Theater

Spotlight: Aurora’s Paramount stages cirque-inspired ‘Cats’ revival

Posted April 22, 2025 4:03 pm

Barbara Vitello

Hayley Larson plays Electra in Paramount Theatre's circus-inspired revival of the musical “Cats.” Courtesy of Amy Nelson

Fabulous felines

Paramount Theatre isn’t “kitten around” when it comes to its circus-themed revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Cats,” which will feature contortionists, jugglers, aerialists, tumblers, acrobats and other circus artists. Artistic producer and casting director Trent Stork helms the musical about the gathering of the Jellicle cat tribe to determine which of them will ascend to the Heaviside Layer.

Previews at 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, April 30 and May 1 and May 7-8; 8 p.m. May 2; 3 and 8 p.m. May 3; and 1 and 5:30 p.m. May 4 at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. The show opens May 9. $28-$85. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

Jason Lacombe, left, plays Oberon and Jake Harrison Murphy plays Puck in BrightSide Theatre's adaptation of William Shakespeare's “A Midsummer Night's Dream.” Courtesy of BrightSide Theatre

Midsummer dream arrives early

BrightSide Theatre continues its season devoted to “Spells and Superstitions” with a new adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Jason Harrington adapted and directs this playfully sexual version of the play about would-be lovers bedeviled by mischievous fairies. The production includes original music by Paul Scherer using Shakespeare’s text. Also, BrightSide will celebrate the legacy of First Folio Theatre at the May 2 performance, which will feature a talk back with Harrington geared to the First Folio patrons in the audience.

7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 27, and through May 11 at Meiley-Swallow Hall, North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville. $32-$37. (630) 447-8497 or brightsidetheatre.com.

‘Infinity,’ Curious Theatre style

Curious Theatre Branch premieres “The Infinity Play,” a farce by Paul William Brennan that unfolds in 10 scenes during which a pair of players take turns cleaning up the mess made by the preceding players. Maya Odim directs.

7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 25-26, and 5 p.m. Sunday, April 27, and through May 18 at Jarvis Square Theater, 1439 W. Jarvis St., Chicago. $20. curioustheatrebranch.com.

Chiké Johnson, right, plays Benny and Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member James Vincent Meredith plays Gil in Chicago Shakespeare Theater's North American premiere of “Hymn” by Lolita Chakrabarti. Courtesy of Jeff Sciortino

A hymn for men

Director Ron OJ Parson helms Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s North American premiere of “Hymn,” Lolita Chakrabarti’s two-hander examining friendship and love between two men that is neither romantic nor physical. Chiké Johnson plays Benny and Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member James Vincent Meredith plays Gil in the play, which the playwright reset On Chicago’s South Side for its CST premiere.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, April 29-May 2, at 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. The show opens May 3. $40-$92. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre celebrates the era when rock was glam and hair was big with its revival of the jukebox tuner “Rock of Ages.” Courtesy of Metropolis Performing Arts Centre

Long live rock

A small-town girl meets a city boy on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip, but their rock ’n’ roll romance is threatened by a rock star and developers in “Rock of Ages,” the gleefully self-aware jukebox tuner send-up of 1980s hair bands and their fans. Derek Van Barham directs Metropolis Performing Arts Centre’s revival, which stars Mack Spotts and Dani Pike as young lovers Drew and Sherrie.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, May 1-2, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. The show opens May 3. $24-$45. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

Stephanie Shum, left, and Tara Mallen star in Raven Theatre Company and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble's premiere of “Gorgeous” by Keiko Green.

Raven + Rivendell = world premiere

Raven Theatre Company and Rivendell Theatre Ensemble premiere “Gorgeous,” a new play by Keiko Green about two women and a bulldog named Gorgeous. Stephanie Shum plays Jenny, whose boyfriend Bill dies leaving behind his champion bulldog. Tara Mallen plays Bernie, described as a tornado of a woman who, like Jenny, must find a way to move forward after Bill’s death.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, May 1-3, and 3 p.m. May 4 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. The show opens May 7. $30-$45. raventheatre.com.

Remy Bumppo Theatre ensemble member Eduardo Curley plays Yvan in the company's revival of Yasmina Reza's “Art,” about three friends who have a falling out over a painting. Courtesy of Joe Mazza, brave lux photography

Art and its beholders

Three longtime friends — Serge, Marc and Yvan — have a falling out after Serge purchases a nearly white painting that horrifies Marc and leaves Yvan in the middle in Yasmina Reza’s play, “Art.” Remy Bumppo Theatre Company’s revival is directed by artistic director Marti Lyons and stars Justin Albinder as Marc, Chad Bay as Serge and ensemble member Eduardo Curley as Yvan.

Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, May 1-3, and 2:30 p.m. May 4 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago The show opens May 5. $15-$55. (773) 975-8150 or remybumppo.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.