Theater

Shakespeare in the summer: ‘Romeo and Juliet’ set for Chicago, Oak Park

Posted June 25, 2024 10:41 am

Faiz Siddique, left, and Ebby Offord play the star-crossed lovers in Midsommer Flight's under-the-stars production of “Romeo and Juliet.” Courtesy of Tom McGrath, TCMcG Photography

R & J outdoors

• Midsommer Flight performs William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” at Chicago parks this summer. Artistic director Beth Wolf helms the tragedy, which stars Faiz Siddique and Ebby Offord as the star-crossed lovers. 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 28 through Aug. 4, at various parks, including June 28-30 at Chicago Women’s Park and Garden, 1801 S. Indiana Ave.; July 5-7 at Gross Park, 2708 W. Lawrence Ave.; July 12-14 Lincoln Park, Stockton and Dickens near the Hans Christian Anderson statue; July 19-21 at Kelvyn Park, 4438 W. Wrightwood Ave.; July 26-28 at Nichols Park, 1355 E. 53rd St.; and Aug. 2-4 at Touhy Park, 7348 N. Paulina Ave. Free, but donations are accepted and reservations are recommended. midsommerflight.com.

• August Forman plays Romeo and Rachel Jones plays Juliet in Oak Park Festival Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s tragedy about young lovers whose future is thwarted by their respective families’ mutual dislike. Previews at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 5-6, at Austin Gardens, 157 Forest Ave., Oak Park. The show opens July 7. $38. oakparkfestival.com.

New play readings

Stage Left Theatre launches Up(Stage) Left, a new series of staged readings of new plays. 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 28, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29, at Chief O’Neill’s, 3471 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. $5 pay-what-you-can minimum. stagelefttheatre.com.

Trap Door showcase

Trap Door Theatre concludes its 30th season with “The Underground Society for Music,” Austin Lamewona’s play-with-music about a group of musicians struggling to make art in the face of government pressure to cease their efforts. The production is part of the theater’s Trap Open series showcasing emerging artists and nontraditional theater-making. 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30, at 1655 W. Cortland St., Chicago. $16.75. trapdoortheatre.com.

Adam LaSalle co-stars with fellow actor/musician Matthew McGloin in Northlight Theatre's revival of “2 Pianos, 4 Hands.”

Matthew McGloin co-stars with fellow actor/musician Adam LaSalle in Northlight Theatre's revival of “2 Pianos, 4 Hands.” Courtesy of Jessica Osber Photography

Music and comedy

Actor/musicians Adam LaSalle and Matthew McGloin play “piano nerds” Ted and Richard in Northlight Theatre’s revival of “2 Pianos, 4 Hands,” a semi-autobiographical play-with-music by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt, directed by Rob Lindley. In the play, Ted and Richard share stories about their teachers, parents and their “quest for musical greatness.” Previews at 7:30 p.m. July 5, 9 and 11, and 1 and 7:30 p.m. July 10 at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. The show opens July 12. $39-$89. (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org.

Article Comments

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.