Spotlight: Chicago Shakespeare Theater makes some ‘Illinoise’
Portrait of our state
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents “Illinoise,” a new musical based on a concept album by singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens (Academy Award nominee for his song “Mystery of Love” from the 2017 film “Call Me By Your Name”). A portrait of the state’s people, landscapes and history with a story by Tony Award-winner Justin Peck and Pulitzer Prize-winner Jackie Sibblies Drury, the musical combines folk, orchestral anthems and jazz. Previews at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28, Tuesday, Jan. 30, Thursday, Feb. 1, and Friday, Feb. 2, and 1:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. The show opens Feb. 3. Tickets start at $45. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.
New parents, hard choices
Three mothers and one father, each from a different socio-economic strata, struggle to balance their responsibilities as new parents with their careers in “Cry It Out,” a dramedy by Molly Smith Metzler. Oil Lamp Theater’s revival stars Jocelyn Maher, Cait Kelly, Caroline Kidwell and JJ Gatesman. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview. The show opens Saturday, Jan. 27. $30-$48. (847) 834-0738 or oillamptheater.org.
TimeLine’s Chicago premiere
Mildred Marie Langford, Adhana Reid and Shariba Rivers channel 18 individuals “caught in America’s school-to-prison pipeline” in TimeLine Theatre’s Chicago premiere of “Notes From the Field,” a docu-theater piece by Anna Deavere Smith. Among the actual people featured in the play are: the late Congressman John Lewis; activist Bree Newsome, who took the Confederate flag from the South Carolina State House; Sherrilyn Ifill of the NAACP; and high school student Niya Kenny. Previews at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, through Friday, Feb. 2; 4 p.m. Feb. 3; 2 p.m. Feb. 4; and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. The show opens Feb. 7. $35-$67. (773) 281-8463, ext. 6, or timelinetheatre.com.
Canine hero saves the day
TheaterWorkUSA presents the family-friendly “Dog Man: The Musical,” a tuner adapted from Dav Pilkey’s children’s books, about a canine superhero trying to save his city from Flippy the cyborg fish while also apprehending Petey, the world’s most evil cat. Opens at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, and runs through Feb. 25 at The Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Tickets start at $44.50. dogmanthemusical.com.
The long good-bye
A family prepares for the long good-bye as an Alzheimer’s patient ties up loose ends with his wife and son while he is still able in “The Outgoing Tide,” Bruce Graham’s poignant drama about life, death and love. Steve Scott directs Buffalo Theatre Ensemble’s revival, which stars company members Bryan Burke, Connie Canaday Howard and Nick DuFloth. Preview at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Ave., Glen Ellyn. The show opens Feb. 2. $44. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org.
Parenting in the apocalypse
An apocalyptic event upends a typical mommy-baby meetup in Anna Ouyang Moench’s dark comedy “Mothers” about parenting, sacrifice and survival in a rapidly disintegrating world. Halena Kays directs The Gift Theatre’s Chicago premiere. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 1-3, at Filament Theatre, 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. The show opens Feb. 5. $20-$45. (773) 283-7071 or thegifttheatre.org.