Spotlight: Broadway vet stars in Drury Lane's revival of 'Evita'

'Evita' revival

Broadway veteran Michelle Aravena returns to Drury Lane Theatre to star in its revival of "Evita," Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical chronicling the swift rise and brief tenure of Eva Peron as Argentina's first lady. Tony Award nominee Marcia Milgrom Dodge directs and choreographs the production, which features Sean MacLaughlin as Juan Peron and Richard Bermudez as Che.

Performances run through March 20 at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. $59-$74. COVID-19 precautions: Masks required. (630) 530-0111 or drurylanetheatre.com.

Friday funnies

Improv Playhouse hosts up-and-coming comedians as part of its monthly First Friday Funnies series. Jayson Acevedo serves as emcee for this month's show, which also features JT Newton, Michelle Krajecki, Tok Moffat and Derek Strong.

8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4, at 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. $7.50, $20. COVID-19 precautions: Masks required. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com.

Chicago Theatre Week

Having gone virtual in 2021, Chicago Theatre Week resumes in-person performances for the 10th anniversary of the annual Chicago-area theater showcase. League of Chicago Theatres executive director Deb Clapp says it is the perfect way to celebrate the area's resilient theater industry. "We have been hearing time and time again from theater patrons how excited they were to see their first show after a long hiatus during the worst months of the pandemic. Chicago Theatre Week is the perfect occasion to explore the theater world," said Clapp in a prepared statement. Participating theaters include: Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, Paramount Theatre, First Folio Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Northlight Theatre, Citadel Theatre, Windy City Playhouse, Goodman Theatre, The Second City, TimeLine Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, Broadway in Chicago and others. Runs Feb. 17-27 at venues in the city and suburbs. Tickets are $15, $30. COVID-19 precautions: Vary by venue. Most theaters require proof of vaccination and masks. chicagotheatreweek.com.

In other news

Check with venues about their COVID-19 precautions.

• The McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, offers half-price rush tickets to DuPage County residents for shows taking place this month. This offer applies to the following: "The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston Starring Belinda Davids" (Friday, Feb. 4); "Piaf! The Show" (Feb. 11); "The Best of The Second City" (Feb. 12) and New Philharmonic: "A Night at the Movies" (Feb. 19-20). Half-price rush tickets can be purchased for the performance between noon and the time of performance (with a limit of four tickets). (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org.

• Teatro ZinZanni introduced a new cirque-inspired cabaret and dinner production this week at the Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop, 32 W. Randolph St., Chicago. The new show boasts an international cast and is accompanied by a multicourse meal. Performances continue through Aug. 14. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test (PCR within 72 hours of attendance or rapid (antigen) test within 6 hours of attendance) and masking (when not eating or drinking) are mandatory. (312) 488-0900 or zinzanni.com/chicago.

• Through Feb. 13, Chicago Shakespeare Theater streams an online performance as part of its World's Stage series. "TM," from the Belgian collective Ontroerend Goed, is an interactive performance between one artist and one spectator to examine media manipulation, populist ideals and conspiracy theories. See chicagoshakes.com/tm.

• The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is the subject of "When There are Nine," a dream play during which Ginsburg recalls the private and personal challenges she encountered as she transitioned from feminist to lawyer to Supreme Court Justice. PrideArts Theatre presents the world premiere Thursday, Feb. 10, through March 13 at 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. See pridearts.org.

• "Bachelor: The Unauthorized Parody Musical," the new tuner inspired by the reality TV dating show, has been extended. Performances run through Feb. 17 at the Apollo Theater Chicago, 2550 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. See bachelorthemusical.com.

• In response to the surge of the Omicron variant, Shattered Globe Theatre has postponed its winter production "Rasheeda Speaking," a comedy turned thriller about workplace racism. The revival will play April 22 through June 4 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or sgtheatre.org.

• Chicago Children's Theatre has postponed its in-person production of Manual Cinema's "Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster" to the fall. The company's spring premiere of "Carmela Full of Wishes" will run April 23 through May 22 at 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. See chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

• Congo Square Theatre has rescheduled its free, family-friendly Festival on the Square and its annual Vision Benefit originally scheduled for this month. Both will take place June 19. The Vision Benefit will honor theater artists Luther Goins with the company's Lifetime Achievement Award; actor Jacqueline Williams with its Artistic Excellence Award; and Rueben Echoles with its Emerging Artist Award. The events take place at Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W. 35th St., Chicago. See congosquaretheatre.org.

• The League of Chicago Theatres awarded the 2022 Samuel G. Roberson Jr. Resident Fellowship to director and puppeteer Jerrell L. Henderson ("Mlima's Tale") and Free Street Theater, an ensemble committed to work that focuses on racial and economic justice. Henderson will receive $20,000 and Free Street will receive $7,5000. The director and the ensemble will collaborate on AmericanMYTH: Crossroads, a project that incorporates theater, shadow puppetry, lights and immersive sound to be staged this fall.