Stage guide

April 18, 2008

Please submit listings by going online to metromix.com/listings.

PREVIEWS AND OPENINGS—CITY

10 Virgins:

In a world-premiere fantasy by resident playwright Laura Jacqmin ("Happyslap"), a group of 10 girls create an alternative family in a mist-shrouded bog, but their dynamic is threatened when the eldest ventures out and encounters a swamp witch; previews Thu.-May 1; opens May 2; through June 1. $15-$28, tickets: chicagodramatists.org.Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave.; 312-633-0630.

Around the World in 80 Days:

The world premiere of ensemble member Laura Eason's adaptation of the classic Jules Verne novel about a Victorian Englishman who sets out to win a bet that—with the new steamships and railways—he can accomplish the aforementioned journey; previews Fri.-April 26; opens April 26; through June 1. $25-$55, tickets: lookingglasstheatre.org.Lookingglass Theatre in the Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan Ave.; 312-337-0665.

Die! Mommie, Die!:

In this parody of '60s thriller films, Hell in a Handbag Productions artistic director David Cerda stars as a washed-up female singer with an ungrateful husband and kids who attempt to find happiness with a very "gifted" gigolo. Penned by Charles Busch ("Vampire Lesbians of Sodom"); previews Fri.-Sat.; opens Mon.; through June 1. 8 p.m. Mon., Thu.; $10-$25, tickets: handbagproductions.org.Bailiwick Repertory Arts Center, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.; 773-883-1090.

The Dressing Room:

In this dramedy by Japanese playwright Kunio Shimizu, four actresses who share a love for the works of Shakespeare and Chekhov trade stories about their personal and professional lives; opens Sat.; through Sat.; 2 p.m., 8 p.m. Sat.; $22-$29, tickets: tix.com. Presented by Organic Theater Company atLa Costa Theatre, 3931 N. Elston Ave.; 800-595-4849.

Fiorello!:

Timeline Theatre Company remounts its 2006 production of the 1959 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical about the life and work of former New York mayor Fiorello LaGuardia; opens Sat.; through June 15. 4 p.m., 8 p.m. Sat.; 2 p.m. Sun.; 8 p.m. Thu.; $15-$30. Presented by TimeLine Theatre Company atTimeLine Theatre, 615 W. Wellington Ave.; 773-281-8463.

The Heidi Chronicles:

A student production of Wendy Wasserstein's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning dramedy about evolving female roles, which follows the life of a woman from her 1960s high school days through her successful career as an art historian; opens Fri.; through April 27. 7:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 2 p.m. Sun.; 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Thu.; $15. Presented by Theatre School at DePaul University atMerle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive; 312-922-1999.

Lewis and Clark Reach the Euphrates:

In this dark comedy about American domestic and foreign policies by Pulitzer Prize-winner Robert Schenkkan ("The Kentucky Cycle"), an imaginary journey takes the two real-life explorers through two centuries, from the Louisiana Purchase to the Spanish-American, Vietnam and Iraq wars; opens Sat.; through May 18. 8 p.m. Sat., Thu.; 3 p.m. Sun.; $20, tickets: infamouscommonwealth.org. Presented by Infamous Commonwealth Theatre atNational Pastime Theater, 4139 N. Broadway; 312-458-9780.

Old Town:

This world premiere musical by Brett Neveu ("Weapon of Mass Impact") takes place on an election night in Cook County; opens Thu.; through May 18. 8 p.m. Thu.; $10-$30, tickets: strawdog.org. Presented by Strawdog Theatre Company atStrawdog Theatre, 3829 N. Broadway; 773-528-9696.

Play Strindberg:

In Swiss playwright Friedrich Durrenmatt's comedic take on August Strindberg's tragedy, "The Dance of Death," an unhappy couple's uneasy truce gets upended when the woman's former flame returns; opens Sun.; through May 10. 2 p.m. Sun.; $22-$29, tickets: tix.com. Presented by Organic Theater Company atLa Costa Theatre, 3931 N. Elston Ave.; 800-595-4849.

The Regulars:

Hobo Junction ("Bad Guys in Suits" and "The Temp") returns with a comedy about nine steakhouse waiters who learn about love, betrayal and teamwork as they fight with their lives against the largest crowd a restaurant has ever seen; opens Fri.; through May 4. 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat.; 7 p.m. Sun.; $12, tickets: gorillatango.com. Presented by Hobo Junction atGorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-598-4549.

Russian on the Side:

The pre-Broadway premiere of a solo comic musical written and performed by Mark Nadler ("American Rhapsody"), who dishes gossip about 20th Century composers and tickles the ivories with songs by Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein, Cole Porter, and Ira Gershwin; previews Tue.-April 29; opens April 30 through June 15; $34-$55. Royal George Theatre Center, 1641 N. Halsted St.; 312-988-9000.

The Secret Agent:

In this world premiere adaptation of the dark comedy novel by Nobel Prize-winner Joseph Conrad, a man blows himself up in the middle of a major city and the resulting events astonish those who helped plot the explosion; opens Fri.; through May 11. 8 p.m. Fri.; $22-$29, tickets: tix.com. Presented by Organic Theater Company atLa Costa Theatre, 3931 N. Elston Ave.; 800-595-4849.

Space Future:

In this new parody of rock musicals, an unsuspecting slacker becomes responsible for saving the universe—and the future of music—from an evil galactic overlord. Features live music by a four-piece rock band; previews Fri.-Sat.; opens April 26 through June 28; $10-$15, tickets: theannoyance.com. The Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N. Broadway; 773-561-4665.

Still Life With Donkey:

A variety show about smoking features multimedia theater and comedy; opens Sun.; through Sun. 3:30 p.m. Sun.; $15. Presented by Donkey Corp. atGorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave.; 773-598-4549.

Sweeney Todd:

A dark musical comedy by Stephen Sondheim about a murderous barber and his pie-baking accomplice who disposes of evidence in a delicious—yet sinister—manner; opens Wed.; through May 4. 7:30 p.m. Wed.-Thu.; $25-$75. Presented by Broadway in Chicago atCadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St.; 312-902-1400.

Go to metromix.com for more listings.

PREVIEWS AND OPENINGS—SUBURBAN

Diary of a Skokie Girl:

A humorous and poignant solo show by veteran comic Caryn Bark about growing up Jewish in the '60s; opens Thu.; through May 15. 7:30 p.m. Thu.; $15-$22, tickets: wilmettetheatre.com. Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave., Wilmette; 847-251-7424.