THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Chicagoan Arlen Parsa has discovered that his great-grandfather, Hispanic music writer Eustasio Rosales, wrote an unperformed opera called Andina some 80 years ago. It's about a Colombian mountain girl torn between two suitors. So now Parsa is giving the work its world premiere as part of a documentary film project. Andina plays one performance only at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. Tickets are $13-$17. The production is performed in Spanish with a full orchestra and projected English translations. For more information, call 773-935-6875 or visit www.athenaeumtheatre.org .

Photo illustration courtesy of Arlen Parsa

Critics' Picks

After Miss Julie, Strawdog Theatre, through Sept. 26. Patrick Marber's updates Strindberg's 1888 drama of interclass attraction to 1945 England, clarifying the economic issues without sacrificing any of the steamy sex. MSB

Glory Days, Refuge Theatre Project at Flatiron Arts Building, through Sept. 20. The first year out of high school is a fragile time, claim the post-grad composers of this musical about post-grad boys, and four talented cast-to-age actors make us believe it. MSB

The Lyons, AstonRep Theatre at Raven Theatre, through Sept. 27. The Chicago premiere of Nicky Silver's 2012 scathing family comedy certainly puts the fun in dysfunctional as two adult children are informed late in the game that their homophobic father is dying of cancer. SCM

The Rainmaker, American Blues Theater at Greenhouse Theater, through Sept. 27. It's a prime example of 1950s light drama, presented with sincerity, skill and passion under director Ed Blatchford. There's a fine cast, with sly scene-stealer Robert Breuler a special treat. JA

—By Abarbanel, Barnidge and Morgan