Dancing at Lughnasa, Shapeshifters Theatre, Irish-American Heritage Center, through April 13. St. Patrick brought the Roman church to Ireland, but the old pagan gods still reign over the rural spinsters in Brian Friel’s bittersweet Irish memory play. (Barnidge)
Golden Boy, Raven Theatre, through May 11. A young violinist swaps musical dreams for pro boxing success, and loses his soul, in Clifford Odets’ Depression Era social drama, limned with astonishing clarity and emotional resonance by small, ambitious Raven. (Reed)
Mark Twain Invitational, Curious Theatre, 7001 N. Greenwood, through May 4. Twain impressionists, storytellers, songsters and poets deliver the words of the great American writer-philosopher, or words inspired by him. Changing nightly line-up. (Abarbanel)
The Winter’s Tale, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, through June 1. Barbara Robertson is peerless as the unjustly-accused queen, in Shakespeare’s romance of a king’s jealousy and its tragic consequences. Inspired direction by Brit superstar Michael Bogdanov. (Reed)
by Jonathan Abarbanel,
Mary Shen Barnidge and Rick Reed