Theater events: Light Opera Works revives 'Mame'

Posted August 16, 2016 6:00 am

Auntie Mame

Nancy Hays stars as Mame Dennis, the gloriously eccentric 1920s society maven who's transformed by the unexpected arrival of her orphaned nephew, in "Mame," the Jerry Herman/Jerome Lawrence musical. The Light Opera Works' revival features a 26-piece orchestra conducted by Roger L. Bingaman. Opens at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston. $34-$94. (847) 920-5360 or lightoperaworks.com.

Big biz

A plucky young man rises from window washer to vice president of advertising at the World Wide Wicket Company in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," the 1961 musical sendup of corporate culture by composer/lyricist Frank Loesser. Don Stephenson directs Marriott Theatre's revival, which stars Ari Butler as the ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch, who rises to the top with the aid of a self-help book and Rosemary (Jessica Naimy), a young secretary. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24, at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The show opens Aug. 31. $50-$55. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

Memories fade

A woman with Alzheimer's, whose memories of her family are fading, develops new bonds with the people she's leaving behind in Jerre Dye's drama "The Distance." Strawdog Theatre Company presents the world premiere helmed by Erica Weiss in her Strawdog directing debut. Janice O'Neill stars alongside Anita Deely, Loretta Rezos, Caleb Fullen and Stephen Rader. Previews begin at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, at The Factory Theater, 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago. The show opens Aug. 29. $15-$30. (866) 811-4111 or strawdog.org.

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