Art imitates life. Just last week in Afghanistan, the Taliban ended a hostage crisis by releasing the surviving Korean Christians they had held captive for weeks (after killing two). A similar crisis—ripped from the headlines, as they say—is the subject of Envoy, a world premiere by notable veteran Chicago actor, award-winning author and teacher Belinda Bremner; however, her focus is on a group of American university students motivated by the best of intentions, and perhaps naive innocence, to travel in a dangerous part of the world. The crackling drama is the inaugural production of Echo Theatre Company. Envoy is at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, through Sept. 16. 773-327-5252; $15.
Photo of (from left) Caitlin McGlone, Stephen Louis Grush, Jenn Spain and Ben Carr by Greg Kolack