Theater spotlight: Babes With Blades presents 'The Lady Demands Satisfaction'
McGann at Zanies
Chicago comedian Pat McGann, a frequent guest on ABC 7's "Windy City Live," the WGN morning news and Fox's "Good Morning Chicago," headlines Zanies in Rosemont this weekend. 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 18, and Thursday, July 19; 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, July 20; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at Parkway Bank Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $25, $35. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com.
Game time
The American Music Theatre Project and Northwestern University's Wirtz Center for the Performing Arts premiere "Something in the Game: An All-American Musical," which chronicles the struggles of famed University of Notre Dame football player and coach Knute Rockne to juggle football and family. The production features music by Michael Mahler, music and lyrics by Mahler and David H. Bell and book by Buddy Farmer. It's a revised version of the trio's 2008 musical "Knute Rockne All-American." Bell directs the production; the cast includes Stef Tovar, Adrian Aguilar, Dara Cameron and James Earl Jones II among others. Preview at 7:30 p.m. Friday, July 20, at the Joseph Louis Theater, Northwestern University, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 21. $20-$50. (847) 491-7282 or wirtz.northwestern.edu.
Swashbuckling farce
Babes With Blades Theatre Company concludes its 21st season with the premiere of Arthur M. Jolly's swashbuckling period farce, "The Lady Demands Satisfaction," winner of BWB's Joining Sword and Pen competition. Developed in cooperation with BWB's Fighting Words program, "Lady" tells the story of Trothe (Deanalis Resto), a young woman who risks losing her house and lands to anyone who bests her in a duel. For guidance she turns to an acclaimed swordswoman, her aunt Theodosia (Megan Schemmel). Previews at 8 p.m. Saturday, July 21, Thursday, July 26, and Friday, July 27; 3 p.m. Sunday, July 22, at City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. The show opens July 28. $10-$25. See babeswithblades.org.
Griffin's 'Harvest'
As he prepares for a trip to the Middle East with a group of Idaho missionaries, one young man has a crisis of faith that threatens to disrupt the mission in "The Harvest," a drama by Samuel D. Hunter. Ensemble member Jonathan Berry directs Griffin Theatre's Chicago area premiere, which concludes the company's 30th anniversary season. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 21, Thursday, July 26, through Saturday, July 28; 3 p.m. Sunday, July 22 and 29, at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Opens July 30. $23-$36. (773) 697-3830 or griffintheatre.com.