THREE TO SEE: This Week's Theater Recommendations

By Melody Udell in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 25, 2013 4:00PM

A Red Orchid Theatre's production of Trevor.

A couple can't-miss plays plus a theater-themed football game take the stage (or field) this weekend.

The Normal Heart
Making its first local premiere since its recent Broadway staging in 2011, The Normal Heart follows a gay AIDS activist in 1980s New York. Oh, and did we mention Broadway vet David Cromer is starring? The show runs from Saturday, Oct. 26 to Sunday, Dec. 22.

Timeline Theatre at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont, 773-327-5252 or online.

Trevor
Nick Jones, whose day job includes writing for the Netflix series Orange is the New Black, has an absurdly funny sense of humor. His dark comedy, Trevor, examines a dysfunctional roommate setup: one’s a grief-stricken recent widow, the other’s a 200-pound TV star chimpanzee. The show runs through Tuesday, Dec. 3.

A Red Orchid Theatre, 1531 N. Wells St., 312-943-8722 or online.

Goodman vs. Steppenwolf
Okay, so it’s not actually a show, but high on our to-do list this weekend is watching the annual Goodman vs. Steppenwolf charity football game. Over-dramatic theater nerds sacking each other on the field? Sign us up. (The game is free, but items and monetary donations are encouraged for Breaking Bread and Bin Donated.) The game is on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 9:30 a.m. at the Diversey Driving Range, 141 W. Diversey.