Spotlight: Northlight premieres 'How a Boy Falls,' Steppenwolf revives Tracy Letts' 'Bug'

Posted January 15, 2020 8:00 am

Dennis Schnell, center, plays the titular role in Oil Lamp Theater's revival of "Jake's Women" by Neil Simon. Courtesy of Oil Lamp Theater

Middle-age woes

In Neil Simon's dramedy "Jake's Women," a middle-aged novelist, who excels professionally but struggles with his relationships with women, attempts to sort out his situation with advice (both real and imagined) from various women in his life. Among them are his late wife, daughter, sister and therapist. Oil Lamp Theater's revival stars Dennis Schnell in the titular role.

8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 17-18, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19, and through March 1 at 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview. $25, $40. (847) 834-0738 or oillamptheater.org.

Cassidy Slaughter-Mason plays an au pair whose young charge goes missing in Northlight Theatre's premiere of "How a Boy Falls" by Steven Dietz. Courtesy of Greg Inda

Northlight premiere

A newly hired au pair finds herself embroiled in a mystery when she and the boy's parents are suspected of his disappearance in Steven Dietz's psychological thriller "How a Boy Falls" in its premiere at Northlight Theatre. Halena Kays directs the new mystery by Dietz, whose "Lonely Planet" premiered at Northlight in 1993.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23 and 28; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 24-25; 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, and through Jan. 30, at 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The show opens Jan. 31. $30-$89. (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org.

What might have been

Brown Paper Box Co. revives "If/Then," the musical by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey ("Next to Normal") about diverging destinies. It's driven by two parallel narratives, which unfold according to the choices made by protagonist Elizabeth (Amanda Giles), a divorced, 30-something New York City newcomer. In one track, she's career-minded "Beth." In another she's "Liz," a teacher at a small college married to an army reservist physician.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 23-24, at The Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. The show opens Saturday, Jan. 25. $14.50-$29.50. See brownpaperbox.org.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company members Namir Smallwood and Carrie Coon rehearse the company's revival of "Bug," an unsettling drama about love and paranoia by ensemble member Tracy Letts. Courtesy of Lowell Thomas

In love and paranoia

Tony Award winner David Cromer ("The Band's Visit") returns to Chicago to helm Steppenwolf Theatre's revival of "Bug," ensemble member Tracy Letts' darkly comic tale of love and paranoia. Namir Smallwood plays a drifter obsessed with government conspiracies and Carrie Coon plays the lonely waitress who befriends him.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Jan. 23-24; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, and through Feb. 2 at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The show opens Feb. 3. $20-$122. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.