Director Ron OJ Parson begins a winning season (his Radio Golf opens this week at Court Theatre) with The African Company Presents Richard III, Carlyle Brown’s alternately wrenching and inspiring (sometimes both simultaneously) based-on-the-true-story of an all-Black theater company in 1820s New York. Embedded in the play-within-the-play: The most powerful Lady Anne/Richard wooing monologue is as memorable as a brand—and should be required viewing for any company planning to stage Shakespeare’s Richard III. It runs through Sept. 1 at the outdoor Oak Park Festival Theatre, Austin Gardens, 167 Forest Ave., Oak Park. Tickets are $20-$32 each, under 12 free; visit OakParkFestival.com.