Spotlight: 'Hamilton' returns, 'Lehman Trilogy' premieres, Chicago celebrates playwright Pearl Cleage
'Hamilton' returns
Lin-Manuel Miranda's award-winning musical about Founding Father Alexander Hamilton returns to Chicago, where its initial run lasted more than three years. Pierre Jean Gonzalez stars as the orphaned immigrant who served as the nation's first treasury secretary.
7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16; 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17; and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, Sept. 19-21, and through Dec. 30, at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. $39-$299. broadwayinchicago.com.
Murder mystery
Citadel Theatre opens its season with a revival of "The Mousetrap," Agatha Christie's classic whodunit that, except for the COVID-19 shutdown, has played continuously in London for more than 70 years. The thriller involves seven strangers stranded at a remote estate during a blizzard who become suspects and potential victims after one of them is murdered.
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15-16, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, and through Oct. 15 at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. $40, $45. (847) 735-8554, ext. 1, or citadeltheatre.org.
Welcome to the family
The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre opens its 2023-24 season with "The Addams Family: The Musical" by "Jersey Boys" writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa ("Big Fish") that was inspired by the deliciously macabre drawings of artist/illustrator Charles Addams. The tuner, which tips its hat to the feature films and the 1960s TV series, is about Wednesday Addams introducing her new boyfriend and his "normal" family to her decidedly quirky family.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, and 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16. $10-$45. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.
Celebrating Pearl Cleage
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company revives Pearl Cleage's "Blues for an Alabama Sky" as part of Chicago's citywide salute to the Atlanta-based playwright and performance artist. Mikael Burke directs the drama about a struggling blues singer, her costume designer roommate and their abortion rights activist neighbor, all of whom navigate love and friendship during the Harlem Renaissance.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Sept. 15-17, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens Monday, Sept. 18. $30-$52. (773) 975-8150 or remybumppo.org.
Story of a songbird
A young woman with an ability to mimic such beloved singers as Judy Garland, Edith Piaf and Barbra Streisand is exploited by her blustering, alcoholic mother and a sleazy agent in "The Rise and Fall of Little Voice," Jim Cartwright's drama about a person struggling to find her voice. Devon de Mayo and Peter G. Andersen direct Gift Theatre's revival, which stars ensemble member Emjoy Gavino in the titular role.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15-16, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at Filament Theatre, 4041 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. $20-$45. (773) 283-7071 or thegifttheatre.org.
Chicago premiere
Steppenwolf Theatre opens its 48th season with the Chicago premiere of "Sanctuary City," Pulitzer Prize-winner Martyna Majok's drama about love and friendship. The story centers on two teenagers, brought to the U.S. as children, who discover after the attacks of Sept. 11 that their adopted country no longer loves them.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16; 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17; and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 20-22, at 1646 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 23. $20-$114. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.
Timely revival
Women who helped operate an underground medical service that provided access to safe, affordable abortions before the Supreme Court decision legalizing the procedure share their stories in "Jane: Abortion and the Underground." Paula Kamen adapted her play from interviews with the women who ran the organization, known by the code name "Jane," which provided services for more than 10,000 women. Morgan Manasa directs Idle Muse Theatre Company's revival.
The preview is at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15, at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W. Catalpa Ave., Chicago. The show opens Saturday, Sept. 16. $10-$20. (773) 340-9438 or idlemuse.org.
Regional premiere
Film and TV veteran and Lookingglass Theatre ensemble member Joey Slotnick stars alongside Chicago veterans Mitchell Fain and Anish Jethmalani in the TimeLine Theatre/Broadway in Chicago regional premiere of "The Lehman Trilogy." Adapted by Ben Power from Stefano Massini's play, the story centers on the three German immigrant brothers who founded the Lehman Brothers financial firm whose 2008 collapse helped trigger one of the country's biggest financial collapses.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, Sept. 19-22; 2 and 8 p.m. Sept. 23; and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. The show opens Sept. 27. $35-$105. (773) 281-8463, timelinetheatre.com or broadwayinchicago.com.
'Motherhouse' returns
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble remounts its acclaimed premiere of "Motherhouse," ensemble member Tuckie White's play about a young woman who enlists her four aunts to help her pen a eulogy for her late mother.
Performances run at 8 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, Sept. 14-29; 4 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, Sept. 16 and 23; and 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at 5775 N. Ridge Ave., Chicago. $39. (773) 334-7728 or rivendelltheatre.org.