The new year already boasts significant revivals of The Faith Healer at the Den, featuring the cast that first introduced Brian Friel's haunting play to Chicago in 1995 (running through Feb. 3; 773-398-7028), and Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie at Mary-Arrchie's Angel Island (running through Feb. 17; 773-871-0442), but don't reach for your Netflix card yet. There are many more reasons for making plans to venture out in this benevolent weather.
Some of the next few months' offerings are perennial favorites: Shakespeare, of course, with Julius Caesartransposed to present-day Washingtonat Chicago Shakespeare (opening Feb. 5; 312-595-5600), as well as Measure for Measure at the Goodman (opening March 9; 312-443-3800), and what promises to be an unconventional Coriolanus from The Hypocrites (opening March 9 at the Chopin; 773-989-7352). George Bernard Shaw is represented by Stage Left and Boho Theatre's co-production of Pygmalion at Theater Wit (running through Feb. 10; 773-975-8150) and ShawChicago's chamber reading of Widower's Houses at the Ruth Page (opening Feb. 2; 312-587-7390).
Selections from the modern repertoire include Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle, staged by the Promethean Theatre Ensemble in the City Lit loft (running through Feb. 9; 800-838-3006) and Pinter's The Birthday Party at Steppenwolf (opening Feb. 2; 312-335-1650). The season also features a category that could be dubbed "Sons of Steppenwolf," consisting of plays that premiered at our own home-grown star-making factory, now enjoying a return to their roots: David Hare's Skylight at Court Theatre (opening Jan. 29; 773-753-4472) and Bruce Norris' Purple Heart at Redtwist (currently running through Jan. 27; 773-728-7529).
You'll also find plenty of theater from off the syllabus: A Soldier's Play won author Charles Fuller a Pulitzer in 1982 for its premiere production starring Adolph Caesar, Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson, but is seldom done nowadaysan oversight remedied by Raven Theatre (opening Feb. 18; 773-338-2177). Even more rarely produced are the plays of Alice Childressa contemporary of Lorraine Hansberry too often neglected by theater historianswhose Wine in the Wilderness and Florence double-bill (currently running through March 3; 773-752-3955) continues ETA's season of African-American classics, followed by Cheryl West's Jar The Floor (opening March 21). Northlight, after shocking their audiences with a Martin McDonagh bloodbath in 2009, embarks on another risky project with another laugh-till-you-cry Irish play, Marie Jones' Stones in His Pockets (opening March 8; 847-673-6300), while Eclipse Theatre begins their one-playwright seasonfeaturing the mischievous comedies of Alan Ayckbourn this timewith Woman in Mind at the Athenaeum (opening April 11; 773-935-6860).
The most exotic artifact to be exhibited this winter, ironically, traces its origins to a once-popular genre. Arlington Heights' Metropolis Performing Arts Center has exhumed Terence Frisby's provocatively titled There's A Girl in My Soup, a 1966-vintage romantic comedy of the sort that proliferated in suburban theaters throughout America during the last half of the 20th century (opening Jan. 20; 847-577-2121). Will 2013 see grandparents and grandchildren unite in snickering at these retro antics?
Mother Nature may surprise us yet, but in the meantime, why not take advantage of her kindness by spending an evening at the theater?