Entertainment

Spotlight: Billy Gardell does standup at the Raue, Janus stages unrehearsed 'Macbeth'

Posted October 14, 2019 11:00 pm

Barbara Vitello

Billy Gardell brings the funny to Crystal Lake's Raue Center for the Arts Friday. Associated Press

Billy Gardell on stage

Comedian/actor Billy Gardell, co-star of the new CBS sitcom “Bob Hearts Abishola,” headlines the Raue Center for the first time where he'll share stories from his rough childhood and wild adolescence. Gardell, an Emmy Award nominee for his role on “Mike & Molly,” has also co-starred in CMT's “Sun Records” and had a recurring role on CBS' “Young Sheldon.”

8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18, at 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $33-$42. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

Carisa Gonzalez, left, plays a reporter who interviews Ronnie (Tessa Dettman of West Dundee), who tried to kill her years earlier, in Underscore Theatre Company's production of "Proxy." Courtesy of Katy Campbell

Confronting trauma

Underscore Theatre Company launches its season with the premiere of “Proxy,” a punk rock-inspired musical that asks if people really heal from a tragedy and who has the right to tell that story. Carisa Gonzalez plays investigative journalist Vanessa, who disguises herself to interview her former best friend Ronnie (Tessa Dettman of West Dundee), who tried to kill Vanessa 15 years earlier. Naperville native Stephanie Rohr directs.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18-19, and 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, at The Understudy, 4609 N. Clark St., Chicago. The show opens Tuesday, Oct. 22. $10-$25. See underscoretheatre.org.

'Macbeth' unrehearsed

Janus Theatre's Elgin Shakespeare Project presents an unrehearsed production of “Macbeth,” William Shakespeare's tragedy about unchecked ambition. Although the actors will have memorized their lines, they'll perform with only one rehearsal and without a director.

7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 21-22, at Imago Studios, 216 Prairie St., Elgin. Pay what you can. See janusplays.com.

Stacie Doublin, left, Reginald Hemphill and Ryan Smetana star in GLP Productions and Greenhouse Theater's premiere of "N," by retired Hoffman Estates High School teacher David Alex.

World premiere

Mrs. Page, a conservative African-American widow, and her caregiver Eddy, a liberal Caucasian actor, learn something about themselves when the writer of the play Eddy's starring in adds the N-word to the script in “N,” by retired Hoffman Estates High School math teacher David Alex. TaRon Patton, Congo Square Theatre executive director, directs the Greenhouse Theater Center and GLP Productions premiere.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Oct. 24-25, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, at 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Oct. 27. $15-$25. (773) 404-7336 or greenhousetheater.org.

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