Theater spotlight: Renée Taylor reminisces in Skokie; Marriott welcomes Junie B.
Mystery thriller
Ten guests invited to spend the weekend at a secluded island off England's southwest coast die off under mysterious circumstances in Agatha Christie's thriller "And Then There Were None." Drury Lane Theatre revives the whodunit under director Jessica Fisch, whose cast includes Cher Alvarez, Matt De Caro, Jennifer Engstrom and Paul-Jordan Jansen among others.
Previews at 8 p.m. Friday, July 12; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, July 13; 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, July 14; and through July 24 at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Opens July 25. $45-$65. (630) 530-0111 or drurylanetheatre.com.
Junie B. the musical
A new school year means changes for Junie B. the spirited youngster around which children's author Barbara Park centered her series of Junie B. Jones books. The best-selling series chronicling Junie's elementary school adventures inspired "Junie B. Jones, The Musical" adapted for the stage by Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich and TheatreworksUSA. Marriott Theatre's all-ages production stars Elizabeth Telford as Junie. Johanna McKenzie Miller directs and choreographs.
Previews at 10 a.m. Friday through Sunday, July 12-14, and through July 19 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The show opens July 20. $18.23. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.
Hollywood dish
Writer/actress Renée Taylor (TV's "The Nanny") brings her autobiographical show, "My Life on a Diet," to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts for a limited run. In it, the Emmy Award-winning writer looks back on a life that includes memorable roles and memorable diets. Taylor also shares stories about her late husband and writing partner Joseph Bologna.
7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, July 16-18; 8 p.m. Friday, July 19; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, July 20; and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 21, through Aug. 4 at 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $45-$92. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org.
Buddy Holly bio-tuner
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre presents "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story," the musical that chronicles the singer/songwriter's meteoric ascent and his brief tenure as a pioneer during rock 'n' roll's golden era. Metropolis artistic director Joe Keefe helms the production starring Travis Shanahan as Holly and Roy Brown, Jack Morsovillo and Kelan M. Smith as his band, The Crickets.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 18-19; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 20; and 3 p.m. Sunday, July 21, through July 25 at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. The show opens July 26. $35, $40. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.