The cast of Porchlight Music Theatre’s “Scottsboro Boys”/Photo: Joe Mazza at Brave Lux, Inc
Monday
“The History Boys” at Eclectic Full Contact Theatre. The adolescent questions of “What’s happening to me? Will it pass? Do I want it to?” are tackled with wit, humor and honesty in Alan Bennett’s funny, moving story of finding oneself and one’s place in the group. Through March 4. For tickets and more information visit eclectic-theatre.com
“Scottsboro Boys” at Porchlight Music Theatre. The true-life story of nine African-American teenagers accused and put on trial for a crime they did not commit, igniting the start of the modern civil rights movement. Through March 12. For tickets and more information visit porchlightmusictheatre.org
Thursday
“Deep in the Heart of Tuna” at New American Folk Theatre. Follow the story of Bertha Bumiller and her beautifully dysfunctional family in Tuna, Texas, where the Lion’s Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies. Through March 5. For tickets and more information visit newamericanfolktheatre.org
“Black Vs. All” at Gorilla Tango Theatre. An a capella musical based on the Black Lives Matter movement. Through February 25. For tickets and more information visit gorillatango.com
The New Irish Voices Festival at Irish Theatre of Chicago. Three weekends of staged readings from some of Ireland’s most exciting new playwrights, never before produced in the U.S. Through February 24. For tickets and more information visit irishtheatreofchicago.org
Anthony Whitaker and Grant Drager in a publicity image for New American Folk Theatre’s “Deep in the Heart of Tuna”/Photo: Paul Clark
Friday
“Goddamn Geniuses” at The Runaways Lab Theatre. A play both ambitious in intellect and breathless in stupidity, it pushes the capacity of onstage chaos to radical heights. Through March 5. For tickets and more information visit runawayslab.org
“Semitic Commonwealth” at Silk Road Rising. A staged reading series comprised of six plays by Arab and Jewish playwrights exploring the human toll of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Through February 26. For tickets and more information visit silkroadrising.org
“Urinetown: the Musical” at Northwestern University. Northwestern alumnus Scott Weinstein directs the Tony Award-winning show as a part of Chicago Theater Week. Through February 26. For tickets and more information visit communication.northwestern.edu/wirtz/urinetown
“We’re Proud to Present…” at Theatre School at DePaul University. An ensemble of eager, well-meaning young actors devises a play about a nearly forgotten African genocide. When their artistic director suggests they should not read the German letters that make up the core of their presentation, the group must come to terms with the fact that they can’t tell a new story until they have unearthed the original one. Through February 19. For tickets and more information visit theatre.depaul.edu
“Dinner with the Devil” at Gorilla Tango Theatre. A new play written and directed by Dakota Vaassen about the persistent presence of religion. Through February 13. For tickets and more information visit gorillatango.com
“Gump” at The Public House Theatre. A single-handed retelling of “Forrest Gump” with an interactive twist: the audience decides the order of the immortal scenes. Fridays through March 3. For tickets and more information visit thepubtheatre.com
“Merce Cunningham: Common Time” at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The exhibition showcases Cunningham’s multidisciplinary collaborations between leading post-war artists. Through April 30. For tickets and more information visit mcachicago.org/Exhibitions/2017/Merce-Cunningham-Common-Time
Alan Wilder, Madison Dirks, Ryan Hallahan and Brian Slaten in “Straight White Men” at Steppenwolf Theatre Company/Photo: Joel Moorman
Saturday
“Straight White Men” at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Playwright/director Young Jean Lee takes an outside look at the traditional father/son play narrative, shedding new and often hilarious light on a story we think we know all too well. Through March 19. For tickets and more information visit steppenwolf.org
“Carmen” at Lyric Opera of Chicago. This new-to-Chicago production of Georges Bizet’s iconic and passionate opera makes for a fantastic date night or first-time experience at the opera house. Through March 25. For tickets and more information visit lyricopera.org
“Sweeney Todd” at Paramount Theatre. Many herald this musical as one of the single greatest achievements of American theater in the last fifty years. Through March 19. For tickets and more information visit paramountaurora.com
“Beowulf” at Red Theater Chicago. The story of Beowulf and Grendel’s Mother, doomed by Odin to relive their deaths over and over again for all eternity in front of an audience. Through March 11. For tickets and more information visit redtheater.org
CLLAW XXVI at Sideshow Theatre Company. A benefit match featuring Chicago’s biggest, baddest lady-identified arm wrestlers, musical entertainmentand a cash bar. For tickets and more information visit sideshowtheatre.org/performances/productions/cllaw
“Gorrison Killer”and “Cursula” at the Chicago League of Lady Arm Wrestlers’ CLLAW XXV match at Logan Square Auditorium/Photo: Trainman Photography
Sunday
“Quest” at Actors Gymnasium. Loosely based on the Leo Tolstoy story “The Three Questions,” the protagonist asks three simple but huge questions, setting in motion a whirlwind journey to find the answers. Through March 19. For tickets and more information visit actorsgymnasium.org
“My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra” at Theatre at the Center. Relive the legendary career of Frank Sinatra as four actors share more than fifty of his beloved hits. Through March 19. For tickets and more information visit theatreatthecenter.com
