ComedySportz, the competitive improv franchise, has opened a new company at Pheasant Run; the show will run weekends from Oct. 5 to Dec. 29 in Preservation Hall. … The stellar musical improv company Baby Wants Candy is moving from i.O. to the Apollo Theater. … Annoyance Theatre is remounting its slasher-movie parody “Splatter Theatre” on Sept. 28. A performance Oct. 13 will feature some of the original cast of this first-ever Annoyance show. … The new national tour of “Rent,” coming to Chicago in February, will feature Heinz Winckler, the winner of the South African American Idol contest, along with U.S. finalist Anwar Robinson. … Ian McKellan is headed to Minneapolis with Trevor Nunn’s Royal Shakespeare Company production of “King Lear.” The Oct.5-14 run is the only Midwest engagement and is sold out. … Victory Gardens Theater has appointed Chicago playwright Aaron Carter as its new literary manager; he will supervise the reading of scripts submitted to the company.
