Chicago theater chugs along ... and chugs along and chugs along. The 2014-2015 season is filled with delights covering 2,400 years of drama from the works of Euripides and Sophocles to new lights we haven't yet discovered ( but will before next summer rolls around ). As always, a very high percentage—about 40 percent—of work offered from our 230+ area theater troupes is made up of world, regional or Chicago premieres. A short preview story can't do them all justice, but here are 10 picks ( listed by date of production ) of more than ordinary interest, and representing a wide range of dramatic styles and appeal.
Death Tax, Lookingglass Theatre, through Oct. 12 and Isaac's Eye, Writers Theatre ( Glencoe ) through Dec. 7—Barely in his mid-30s, Lucas Hnath ( pronouned "Nayth" ) has emerged in a few years as one of the United States' finest young playwrights. These simultaneous productions by two leading theater companies are the first Hnath plays to be done here. Hnath serves up deep seriousness of purpose in ways which engage and entertain audiences. In short, his diverse range of work is thoughtful but playful. Death Tax concerns a wealthy woman whose daughter may be hastening her demise in order to avoid increased estate taxes, and how the woman and her nurse confound that attempt. Isaac's Eye is an entirely modern play about the historic scientists Robert Hooke and Isaac Newton. It has nothing to do with science and everything to do with ethics and ambition. See either or both: www.lookingglasstheatre.org; www.writerstheatre.org .
Rest, Victory Gardens Theater, through Oct. 12—This is a regional premiere by Samuel D. Hunter, author of the compassionate play, The Whale, which was a considerable VG hit a year ago. Like The Whale ( and other Hunter plays ), Rest is set in Idaho where a blizzard threatens the three last residents of a retirement home, one of whom disappears into the storm. Hunter has a knack for balancing tenderness and humor. Admirable veteran director Joanie Schultz is at the helm. Information: www.victorygardens.org .
Season on the Line, House Theatre of Chicago, through Oct. 22—Nobody tells a slam-bang tale like The House, and this world premiere is based on a real slam-banger, Moby Dick, as reduced, adapted and otherwise deconstructed by House ensemble member Shawn Pfautsch. Only it's not quite Melville's whale tale, but a backstage tell-all story—as narrated by the lone survivor—about a theater troupe trying to stage Moby Dick under the captaincy of an obsessive, megalomaniacal director. Details: thehousetheatre.com . FYI: Shattered Globe Theatre's production of The Whaleship Essex—the true story which inspired Moby Dick—continues through Oct. 11. Read my review at WCT online.
The World of Extreme Happiness, Goodman Theatre, through Oct. 12. This world premiere by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig, a U.S. playwright of Chinese descent, is set in contemporary China and pits the human longing for a better life against rampant industrial expansion and its exploitation of its work force. This remains a problem even in the developed Western world, and more so in still-developing nations as news story after story reports to us. Goodman guest director Eric Ting is staging the play. Cowhig's plays have been produced extensively in London and at a variety of U.S. theaters. Tickets: www.goodmantheatre.org .
The Sweat Girls Are ... 21 and Finally Legal, at the Heartland Studio, Sept. 26-Oct. 12. One of Chicago's longest-established female ensembles and also one of our longest-established monologue-based troupes, The Sweat Girls finally have reached drinking age and are celebrating with a new show. Critics and audiences always anticipate a return by "the Sweats" because they only create a show every few years, and each edition reveals how they have grown in experience and wisdom both professionally and personally. They know how to have fun, too! Now if only they'd team up with Teatro Luna in an all-girl dream team... Info: www.sweatgirls.org .
The Gravedigger, First Folio Theatre ( Oak Brook ), Oct. 1-Nov. 2—A world premiere based on the ultimate triumph of a so-called "resurrection man"—a grave robber—Frankenstein's Monster. Authored by Michigan-based Joseph Zettelmaier and staged by First Folio artistic director Alison Vesely, The Gravedigger should be perfect for the Halloween season and for staging in the pseudo-Gothic splendors of the Mayslake Peabody Mansion. Sew up the deal: www.firstfolio.org .
Devil's Day Off, Signal Ensemble Theatre, Oct. 16-Nov. 11—A world premiere by the prolific Jon Steinhagen, a man who never stops writing except, perhaps, when he's acting and he's acting almost all the time. Devil's Day Off is set in Chicago during a record-breaking heatwave ... and then the power fails. Steinhagen always enjoys a high concept, so this show actually is 50 mini-plays featuring 100 characters, thereby revealing a broad swath of the trials and tribulations of Chicago's citizenry on a day that's hot as hell. Signal Ensemble co-artistic director Ronan Marra directs. For a sizzling time: www.signalensemble.com . FYI: Signal is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The Anyway Cabaret ( an animal cabaret ), TUTA Theatre at the Storefront Theatre, Oct. 17-Nov. 16—Not really a cabaret, but a world premiere play with music by Slovenian author Martin Marion, in which an animal band performs in a club each night ( at an undisclosed location ) in order to comment on current events and the universal conflicts between power, identity and humanity. TUTA artistic director Jacqueline Stone directs. Take a stand: www.tutato.com .
Strandline, A Red Orchid Theatre, Oct. 23-Dec. 7—This United States premiere is a modern take on ancient Irish mourning customs, by contemporary Irish writer Abbie Spallen. There's a funeral and mourners, see, but some of them have damn good reasons not to be there. The outstanding J. R. Sullivan is the guest director, and the cast features always-good A Red Orchid ensemble members Kirsten Fitzgerald and Natalie West. Well, Sullivan and Fitzgerald oughta get the Irish thing down cold. Cry if you want to: www.aredorchidtheatre.org .
