“Prairie Lights,” the holiday musical that premiered in Chicago in 2002 at the storefront Stage Left Theatre, has just opened at the Jerusalem English Speaking Theatre (JEST) in Israel. The show–which features a book by Susan Lieberman, lyrics by David Rush and music by Rosalie Gerut–tells the story of a Jewish brother and sister sent by Orphan Train to a childless couple in Nebraska just before Hanukkah in 1905. … First intended as a holiday attraction, the Black Ensemble Theater’s hit production of “Those Sensational Soulful Sixties” at The Black Orchid nighterie in Old Town is now an open run. Black Ensemble’s “Don’t Shed a Tear (The Story of Billie Holiday)” now is slated to run through Feb. 11 at the theater’s Uptown home. And the newest Black Ensemble show, David Barr’s “Memphis Soul Stew (The Story of Stax Records)” is now slated to open March 11. … Chicago on tour: The Lookingglass Theatre Company’s “Lookingglass Alice” has been getting strong reviews at the McCarter Theater Center in Princeton, N.J. … Towards a Poor Theatre is the name of Chicago’s newest theater company; the company is in rehearsal for its debut show, “Toy Soldiers,” opening at the Viaduct Theater on Feb. 1. The company’s name comes from Polish director Jerzy Grotowski (1933-1999) and his push for simpler stagings. … The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in downtown Arlington Heights is reprising its After Dark Comedy Series, now starring one of Chicago’s best sketch-comedy troupes, the all-women Triplette. “If It Bleeds, It Leads” will run Saturday nights Feb. 3 to March 10. … The hit Profiles Theatre production of “Fat Pig” has added extra matinee performances on Saturdays at 4 p.m.
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Compiled by Chris Jones
