Spotlight: 'Threepenny Opera' at Theo Ubique and classic tuner 'Annie' at Chicago's Cadillac Palace

'Threepenny Opera' revived

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre tips its hat to Kurt Weill, whose compositions made up the company's inaugural revue. To that end, Theo Ubique revives "The Threepenny Opera," Weill and Bertolt Brecht's 1928 critique of capitalism and corruption. Artistic director Fred Anzevino directs the production, which stars Carl Herzog as the charming cutthroat Macheath.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 10 and 17; Saturday, March 11 and 18; and 6 p.m. Sunday, March 12, at 721 Howard St., Evanston. The show opens March 19. $25-$55. Masks required. (773) 939-4101 or theo-u.com.

Laughs and thrills

Steel Beam Theatre revives "The 39 Steps," the farcical thriller by Patrick Barlow adapted from John Buchan's 1915 novel and Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 film, which Buchan's novel also inspired. Four actors play dozens of characters in this tale about a lonely London man caught up in an espionage adventure after he meets a mysterious woman who claims to be a spy.

7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 10-11; 3 p.m. Sunday, March 12, and through April 2 at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $22-$28. Masks recommended. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.

Her story

During France's reign of terror, deposed queen Marie Antoinette, playwright Olympe de Gouges, assassin Charlotte Corday and Haitian rebel Marianne Angelle attempt to save their country and not lose their heads in "The Revolutionists," a comedy by Lauren Gunderson set during the French Revolution. Elizabeth Mazur Levin directs Oil Lamp Theater's production, which unfolds as imagined conversations between real women.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, March 16-17, and 3 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. March 18. $20-$45. Masks recommended. (847) 834-0738 or oillamptheater.org.

In other news

Check with venues about COVID-19 precautions.

• Performances continue through March 19 for the national tour of "Annie" at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Masks recommended. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• Theatre Above the Law revives "Cry It Out," Molly Smith Metzler's dramedy chronicling the experiences and choices three first-time moms and one dad face, including breast-feeding, sleep training and when or if to return to work. Previews begin Friday, March 10, at The Jarvis Square Theater, 1439 W. Jarvis Ave., Chicago. theatreatl.org.

• The Neo-Futurists examine capitalism as part of their new show, "The Neo-Futurists Sell Out," beginning previews Friday, March 10, at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. The show opens Monday, March 13. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination booster shot and masks required. (773) 878-4557 or neofuturists.org.

• Previews begin Saturday, March 11, for Congo Square Theatre's premiere of "How Blood Go," Lisa Langford's play about two members of an African American family who undergo medical experiments 50 years apart without their consent. The show opens Thursday, March 16, at Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org/howbloodgo.

• As a run up to this summer's annual new play festival LeapFest, Stage Left Theatre hosts Zoom readings of three in-development plays beginning at 7 p.m. Monday, March 13, and continuing at the same time on March 20 and 27. See LeapFest 2023 at stagelefttheatre.com.

• Performances begin Tuesday, March 14, for the Chicago stop on the Broadway tour of "Tina: The Tina Turner Musical" chronicling the personal peaks and valleys of the 12-time Grammy Award-winning singer. Performances run through April 2 at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Masks recommended. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• The third and final audio production of A Theater in the Dark's 2022-23 digital season will be "The White City: An Audible Exhibition on H.H. Holmes, Murderer," a thriller by Evanston playwright Rick Kinnebrew about the man said to have murdered more than 20 people during the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. It focuses on the only murder for which Holmes was convicted, that of his business partner Ben Pitezel. Live broadcasts take place at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, March 14-16. A recording will be available March 30. The live performances are pay-what-you-can. The streamed production is $12.99. See atheaterinthedark.com/whitecity.

• Court Theatre presents its 2023 Spotlight Reading Series Wednesday through Friday, March 15-17, at the Reva and David Owen Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St., Chicago. Each day features a play by Sonia Sanchez. March 15 features "Sister Son/Ji" about a woman traveling through space to tell the story of all the women she has been or will be. March 16 features "The Bronx is Next," which unfolds against the racial tumult of 1968 at a tenement where a white police officer is exiting the apartment of his Black mistress when he meets some men from the neighborhood. March 17 features "2X2" about a grandmother trying to shield her grandchildren from their mother's addiction. The free readings begin at 6:30 p.m. See courttheatre.org.

• Promethean Theatre Ensemble premieres "A Town Called Progress," a comedy by Trina Kakacek examining the challenge of creating a society based on gender and economic equality in which a mayor tries to create a utopia where women are on top. Previews begin Thursday, March 16, at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The adults-only show opens March 18. (773) 697-3830 or thedentheatre.com.

• The International Voices Project presents Palestinian writer Ahmed Mousad's dark comedy "The Shroud Maker," running Thursday, March 16, through April 8, at Chicago Dramatists, 798 N. Aberdeen St., Chicago. Roxane Assaf-Lynn stars in the solo show about an elderly Palestinian woman living in the Gaza Strip who has survived decades of war by making shrouds for the dead. $20. ivpchicago.org.

• After three years, Short Story Theatre returns at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at a new location, The Art Center Highland Park, 1957 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. Seven storytellers will share stories about luck or lack thereof. $10. shortstorytheatre.com.

• Raven Theatre has extended its Chicago premiere of "The Right to be Forgotten," Sharyn Rothstein's play about a man who goes to extraordinary lengths to erase his teenage indiscretion from the internet. Performances run through April 2 at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. Masks required. (773) 338-2177 or raventheatre.com.

• Griffin Theatre Company extended its Chicago premiere of "Heisenberg: The Uncertainty Principle," Simon Stephens' play about a chance encounter between two strangers that ends up changing both of their lives. Performances run through March 26 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. Masks required. (773) 338-2177 or griffintheatre.com.

• At its ceremony later this month, the Joseph Jefferson Awards will honor the late activist Myrna Salazar, an award-winning advocate for the Chicago area's Latino theater artists and the co-founder and executive director of the Chicago Latino Theater Alliance. The ceremony takes place at 7:30 p.m. March 27 at the Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago. See jeffawards.org.