Spotlight: Marriott Theatre and Artists Lounge Live celebrate 1960s pop icon
In concert at Marriott
Marriott Theatre and Artists Lounge Live present Joseph Jefferson Award winner Michelle Lauto ("Spamilton") in concert. Lauto premieres "My Happiness: Michelle Lauto Sings Connie Francis," her show consisting of songs made famous by the 1950s and 1960s pop singer as part of the theater's summer concert series.
7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22, at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. $55. COVID-19 precautions, including mandatory masking for all public performances. (847) 634-0200 or artistsloungelive.com.
Celebrating great songs
Porchlight Music Theatre partners with pianist/adapter/director Hershey Felder for his latest streamed production, "Hershey Felder's Great American Songs, and the fascinating stories behind them." The live, interactive concert includes music by Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim and others. Proceeds from ticket sales benefit U.S. theaters, including Porchlight Music Theatre in Chicago. Additionally, viewers will have an opportunity to submit song requests for tunes by American composers. One hundred submitted titles will be put in a hat from which 20 will be selected for Felder to perform.
Livestreamed at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22; streams through Aug. 29. $55 tickets available through Porchlight at porchlightmusictheatre.org.
'Mr. Burns' redux
Theater Wit resumes live, in-person performances with a revival of its acclaimed 2015 world premiere of "Mr. Burns, a post-electric play" by Anne Washburn. Set in the aftermath of a global tragedy, the Simpsons-centered story tells of the apocalypse's survivors who travel in pods while struggling to survive. Many members of the original creative team and cast will reunite for this production directed by Theater Wit artistic director Jeremy Wechsler.
Previews at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 27, through Sept. 5 at 1229 N. Belmont Ave., Chicago. 7 p.m. Thursday to Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The show opens at 7 p.m. Sept. 8. $20-$30 previews; $36-$54 regular run. Children younger than 12 will not be admitted. Each audience member 12 and older must show proof of vaccination (electronic photos and copies accepted) at the door for admittance. Patrons unable to be vaccinated for any reason, may show negative results from a PCR test for COVID-19 administered in the last 48 hours as an alternative. Masking required. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.
In other news
• Sideshow Theatre Company presents the final two installments of its digital House Party series. "Fabuloso!," Makasha Copeland's play about a cleaning crew who launch their own investigation after their boss is found dead, streams at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20. Streaming on Sept. 17 is "The Whisperer's Apprentice," Walt McGough's magical tale about two siblings searching for the one woman who can keep their kingdom from collapsing. The productions stream at Sideshow's Twitch channel at twitch.tv/sideshowtheatre. The suggested donation is $10. See sideshowtheatre.org. Additionally, Sideshow awarded Chicago playwright Preston Choi a nine-month residency to develop his play "Drive-in to the End of the World." Choi's residency concludes with a reading in March 2022.
• Theatre Y, a free Chicago theater, partners with about 80 Chicago artists, community leaders and organizations for "You Are Here: The Emerald Camino Project." It consists of 12, four-mile walks in assorted Chicago neighborhoods that include theater, dance and other performances and conclude with a picnic. The Logan Square pilgrimage takes place from 1-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21. The Humboldt Park pilgrimage takes place from 1-7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 22. Other neighborhoods include: East Garfield Park, Hyde Park, Back of the Yards and Woodlawn. See theatre-y.com.
• Victory Gardens Theater hosts an artistic round-table discussion with members of its playwrights ensemble from 6-7:15 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23, on Zoom. Admission is free, but reservations are required. See victorygardens.org/event/summer-town-halls.
• Haven celebrates the launch of its 2021-2022 season with its Summer Dreams Gala from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 29, at the Guild Row Social Club, 3130 N. Rockwell St., Chicago. The event includes a barbecue dinner, cocktails, live music, a DJ and silent auction. Tickets range from $75 to $250. Masks required for unvaccinated guests. See havenchi.org.
• Eta Creative Arts Foundation celebrates its live-digital hybrid 50th anniversary celebration beginning at 3 p.m. Sept. 12 with a performance from Dee Alexander. Tickets are $500 to join the in-person celebration including dinner, music, live auction and an honorees ceremony and $100 to view the celebration online. See etacreativearts.org.
• Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake recently received a grant from the Community Foundation of McHenry County to assist its efforts to bring arts to the community. "Raue Center's educational programs continue to grow and expand to provide fine arts education for students in McHenry County," said executive director Richard Kuranda in a prepared statement. "The support of the Community Foundation of McHenry County will allow us to provide for more students and more teachers at a time when it's needed most."