Theater Spotlight
Commedia Beauregard posed a challenge for a six playwrights to create short one-act plays inspired by sculptures, paintings and other pieces of "folk" or "outsider" art. See how the results panned out and vote for your favorites in MASTER WORKS: The Intuit Plays, which features pieces by Kevin Alves, Jackie Davies, Brenda E. Kelly, Christopher Kidder-Mostrom, Laura Nessler and Caity-Shea Violette. MASTER WORKS: The Intuit Plays plays through Saturday, April 11, at Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, 756 N. Milwaukee Ave.. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Tickets are $15; visit tinyurl.com/intuit-tix. Photo of the piece "Untitled ( Several figures/shades of grey )," the inspiration for Shadow Boy, from Commedia Beauregard
Critics' Picks
The Apple Family Plays, TimeLine Theatre, through April 19. The affluent, middle-aged Apple siblings discuss each other, life and politics on Election Day 2010 and 2012 in two works playing in repertory. Reality has bruised their liberal idealism and life expectations in Richard Nelson's warm-hearted, witty and political plays, brilliantly acted. JA
The Full Monty, Kokandy Productions at Theater Wit, through April 12. Kokandy ups the sensitive male-bonding levels for this inspirational tale of bare-booty blue-collars getting their groove back. MSB
Hamlet's House, The Public House Theatre, April 11-May 31. Surprise! It's a children's show about the adventures of a big fluffy dog named Hamlet and his human friend, brought to you by the company that gave us Bye, Bye, Liver and other raucous adult comedy revues. MSB
The Royal Society of Antarctica, Gift Theatre, through April 26. Mat Smart's word premiere play is an engrossing trip to the bottom of the world with fascinating insights to the people who choose to work in perpetual cold. SCM
By Abarbanel, Barnidge and Morgan