Spotlight: Chicago’s Strawdog puts modern spin on ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’
‘Importance of Being Earnest’ re-imagined
Just in time for Pride Month, Strawdog Theatre presents a contemporary retelling of Oscar Wilde’s comedy of manners “The Importance of Being Earnest.” Set against the backdrop of Chicago’s Boystown and the lakes of Saugatuck, Michigan, this adaptation by Dusty Brown and director Elizabeth Swanson examines queer identity and love in all its forms. Wilde’s original version is about two upper crust, 19th-century young men who lead double lives to get out of social obligations and to indulge in scandalous behavior. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 31 and June 1, and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at Rivendell Theatre, 5779 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. The show opens June 6. strawdog.org.
Otherworld’s adult romantasy
Once upon a time, two girls disguised themselves as boys to train to become knights. Seven years later, an unconventional knight and wise prostitute meet again and embark on an epic quest in Otherworld Theatre’s “Garters: A Queer Immersive Romantasy Play.” Inspired by the works of Tamora Pierce and Jacqueline Carey, “Garters,” which examines limited roles available to women and nonbinary people in epic fantasy tales, is for ages 18 and older. Opens at 7 p.m. Friday, May 31, and runs at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through July 7 at 3914 N. Clark St., Chicago. $27, with pay-what-you-can tickets available for some performances. otherworldtheatre.org.
Boyz in the balance
The Factory Theater’s 29th season continues with “Die Hard for Your Luv,” an intriguing mashup comedy by Kirk Pynchon and Mike Beyer. Set on New Year’s Eve 1999, it centers around a popular band, Boyz Will Be Boyz, who are being held hostage by a group of mercenaries who promise the band will become Boyz Will Be Dead if world leaders don’t hand over Y2K codes by midnight. Becca Holloway directs. Previews at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 31 and June 1, and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at 1623 W. Howard St., Chicago. The show opens June 7. $25. (312) 275-5757 or thefactorytheater.com.
Playwright’s fest
Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre debuts The Gloria Bond Clunie Playwright’s Festival, a new play development initiative named for the theater’s founder, Gloria Bond Clunie. Staged readings take place at 4 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 1, and 3 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston. $15 Saturday, $10 Sunday. (847) 866-5914 or fjtheatre.com.
Chekhov classic revived
Invictus Theatre Company inaugurates its new home with a revival of Anton Chekhov’s “Three Sisters,” about three well-educated young women eager to escape their dreary provincial town and unfulfilling lives and return to the exciting Moscow they remember from their youth. Artistic director Charles Askenaizer helms the production, which features Maria Stephens as Ólga, Katherine Schwartz as Másha, Ellie Duffey as Irína and Michael B. Woods as their brother Andrey. Previews at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, and June 7 and 8 and 2 p.m. June 9 at Windy City Playhouse, 3014 W. Irving Park Road, Chicago. The show opens June 10. $25, $35. invictustheatreco.com.
‘Six’ returns
“Six,” the Tony Award-winning musical about Henry VIII’s mostly doomed wives, which had its North American premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2019, returns for a brief run. The preview is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. The show opens Wednesday, June 5. $39-$134. broadwayinchicago.com.
Midwest premiere
The Utopian Theatre Asylum presents the Midwest premiere of “Attempts on Her Life,” an experimental drama by Martin Crimp that examines such 20th-century obsessions as pornography, terrorism and ethnic violence. It centers on Anne, who is many things to many people: an artist, a terrorist, a porn star and a new car. Previews at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, June 5-7, at 4670 N. Manor Ave., Chicago. The show opens June 8. $20-$60. tutatheatre.org.
Porchlight concert series
For the fourth year, Porchlight Music Theatre hosts its summer concert series Broadway in Your Backyard featuring Chicago-area musical theater artists in concert at Chicago parks. The series is part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks. Various days and times Thursday, June 6, through Aug. 6 at Chicago parks. Free. porchlightmusictheatre.org.
Absurdist premiere
Two Chairs Theatre Co. premieres “Time and Place,” an absurdist play with a hint of Monty Python by writer/director Logan Naddy. 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, June 6-8, and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 9, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $20. twochairtheatre.com.