Theater spotlight: Sept. 11-inspired 'The Mercy Seat' opens in Elgin

Posted September 17, 2019 6:00 am

Justin Schaller and Shannon Mayhall star in "The Mercy Seat" at the Elgin Arts Showcase. Courtesy of Beacon Productions

Aftermath

The newly formed Beacon Productions stages "The Mercy Seat," a Neil LaBute play inspired by the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Set on Sept. 12, 2001, LaBute's two-hander centers around a man who, on the day of the attacks, was with his mistress instead of at his office in the World Trade Center. Presumed dead after the attacks, he contemplates running away to start a new life. Justin Schaller and Shannon Mayhall play the couple considering ditching their present lives.

7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 20-21, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, at the Elgin Arts Showcase, 164 Division St., Elgin. $18. (847) 697-4005.

Ayssette Muñoz, left, plays Gina and Janyce Caraballo plays her sister, Betty, in Teatro Vista's Midwest premiere of "Hope: Part II of A Mexican Trilogy" by Evelina Fernández presented as part of Destinos - 3rd Chicago International Latino Theater Festival. Courtesy of Joel Maisonet

'Hope: Part II'

Teatro Vista opens its season with the Midwest premiere of "Hope: Part II of a Mexican Trilogy," Evelina Fernández's tale of a Mexican family living in 1960s America, marked by the emergence of rock 'n' roll and the sexual revolution. Artistic director Ricardo Gutierrez and ensemble member Cheryl Lynn Bruce co-direct the production, which is part of Destinos - 3rd Chicago International Latino Theater Festival.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21; 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show opens Thursday, Sept. 26. $25-$35. (773) 697-3830 or thedentheatre.com.

Sarah Price appears in Sideshow Theatre Company's U.S. premiere of the sci-fi thriller "X" by Alistair McDowall. Courtesy of Michael Tutino

Sci-fi at Sideshow

Astronauts assigned to a remote base in space await a message from earth. But after three weeks of silence, the crew grow apprehensive about what the silence means in "X," a sci-fi thriller by English playwright Alistair McDowall. Sideshow Theatre presents the U.S. premiere of the play directed by artistic director Jonathan Green and featuring Grayslake native Natalie Ortega.

Previews at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 22, and 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, at Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Thursday, Sept. 26. $20-$30. (773) 871-3000, victorygardens.org or sideshowtheatre.org.

Mount Prospect native Karla A. Rennhofer and Daniel Stewart appear in Akvavit Theatre's production of "The Returning," part of a double bill of one-acts rooted in family drama. Courtesy of Karl Clifton-Soderstrom

Family drama

Akvavit Theatre launches its season with a double bill of one-acts rooted in domestic matters and produced in partnership with the International Voices Project. The featured plays include the U.S. premiere of "Goliath," Maria Tryti Venerod's retelling of the biblical tale as an epic family drama that pits older brother Goliath, who has long been overshadowed, against his younger, smarter brother David. In "The Returning," playwright Fredrik Brattberg tells the story of grieving parents, played by Charles Glenn and Mount Prospect native Karla A. Rennhofer, finally resuming their lives after the loss of their son. That is until a knock at the door upends their progress.

Previews at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24, at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. The show opens at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25. $10-$25. See chicagonordic.org.

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