A celebration of the late, lamented August Wilson dominates Chicago’s theater scene in March and April, while at Victory Gardens, another African-American scribe tells a story inspired by today’s headlines. Other highlights include critically praised stories set in Ireland and terra incognita.
“Two Trains Running” and August Wilson Celebration
March 7 to April 18
August Wilson, one of America’s greatest playwrights, wrote a landmark series of 10 plays about the black experience, with one drama set in each decade of the 20th century. Chuck Smith is directing one of those dramas at the Goodman: “Two Trains Running.” The year is 1969, and a Pittsburgh diner serves as a crossroads for African-Americans trying to find their way through that turbulent time. But “Two Trains Running” is just one part of an ambitious Wilson festival. Events include free readings of the other nine plays in Wilson’s cycle at venues from Evanston to the South Side, as well as panel discussions, a poetry reading and Wilson’s autobiographical show “How I Learned What I Learned,” performed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson March 30 at Northwestern University. Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, 312-443-3800
“Outside Mullingar”
March 13 to April 19
This lyrical romantic comedy brings together two eccentric, middle-aged misfits: Anthony, who’s lived his whole life on a cattle farm in the Irish countryside, and his neighbor Rosemary, who’s held a grudge against Anthony ever since he clobbered her down—way back when she was 6 years old. When “Outside Mullingar” premiered on Broadway last year, The New York Times said it was playwright John Patrick Shanley’s best work since “Doubt,” which won the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize in 2005. Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, 847-673-6300
“An Issue of Blood”
April 3 to May 3
After the police shooting of a young black man in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked protests, Chicago playwright Marcus Gardley felt compelled to address the controversy. And Victory Gardens quickly changed its season schedule to put his brand-new script on its stage. Although it was sparked by current events, “An Issue of Blood” takes place in the colonial era. As a symbol of peace during an era of rising racial tension, a free black woman in Virginia offers to marry her son to a powerful white planter’s daughter. Resounding with African-American spirituals and field hollers, Gardley’s drama is “part history, part myth.” Victory Gardens Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, 773-871-3000
“Title and Deed”
March 18 to May 3
Will Eno’s plays are peculiar, poetic and playful, toying around with the English language and philosophical concepts about life. In this solo monologue, an unnamed man talks about his past in another country and his present life in an odd new one. At Lookingglass, the star will be Michael Patrick Thornton, who proved himself to be a compelling interpreter of Eno’s potentially puzzling scripts in 2011, when he starred in another show by the playwright, “Middletown,” at Steppenwolf. Lookingglass Theatre, 821 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, 312-337-0665
Theater Guide
AMERICAN BLUES THEATER (AT GREENHOUSE)
“Yankee Tavern”
Through March 22
“Side Man”
April 24 to May 24
773-404-7336
BANK OF AMERICA THEATRE
“The Book of Mormon”
Through May 17
312-977-1700
CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE (RUTH PAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS)
“Wonderland, Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure”
April 22 to May 24
872-222-9555
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATRE
“Dunsinane”
Through March 22
“Sense and Sensibility”
April 18 to June 7
312-595-5600
CITADEL THEATRE
“Other Desert Cities”
Through March 15
“Don’t Dress for Dinner”
April 24 to May 24
847-735-8554
COURT THEATRE
“The Good Book”
March 19 to April 19
773-753-4472
GIFT THEATRE
“The Royal Society of Antarctica”
Feb. 26 to April 26
773-283-7071
GOODMAN THEATRE
“The Upstairs Concierge”
March 28 to April 26
312-443-3800
HOUSE THEATRE (AT THE CHOPIN)
“The Hammer Trinity”
Through May 4
773-769-3832
THE HYPOCRITES
“Endgame”
Through April 5
“Three Sisters”
April 17 to June 6
773-989-7352
LIFELINE THEATRE
“The One and Only Ivan” (for children)
March 21 to April 26
“One Came Home”
Through April 5
773-761-4477
MARRIOTT THEATRE
“La Cage aux Folles”
Through March 22
847-634-0200
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (ETHEL M. BARBER THEATER)
“The Grapes of Wrath”
April 24 to May 3
847-491-7282
PICCOLO THEATRE
“The Venetian Twins”
March 20 to May 9
847-424-0089
PORCHLIGHT MUSIC THEATRE (AT STAGE 773)
“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”
April 17 to May 24
773-327-5252
PROFILES THEATRE
“The Other Place”
Through April 5
“Genius”
March 13 to May 3
773-549-1815
RAVEN THEATRE
“Dividing the Estate”
Through March 28
“The Birdfeeder Doesn’t Know”
March 31 to May 16
“Beast on the Moon”
April 21 to June 6
773-338-2177
A RED ORCHID THEATRE
“Red Handed Otter”
April 9 to May 24
312-943-8722
REMY BUMPPO THEATRE (AT GREENHOUSE)
“Travesties”
March 25 to May 3
773-244-8119
STEPPENWOLF THEATRE
“This Is Modern Art” (for young adults)
Through March 14
“Marie Antoinette”
Through May 10
“The Herd”
April 2 to June 7
312-335-1650
TIMELINE THEATRE
“The Apple Family Plays”
Through April 19
773-281-8463
WRITERS THEATRE
“The Diary of Anne Frank”
Through May 31
847-242-6000
