Spotlight: ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’ musical premieres at Goodman
Goodman’s ‘Garden’ premiere
Goodman Theatre premieres the musical adaptation of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” John Berendt’s 1994 novel based on the true story of a socially prominent Savannah, Georgia, antiques dealer charged with shooting to death a male prostitute. Tony and Grammy Award-winner J. Harrison Ghee plays The Lady Chablis, one of the eccentrics who populate Berendt’s tale. Tony winner Rob Ashford directs the musical by composer/lyricist Jason Robert Brown (“The Last Five Years,” “Parade”) and playwright Taylor Mac. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, June 25-29, and July 2, 3 and 5; 2 and 7:30 p.m. June 30 and July 6; and 2 p.m. July 7 at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The show opens July 8. $25-$175. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.
Fats Waller salute
Drury Lane Theatre revives “Ain’t Misbehavin’: The Fats Waller Musical Show,” the jukebox tuner celebrating composer Thomas “Fats” Waller (“Honeysuckle Rose,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’”) and the Harlem Renaissance. E. Faye Butler helms the production, which features Sharriese Y. Hamilton, James T. Lane, Alanna Lovely, Alexis J. Roston and Lorenzo Rush Jr. Previews at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 26; 1:30 and 7 p.m. Thursday, June 27; 7 p.m. June 28; and 3 and 8 p.m. June 29 at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. The show opens June 30. Tickets start at $52.95. (630) 530-0111 or drurylanetheatre.com.
Festival of Unfinished Works
Bramble Theatre Company hosts its third Festival of Unfinished Works showcasing in-progress plays with the goal of “launching them to further development,” said co-founder Matthew Lunt in a prepared statement. Audience members attending performances can vote on which work they’d like to see Bramble Theatre develop. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, June 26-29, and 2 p.m. June 30 at the Capital Garage building, 5545 N. Clark St., Chicago. $25. brambletheatre.org.
Audio play debuts
For five years, A Theater in the Dark has produced audio plays. Its latest is “Bio-Dad,” actor/playwright Julian “joolz” Stroop’s sci-fi tale for “anyone who has ever felt like an alien in their own life.” It centers on a nonbinary character named Kid, who comes across a radio show made by their late, biological father, which prompts Kid to meet with old friends and enemies and examine the father’s recording in order to understand who their dad was. Available for streaming for $14.99 at atheaterinthedark.com.