Get plenty of comedy this weekend -- some of it on the cheap
Laugh Out Loud offers double dose of comedySchaumburg's Laugh Out Loud Theater will be dark on New Year's Day, but it makes up for it with two improv shows on Saturday to ensure patrons usher in 2010 with smiles on their faces.7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, at the Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg. (847) 240-0386 or loltheater.com.Comedy Shrine's recession buster The Comedy Shrine's discounted pricing continues through New Year's weekend for all-ages and adults-only improv shows, as well as Sunday's improv musical, which includes a dinner-theater option. 8 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 1-2, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3, at 22 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. (630) 355-2844 or comedyshrine.com.CST revives 'Private Lives'A very busy Gary Griffin returns to his artistic home, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, to direct "Private Lives," Noel Coward's witty dissection of a marriage. The production marks the CST debut of Tracy Michelle Arnold, familiar to Writers and Northlight theater patrons for her performances in "As You Like It" (Writers) and "Lady Windermere's Fan" (Northlight). It also reunites Arnold with her "Lady Windermere" co-star and CST veteran, Chaon Cross.Begins Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.bull; Annoyance Theatre's new musical "Kink," about sexual repression in suburbia, previews on Saturdays, Jan. 2 and 9, at 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. The show opens Saturday, Jan. 16. (773) 561-4665 or theannoyance.com. bull; Lifeline Theatre presents the world premiere musical adaptation of "The Last of the Dragons," Edith Nesbit's tradition-defying fantasy about the determined Princess Andromeda who intends to save herself from a dragon and her would-be rescuer, the scholarly Prince Stanley, who cares more about science than adventure. David Bareford adapts the story which includes music by Mikhail Fiksel and lyrics by Fiksel, Kyle Hamman and Alex Balestrieri. Lifeline artistic director Dorothy Milne directs the family-friendly production which opens Sunday, Jan. 3, at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. (773) 761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com. bull; Pegasus Players hosts its 24th annual Young Playwright's Festival showcasing three award-winning one-act plays written by Chicago high school students from Thursday, Jan. 7, to Jan. 31. Opening night is Jan. 11. Featured plays include "The Nowhere People," Gabriella Bonamici's tale about a woman obsessed with capturing the ghosts living in her pantry and sending them back to their world. Also included is Gixiang Lee's "Roller Coaster" about two people stranded at the top of a stuck roller coaster, and "deliver me from evil," Kat Blackburn's drama about a young woman struggling with sexual identity, self-injury and abuse. Performances take place at the O'Rourke Center at Truman College, 1145 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago. The plays will be directed by Chicago veterans Ilesa Duncan, Kimberly Senior and Edward Torres. (773) 878-9761 or pegasusplayers.org.bull; Laugh the winter blues away at the 2010 Chicago Sketch Comedy Festival running Thursday, Jan. 7, to Jan. 17, at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. More than 100 sketch comedy groups and solo performers - some 800 total including Chicago's Barrel of Monkeys, GayCo Productions and Stir Friday Night - will perform over the festival's two weekends. Individual tickets are $12.50. An all-festival pass is available for $150. Call the Theatre Building box office at (773) 327-525 for tickets. See chicagosketchfest.com for the schedule. bull; Annoyance Theatre debuts "Glitter in the Gutter," a drag queen dramedy inspired by director John Waters, the TV show "Designing Women" and pop legend Dionne Warwick. Previews are Thursdays, Jan. 7, and 14. The show opens Jan. 21, at 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or theannoyance.com.bull; A Red Orchid Theatre has extended its production of the satire, "A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant" through Jan. 17, at the theater located at 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago. (312) 943-8722 or aredorchidtheatre.org.