From big tours to community productions, the fall theater season offers a mix of music, dance, drama and even game and magic shows.
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “The Midtown Men – Four Stars from the Original Cast of Jersey Boys,” “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “Smokey Joe’s Café” are among the musicals being staged in the Southland through year’s end.
Also on the roster are late Chicago playwright Harry Segall’s “Heaven Can Wait,” Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire’s “Good People,” Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” and John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.”
Non-traditional theatrical offerings include “Let’s Make a Deal Live Game Show” hosted by Mark Walberg of PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow” and the live magic show “Masters of Illusion.”
*Beverly Arts Center
2407 W. 111th St., Chicago; 773-445-3838; beverlyartcenter.org.
Blair Thomas & Co. Master Puppeteers’ “The Selfish Giant” – Nov. 8.
“Disney’s Sleeping Beauty Kids” presented by BAC Star Productions with a cast of ages 5 to 11 – Nov. 13 and 15.
“Miracle on 34th Street” presented by BAC Professional Theatre Series – Dec. 11 to 20.
*Bicentennial Park & Theatre
201 W. Jefferson St., Joliet; 815-724-3761; bicentennialpark.org.
“Of Mice and Men” by Latitude 41 Theatre Company – Sept. 25 to Oct. 4; 331-725-2841; lat41.org.
“The Spirit of All Hallow’s Eve,” an original family production about Halloween lore by Bards’ Guild Theatre Group – Oct. 17 and 18; $5, $4 for groups; spiritofallhallows.com.
Joliet Drama Guild’s Annual Madrigal Dinner – Dec. 18 to 20; tickets on sale in November; 877-534-1933; jolietdramaguild.org.
*Drama Group
Studio Theatre, 330 W. 202nd St., Chicago Heights; 708-755-3444; dramagroup.org; Tickets at brownpapertickets.com ($20 and $21, with discounts for seniors, military, students and groups; $80 for season, $56 for triple play).
“The Drowsy Chaperone,” a musical directed by Mary Ellen Fawk – Oct. 16 to 25.
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“Heaven Can Wait,” the comedy by late Chicago playwright Harry Segall – Dec. 4 to 13.
“The Merry Wives of Windsor,” a free informal reading – Nov. 7.
*Governors State University’s Center for Performing Arts
1 University Parkway, University Park; 708-534-5000; govst.edu.
“Philadanco! at $45,” Philadelphia Dance Company’s celebration of Joan Myers Brown and James Brown – Oct. 24; $33 and $38.
Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” presented by GSU Theatre and Performance Studies – Nov. 7 and 8; $18.
“Ghashee w Mashee (The Dumbass)” by NGM Entertainment – Nov. 14.
Salt Creek Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” – Dec. 5; $23 to $43.
*Moraine Valley Community College
Dorothy Menker Theater, Fine and Performing Arts Center, 9000 W. College Pkwy., Palos Hills; 708-974-5500; morainevalley.edu.
“Reefer Madness” Academic Theater – Nov. 6 to 15; $10 and $12; talk-back sessions Sundays.
“An Irish Christmas” – Dec. 13; sold out.
Chicago Tap Theatre’s “Tidings of Tap” – Dec. 19; $20 and $25.
*Oak Lawn Park District Theatre
Oak View Center, 4625 W. 110th St., Oak Lawn; 708-857-2200; olparks.com.
“Smokey Joe’s Café” – Nov. 13 to 22; $23 and $24.
*Orland Park Theatre Troupe
Orland Park Civic Center, 14750 Ravinia Ave.; 708-403-7275; orlandpark.org.
“Oh ‘Ho Ho’ Holy Night” – Dec. 11 to 13.
*Palos Village Players
Recreation Center, 8901 W. 123rd St., Palos Park; 877-787-8497; palosvillageplayers.com.
“Good People,” the Tony Award-winning play by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire – Nov. 13 to 21; $15 and $18.
*Rialto Square Theatre
102 N. Chicago St., Joliet; 815-726-7171 or 800-745-3000; rialtosquare.com.
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” a new production of the classic musical directed by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler – Oct. 19; $39.50 to $69.50.
“Masters of Illusion” live magic show – Oct. 25; $28.50 to $68.50.
“The Midtown Men – Four Stars from the Original Cast of Jersey Boys” – Oct. 30; $29.50 to $79.50.
Von Heidecke’s Chicago Festival Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” – Nov. 29; $20.50 to $40.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” Live Radio Broadcast – Dec. 11; $10.
*Star Plaza Theatre
8001 Delaware Place, Merrillville, Ind.; 219-769-6311; starplazatheatre.com.
“Let’s Make a Deal Live Game Show” based on the CBS game show with guest host Mark Walberg of PBS’s “Antiques Roadshow” – Oct. 10; $36.50 and $51.50.
*Theatre at the Center
Center for Visual and Performing Arts, 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Ind.; 219-836-1930; cvpa.org.
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“Monty Python’s Spamalot” – Sept. 17 to Oct. 18; $40 to $44; post-show reception with cast and designers Sept. 20, free post-show Q&A with cast Sept. 24 and 30; pre-show dinner Oct. 8.
Theatre for Young Audiences’ “Alice in Wonderland” – Oct. 10; $7.50 and $9.50.
“A Christmas Story,” a musical based on Hammond native Jean Shepherd’s hit movie – Nov. 19 to Dec. 27; post-show reception with cast and designers Nov. 22; free post-show Q&A with cast Dec. 3 and 9; pre-show dinner Dec. 10 and 18.
Theatre for Young Audiences’ “Santa’s Magic Toy Shop” – Dec. 5 and 12; $7.50 and $9.50.
*Towle Theater
5205 Hohman Ave., Hammond, Ind.; 219-937-8780; towletheatre.org.
“Perfect Wedding,” Midwest premiere of the British comedy – through Sept. 27; $17.
“A Fabulous ’50s Christmas,” a family production – Dec. 5 to 20; $17.
Vickie Jurkowski is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.