Shattered Globe, Goodman stages local premieres

Isabella Maria Valdés (left), Linda Reiter and Rebecca Jordan perform at the Shattered Globe Theater in the Midwest premiere of Sarah Ruhl’s “Becky Nurse of Salem.”
Courtesy of Jeffrey L. Kurysz

Salem’s Legacy

Shattered Globe Theater begins its 34th season with the Midwest premiere of “Becky Nurse of Salem,” Wilmette native Sarah Ruhl’s darkly comic examination of the legacy of the Salem Witch Trials, directed by frequent Ruhl collaborator Polly Noonan. Band member Linda Reiter plays the titular Becky, whose namesake was executed for witchcraft in 1692. Struggling with her family’s past and her own identity, Becky seeks help from a local witch. Shows at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, October 4-5, and Wednesday, October 9, and 3 p.m., Sunday, October 6, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The exhibition will start on Thursday, October 10. $10-$52. (773) 975-8150, sgtheatre.org Or theatrewit.org.

Namir Smallwood is preparing for the Chicago premiere of Eboni Booth’s 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning “Primary Trust” at the Goodman Theatre.
Courtesy of Hugo Hentoff

The 2024 Pulitzer Prize winner receives a local premiere

Goodman Theater presents the Chicago premiere of “Primary Trust,” Eboni Booth’s 2024 Pulitzer Prize-winning play about a longtime bookstore employee whose life is turned upside down when the bookstore closes and he is forced to find a new job, new friends and a sense of self-worth . The main role is played by Steppenwolf Theater member Namir Smallwood. Previews at 7:30 PM on Saturday, October 5 and October 8-11; 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 6 and 13; and 2 and 7:30 p.m., Oct. 12, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The exhibition will start on October 14. $20-$65. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheater.org.

“Charlotte’s Web” on stage

North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie presents TheatreWorks USA’s “Charlotte’s Web,” based on EB White’s beloved children’s novel about the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte, who figures out a way to keep Wilbur from turning into into pork chops. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 6, at 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $15-28. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org.

Grant Drager (left), David Cerda, Ed Jones, Ben Meneses, Josh Kemper, Tyler Anthony Smith, Caitlin Jackson and Elizabeth Lesinski star in the world premiere of Hell in a Handbag Productions parody “The Golden Girls Meet The Skooby Don’t Gang: “The Mystery of the Haunted Bush.”
Courtesy of Rick Aguilar Studios

Seasonal mix

Hell in a Handbag Productions concludes its 22nd season with the premiere of “The Golden Girls Meet The Skooby Don’t Gang: The Mystery of the Haunted Bush.” In this mash-up of Handbag’s parody of “The Golden Girl” and “Scooby-Doo,” Dorothy, Rose, Blanche and Sophia enlist the help of teenage detectives to help solve the mystery. Artistic director David Cerda wrote the play and it is directed by Frankie Leo Bennett. Shows at 8 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, October 10-12, at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. The exhibition will start on October 13. $29-60. handbagproductions.org.

Kevin Webb stars as the Baker and Sonia Goldberg stars as the Baker’s Wife in Kokanda Productions’ revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods.
Courtesy of Collin Quinn Rice

Sondheim’s revival

Kokandy Productions brings back Stephen Sondheim’s fairy tale-inspired film Into the Woods, which explores what happens to the Brothers Grimm characters once they achieve their happily ever after. Kevin Webb and Sonia Goldberg star as the Baker and the Baker’s Wife, and Stephanie Stockstill plays the Witch in director-choreographer Derek Van Barham’s production, which features a score arranged for two pianos. Previews at 7 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, October 10-12; 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 13 and 20; and 7 p.m. October 14, 21, 24 and 25 at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. The exhibition will start on October 26. $25-$55. kokandyproductions.com.

Rough House Theater’s production of “House of the Exquisite Corpse” features puppets by artists Justin D’Acci and Sion Silva.
Courtesy of Yvette Marie Prosperous

Rough House’s “Exquisite Corpse.”

Rough House Theater sends chills through its fourth immersive haunted experience, House of the Exquisite Corpse, filled with puppets and designed to shock, scare and amaze. The adults-only show features puppet performances, physical performances and illusion. It takes place in the Merle Reskin Garage space in the Steppenwolf Theater. Ticketed admissions are every 15 minutes starting at 7 p.m., with last admission at 9:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, October 10 through November 2, at 1624 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $21-46. roughhousetheater.com.

Greek tragedy inspires new play

Euripides’ tragedy about “Hippolytus”, who dies after rejecting his stepmother’s love, became the inspiration for the new play “The Love Object” by Justine Gelfman, playwright-in-residence at The Story Theatre. The plot focuses on a pop princess who begins a world tour, whose friend and assistant wants to pursue her own interests, but changes her mind after a scandal threatens her friend, a pop star. Shows at 7:30 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, October 10-12, at the Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. The exhibition will start on Sunday, October 13. $15-20. (773) 338-2177 or thestorytheater.org.

UP Comedy Seasonal Shows

“She the People,” the satirical comedy sketch that praises patriarchy, returns to the Second City with “Clued In, An Invitation to Die For.” The latter is a 90-minute Halloween crime thriller inspired by Agatha Christie’s novels. “She the People” can be seen from Saturday, October 5 to November 23, at 8 p.m. Ticket prices start at $29. “Clued In” will be available to watch at 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 10, 17 and 31 and at 4 p.m. on October 27. Ticket prices start at $30. Both performances take place at the UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave., Chicago. (312) 337-3992 or secondcity.com.