Theater Spotlight
If you missed the the national tour of Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage the last time it played Chicago in 2008, then you can catch up with the international hit show once again. So see Baby fall in love with Johnny in the 1960s, complete with anachronistic songs written for the beloved 1987 film like "Hungry Eyes" and the Academy Award-winning "( I've Had ) The Time of My Life." Dirty DancingThe Classic Story on Stage continues through Aug. 30 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays ( also Aug. 23 ), 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays ( also Aug. 26 ). Tickets are $15-$82. For more information, call 800-775-2000 or visit www.broadwayinchicago.com .
Photo by Matthew Murphy
Critics' Picks
Brilliant Adventures, Steep Theatre, through Aug. 29. A little Pinteresque menace, a lot of kitchen-sink drama and British post-industrial funk. But it's young playwright Alistair McDowall's sci-fi twist and well-etched characters that mark it as special, along with the best damn acting I've seen in a long time. JA
Grand Concourse, Steppenwolf Theatre, through Aug. 30. Psychologically impaired individuals are not always easy to identify, and if you think they are, see how long it takes you to spot the sociopath in Heidi Schreck's play. MSB
Stanley in the Name of Love, The New Colony at Den Theatre, through Aug. 29. This weird apocalyptic fairytale musical involving true love and gay porn may be a tad too simplistic, but Sean Kelly's club-kid production is assuredly and flashily produced with great pop numbers. SCM
Thunderballs, DD7 at Gorilla Tango Theatre, through Aug. 28. This clever gender-bending spoof of James Bond movies would be entertaining even if it didn't include a diverse range of playful mostly male physiques in diverse states of undress. MSB
By Abarbanel, Barnidge and Morgan