Theater events: Cirque Dreams Holidaze dazzles, 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' perseveres
The Artistic Home presents “Miracle on 34th Street: A Radio Play” in a limited run beginning Saturday, Dec. 8, at 1376 W. Grand Ave., Chicago. The play is based on the story Valentine Davies wrote for the 1947 film about a man who believes he is Kriss Kringle and the disbelieving young girl who becomes convinced he is the real Santa Claus. Ensemble member Devon Carson directs the production, which runs through Dec. 22. (866) 811-4111 or theartistichome.org.
Chicago Children's Theatre hosts a Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party, a combination interactive puppet show and dress-up party for ages 2 to 6. Following the puppet show featuring Peter Rabbit and his woodland friends, youngsters and adults will congregate in the lobby for a post-show repast with cast members that includes hot cocoa and cookies. Performances run from Saturday, Dec. 8, through Monday, Dec. 24, at The Station, 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. (312) 374-8835 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
With help from his badger, weasel and rabbit pals, Mr. Fox perseveres in his efforts to save his family in Emerald City Theatre's Chicago-area premiere of “The Fantastic Mr. Fox,” adapted from Roald Dahl's children's book by David Wood and directed by ETC artistic director Jacqueline Stone. Previews begin Sunday, Dec. 9, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Dec. 14. See emeraldcitytheatre.com.
Barrel of Monkeys celebrates the season with “That's Weird Grandma Rings in the Holidays,” running Monday, Dec. 10, through Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. The revue consists of new material as well as favorite holiday-centered stories written by Chicago elementary school students. (773) 506-7140 or barrelofmonkeys.org.
Chicago Dramatists continues its Monday Night Drama Series consisting of public readings of in-progress plays at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, at 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. Next up is resident playwright Alvaro Saar Rios' “Blue Bullets.” See chicagodramatists.org.
Danai Gurira - actress (“The Walking Dead,” “Black Panther”) and Tony Award-nominated playwright (“Eclipsed”) - will be honored at Steppenwolf Theatre's 10th anniversary Women in the Arts fundraising luncheon Monday, Dec. 10, at Chicago's Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel. Steppenwolf artistic director Anna D. Shapiro and Gurira (whose play “Familiar” runs through Jan. 13 at the theater) will discuss Gurira's on- and offstage career. (312) 654-5632 or email specialevents@steppenwolf.org.
“Cirque Dreams Holidaze” arrives for a limited run beginning Wednesday, Dec. 12, at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. The spectacle unfolds in a winter wonderland and features original music and holiday favorites, aerialists, acrobats, jugglers, dancers, tightrope walkers and variety acts. Tickets range from $25 to $125. The production runs through Dec. 16. (800) 745-3000 or cirqueproductions.com.
Performances begin Thursday, Dec. 13, for Trap Door Theatre's production of “The Old Woman Broods,” a dark 1969 satire by Polish writer Tadeusz Rózewicz about a woman who struggles against “an unchecked power that is leading the world to disaster.” Performances run through Jan. 19 at 1655 W. Cortland Ave., Chicago. (773) 384-0494 or trapdoortheatre.com.
The Neo-Futurists continue to explore “new modes of extreme performance” with the show “60 Songs in 60 Minutes,” during which musicians and theater artists create “a collage of sound and noise” using any available objects. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 13-15, at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. See neofuturists.org.
The League of Chicago Theatre's Theatre Thursdays series continues Thursday, Dec. 13, with a performance of Steppenwolf Theatre's premiere of Isaac Gomez's “La Ruta,” about the hundreds of women found murdered or who disappeared around Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. The event takes place at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. It begins at 6:30 p.m. with drinks in the Front Bar. A post-show discussion follows the 7:30 p.m. performance. Tickets are $25 with the code “Theatre Thursday.” (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.
Black Ensemble Theater founder and CEO Jackie Taylor - an innovator within the African-American and Caucasian theater communities - earlier this week received the 2018 Leading Lady Award from the Sarah Siddons Society. The Sarah Siddons Society is an organization that supports the next generation of theater artists by awarding scholarships to exceptional students from Northwestern University, DePaul University, Columbia College Chicago and Roosevelt University. The actress/producer/playwright has “grown BET from a small arts organization into a vibrant nationally and internationally recognized arts institution,” according to a prepared statement from the society. “We couldn't be more excited to honor her remarkable contributions to the Chicago theater community,” said society President Marty Balogh.
Kokandy Productions recently named as its new producing artistic director Derek Van Barham, a member of Red Tape Theatre and former artistic director of The Ruckus. Joining Barham are new artistic associates: director/teacher Adrian Abel Azevedo, director Leda Hoffmann and actor/director/producer Nik Whitcomb.
Shattered Globe Theatre announced new ensemble members director/actor Colin David, actor/teacher Daria Harper, actor/director Deanna Reed-Foster and actor/director Nate Santana, whose SGT association began in the protégé program. Additionally, the company welcomed new artistic associates Tim Newell and Aila Peck, both actors; costume designer/wig maker Hailey Rakowiecki and playwright/stage manager Ayanna Wimberley. “We are thrilled to welcome these eight new artists to the company,” said producing artistic director Sandy Shinner in a prepared statement. “The new ensemble members have been working onstage and behind the scenes in significant roles for several seasons and all are multitalented artists.” Shattered Globe also announced the members of its 2018/19 protégé program, which offers emerging theater artists an opportunity to work with a professional theater. They are: Clare Brennan, Demetra Drayton, David Gallo, Val “Jay” Gerard Garcia Jr., Vic Kuligoski, Nicole Velasco Lockard, Ilirida Memedovski, Sarah Jane Patin, Roy Pugh, Kalika Rose, Aja Singletary and Allyce Torres.