Friday
Gatz: This widely acclaimed six-hour opus from the New York-based Elevator Repair Service centers on an anonymous man in an office who picks up a copy of Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” and reads the whole thing. Through Nov. 16 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, 220 E. Chicago Ave.; $40-$52 at 312-397-4010 and www.mcachicago.org.
Saturday
The Autumn Garden: Nathaniel Smith directs Lillian Hellman’s 1951 drama about old friends gathering at a summer home. Through Dec. 21 by Eclipse Theatre at the Greenhouse, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave.; $25, 773-871-3000 and eclipsetheatre.com.
Sunday
Dublin Carol: Fresh from her Broadway triumph in “August: Osage County,” Amy Morton directs her old friend William Petersen in Conor McPherson’s 80-minute alcoholic confessional. Through Dec. 28 by Steppenwolf Theatre Company, 1650 N. Halsted St.; $50-$70, 312-335-1650 and steppenwolf.org .
Monday
Ruined: Premiere of a major new drama from MacArthur “genius” Lynn Nottage, set in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Through Dec. 7 at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.; $10-$39, 312-443-3800 and goodmantheatre.org.
Well: Next Theatre has the first Chicago-area production of Lisa Kron’s memoir about her mother’s fight for racial integrationThrough Dec. 14 at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St., Evanston; 847-475-1875 and nexttheatre.org.
A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant: This satirical off-Broadway musical from 2003 imagines a bunch of kids celebrating L. Ron Hubbard and the story of Scientology. Through Dec. 28 by A Red Orchid Theater, 1531 N. Wells St.; $20-$25, 312-943-8722 and aredorchidtheatre.org.
Wednesday
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: The latest offering in Kevin Bellie’s long-running series of tiny, jewel-box productions of classic song-and-dance musicals. Through Feb. 1 at Circle Theatre, 7300 W. Madison St., Forest Park; $26, 708-771-0700 and www.circle-theatre.org
Meet Me in St. Louis: A welcome remounting of Jim Corti’s beautiful production of the much-loved holiday classic. Through Jan. 4 at Drury Lane Water Tower, 175 E. Chestnut St.; $45-$55, 312-642-2000 and drurylanewatertower.com.
Thursday
Winter Pageant Redux: Redmoon’s long-running pageant. Through Dec. 21 at Redmoon Central, 1463 W. Hubbard St.; $15, 312-850-8440 and redmoon.org
Grey Gardens: In one of the highlights of the fall, Hollis Resnik stars in the first local production of the hit Broadway musical. Through Dec. 28. at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie; $25-$59, 847-673-6300 and northlight.org.
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On the Internet: Find current reviews, news and other stage bits at bancodeprofissionais.com/theaterloop.
