Curtain call
Theater previews and openings Oct. 11-17
Directors Haven 2019
Features work by three early career directors: Caryl Churchill’s “This Is a Chair” directed by Lauren Katz, Sonia Sanchez’s “2 x 2” directed by Aaron Mays and Dan Giles “How You Kiss Me Is Not How I Like To Be Kissed” directed by AJ Schwartz. Previews begin Oct. 14, opens Oct. 16; to Oct. 30. Haven Theatre at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee, $10; havenchi.org
‘The Effect’
Lucy Prebble’s drama about two people taking part in a clinical trial for an antidepressant who may be falling in love; directed by Elly Green. Previews begin Oct. 13, opens Oct. 19; to Nov. 23. Strawdog Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice, $35; strawdog.org
‘Exquisita Agonia’
Nilo Cruz’s drama about an opera singer who after losing her husband in a car accident pursues the recipient of his transplanted heart; directed by Marcela Munoz. Preview Oct. 17, opens Oct. 18; to Nov. 24. Aguijon Theater, 2707 N. Laramie, $10-$30; clata.org and aguijontheater.org
‘Jane Eyre’
The Joffrey Ballet, in partnership with American Ballet Theatre, presents the Chicago premiere of choreographer Cathy Marston’s adaptation of Charlotte Bronte’s classes novel. Oct. 16-27. Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr., $35-$199; joffrey.org
‘Luisa Miller’
The Lyric Opera launches a multi-year series of Giuseppe Verdi’s works with this opera about star-crossed love and violent jealousy. Opens Oct. 12; to Oct. 31. Lyric Opera of Chicago, 20 N. Wacker, $39$299; lyricopera.org
‘The Merchant of Venice’
Shakespeare’s classic drama of revenge, justice and mercy now set in 1938 Italy when laws discriminated against Italian Jews during the rise of fascism; directed by Charles
Askenaizer. Previews begin Oct. 17, opens Oct. 21; to Nov. 17. Invictus Theatre at The Buena, Pride Arts Center, 4147 N. Broadway, $25; invictus theatreco.com
‘Pounding Nails in the Floor with My Forehead’
In Eric Bogosian’s one-man play, Donterrio Johnson portrays 12 angry men, each trying to stop the noise in their head; directed by Jon Dambacher. Oct. 16, 30. The Broadway, Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway, $20; hundo4productions.com
‘Soltera, Casada, Viuda y Divorciada’
Roman Sarmentero’s comedy finds four Latinas in different stations in life sharing their points of view on the topic of men. Performed in Spanish with English supertitles. Oct. 17-20. Destinos: Chicago International Latino Theatre Festival at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted, $20-$25; steppenwolf. org