The Chicagoist will be launching later but in the meantime please enjoy our archives.

THREE TO SEE: This Week's Theater Recommendations

By Melody Udell in Arts & Entertainment on May 2, 2014 3:00PM

2014_5_2_thewhitesnake.jpg
'The White Snake' at the Goodman.

A couple of zany comedies and a touching Chinese fable hit the Chicago stage this week.

Avenue Q

It seems like there's been quite a few productions of Avenue Q around lately, and we’re excited to see what Mercury Theater will do with everyone’s favorite racy (and racist), hilariously inappropriate puppet show. The show runs through Sunday, June 29.

Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport Ave., 773-325-1700 or online.

The White Snake

Director Mary Zimmerman (of The Jungle Book fame) is back at the Goodman, this time with a folksy Chinese fable of a serpent spirit sent to live among humans. For more, check out the Goodman’s cheeky, spoiler-free synopsis—told in GIFs. The show runs Saturday, May 3 through Sunday, June 8.

Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., 312-443-3800 or online.

Buyer & Cellar

Go for the hilarious Michael Urie, but stay for the whacky story about a struggling young actor with a truly odd job: working in Barbra Streisand’s basement mall. The show runs Tuesday, May 6 through Sunday, June 15.

Broadway in Chicago at the Broadway Playhouse, 175 E. Chestnut St., 312-977-1700 or online.