Spotlight: Drury Lane revives the Gershwin classic 'An American in Paris'
Song & dance
Drury Lane Theatre presents George and Ira Gershwin's "An American in Paris" starring Broadway veteran Josh Drake ("Aladdin") as an American GI trying to launch his painting career in Paris post World War II. Leigh-Ann Esty plays the aspiring ballet dancer who catches his eye and his heart in director/choreographer Lynne Kurdziel-Formato's production.
Previews at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31; 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1; 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, and through Feb. 5, at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. The show opens Thursday, Feb. 6. $65-$75. (630) 530-0111 or drurylanetheatre.com.
New tuner showcase
Downers Grove native Murtaza Kapasi and Naperville resident Charlie Scriven-Young are among the actors appearing in the sixth annual Chicago Musical Theatre Festival featuring eight new shows, along with two staged readings and a showcase of 10-minute tuners. Kapasi appears in "Baked! The Musical" about a senior who, after getting rejected from her dream college, builds a drug empire run by high school students. Scriven-Young appears in "Moby Dick - A Musical." Other shows include "Wonder Women The Musical," inspired by the creation of the classic comic book character, and "Double Vision," about an astrophysicist who opens a worm hole and the writer who tells his tale. Also included are the romantic comedy "Paper Swords," about teenage live-action role-players; "Billy and the Potato Powered Time Machine," a rock 'n' roll fairy tale about two brothers who discover a time machine; "Verve," about a game of truth or dare between female members of a health club; and "Adira," a satire about a princess rescuing her kingdom.
Sneak preview at 8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3, at The Edge Theater, 5451 N. Broadway, Chicago. Performances run through Feb. 23 at The Edge and at off-Broadway, 1133 W. Catalpa Ave., Chicago. $25, $10 for the 10-minute musical showcase. See cmtf.org.
Family secrets
The LeVay brothers bring their girlfriends to the family home on Martha's Vineyard for a weekend that turns out to be anything but leisurely in "Stick Fly," a domestic drama by Lydia R. Diamond about race and class. Writers Theatre resident director Ron OJ Parson directs the company's revival.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 5-6, and through Feb. 11, at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The show opens Feb. 12. $35-$80. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.
'The Fantasticks'
Several cast members from Citadel Theatre's recent production of "Annie" return for the company's revival of "The Fantasticks," the chamber musical by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones that ran a total of 53 years off-Broadway and produced the standard "Try to Remember." Jonah Cochin and Glenbrook South High School graduate Aurora Penepacker play Matt and Luisa, whose fathers nudge them into a romance that teaches both lovers hard life lessons.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Feb. 5-6, at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. The show opens Feb. 7. $20-$45. (847) 735-8554, ext. 1, or citadeltheatre.org.