The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow, CollaborAction at Chicago Dramatists, through April 1. Hyper-thread through this serio-comedy about the Internet, AI and a trash-talking teen geek genius seeking her roots. Astonishing lead performance by Jennifer Shin. JA
Mud, The Hypocrites, Theatre Building Chicago, through April 8. It's never easy, elevating oneself above the daily muck. But the Hypocrites take that heroic journey to a whole new level with Mud, a production as gutsy as it is—literally—dirty. CS
Otherwise Engaged, Steep Theatre, through March 24. Simon Gray's 1970s snidely dark comedy takes English snobbery and the status quo to task. Steep's production is scrappy, but smart. SCM
The Weir, Signal Ensemble, Chopin Theatre, through March 24. Ireland is full of ghosts and the pub regulars in Conor McPherson's play are full of tales to warn or welcome strangers—a shivery, but ultimately heart-warming, experience in this smart staging. MSB
—By Abarbanel, Barnidge, Morgan and Sullivan