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Theater online: TimeLine, Victory Gardens stream hit productions; Schwimmer on Friday's Lookingglass podcast

'Pants optional'

Laurie Metcalf, John Malkovich, Gary Cole and Joan Allen are among the Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble members participating in a virtual benefit beginning at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9. Pants Optional: A Steppenwolf Soiree donations will go toward remounting "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter," the Steppenwolf for Young Adults premiere based on Erika L. Sánchez's novel and adapted by Chicago playwright Isaac Gómez, whose run was cut short by shelter-in-place orders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. See steppenwolf.org/pantsoptional.

Felder as Berlin

"A Paris Love Story," Hershey Felder's salute to the life and music of 19th-century composer Claude Debussy ("La Mer," "Prelude a l'Apres-Midi d'un Faune") at Goodman Theatre was canceled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But the pianist/playwright/actor ("George Gershwin, Alone," "Monsieur Chopin," "Beethoven") will perform a new, streamed version of his show "Irving Berlin" at 7 p.m. Sunday, May 10. Tickets are $50. Proceeds benefit Goodman Theatre, which will reschedule "A Paris Love Story." Call (312) 443-2800 from noon to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday for tickets. See goodmantheatre.org/ for details.

Online revival

TimeLine Theatre Company announced an online revival of "To Master the Art," its affectionate bio-drama of TV chef Julia Child during the decade she spent in Paris mastering the art of French cooking. Karen Janes Woditsch stars as Child and Craig Spidle plays her husband, Paul, in Timeline's 2010 production, which was remounted in 2013 at the Broadway Playhouse. The video from the remount will be streamed from Tuesday, May 12, through June 7. Remote view tickets are $15 and $25. Tickets and information on viewing the production are available at (773) 281-8463, ext. 6, or online at timelinetheatre.com.

Danni Smith plays author Alison Bechdel in a video of Victory Gardens Theater's 2017 revival of "Fun Home" streaming online May 12-24. Courtesy of Liz Lauren

'Fun Home' streams

Victory Gardens Theater streams its hit 2017 revival of "Fun Home," the Jeanine Tesori-Lisa Kron musical adapted from Alison Bechdel's graphic memoir of her life growing up and coming out. Danni Smith stars as adult Alison, Sage Elliot Harper plays Small Alison and Hannah Starr plays Medium Alison in director Gary Griffin's revival. The video streams from Tuesday, May 12, through May 24. Remote view tickets are $20. Tickets and information on viewing the production are available at victorygardens.org.

'Lonely Planet' reading

In the wake of the success of the reading last month of Terrence McNally's "Mothers and Sons," Pride Films and Plays announced additional online readings of LGBTQ-themed plays. Kicking off the "Pride in Place" series is Steven Dietz's "Lonely Planet," a two-hander set during the AIDS crisis about a reclusive 40-something man who hides in his map store to avoid getting infected and his friend who convinces him to leave the store to experience the world he abandoned. The reading is at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 14. Tickets are $10. Tickets and information on viewing the reading are available at (866) 811-4111, (773) 857-0222 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

Lookingglass podcasts

Lookingglass Theatre Company ensemble member and "Friends" alum David Schwimmer and director Alexander Zeldin discuss the works they've created together that address class, race, gender and civil rights on the next Lookingglass podcast "Theater as Change Agent" to be released Friday, May 8, on lookingglasstheatre.org/the-infinite-room-podcast. Upcoming podcasts include designers Mara Blumenfeld (costumes), Daniel Ostling (sets and lighting) and Andre Pluess (sound) discussing their work.

Online learning

• Several Chicago-area arts organizations are offering online classes (at reduced rates in some cases) in response to COVID-19-related shelter-in-place orders. Options include puppetry, storytelling and voice-over at The Annoyance Theatre; playwriting classes at Chicago Dramatists; free classes for kids and teens at 16th Street Theater; classes for young people including adaptation, puppetry and physical theater at Lookingglass Theatre; dance, yoga and improvisation at Lucky Plush Productions; and seminars in film and art appreciation, interior design and introduction to acrylic landscape painting at Evanston Art Center.

• Filament Theatre introduced The Lightbulb Lab, a weekly, at-home activity tool kit for kids and families. The free download includes games and ideas to spark creativity, writing and conversations. Artistic director Julie Ritchey curated the tool kits. New editions are available at noon Sundays at filamenttheatre.org/lightbulblab.

Improv online

The Second City continues offering real-time shows on its virtual platform. "The Improv House Party," featuring SC alumni performing from their homes, runs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The all-ages, participatory "Really Awesome Improv Show" runs at 11 a.m. Thursday. Lastly, Second City and Topic team up for "The Last Show Left on Earth" comprised of original sketches, music, animation, footage from Second City's archives and special guests including Fred Willard and Fred Armisen among others. Register for shows at secondcity.com/chicago-shows. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

Hail and farewell

Brown Paper Box Co. announced its upcoming 10th season would be its last. "After heavy deliberation before the ongoing developments surrounding COVID-19 and Illinois' shelter-in-place order, Brown Paper Box Co.'s executive team and board of directors decided that 2020's 10th anniversary season would be our last," said artistic director Kristi Szczepanek in a prepared statement. "And with the company dissolving on our terms, BPBCo. gets to end its fantastic run on a high note, featuring a world premiere play from one of our founders and a celebratory cabaret highlighting 10 years of stories and song."

The season begins July 23 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, with the premiere of "Prodigy: A Modern Family Portrait" by co-founder Anna Schultz and Szczepanek. It's about a 4-year-old girl whose apparent artistic talent and increasing fame put a strain on her parents' marriage. That's followed by "One Last Time: A Celebratory Cabaret" featuring performances of songs from past productions of "Reefer Madness," "A New Brain" "Godspell" and others. It takes place Oct. 9 and 10 at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Dates are subject to change depending on restrictions imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. See brownpaperbox.org.

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