The cast of “The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington” includes (top, left to right) Sydney Charles, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Celeste M. Cooper (bottom, left to right) Nikki Crawford, Cindy Gold, Victor Musoni and Donovan Session.
1
The Most Spectacularly Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington
(Steppenwolf)
Whitney White directs the Chicago premiere of Pulitzer-winner James Ijames’s “fever dream” about the widowed former First Lady haunted by the slaves who attend her.
Starts September 1
2
The Notebook
(Chicago Shakespeare)
A powerhouse team led by Broadway directors Michael Grief and Schele Williams brings the bestselling novel by Nicholas Sparks to life as a musical, with songs by Ingrid Michaelson and a book by Bekah Brunstetter. Expect much pathos.
Starts September 6
3
Ernani
(Lyric Opera)
Nothing kicks off the fall arts season like the opening of a Verdi opera at Lyric, this time with acclaimed tenor Russell Thomas in the title role.
Opens September 9
4
Clyde’s
(Goodman Theatre)
Pulitzer-winner Lynn Nottage reteams with director Kate Whoriskey to bring her Tony-nominated comedy to the Goodman stage.
Opens September 10
5
Destinos—Fifth Chicago International Latino Theater Festival
(Chicago Latino Theater Alliance)
The breadth and depth of this five-week theater festival with productions from across Latin America as well as Chicago–including six world premieres—will stand in homage to founder Myrna Salazar, who passed away in August.
Opens September 14