Theater events: 'Guys and Dolls' comes to Marriott

Damon Runyon's high-rollers, showgirls and do-gooders converge on the Marriott Theatre stage in Frank Loesser's memorable musical, “Guys and Dolls,” about a gambler who bets he can successfully woo a prim Salvation Army worker. Matt Raftery directs and choreographs the show starring Brian Hissong, Rod Thomas and sisters Jessie and Abby Mueller. Previews continue through Saturday, Feb. 5, at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. The show opens Sunday, Feb. 6. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

Spectral satire

The recently remarried Charles finds his life upended when a medium named Madame Arcati mistakenly conjures up the spirit of his deceased first wife — to the chagrin of his present wife — in Noel Coward's droll comedy, “Blithe Spirit.” Alison C. Vesely directs ensemble member Nick Sandys as Charles and Chicago favorite Paula Scrofano as Madame Arcati. Previews begin Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St. Oak Brook. The show opens Feb. 5 (630) 986-8067 or firstfolio.org.

Page to stage

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre welcomes Griffin Theatre Company and its stage adaptation of the children's book “Frindle,” about a precocious 5th grader whose made-up word catches on with everyone in town, except his teacher. The family-friendly show is part of Metropolis' Stories in Action series. Runs Thursday, Feb. 3, to Saturday, Feb. 12, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

What's new

• Goodman Theatre welcomes the Belarus Free Theatre to Chicago for a limited run of their production of “Being Harold Pinter.” Presented in Russian and Belarusian with English subtitles, “Being Harold Pinter” combines transcripts from Belarusian political prisoners with excerpts from Harold Pinter's writings in a commentary on oppression, freedom and dignity. Performances run through Saturday, Jan. 29, at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org. The show runs Friday through Sunday, Feb. 4 to 6 and 11 to 13, at the Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern University's Mussetter-Struble Theater, 1949 Campus Dr., Evanston, (847) 491-7282 or tic.northwestern.edu. The limited engagement concludes at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, where it runs from Feb. 18 to 20, (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

• Attic Playhouse's production of “Red Herring,” Michael Hollinger's noir-inspired romantic comedy/whodunit about a female detective and an FBI agent on the trail of a Russian spy, opens Friday, Jan. 28, at 410 Sheridan Road, Highwood. Kimberly Loughlin directs the show, which runs through March 13. (847) 433-2660 or atticplayhouse.com.

• The Moving Dock Theatre Company hosts a benefit at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 28, at the Fine Arts Building's Curtiss Hall, 410 S. Michigan Ave., 10th floor, Chicago. The evening includes a performance of “The Lydia Études,” an adaptation of Russian writer Lydia Avilova's memoir “Chekhov in My Life,” along with refreshments and music. Tickets are $40. Proceeds benefit the theater. See movingdock.org.

• Sketch comedy troupe Geek Show will host its Graffiti Sketch Comedy Showcase every Friday from Jan. 28 through March 4, at Playground Theater, 3209 N. Halsted St., Chicago. See the-playground.com.

• “Life's Ruff,” featuring talented canines, holds auditions for new cast members from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Dogs who have been trained with positive reinforcement are welcome. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

• Chicago Children's Theatre hosts a winter kite-flying event from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Jan. 30, in Chicago's Millennium Park Wrigley Square, located across the street from the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago. The even kicks off the opening of the theater's new show, “Red Kite Round Up,” a show designed for children who have autism and limited to 10 children, 10 adults and 10 observers. It opens Tuesday, Feb. 1, at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago. (773) 227-0180, ext. 15 or theredkiteproject.org.

• Tympanic Theatre Company previews its new show, “Verse Chorus Verse,” as part of Chicago's Department of Cultural Affairs' Incubator Program, promoting new works by emerging theater companies. The performance is at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, at the Studio Theater, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Chicago. (312) 742-8497 or dcatheater. org.

• John Leguizamo previews parts of his new solo show “Ghetto Klown” — chronicling the colorful characters he has encountered — during a two-week engagement at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The unplugged “John Leguizamo Warms Up,” directed by Fisher Stevens, runs Tuesday, Feb. 1 through Feb. 12. (312) 988-9000 or theroyalgeorgetheatre.com.

• “Burn the Floor” brings ballroom and Latin dance to the Bank of America Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., Chicago, for a brief run beginning Tuesday, Feb. 1. The show features “So You Think You Can Dance” alums Anya Garnis, Pasha Kovalev, Ashleigh Di Lello, Ryan DiLello, Robbie Kmetoni, Janette Manrara and Karen Hauer, along with vocalist Vonzell Solomon from the fourth season of “American Idol.” The show runs through Sunday, Feb. 13. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• Broadway in Chicago presents the 25th anniversary touring production of “Les Miserables,” the Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg musical inspired by Victor Hugo's tale of the unjustly imprisoned Jean Maljean, the redemption he achieves by helping other unfortunates and his relentless pursuit by the police detective Javert. Performances begin Wednesday, Feb. 2, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• A family's momentous moments — beginning with the first meeting of the parents — play out during various meals at a suburban restaurant in Dan LeFranc's “The Big Meal,” in its world premiere at American Theater Company under director Dexter Bullard. This marks the second ATC world premiere to move to a regional production. Playwright's Horizons will present the New York premiere of “The Big Meal” during its 2011-2012 season. Previews begin Thursday, Feb., 3, at 1909 W. Byron St., Chicago. The show opens Feb. 7. (773) 409-4125 or atcweb.org.

• Steven Dietz adapts Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic novel “Dracula” — about the bloodthirsty Count who pursues the lovely Mina — for Idle Muse Theatre. The show opens Thursday, Feb. 3, at the Side Project Theatre, 1439 W. Jarvis, Chicago. (773) 382-2472 or idlemuse.org.

• The Neo-Futurists present the Midwest premiere of “Laika Dog in Space,” beginning Thursday, Feb. 3, at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. Created by New York Neo-Futurists Rob Neill, Eevin Hartsough and Jill Beckman, “Laika” combines Antoine de Saint-Exupery's novel “The Little Prince” and the 1960s' TV show “The Prisoner” in telling the story of the first mammal in space. The show includes puppetry, dance, music and comedy. The show opens Feb. 5. (773) 275-5255 or neofuturists.org.

• Previews begin Thursday, Feb. 3, for Maya Productions' “Conviction,” a one-man play in which an Israeli scholar and a Spanish official uncover a confession from a 15th century Spanish priest admitting his love for a Jewish woman. The show opens Sunday, Feb. 6, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or convictiononstage.com.

• iO Chicago presents new sketch shows: “We're not Friends,” by the Good Time Gang, looks at the relationship between performers and the audience; the Katydids' “Nice to Meet You, I Love You” examines our closest relationships. The shows run at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 3 to March 24, at 3541 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 880-0199 or ioimprov.com.

• Aurora's Paramount Theatre named Jeff Award-winning director, choreographer, actor and Broadway veteran James Corti as its new artistic director. Corti's appointment announcement coincides with Paramount's announcement that it will produce its own musicals as part of a four-show subscription series beginning in September. Paramount reveals its inaugural season at 7 p.m. March 18, at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. The theater will continue to feature comedy, dance, holiday and music in short runs. See paramountaurora.com for a schedule of events.

• Newcomer theater company Cold Basement Dramatics debuts six ten-minute plays about the truths we hide from ourselves and others as part of its Secret Stash, running through Saturday, Jan. 29, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

• Chicago Children's Theatre asks students ages 15 and younger to write a 500-word essay on how they are inspired by the story of Jackie Robinson — the first African American to play major league baseball — to celebrate the opening of “Jackie and Me,” based on the children's novel by Dan Gutman. Gutman will review the top 25 entries and select 5 winners. The deadline is Feb. 28. See chicagochildrenstheatre.org/essaycontest for an application.