Looking to take in some live theater in the week ahead? We’ve got some suggestions to consider:
“Waiting for Godot”: Dennis Zacek, artistic director emeritus at Victory Gardens Theatre, returns to his former home to direct a play he first staged in 1971 as a theater professor at Loyola University. Samuel Beckett’s seminal tragicomedy follows Vladimir and Estragon who meet near a tree and wait for the mysterious Godot as they debate their lots in life. “When re-reading Beckett’s text, I find Beckett every bit as interesting as I did before,” Zacek says. “I felt this was a world I was familiar with in my thirties, and I still feel connected to it today.” The cast features Larry Neumann Jr. as Vladimir, Michael Saad as Estragon, Larry Russo as Pozzo and Nima Rakhshanifar as Lucky. Previews begin Nov. 14, opens Nov. 17; to Dec. 15. Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln, $20-$40; victorygardens.org
“Always…Patsy Cline”: Ted Swindley’s musical play based on the true story of the country music legend’s friendship with fan Louise Seger; directed by Brigitte Ditmars. Previews begin Nov. 16, opens Nov. 19; to Dec. 15. Firebrand Theatre at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee, $40, $50; firebrandtheatre.org
“Annie”: The musical based on the classic comic strip Little Orphan Annie; directed by Robert D. Estrin. Previews begin Nov. 20, opens Nov. 22; to Dec. 22. Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan, Lake Forest, $40, $45; citadeltheatre.org
“Call Me Madam”: Irving Berlin’s musical comedy about an ill-informed socialite who is appointed United States ambassador to a fictional European country; directed by Christopher Pazdernik. Nov. 20-21. Porchlight Music Theatre at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn, $45; porchlightmusictheatre.org
“A Christmas Carol”: Larry Yando returns as Ebenezer Scrooge in the annual staging of Charles Dickens classic holiday story; directed by Henry Wishcamper. Previews begin Nov. 16, opens Nov. 24; to Dec. 29. Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn, $25-$89; goodmantheatre.org
Dance Chicago 25th Anniversary Party: Featuring legacy Dance Chicago stars and new talent in the Chicago dance scene. Nov. 16. Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport, $18-$31; athenaeumtheatre.org
“Deck the Hallmark — A Greeting Card Channel Original”: The Second City’s new holiday parody lampoons all the things we know and love about made-for-TV holiday movies; directed by Annelise Toft. Opens Nov. 19, to Dec. 11. UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North, $31-$46; secondcity.com
“Don Giovanni”: Robert Falls’ staging of Mozart’s darkly comedic opera about a libertine who lives only for his own pleasure. Opens Nov. 14; to Dec. 8. Lyric Opera of Chicago, 20 N. Wacker, $39-$299; lyricopera.org
“Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish — The Musical”: A new family-friendly musical, based on the book by Denise McGowan Tracy, about a rag doll who lives in the magical world of the North Pole. Previews begin Nov. 16, opens Nov. 19; to Dec. 29. Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln, $29.50, family package (4 tickets) $100; eleanorswish.com
“Everest” & “Aleko”: Joby Talbot and Gene Scheer’s opera inspired by the 1996 Mount Everest expedition in which the climbers were trapped by a sudden storm; Sergei Rachmaninoff and Vladimir Nemirovech Danchenko’s opera about a man who abandons Russian society to join a free-spirited camp of Romani travelers. Nov. 16-17. Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph, $45-$150; chicagooperatheater.org
“The First Deep Breath”: Lee Edward Colston II’s drama tells the story of a pastor who is planning a special service to honor his late daughter just as the family is forced to face long-buried secrets; directed by Malika Oyetimein. Previews begin Nov. 15, opens Nov. 22; to Dec. 22. Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln; $31-$65; victorygardens.org
“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas — The Musical”: A stage adaptation of the classic film; directed by Linda Fortunato. Previews begin Nov. 14, opens Nov. 17; to Dec. 22. Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge, Munster, Ind., $42-$46; theatreatthecenter.com
“It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!”: A live 1940s radio broadcast of the holiday classic; directed by Gwendolyn Whiteside. Previews begin Nov. 14, opens Nov. 16; to Jan. 4. American Blues Theater at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, $19-$69; americanbluestheater.com
“Kathleen Turner — Finding My Voice”: The actress performs her deeply personal show filled with humor, music and her one-of-a-kind insights; directed by Andy Gale. Nov. 15-16. Broadway Playhouse, Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut, $50-$81.50; broadwayinchicago.com
“Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them”: Christopher Durang’s political satire about America’s growing homeland “insecurity”; directed by Steve Scott. Previews begin Nov. 14, opens Nov. 17; to Dec. 15. Eclipse Theatre at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 n. Southport, $30; eclipsetheatre.com
“Mary Poppins”: The musical, based on P.L. Travers stories and the Walt Disney film, about everyone’s favorite nanny; directed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. Previews begin Nov. 15, opens Nov. 21 to Jan. 19. Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, $60-$75; drurylanetheatre.com
“The Simon & Garfunkel Story”: The journey of the folk-rock duo is chronicled via video projection photos and film footage and a live band performing the duo’s classic hits. Preview Nov. 19, opens Nov. 20; to Dec. 8. Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut, $35-$85; broadwayinchicago.com
Mary Houlihan is a local freelance writer.
