Friday
My Name is Rachel Corrie: This controversial docudrama about a young American killed in the Gaza Strip ignited a firestorm when New York’s Public Theater announced plans for its American premiere. Purple Bench Productions is the first Chicago company to produce it. Through Oct. 5 at Artistic Home, 3914 N. Clark St.; $20, 866-811-4111 and purplebenchproductions.com.
Saturday
Anna Livia, Lucky In Her Bridges: An Irish ghost story kicks off this year’s Pride Series. Through Oct. 19 at Bailiwick Repertory Theatre, 1229 W. Belmont Ave.; $20-$25, 773-883-1090 and bailiwick.org
Sunday
Candide: Porchlight Music Theatre launches its 2007-08 season with a revival of Leonard Bernstein’s 1956 operetta. Ryan Lanning and Caitlin Collins star. Through Nov. 2 at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.;$37, 773-327-5252 and porchlighttheatre.com.
Vaudeville and Vixens: The burlesque-loving Piccolo Theatre Company — located within the Evanston Metra station — is transforming itself into a naughty cabaret for its latest vaudevillian amusement. Through Oct. 4 at Evanston Arts Depot, 600 Main St., Evanston; $25, 847-424-0089 and piccolotheatre.com
Monday
The U.N. Inspector: The playwright James Sherman has helped Americanize David Farr’s freewheeling British adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s “The Government Inspector.” In this version, a U.N. bureaucrat has misadventures in a former Soviet state. Through Oct. 12 at Next Theatre, 927 Noyes St., Evanston; $28-$ at 847-475-1875 and nexttheatre.org.
Wednesday
Mamma Mia! Hot on the heels of this summer’s movie, the live production of the ABBA lovefest is back in Chicago. Through Sept. 28 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress Pkwy.; $30-$85 at 312-902-1400 and BroadwayInChicago.com.
Amadeus: The acclaimed director Gary Griffin kicks off the subscription season at Chicago Shakespeare with Peter Schaefer’s well-known 1979 tale of Antonio Salieri, embittered rival to the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Robert Sella stars. Through Nov. 9 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier; $54-$70, 312-595-5600 and chicagoshakes.com.
Thursday
The Producers: Norm Boucher and Michael Mahler star in this further local outing for the Mel Brooks hit. William Pullinsi directs the fun. Through Oct. 19 at Theatre at the Center, 1040 Ridge Rd., Munster, Ind.; $36-$40; 219-836-3255 and theatreatthecenter.com.
