Hairspray, Marriott Theatre at Lincolnshire, through Dec. 6. If you’ve missed previous Chicago visits of this big, campy integration musical, go now to see local professionals do it supreme justice before every high school in the land starts producing it. SCM
Animal Crackers, Goodman Theatre, through Nov. 1. This production makes for a vastly entertaining evening, if you love the Marx Brothers. This “revisical” faithfully recreates the Marxes as a comedy act, and also recreates the style and flavor—if not the full size—of a 1920s musical. JA
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Court Theatre, through Oct. 18. Greta Oglesby reigns supreme as Ma Rainey, Mother of the Blues. Directed by Ron OJ Parson and featuring an ensemble of formidable talent, August Wilson’s Chicago-set tale of music and racism in the roaring ’20s is well-played. CS
Mistakes Were Made, A Red Orchid Theatre, through Oct. 31. When a 17-year-old Michael Shannon made his professional acting debut in 1990, we knew he was something special. Now see how he’s grown—you won’t be disappointed. MSB
—By Abarbanel, Barnidge,
Morgan and Sullivan