Theater events: Chicago Shakespeare stages 'Tug of War' sequel

'Civil Strife' commences

Having fought wars overseas, the houses of York and Lancaster return home where members battle each other for England's throne in "Civil Strife," the conclusion of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's two-part epic "Tug of War." Artistic director Barbara Gaines adapted and directed the production, which consists of "Henry VI, Parts 2 and 3" and "Richard III" and stars Timothy Edward Kane as the villainous Richard. Opens at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. $100. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

Standup at the Shrine

Steve Iott, a veteran stand-up comedian and improviser, headlines Aurora's Comedy Shrine this weekend. Iott has appeared on A&E's "Evening at the Improv" and on Comedy Central. 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23, and 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $20, plus a two-beverage minimum. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com.

'Red Velvet' at Raven

Raven Theatre presents the Chicago-area premiere of "Red Velvet" by Lolita Chakrabarti. Set in 1883, it's the real-life, backstage tale of Ira Aldridge, the first African-American (later British) actor to perform on a London stage. Aldridge stepped into the role of Othello after Edmund Kean, Britain's most celebrated 19th-century Shakespearean actor, collapsed onstage. Michael Menendian directs the production; Brandon Greenhouse stars as Aldridge. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 4. $29-$43. (773) 338-2177 or raventheatre.com.

Other theater events

• Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre presents the Chicago-area premiere of the off-Broadway musical "Fly By Night," about a New York City sandwich maker who gets involved romantically with two sisters recently relocated from South Dakota. Previews begin Friday, Sept. 23, at No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. The show opens Monday, Sept. 26. (800) 595-4849 or theo-u.com.

• Pulse Theatre Company, in a co-production with Eta Creative Arts Foundation, explores "The Colored Museum," George C. Wolfe's examination of the stereotypes surrounding the African-American experience. Performances begin Friday, Sept. 23, at 7558 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago. (773) 752-3955 or pulsetheatrechicago.com or etacreativearts.org.

• A college dandy comes to New York City, gets a job editing a small newspaper and emerges as a corruption busting journalist in City Lit Theater's "Psmith, Journalist." Terry McCabe adapted and directs the P.G. Wodehouse tale. The production begins performances Friday, Sept. 23, at 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. Also, City Lit and the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom commemorate Banned Book Week with "Books on the Chopping Block," a 60-minute program incorporating readings from books threatened with censorship. See the website for locations. (773) 293-3682 or citylit.org.

• Previews begin Friday, Sept. 23, for The Side Project's world premiere of "Dead Children," Robert Tenges' dramedy about a couple who call it quits after 24 years only to confront an even more uncertain future. The show opens Sunday, Sept. 24, at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. (773) 340-0140 or thesideproject.net.

• Writer/actress Fawzia Mirza shares her coming-of-age story about traveling from her native Pakistan to a small town in Canada to becoming an actress in Chicago in her one-woman show "Me, My Mom & Sharmila." The show is part of Steppenwolf Theatre's LookOut Series at the 1700 Theatre at 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Performances are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 23-24. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, debuts a new adults-only musical consisting of "A Collection of Songs to Demonstrate What a Horrible Person Donald Trump Is." It opens Friday, Sept. 23, and runs through Nov 11. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• Previews begin Saturday, Sept. 24, for Filament Theatre's "immersive culinary theatrical experience" titled "The Van Gogh Cafe," adapted from Cynthia Rylant's 1995 book by playwright Andrew J. Lampl. The story centers on a 10-year-old girl who knows anything can happen at her father's roadside cafe. That includes food that cooks itself and a possum who performs magic. The show, helmed by artistic director Julie Ritchey, opens Monday, Sept. 26, at the Community Tavern, 4038 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 270-1660 or filamenttheatre.org.

• Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Shakespeare 400 celebration continues with performances by theater companies from Mexico and India. Mexico City's Foro Shakespeare presents "Enamorarse de un incendio," Chilean playwright Eduardo Pavez Goye's exploration of love and relationship inspired by "Romeo and Juliet." The production runs through Saturday, Sept. 24. Company Theatre Mumbai presents "Piya Behrupiya (Twelfth Night)" on Tuesday, Sept. 27, and Thursday, Sept. 29. The plays are performed in Spanish and Hindi respectively, with English translation. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

• Goodman Theatre's Leonard Bernstein celebration, held in conjunction with its revival of "Wonderful Town," begins Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The free events include conversations with Bernstein scholars, director Mary Zimmerman, performances by members of Goodman's cast, film screenings and a conga class. For a complete schedule, see GoodmanTheatre.org/Bernstein.

• A woman who prefers to hide away from the hostile world finds her sanctuary invaded by a landlord, a couple, a stranger and her husband in "The Room," the first play by Harold Pinter. A Red Orchid Theatre's revival begins previews Thursday, Sept. 29, at 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago. Ensemble member Dado directs the production featuring ensemble members Kirsten Fitzgerald and Mierka Girten. It opens Oct. 3. (312) 943-8722 or aredorchidtheatre.org.

• Interrobang Theatre Project opens its 2016-2017 season with the Midwest premiere of "Still," Jen Silverman's drama about a dead man who tries to find his mother before his stiffening body shuts down for good. Previews begin Thursday, Sept. 29, at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. The play opens Oct. 1. (773) 935-6875 or interrobangtheatre.org.

• Hell in a Handbag parodies beloved cartoons with its new show "Skooby Don't," writer/actor David Cerda's tale of four young adults and their talking dog who travel around in a van solving mysteries. In this case, the mystery involves Cher (played by Ed Jones). Previews begin Thursday, Sept. 29, at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 1. (800) 838-3006 or handbagproductions.org.

• Dandelion Theatre presents the Midwest premiere of Lucas Kavner's "Fish Eye," a portrait of modern romance through the eyes of a twenty-something couple. Previews begin Thursday, Sept. 29. The show opens Sept. 30 at The Frontier, 1106 W. Thorndale Ave., Chicago. See dandeliontheatre.com.

• Victory Gardens Theater announced it will extend its production of Robert Askins' "Hand to God," about a Texas teen involved in a Christian puppet ministry whose world upends when his hand puppet takes on a life of its own. Performances run through Oct. 23 at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.

• Red Tape Theatre named Anthony Guerrero, an actor/director/writer who served recently as the executive director of Chicago Dancers United, as the company's new managing director. Chicago actor Casey Chapman, who worked in Goodman Theatre's marketing department, has been named the company's marketing director.