Opening This Week October 10-16, 2016

The cast of “Merge” at The New Colony/Photo: Joe Mazza at Brave Lux inc.

Monday

“Pirandello’s Henry IV” at Remy Bumppo Theatre Company. An Italian nobleman falls from his horse at a costume party and suddenly believes he is German Emperor Henry IV. Through November 13. For tickets and more information visit remybumppo.org

“The Mercy Street Affair” at Mercy Street Theatre Company. A classy cocktail party and festival of new short plays. For tickets and more information visit mercystreettheatre.org

Tuesday

“Merge” at The New Colony. A fast-paced, heartfelt and uproarious journey inside the burgeoning seventies video-game industry.  Through November 13. For tickets and more information visit thenewcolony.org

“Spooky Dookie: Razzle Dazzle” at The Annoyance Theatre. Framed by an Old Hollywood aesthetic, this new sketch show satirizes entertainment across decades. Tuesdays through November 8. For tickets and more information visit theannoyance.com

Thursday

“#BelovedNights” at MCL Chicago. A hip-hop-themed variety show that shines light on the vibrant rap scene bubbling beneath the surface of Chicago’s comedy community. Thursdays through November 17. For tickets and more information visit mclchicago.com

“All Mixed Up” at Barely Concealed Productions. A new comedy that explores the challenge of maintaining love and trust in an era of nontraditional relationships. Through November 6. For tickets and more information visit barelyconcealed.com

Friday

“Death Toll” at Corn Productions. Grab your BYO-BOO-oze of choice and join this late-night Halloween sketch show that centers around one very simple drinking game rule: Drink every time someone on-stage dies. Fridays and Saturdays through October 29. For tickets and more information visit cornservatory.org

“Zach & Viggo: Thunderflop” at Stamptown Comedy. This outrageously funny comedy duo takes you on an absurd trip through their wild imagination into the deepest darkest depths of stupidity. Through October 16. For tickets and more information visit zachandviggo.com

Susanna Phillips in “Lucia di Lammermoor”: at Lyric Opera of Chicago/Photo: Dan Rest

Saturday

“Lucia de Lammermoor” at Lyric Opera of Chicago. Often described as a Scottish Romeo-and-Juliet-style tragedy, this opera is famous for its dazzling mad scene. Through November 6. For tickets and more information visit lyricopera.org

“Gayco XX: Gay for Play” at Gayco Productions. A one-night-only event that will feature GayCo luminaries from past and present performing the best scenes, songs, tributes and memories from the company’s two decades of game-changing LGBTQ sketch comedy. For tickets and more information visit gayco.com

“Sonic the Hedgehog Fan Fiction” at Under the Gun Theater. Ever wondered what the mind of a twelve-year-old boy might find erotic in Sonic the Hedge Hog? Well wonder no more! Saturdays through November 5. For tickets and more information visit underthegun.theater

Sunday

“Beyond the Canon” at Chicago Dramatists. A showcase of monologues taken from audition speeches for black, South Asian and Middle Eastern actors. For tickets and more information visit chicagodramatists.org

“Showgirls! The Benefit” at Hell in a Handbag Productions. This Vegas-inspired evening includes Southern-style comfort food with a twist, adult refreshments, games and the world’s best silent/live auction and also features an exclusive staged reading of “Showgirls! A Musical.” For tickets and more information visit handbagproductions.org

“The National American Presents: The Sipping Hour” at The Public House Theatre. A frightfully amusing journey through the dark, scary woods created by some of Chicago’s rising voices in comedy, theater and storytelling. For tickets and more information visit thepubtheatre.com