RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Theater
Elizabeth Stenholt (center) plays Cady Heron, the nice, new smart girl at North Shore High, attended to here by “The Plastics” (from left): Julia Hope Budd as Karen Smith, Angel Alzeidan as Gretchen Wieners and Dariana Mullen as Regina George in “Mean Girls.”
Adam Cannon
Paramount Theatre begins its season with “Mean Girls,” Tina Fey, Jeff Richmond and Neil Benjamin’s Broadway musical adaptation of the motion picture about a smart new girl (Elizabeth Stenholt) who finds herself tangled up with the school’s popular clique, The Plastics (Julia Hope Budd, Angel Alzeidan and Dariana Mullen). Devon Hayakawa directs. From Aug. 26-Oct. 11 at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Tickets: $34-$109. Visit paramountaurora.com .
Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s musical “Come From Away” tells the true story of the tiny town of Gander, Newfoundland, whose residents took in 7,000 strangers when air space was closed on Sept. 11, 2001. Jessica Fisch directs. From Aug. 26-Oct. 18 at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire. Tickets: $78+. Visit marriotttheatre.com .
Mark Pracht’s “Shane” is a world premiere adaptation of Jack Schaefer’s classic Western novel about a mysterious stranger who takes a job as a farm hand in the Wyoming Territory in 1889. Pracht directs. From Aug. 21-Oct. 4 at City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Tickets: $40. Visit citylit.org .
From left, David Cerda, Gretchen Greear and Coco Sho-Nell star in “Joan Crawford Goes to Hell,” a campy roller coaster ride that explores the life of the legendary Hollywood star.
Rick Aguilar Studios
Hell in a Handbag Productions presents a revival of David Cerda’s “Joan Crawford Goes to Hell,” a campy roller coaster ride that explores the life of the legendary Hollywood star. Cheryl Snodgrass directs. From Aug. 21-Sept. 27 at The Clutch, 4335 N. Western Ave. Tickets: $39, $52. Visit handbagproductions.org .
Jackalope Theatre’s 17th annual Living Newspaper Festival is inspired by the Living Newspapers of the Federal Theatre Project which featured stories based on recent events. Each night includes five one-act plays: Madie Dopelt’s “Picture Day,” Anelga Hajjar’s “Let Them Eat Cake,” Aurora Real de Asua’s “Fellow Mortals,” Netta Walker’s “Turning” and Ike Holter’s “The Day the Night Came Down.” From Aug. 20-24 at The Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway. Tickets: $20-$35. Visit jackalopetheatre.org .
Scott Silgay, Ryan Avoux and Dante Brattelli star in the Off-Broadway production of “Vape! The Grease Parody.”
Jeremy Daniel
“Vape! The Grease Parody” an Off-Broadway spoof of the beloved stage and film musical “Grease,” pokes fun at the plot’s outrageous characters, rivalries and secret romances. Jack Plotnick directs. From Aug. 20-Jan. 3 at Apollo Theater, 2550 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: $45-$65. Visit vapemusical.com .
Chicago Puppet Lab Showcase features two programs of work by eight Chicago artists who have spent the past eight months in residence at the lab. They are Rachel Anne Healy, Raven See, Mikayla Wilson, Zachery Sun (Program A) and Ashwaty Chennat, Jerrell L. Henderson, Abby Palen and Just D’Acci (Program B). From Aug. 20-23 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St. Tickets: $15 per program. Visit chicagopuppetfest.org .
Nothing Without a Company presents “The Trouble With My Hair: Coloring, Cutting and Coming into Who I Am,” Ada Cheng’s solo piece, which explores gender, sexual identity and boundary-making through her evolving relationship with her hair and hairstyle. Jessica Lynn Johnson directs. From Aug. 21-30 at various locations. Tickets: $15-$50. For locations, visit nothingwithoutacompany.org .
“Cracks” is Claire Lochmueller’s dark comedy memoir that details her journey from a childhood in the Catholic Church and ROTC military school to a career as an award-winning trans theater-maker.
Isaac Harrell
“Cracks” is Claire Lochmueller’s dark comedy memoir that details her journey from a childhood in the Catholic Church and ROTC military school to a career as an award-winning trans theater-maker. At 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21-22 at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater, 1700 N. Halsted St. Tickets: $15-$30. Visit steppenwolf.org/lookout .
Playmaker’s Laboratory celebrates the 25th anniversary of “That’s Weird, Grandma” with five performances featuring adaptations of stories written during creative writing residencies in Chicago elementary schools.
Kate Smith
Playmaker’s Laboratory celebrates the 25th anniversary of “That’s Weird, Grandma” with five performances featuring adaptations of stories written during creative writing residencies in Chicago elementary schools. From Aug. 23-Sept. 6 at The Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. Tickets: $26.06, $15.76 for ages 4-15, children 3 and under free. Visit playmakerslab.org .
Dance
The Chicago Dance Health Fund presents its annual fundraiser, Dance for Life, which features performances by The Joffrey Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Giordano Dance Chicago, Trinity Irish Dance Company, Visceral Dance Chicago, Ensemble Espanol Spanish Dance Theater, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Ballet 5:8, Chicago Dance Crash and Robyn Mineko Williams and Artists. At 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr. Tickets: $65+. Visit auditoriumtheatre.org .
Music
Alabama Shakes performs Aug. 21 at Ravinia, 201 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park.
Brantley Gutierrez
Fans were thrilled when Alabama Shakes reunited in early 2025 after not performing together since 2017. Now on a continuing reunion tour, Brittany Howard, Heath Fogg and Zac Cockrell rekindle the electrifying chemistry that defines the band’s distinctive take on Southern rock, soul and blues. Liam Kazar opens at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 at Ravinia, 201 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park. Tickets: $78+. Visit ravinia.org .
Grammy-winning neo-soul artist Jill Scott (she’s also a bestselling poet and actor) tours behind her new album, “To Whom This May Concern,” her first release since 2015. In town for a three-night sta...
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