Spotlight: Theatre Y examines social isolation online with 'My Body's Image, Delayed'

Theatre Y retrospective

Theatre Y celebrates András Visky, the Hungarian-Romanian poet/playwright who inspired the company's creation, with a retrospective of his works titled "My Body's Image, Delayed." A response to the COVID-19 pandemic's shelter-at-home orders and the resulting isolation, the retrospective consists of Theatre Y ensemble members creating performance videos of a Visky excerpt. The videos - examinations of introspection and identity that experiment with text and mirrors - air at 7 p.m. Fridays through July 24 at theatre-y.com. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. (773) 908-2248 or theater-y.com.

Thanks from Zanies

Zanies comedy clubs in Rosemont and Chicago invite essential employees to sign up for a Zanies Laugh Pass to receive free admission to the clubs. Essential workers should email a selfie of themselves at work or a photo of an ID badge to chicagobox@zanies.com or rosemont@zanies.com by June 30. In return, workers age 21 and older will receive free admission to any show (except for special events) through October. The two-item food or drink minimum still applies. See zanies.com.

Citadel Cares

Citadel Theatre established a "Citadel Cares" initiative in which volunteers supply a bit of telephonic cheer to people sheltering in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Potential volunteers and people who'd like a telephone pick-me-up can register at citadeltheatre.org/volunteer-to-make-calls or citadeltheatre.org/request-a-call.

Online preview

Rivendell Theatre - a Chicago ensemble devoted to showcasing female writers, designers, actors, directors and technicians - shares a snippet of a table-read of the company's forthcoming premiere of "Spay," Madison Fiedler's drama about a 20-year-old drug addict and mother whose young son is being raised by her half-sister. An organization's offer to pay the young women to be sterilized ignites a debate between the sisters over who has the right to be a mother. The premiere will be rescheduled when the state's stay-at-home order is lifted. The video clip is available on youtube.com. Search: Rivendell Theatre "Spay."

Online storytime

Northwestern University recently launched Imagine U Storytime on the Wirtz Center YouTube channel featuring videos of family-friendly tales performed by students in the university's theater for young audiences training program. The 15-minute videos airs at 6 p.m. Sundays through May 10 on The Wirtz Center channel. The schedule is as follows: April 26: selections showcasing stories about strong girls; May 3: Margery Williams' "The Velveteen Rabbit and Cindy" performed by professor/actor Cindy Gold; May 10: Mo Willems' "Knuffle Bunny." Search: The Wirtz Center on youtube.com.

Season of Concern

Chicago-area luminaries including E. Faye Butler, Jessie Mueller, Michael Mahler, Angela Ingersoll, James Earl Jones II and Miguel Cervantes were among theater artists who participated in Season of Concern's online benefit earlier this week. Season of Concern supports theater artists coping with medical emergencies, including COVID-19. The benefit raised more than $12,000. The full event is available on the organization's YouTube channel at tinyurl.com/soctube. Donations are accepted at seasonofconcern.org/donate.

Free Shakespeare

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada, announced it will stream free full-length versions of past productions of William Shakespeare's plays. It launches Thursday, April 23, with "King Lear," starring Colm Feore. That's followed by "Coriolanus" on April 30; "Macbeth" on May 7; "The Tempest" on May 14; "Timon of Athens" on May 21; "Love's Labour's Lost" on May 28 and continuing through July 9. Videos will be available on the festival's website for three weeks after their initial air date. To watch, see stratfordfestival.ca.

Shows (hopefully) go on

Lookingglass Theatre Company announced its 33rd season will consist entirely of productions created by ensemble members and artistic associates. The season begins Oct. 9 with ensemble member and Tony Award-winner Mary Zimmerman's "The Odyssey," adapted from Homer's epic poem about Trojan War hero Odysseus' decadeslong journey to return to his wife, Penelope, and his son. That's followed by the premiere of "Villette" (Feb. 5-April 25, 2021) adapted from Charlotte Brontë's novel by artistic associate Sara Gmitter. The story centers on the smart, determined Lucy Snow who, upon arriving in a new country, finds herself entangled in romance and intrigue. The season concludes with the premiere of "Lucy and Charlie's Honeymoon" (May 28-Aug. 8, 2021), a new road-trip-style musical by ensemble member Matthew C. Yee about first-generation Asian Americans who are in love and on the run.

Performances take place at the Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Three-play subscriptions and two-play flex pass subscriptions range from $116 to $173. The flex pass Gglasspass is $150 for a three-ticket pass and $200 for a four-ticket pass. It can be used in any combination for any 2020-2021 production. The Madhatter's Club flex pass for subscribers 35 and younger is $75 for a three-ticket pass and $100 for a four-ticket pass. A three-play subscription for accessible performances is $75. (312) 337-0665 or lookingglasstheatre.org.