OPENINGS
Friday
Cadillac: Bill Jepsen’s morality play is set on a used-car lot. Working under the direction of Steppenwolf’s Edward Sobel, Craig Spidle plays Howard Austin, a salesman with a conscience.
Through Feb. 24 by Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave.; $22-$28, 312-633-0630 and www.chicagodramatists.org.
Machos: Berwyn’s new 16th Street Theater — an intimate venue akin to Writers’ Theatre in Glencoe — hosts a reprise engagement of the hit exploration of machismo by the Latina-oriented Teatro Luna.
Through Feb. 17 by Teatro Luna at 16th Street Theater in the Berwyn Cultural Center, 6420 16th St., Berwyn; $16, 800-838-3006 and www.16thstreettheater.org.
Saturday
Dolly West’s Kitchen: TimeLine Theatre presents the Chicago premiere of the Frank McGuinness comedy about competing loyalties during World War II, when British, American and Irish characters collide in Dolly’s kitchen. Kimberly Senior directs.
Through March 22 by TimeLine Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington Ave.; $25-$30, 773-281-8463 and www.timelinetheatre.com.
Contraption: Bilal Dardai created this original exploration of inventors, their creations, and their sanity (or lack thereof).
Through March 1 by the Neo-Futurists at the Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland Ave.; $15, 773-275-5255 and www.neofuturists.org.
Sunday
Columbinus: This controversial, high-profile piece about the Columbine tragedy is the most ambitious opening at the generally traditionalist Raven Theatre in quite some time. Greg Kolack directs a play that draws from interviews with those involved with the events at Columbine High School in 1999. The material was performed at the New York Theatre Workshop in 2006.
Through March 15 by Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St.,$25, 773-338-2177 and www.raventheatre.com.
Tuesday
Journey’s End: Chicago’s Griffin Theatre Company revives the emotional R.C. Sherriff drama about the travails of British soldiers in the trenches of World War I. Penned in 1928, Sherriff’s most famous play attracted new attention when it was revived on Broadway last year. At Griffin, Jonathan Berry directs.
Through March 9 by Griffin Theatre Company at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.; $24, 773-327-5252 and 773-769-2228 and www.griffintheatre.com.
Wednesday
Fragments: The company directed by the legendary Peter Brook returns to Chicago Shakespeare Theater with the American premiere of a piece based on Samuel Beckett’s “Rough for Theatre I,” “Act Without Words II,” “Neither” and “Rockaby.”
Through Feb. 9 Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave.; $46-$56, 312-595-5600 and www.chicagoshakes.com.
CLOSING
Sunday
Forbidden Broadway: Special Victims Unit: The show completes its long run with a mostly Chicago-based cast. The funniest 90 minutes this side of the Great White Way, for musical lovers at least.
At the Royal George Cabaret, 1641 N. Halsted St.; $49.50, 312-988-9000 or 312-902-1500.
