Hot Mikado, Drury Lane Oak Brook, through Oct. 3. Director/choreographer/co-adaptor David Bell serves up an extravaganza of musical comedy silliness and sizzling choreography complete with jazzy 1940s arrangments of Gilbert and Sullivan’s classic 1885 operetta. SCM
Lookingglass Alice, Lookingglass Theatre Company, through Sept. 12. A circus-like version of Lewis Carroll which kids will like, but with adult psychological depths such as repeated images of burial and resurrection. Return visit of troupe’s signature show. JA.
The People’s Drum Circle Pandora, Quest Theatre Ensemble, through Sept. 19. This show is a wonderful and participatory way to introuce kids to Greek mythology and live theater. Even though the show is short on plot and too hyper-perky with its conclusions, there’s no denying the show’s overwhelming creativity with its parade of trippy and creative imagery. SCM
Shrek The Musical, Cadillac Palace Theatre, through Sept. 5. Dancing rat-feet and farting matches for the kids, patter songs and inside jokes for the grownups. And there’s a touching golden-rule lesson for everybody. This show’s got something for, literally, all ages. MSB
—By Abarbanel, Barnidge and Morgan