On stage: 'Pete the Cat' bounds onto the McAninch Arts Center stage

Posted November 15, 2019 5:00 am

TheatreWorks USA brings its production of "Pete the Cat" to the McAninch Arts Center for one show only Friday. Courtesy of TheatreWorks USA

• "Pete the Cat," a family-friendly musical adapted from books by James Dean and Eric Litwin, about a groovy cat named Pete who helps young Jimmy "conquer second grade art," comes to the McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. The performance is at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org.

• Previews begin Friday, Nov. 15, for Victory Gardens Theater's premiere of "The First Deep Breath," a play by Lee Edward Colston II developed through the theater's 2018 Ignition Festival of New Plays. It tells the story of a pastor whose service commemorating his late daughter on the sixth anniversary of her death is interrupted by his ex-convict son who forces the family to confront some long-buried secrets. It opens Nov. 22 at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.

• The Passage Theatre inaugurates its second season with the premiere of "Happy Birthday Mars Rover," whose characters include curious robots, existential cows and the last human on earth. The play by Preston Choi opens Friday, Nov. 15, at Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist Church, 4511 N. Hermitage Ave., Chicago. See thepassagetheatre.com.

Vicki Quade returns to the Royal George Theatre with her interactive holiday show "Christmas Bingo: It's a Ho-Ho-Holy Night." Courtesy of Vicki Quade

• Holiday games return to the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago, courtesy of Vicki Quade, co-creator of the comedy "Late Nite Catechism." Quade's interactive show "Christmas Bingo: It's a Ho-Ho-Holy Night," a seasonal event since 2012, centers on former nun and bingo caller Mary Margaret O'Brien who peppers the audience with questions about Christmas traditions and Bible miracles. Previews begin Friday, Nov. 15. The show opens Nov. 24. (312) 988-9000 or nuns4fun.com.

• "(Expletive) Fyre: The Musical," a satire about the greatest music festival that never happened, begins performances Friday, Nov. 15, at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• A showcase for emerging sketch comedy and improvisers titled "The Fifth Ace" runs at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, beginning Friday, Nov. 15, at The Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. See cornservatory.org.

• Comedy Dance Chicago, a troupe that incorporates physical comedy, dance and sketch comedy, performs at 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15 and 22, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. See comedydancechicago.com.

• Academy and Tony Award-nominee Kathleen Turner shares stories from her career, which she pairs with songs from the American songbook, as part of her solo show, "Kathleen Turner: Finding My Voice." Turner performs Friday and Saturday, Nov. 15-16, at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• Comedian/writer Rita Rudner performs at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

Harmony France, left, and Christina Hall alternate roles in the two-hander, jukebox tuner "Always ... Patsy Cline," in a revival at Firebrand Theatre. Courtesy of Joe Mazza/Brave Lux

• Firebrand Theatre announces its 2019-2020 season with artistic director Harmony France and Christina Hall alternating the roles of country superstar Patsy Cline and devoted fan-turned-friend Louise Seeger in the jukebox tuner "Always ... Patsy Cline," the true story of the enduring friendship between them. Previews begin Saturday, Nov. 16, at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Director Brigitte Ditmars' revival opens Tuesday, Nov. 19. see firebrandtheatre.org.

• A rag doll named Eleanor lives an idyllic life at the North Pole, yet longs for a best friend and a home of her home. To that end, she writes a letter to Santa expressing her desire in "Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish - The Musical" adapted from the 2012 book by Denise McGowan Tracy. Previews begin Saturday, Nov. 16, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show, recommended for ages 3 and older, opens Tuesday, Nov. 19. (773) 404-7336 or eleanorswish.com.

Samantha Bonzi plays the titular character in the premiere of "Eleanor's Very Merry Christmas Wish - The Musical."

• Lookingglass Theatre announces family days for its production of "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" on Saturday, Nov. 16, Dec. 5 and 12 and Jan. 18, at Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. The events include a preshow craft project at 1:15 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m. performance and a post-show meeting with the cast. The events are designed for families with children 5-12. (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.

• The Second City debuts "Deck the Hallmark: A Greeting Card Channel Original," a made-for-TV, holiday movie parody, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at Up Comedy Club, Piper's Alley, 230 W. North Ave., Chicago. It centers on plucky, recently engaged and promoted Holly Sweetberry, whose life takes a detour when she returns to her small town just in time for the winter festival. (312) 337-3992 or secondcity.com.

• Performances begin Tuesday, Nov. 19, for "The Simon & Garfunkel Story" at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. The immersive, concert-style show chronicles the career of the seminal duo from their early days as Tom & Jerry to the height of their 1960s success, breakup and their reunion in 1981 at the concert in Central Park. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• The Chicago Puppet Theatre Festival's free neighborhood tour runs Thursday, Nov. 21, through Nov. 24. The program consisting of three, family-friendly puppet shows takes place Thursday, Nov. 21, at Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, 4048 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago; Nov. 22 at the Marshall Field Garden Apartments Community Center, 1408 N. Sedgwick St., Chicago; Nov. 23 at the American Indian Center, 3401 W. Ainslie Ave., Chicago; and Nov. 24 at Experimental Station, 6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Chicago. See chicagopuppetfest.org.

• Steppenwolf Theatre's premiere of Tracy Letts' play "The Minutes" begins Broadway previews on Feb. 25, 2020, at the Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St., New York City. The production marks the Broadway reunion of Letts and director Anna D. Shapiro, who collaborated on the Tony Award-winning "August: Osage County." Original "The Minutes" cast members Ian Barford, Cliff Chamberlain, Danny McCarthy and Sally Murphy return alongside Steppenwolf ensemble members K. Todd Freeman and Austin Pendleton, Tony winner and Evanston native Jessie Mueller and Golden Globe nominee Armie Hammer. See theminutesbroadway.com.

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