hoping to find work. Ensemble member Erica Weiss directs. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 16, at 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show opens June 23. $35. (773) 283-7071 or thegifttheatre.org.

Don Quixote's tale

Nathaniel Stampley stars as the titular character in Marriott Theatre's revival of "Man of La Mancha." Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' 17th-century novel "Don Quixote," about a half-mad nobleman who sets off with his faithful squire to restore chivalry and justice to the land, the musical unfolds as a play within a play performed by prisoners awaiting the Spanish Inquisition. Nick Bowling directs the show by writer Dale Wasserman, lyricist Joe Darion and composer Mitch Leigh. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 22, at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The show opens June 29. $50-$55. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

Other theater events

• "Next Thing You Know," a coming-of-age chamber musical about four twentysomethings living in New York City, opens Friday, June 17, at Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. In other Steel Beam news, the company offers six plays for the price of five for patrons who subscribe by June 30. Additionally, patrons who purchase tickets for the company's summer series by June 30 receive half off. (630) 587-8521 or steel beamtheatre.com.

• Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch brings her comedy-cabaret show "See Jane Sing" to the Lyric Opera of Chicago, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago. Kate Flannery (Meredith on "The Office") and Tim Davis (musical arranger for "Glee") join her for this salute to the American songbook. Performances run Friday and Saturday, June 17-18. Some performances are sold out. (312) 827-5600 or lyricopera.org.

• Previews begin Friday, June 17, for "The Unfortunates," Aoise Stratford's one-woman drama chronicling the life and death of Mary Jane Kelly, reportedly the last victim of Jack the Ripper. Gail Rastorfer stars in SoloChicago's production directed by Kurt Johns. The show opens Monday, June 20, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

• Abby McEnany performs her solo show, "Work in Progress," beginning Friday, June 17, at iO Chicago, 1501 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago. (312) 929-2401 or ioimprov.com.

• About Face Theatre hosts its fundraiser AFT 20: A Celebration beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, June 17, at The Center on Halsted, 2656 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Tickets are $50 and include hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar and entertainment. See about facetheatre.com.

• Goodman Theatre artistic associate Steve Scott directs "The Seedbed," Bryan Delaney's drama about a young Irish woman estranged from her family who returns with her fiance to find the toxic situation still brewing. The play opens Saturday, June 18, at redtwist theater, 1044 W. Bryn Mawr, Chicago. (773) 728-7529 or redtwist.org.

• Victory Gardens Theater hosts a reading of Oscar Pena's "awe/struck," at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 19, as part of its in-progress play reading series. A reading of Alice Austen's "Fourth Blood Moon" follows on June 27. Kristiana Rae Colon's "florissant & canfield" concludes the series on June 29. Readings take place at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.

• Richard Henzel brings his Joseph Jefferson Award-nominated solo show, "Mark Twain in Person," to ShawChicago, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. A reception follows the 7 p.m. Monday, June 20, show. Tickets are $25-$60. (312) 587-7390 or shawchicago.org.

• Eta Creative Arts Foundation presents a staged reading of George C. Wolfe's "The Colored Museum" as part of the ProjectVoice/1Play/1Day reading series showcasing rarely produced plays by African-American playwrights. The reading takes place at 7 p.m. Monday, June 20, at 7558 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago. (773) 752-3955 or etacreativearts.org.

• British actor Eamonn Walker, of NBC's "Chicago Fire," and James Vincent Meredith star in Steppenwolf Theatre's Chicago-area premiere of "Between Riverside and Crazy," a dark comedy by Stephen Adly Guirgis about Pops Washington (Walker) whose Manhattan apartment becomes a haven for his ex-con son (Meredith) and a coterie of questionable characters. Previews begin Thursday, June 23, at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The show opens July 9. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• Comedians recount their tales about sharing spaces with other people as part of The Annoyance Theatre's "Living Together" storytelling series at 8 p.m. Thursday, June 23, at 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Additionally, The Annoyance has extended its adults-only "The Power Half-Hour: Beer-Powered Comedy," which will run at midnight Saturdays through Aug. 27. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• In honor of Pride Weekend, The Neo-Futurists remount "30 Queer Plays in 60 Straight Minutes" beginning Thursday, June 23, and running through June 26 at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. Tickets are $25 for the Thursday performance, which benefits The Broadway Youth Center serving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. (773) 878-4557 or neofuturists.org.

• The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events presents "Ian Belknap's Bucket of Shut Up," during which the writer/performer offers up his perspective on cultural issues and public figures. Performances continue through June 26 at the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St., Chicago. Admission is free. See cityofchicago.org/dcase.

• Fathers are admitted free (with proof of family) to ComedySportz shows through Saturday, June 18. Performances take place at 929 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 549-8080 or cszchicago.com.

• Batsu!, a combination interactive comedy and Japanese game show, opened recently at Kamehachi, 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago. Imported from New York City, Batsu! is performed by Face Off Unlimited, an ensemble that specializes in immersive improvisation. Tickets start at $25.50. (347) 985-0368 or faceoffunlimited.com.

• Writers Theatre has extended "Death of a Streetcar Named Virginia Woolf: A Parody," a wry, funny collaboration with The Second City that sends up some of American theater's sacred cows. Performances run through Aug. 14 at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.

• Maine South High School student Jack Cahill-Lemme of Park Ridge and Carl Sandburg High School's Cecilia Tippiedi of Orland Park have been named finalists for the 2016 National High School Musical Theatre Awards. They will represent Illinois at the finals in New York City on June 27.

• Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre took top honors for its revival of "Rent" at the 43rd annual Non-Equity Joseph Jefferson Award ceremony held earlier this month in Chicago. The production earned awards for musical production, director Scott Weinstein, music director Jeremy Ramey and supporting actor Aubrey McGrath. In the play category The New Colony and Definition Theatre Company collaboration on "Byhalia, Mississippi" earned awards for supporting actress Cecilia Wingate, writer Evan Linder and set designer John Wilson. Oracle Theatre's re-imagined production of Eugene O'Neill's "The Hairy Ape" picked up awards for principal actor Julian Parker, sound designer Jeffrey Levin and Breon Arzell for artistic specialization. The non-equity Jeffs recognize achievement by Chicago's nonunion theater artists.

• Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, announced the comedy group Unlikely Company has become a resident ensemble. The company's next show begins July 8. (773) 327-5252 or stage773.com.

• Chicago Theatre Workshop, a new company under the direction of Tom Mullen, makes its Chicago debut this fall at The Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway St., Chicago. CTW will debut Oct. 6 with a production of "Wicked City," a film noir musical comedy by Chad Beguelin and Matthew Sklar ("Gotta Dance"). chicagotheatreworkshop.org.

• The Blue Man Group is accepting submissions from established and emerging artists to commemorate the group's 25th anniversary. Winners will receive $2,500 and reproductions of their submission will hang in the Blue Man Group's outdoor art gallery at Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (773) 348-4000 or blueman.com/chicago.