CITY
Campaign Supernova: Second City e.t.c. always faces a conundrum. It has to be sufficiently edgy that its parent institution doesn’t seem in a creative rut, but when the mainstage sells out, it also has to deliver enough laughs for a general audience. As directed by Matt Hovde, “Supernova” straddles those conflicting masters as well as Democrats screw up elections. Through Dec. 31 by Second City e.t.c., 1608 N. Wells St.; $19-$25 at 312-337-3992.
The Comedy of Errors: Second City veteran Ron West penned much of the script for Barbara Gaines’ rollicking comedy, at least the parts that work. Shakespeare’s farce is transplanted into wartime England, where a crew is “filming” a movie of “Comedy of Errors.” This show is directed by Gaines with great gusto, and there are killer performances from Ross Lehman and Kevin Gudahl, but not all of the matchup between West and the Bard works. Through June 29 by Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier; $44-$70 at 312-595-5600.
Cirque Shanghai: Gold: Well, it took ’em three years, but Navy Pier finally has a summertime, family-oriented circus attraction that befits a city vying for the right to hold the Olympic Games. To the credit of the producers, Cirque Shanghai has gotten progressively better every year. This year’s production, directed by the Ringling Brothers veteran Sylvia Hase, is still not wholly the equal of major circus attractions on, say, the Las Vegas Strip, but then the tickets cost a lot less. And for 2008, Navy Pier has delivered a much zestier, sexier and generally more appealing show that uses talents from the Chicago theater to showcase the visiting Chinese acrobats — whose skills have been dazzling from the project’s inception — to much more powerful effect. Through Sept. 1 on the Pepsi Skyline Stage, Navy Pier; $14.50-$29.50 at 312-902-1500.
Dead Man’s Cell Phone: In a quiet cafe, a guy croaks. And then his cell phone rings. So does that mean he is no longer dead? That’s pretty much the central concern of Sarah Ruhl’s amusing and fearless little feast of existential pondering. Through July 27 in the Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.; $20-$68 at 312-335-1650.
Durango: This father-and-two-sons drama probes the generation gap between a hard-toiling Korean immigrant (played by Joseph Anthony Foronda) and his emotionally troubled and thoroughly Americanized sons (newcomers Dawen Wang and Erik Kaiko). Through June 15 at Silk Road at Chicago Temple Building, 77 W. Washington St.; $28-$32, 866-811-4111.
Fiorello!: Nick Bowling’s gritty 2006 production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning show about New York Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia was the biggest hit in the history of TimeLine. Now “Fiorello!” rides again. And he does so with considerably more intensity, certitude and tunefulness. Through July 20 by TimeLine Theatre Company, 615 W. Wellington Ave.; $25-$30 at 773-281-8463.
The First Breeze of Summer: This show presents one of life’s great dividing lines: You can either embrace the power of sensuality in all of its cultural and racial messiness, or you can stay out of the bedroom and tie yourself in self-loathing knots. That’s pretty much playwright Leslie Lee’s message — this was 1974, after all, a freer-thinking, freer-feeling period. Director Ron OJ Parson layers this unusual but provocative show with lush music and unapologetically romantic shimmers of sensual light. Through June 15 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Ave.; $32-$54 at 773-753-4472.
Hizzoner: Mayor Richard J. Daley as a tragic figure? Neil Giuntoli’s gripping “Hizzoner” is a persuasive case, and his performance as Daley is a sight to behold. Now June 14 to July 27 at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St.; $35-$40, 773-445-3838.
Juno and the Paycock: What sets Artistic Home apart is the way it integrates the customers into the artistic environment. You can see it in John Mossman’s simple, moving and well-acted production of Sean O’Casey’s iconic Irish drama. Through June 29 at Live Bait Theater, 3914 N. Clark St.; $22-$25 at 866-811-4111.
In a Dark Dark House: This is a different kind of Neil LaBute play. For sure, it’s a provocative and sexualized mystery in the usual LaBute fashion. Shocking revelations unspool, especially in the last few minutes. But instead of dealing with the cruelties of the present, it deals with the abusive memories of the past. Through June 15 by Profiles Theatre, 4147 N. Broadway; $25-$30 at 773-549-1815.
Jersey Boys: The music of the Four Seasons and their rise from Newark to the top of the pop-music charts. Open run at Bank of America Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.; $30-$150 at 312-902-1400.
The Mark of Zorro: The joint has barely enough room to swing a rapier, but Lifeline Theatre has cornered the market on swashbuckling literary adaptations. In an original adaptation by Katie McLean, “The Mark of Zorro” is an uncommonly good time for anybody older than 10. The secret weapon in Dorothy Milne’s production is a young actor named James Elly, who manages to convince as both fop and superhero and delivers a killer, action-packed, sword-fighting performance. Through July 20 by Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave.; $25, 773-761-4477.
A Steady Rain: Keith Huff’s rich, poetic and gripping tale of two Chicago police officers. Through Oct. 5 at the Royal George, 1641 N. Halsted St.; $40-$50 at 312-988-9000.
A Taste of Honey: With her teenage daughter impoverished and pregnant, the heinously self-absorbed mother in Shelagh Delaney’s “Taste of Honey” shows up in her flat. “I never thought about you,” Helen tells Jo. “I never have done when I am happy.” For sure, this straight-from-the-heart play is no sweet treat, but at Jeremy Wechsler’s movingly acted revival for Shattered Globe, your heart will be engaged. Through July 5 at the Victory Gardens Greenhouse, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.; $20, 773-871-3000.
Wicked: Blond girl. Green girl. Love interests. Wizard. Through Jan. 25 at Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.; $32-$90 at 312-902-1400.
SUBURBS
The Buddy Holly Story: I’ll say this: The people at the Drury Lane found a Buddy for their “Buddy.” This is one to remember. Through July 27 at Drury Lane Theatre, Oakbrook Terrace; $28-33 at 630-530-0111.
The Lady With All the Answers: David Rambo’s light and airy piece about the great advice columnist Ann Landers was clearly penned by a fan. The play focuses on Landers’ actual columns and her incomparable relationship with her readers. Through June 29 at Northlight Theatre, North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie; $35-$55 at 847-673-6300.
The Lion in Winter: Thanks to the husband-and-wife, king-and-queen team of Michael Canavan and Shannon Cochran, the smart-mouthed angst flows nicely in Rick Snyder’s pleasingly primal production of James Goldman’s historical yarn from 1966. This livelier-than-usual “Lion” maintains a fresh landscape around the dysfunctional royals. Through Aug. 3 at Writers’ Theatre, 325 Tudor Ct., Glencoe; $40-$55 at 847-242-6000.
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Hottest ticket
Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night: Mention Jacques Brel and you summon images of cabaret stools, turtlenecks, berets and pretentious chanteuses with bad French accents trying to get their lips around “Ne Me Quitte Pas.” But Theo Ubique Theatre Company’s entirely beguiling little show “Jacques Brel’s Lonesome Losers of the Night” is not the ubiquitous “Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.” This new revue, conceived by Fred Anzevino and Arnold Johnston, sets Brel’s songs in the context of a down-at-the-heels bar on an Amsterdam wharf, circa 1959. The No Exit Cafe is so close to the rumbling “L,” you can hear when the doors are closing. But Anzevino’s subtly toned show still transports you to a rough, guttural ambiance that feels something akin to Eugene O’Neill’s sea plays and is positively bursting with the aura of European dislocation and humanistic emotional oomph. The four singers in this 90-minute revue have powerful, sophisticated and appealing voices. They help you appreciate Brel’s music in an entirely new way.
* Through July 20 at the No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave.; $20 at 773-370-0235.
