March Theater Preview: When Small Theater Companies Attack!

By Justin Sondak in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 1, 2007 8:24PM

Forgive the conveniently sensational Fox Network-style headline. Actually, our first ever Theater Bee prompted email from pleasant, well-mannered theater folk. But even as we notice more new and emerging companies every year, the years don’t get any longer (except leap years, which aren’t much of bonus anyway). We’ve selected from our inbox two shows that look interesting and unusual. After the jump, we point you to even more options for your mid-weeks and late nights.

Rubicon Theater Project, now in their second season, presents Quincy Long’s The Joy of Going Somewhere Definite, a dark comedy about unemployed North Woods loggers (lumberjacks?) looking to fill a void and find peace. A live Foley artist provides all the sound effects, which sounds really cool. The show runs at Live Bait Theatre March 11 – April 3, tickets are $10 for previews, $20 for general run, $40 for the March 11 Benefit Gala performance. More info here.

Sometimes the veteran companies get overlooked too. Now in its fifteenth season, The Factory Theater ensemble wishes it could find a little more love. As their managing director explains:

We are the best storefront theater operation most Chicagoans have never heard of. We've produced over sixty (you read that right, over sixty) original ensemble generated plays in our history. But for some reason, the main stream press seems to only pay attention to us
from time to time.

They aim to produce shows accessible enough for both inexperienced and seasoned theatergoers and much of their work looks to be quite funny. So we’ll be reviewing Janice Dutts Goes to Life Camp by Laura McKenzie, a humorous look at the counseling industry and its uber-peppy “life coaches.” It opens March 11 and runs through April 14 at Prop Thtr, tickets are $10. More info on their MySpace page, their video preview is on YouTube.

And there’s plenty more where that came from. More small and smallish productions after the jump.

Three Leaves Theatre at City Lit Theatre
Magnets by Daniel McRae

The Scene: Six short stories exploring Truth, Justice and the Midwestern Way.
Why see it: According to the release, Lee Harvey Oswald will speak from the grave. (Relax conspiracy buffs, it's only a character.)
When: March 2 – 24, Friday – Saturday
Cost: $10-$15
Three Leaves Theatre aims to “create a daring new American mythology” by exploring “estranged archetypes,” an edgier approach well-suited for the late night set.

Hobo Junction at Gorilla Tango Theatre
The Temp by Josh Zagoren

The Scene: Office employees battle ninjas and talking office equipment.
Why see it: It's got puppets, it's got ninjas, what more do you need? OK, the preview run was a hit at The Playground and Cornservatory.
When: March 2-17
Cost: $12

Mr. Zagoren, please share whatever you’ve been smoking with the rest of the class…

Lincoln Square Arts Center
Rashomon, adapted by Fay and Michael Kanin

The Scene: For stories that are really just the same story… or are they? The investigation of a shocking crime is also a timeless tale which filmmaker Akira Kurosawa turned into a modern classic.
Why see it: Does the Kurosawa classic translate well to English? Can these actors pull a Tohior Mifune, pushing themselves to the brink of insanity?
When: March 2 - April 1
Cost: $10-$20

Live, affordable theater lives at this Lincoln Square community venue.

Chemically Imbalanced Comedy at The Cornservatory Theater
Mr. Marmalade by Noah Haidle

The Scene: A heartwarming tale of a four-year-old girl and her coke addled, porn loving imaginary friend. The kids these days…
Why see it: OK, it's really a dark comedy from that guy who had that weird show at the Goodman last fall. And it's especially appealing to those of us who had (or still have) imaginary friends.
When: March 21 - April 29
Cost: $15

Chemically Imbalanced Comedy is a collective of comic performers nurturing up-and-coming talent, one big happy family. At least they look happy on their website.

Organic Theatre Company at The Ruth Page Center
Man With Bags by Eugène Ionesco

The Scene: Rarely produced absurdist work about trying to recapture your youth. Like we said, it’s absurd.
Why see it: Ionesco could find complexity in simple, everyday stuff. This work requires three actors to master a series quick character shifts.
When: March 17 & 23 and April 1 & 7
Cost: $22-$29

Theatre 5.2.1 at Theatre Building Chicago
The Silence of Malachi Ritscher by Kevin Kilroy
The Scene: The bizarre and sad story of a local activist who self-immolated to protest the war in Iraq.
Why see it: Intense internet chatter has nothing on intense live theater.
When: March 23 - April 21
Cost: $5

Theatre 5.2.1 stages original work in short runs and then burns the script. So unless someone pirates a video, you can never see this again.

Theatre Seven of Chicago at Rogue Theatre
Is Chicago: Sexual Perversity in Chicago by David Mamet and Diversey Harbor by Marisa Wegrzyn

The Scene: Two tales of North Side relationships, Mamet’s deliciously foul-mouthed classic and a new work exploring similar themes (with less f-bombs, probably).
Why see it: To see how the new kid stacks up against the Chicago legend.
When: March 23 - April 14
Cost: $15-$20

Theatre Seven of Chicago is a group of Wash U grads who formed their company during an ’05 production of Sexual Perversity in Chicago. Ms. Wegrzyn’s work has been produced at Steppenwolf and Chicago Dramatists.