Spotlight: Writers, TimeLine theaters premiere the Chicago-set ‘Dhaba on Devon’
Writers’ world premiere
Writers Theatre concludes its season in collaboration with TimeLine Theatre with the premiere of “Dhaba on Devon,” Madhuri Shekar’s play about a family-owned Indian restaurant that has operated for 40 years on Chicago’s Devon Avenue. With chef/owner Neeraj’s health declining and the bank threatening foreclosure, Neeraj's daughter tries to convince her father to let her take over the kitchen in this drama about family, legacy and survival. Chay Yew directs.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, June 19-21, and June 25-26, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. The show opens June 27. $35-$95. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.
Do-wop tuner revived
MadKap Productions presents a brief run of “Forever Plaid,” the jukebox tuner about a 1950s doo-wop group who are on the way to their first professional gig when they’re broadsided by a school bus. They’re subsequently granted one chance to perform the concert they never gave. Edward Lindem directs Nick Arceo, Sean M.G. Caron, Elijah McTiernan and Taelon Stonecipher as the Plaids.
7:30 Friday and Saturday, June 20-21, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 22, and through June 29 at Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. $30. (847) 677-7761 or skokietheatre.org.
Pride Month special
In honor of Pride Month, About Face Theatre presents a limited run of “OM Mission,” an examination of Black lesbians’ lives and legacies through music and stories dating back to the 1920s. Zahra Baker and Shanta Nurullah created and perform the show.
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 20-21, and Wednesday through Friday, June 25-27; 3 p.m. Sunday, June 22; and 3 and 8 p.m. June 28 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $5-$35. (773) 697-3830 or aboutfacetheatre.com.
Stir Friday Night at Steppenwolf
Stir Friday Night, Chicago’s longest-running Asian American and Pacific Islander comedy team, performs its show “Rice to the Occasion” as part of Steppenwolf Theatre’s LookOut series.
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 20-21, at 1700 N. Halsted St. Chicago. $28. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.
Goodman revives ‘The Color Purple’
Brittney Mack (Anne of Cleves in Broadway’s “Six”) returns to her hometown to star as Celie in Goodman Theatre’s revival of “The Color Purple” in the 20th anniversary year of its Broadway debut. Adapted from Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about love and perseverance, the musical centers on a resilient young woman abused by her family and rural Georgia community in the early 20th century. Lili-Anne Brown directs. Jermaine Hill music directs.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 21; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 22 and 28; 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, June 25-27; and 2 p.m. June 29 at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The show opens June 30. $25-$130. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.
TUTA’s summer rep
TUTA Theatre’s two-show summer showcase commences with the Chicago premiere of “Tom & Eliza,” Celine Song’s two-hander about a man and woman on a date “marching relentlessly toward the future.” Seoyoung Park and Clifton Frei star.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, June 26-28, at 4670 N. Manor Ave., Chicago. The show opens June 29. $20-$60. tutatheatre.org.