The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey, American Blues at Stage 773, through April 27: Joe Foust commands our rapt attention for 75 minutes in this thriller noir, as he discovers the killer and—more importantly—the legacy of his victim. MSB
Lottery Day, Goodman Theatre, through April 28: The final chapter of Ike Holter’s seven-play saga about a Chicago neighborhood in crisis. It celebrates victories and mourns defeats, while sending its heroes riding into the sunset to fight another day. MSB
Cambodian Rock Band, Victory Gardens Theater, through May 5: By turns sassy-funny and harrowing, Lauren Yee’s newest play intertwines surviving the nightmare 1970s Khmer Rouge regime, with 1970s-style Cambodian rock music (songs by Dengue Fever) played live. Exciting theater! JA
—By Mary Shen Barnidge and Jonathan Abarbanel