Welcome to our highlights of events and entertainment on stage at Chicago’s theaters. From local productions to Broadway hits, our guide has the latest on shows in the city. Bookmark this page and check back for updates and ticket information.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater in the Parks

Yin He Dance is part of “Dream: A Community Reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”Yin He Dance

WHAT: Chicago Shakespeare Theater celebrates the 10th anniversary of Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks with “Dream: A Community Reimagining of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The new staging was created in collaboration with Cruz Gonzalez-Cadel, Cage Sebastian Pierre, GQ and Joriah Kwame with artists and organizations from Englewood, Austin, Hermosa, Little Village, West Pullman and Chinatown including Me’Lo the Generation Hero, DJ Jeremy Heights, Move Me Soul, Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Yin He Dance and Fulton Street Collective.

WHEN: From Aug. 24-Sept. 4 at various city parks.

TICKETS: Admission is free. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies as well as park locations, visit chicagoshakes.com.

Theatre Y

WHAT: Theatre Y’s ambitious new adventure “You Are Here: The Emerald Camino Project” is a return of its urban pilgrimages, this time through Daniel Burnham’s Emerald Necklace — the boulevard system that links the public parks on Chicago’s West and South sides. The immersive 12-part walking experience was created with artists, community leaders and organizations across a dozen communities. “This is a joyful post-pandemic experience that connects Chicago’s diverse communities through the intersection of conversation and art,” says Theatre Y’s artistic director, Melissa Lorraine. If you are walking through the neighborhood in which you live, admission is free; all other participants are Theatre Y Members or encouraged to become members (for as little as $5/month).

WHEN: Aug. 21-Sept. 26 For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies as well as dates and times for each walk, visit theatre-y.com.

Music Theater Works

Alexis Armstrong (top) and Heather Banks rehearse “Mamma Mia!”Music Theater Works

WHAT: Music Theater Works begins its new season with the popular musical “Mamma Mia!,” Catherine Johnson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson’s musical featuring the music of ABBA. Heather Banks stars as Shopine Sheridan, a young woman about to be married who is intent on discovering who her father is so he can walk her down the aisle. Justin Brill directs.

WHEN: From Aug. 19-29 at Music Theater Works at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie.

TICKETS: $20.50-$108. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit musictheaterworks.com.

Collaboraction

WHAT: Collaboraction’s new program The Light is dedicated to recruiting and mentoring young artists-activists over the course of a year. The first group — actor-singer-dancer Nate Buescher, actor Marcus Jackson, singer-storyteller Ella Rae, dancer Ava Lynn Trpeski and Phallon and Kyra Pierce, who have a bill on the Illinois House floor aimed at ensuring K-12 curriculums include books written by diverse authors — will showcase new works at three Chicago parks.

WHEN: At 6 p.m. Aug. 19 (Douglas Park, 1401 S. Sacramento), 5 p.m. Aug. 20 (LaFollette Park, 1333 N. Laramie) and 5 p.m. Aug. 21 (Hamilton Park, 513 W. 72nd).

TICKETS: Admission is free. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit collaboraction.org.

Pride Arts

WHAT: PrideArts presents Jye Bryant’s “The Things I Never Could Tell Steven,” a four-character musical in which the four most important people in one man’s life struggle to communicate meaningfully with him and really know him. The cast features Carl Herzog, Kyra Leigh, Elissa Newcorn and Nate Hall under the direction of Jay Espano.

WHEN: From Aug. 19-Sept. 19

WHERE: The Broadway, Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway.

TICKETS: $30. For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit pridearts.org.

Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre

Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre in “Goshen.”Ken Carl

WHAT: Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre presents a preview of the new work “Goshen,” a celebratory collaboration of gospel music, dramatic narrative and dance-theater rooted in African American traditions. The concept and music are by Grammy-winning gospel artist Donald Lawrence and the piece features Deeply Rooted dancers, gospel singer Le’Andria Johnson, singers from The Tri-City Singers and Zeke Locke & the NuXperience.

WHEN: At 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25

WHERE: Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, Michigan and Randolph.

TICKETS: Admission is free. Visit deeplyrooteddancetheater.org

Michael Wordly makes his Paramount Theatre debut as Lola in “Kinky Boots.”Thomas J. King

What: Live performances return for a new season at the Paramount Theatre with Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein’s high-kicking “Kinky Boots.” This first regional production of the Broadway musical, directed by Trent Stork, stars Devin DeSantis as Charlie, the shoemaker attempting to save his failing shoe factory, and Michael Wordly as Lola, the fierce drag queen who shows him the way.

When: Aug. 18-Oct. 17

Where: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena, Aurora

Tickets: $36-$74

For updated information regarding the theater’s COVID-19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit paramountaurora.com.

Blue Man Group Caroline Talbot Photography

What: Those crazy characters in blue return for more goofy fun when Blue Man Group reopens on Aug. 18. The show, which encourages audiences to reconnect with their inner child, is a combination of art, music, comedy and technology.

When: Aug. 18 – ongoing

Where: Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted.

Tickets: $49-$89

For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies, visit blueman.com.

‘Higher and Higher: A Rock ‘n’ Soul Party

Chester Gregory Amy Boyle Photography

What: The Marriott Theatre concert series presents “Higher and Higher: A Rock ‘n’ Soul Party” featuring musical theater artist Chester Gregory performing the hits of greats like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, James Brown and more. The star of “Motown: The Musical,” “Hairspray” and “Dreamgirls,” Gregory first won acclaim locally for his outstanding portrayal of Jackie Wilson in The Jackie Wilson Story at Black Ensemble Theater.

When: Performances are at 7 p.m. Aug. 14 and 3 p.m. Aug. 15

Where: Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Dr., Lincolnshire

Tickets: $55. For updated information regarding the theater’s Covid 19 vaccination and/or mask policies

Visit: marriotttheatre.com.

‘Why Dogs Don’t Talk’

“Why Dogs Don’t Talk” will stream beginning July 27 at First Folio Theatre. D. Rice Photo

When: July 27-Aug. 8

Where: Online

What: First Folio Theatre presents an online production of David Rice’s adaptation of a short story by Dean Monti. Filmed in an Evanston apartment, the comedy ponders the question: Is man a dog’s best friend? The cast includes Landree Fleming as Hubert the dog and August Forman as the bewildered dog owner Mel. Tickets: a sliding scale of pay-what-you-can.

More information: firstfolio.org

‘And Away We Stared’

When: 8 p.m. July 22-24

Where: Online

What: For its latest performance, Trap Door Theatre, the company dedicated to staging challenging yet obscure works, has devised a piece using text from the works of Chuck Mee, Gertrude Stein and Matei Visniec. In the absence of humans, the stage has gained the ability to put on mechanized performances to please only itself. In a series of theatrical dares, the actors of Trap Door attempt to retake the stage, confronting notions of live performance, automation and the cycles we perpetuate. Devised and directed by Skye Fort and Mike Steele. Tickets: $10, $15.

More information: trapdoortheatre.com

The Annoyance Theatre

Susan Messing Provided

What: Live comedy shows have returned to The Annoyance. On the lineup is Annoyance artistic director Mick Napier’s new solo sketch revue, “System of a Clown” (8 p.m. Friday-Saturday through September, $10, $20), plus returning favorites including “Green Show Live,” “Trigger Happy,” “Hitch*Cocktails,” “Cigarette Sandwich” and more.

More information: theannoyance.com

‘The Tempest’

Bernell Lassai (left) as Ariel and Kevin Theis as Prospero in “The Tempest.”Maia Rosenfeld

When: July 15-Aug. 21

Where: Austin Gardens, 167 Forest, Oak Park

What: Oak Park Festival Theatre returns to outdoor performances at Austin Gardens with what is thought to be one of Shakespeare’s final masterpieces, a story of shipwreck, romance and magic. Artistic director Barbara Zahora directs, and the cast includes Kevin Theis as Prospero, Bernell Lassai as Ariel, Matt Gall as Caliban and Deanalis Resto as Miranda.

Tickets: $35. Visit oakparkfestival.com.

‘Cooking With Bubbie’

Jan Slavin (left) and Carla GordonMadKap Productions

When: To Aug. 22

Where: Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln, Skokie

What: MadKap Productions and Orchard Street Productions present Jay Kholos’ new musical set at a fictional TV cooking show where everyone’s favorite Jewish grandmother entertains with an old-fashioned variety revue with dancers, music and comedy. Chicago comedian Jan Slavin and Gold Coast Cabaret Award-winner Carla Gordon alternate in the role of the Bubbie.

Tickets: $45. Visit skokietheatre.org.

Teatro ZinZanni

The artistry and the excitement of Teatro ZinZanni returns to Chicago starting July 8. Pictured: Lea Hinz.Michael Doucet

What: The immersive, whirlwind theater experience that is Teatro ZinZanni has reopened featuring a new show with a cast of comedians, aerialists, acrobats, singers, dancers and a gourmet meal, it brings comedy, music and cirque back after a long pandemic hiatus. Included among the performers are powerhouse vocalists Storm Marrero and Cunio, aerial acts Lea Hinz and Duo 19, veteran comedians Frank Ferrante and Joe DePaul and acrobatic dancers Mickael and Vita.

When: Ongoing

Where: Spiegeltent ZaZou on the 14th floor of the Cambria Hotel, 32 W. Randolph

Tickets: $119-$189; limited show only tickets $69. Visit zinzanni.com/chicago.

The Artistic Home Theatre

What: The Artistic Home presents “Summer on the Patio,” a seasonlong event which invites theatergoers to share in the creative workshop process via free staged readings and open rehearsals of three contemporary plays: Maria Irene Fornes’ “Mud” (To Aug. 27), Martyna Majok’s “Ironbound” (To Aug. 28) and Craig Wright’s “The Pavilion” (To Aug. 22).

Where: It all takes place at the company’s new space at 3054 N. Milwaukee with rehearsals in July and staged readings in August.

Admission: free

Visit theartistichome.org

Steppenwolf Theatre

Donnetta Lavinia Grays in “Where We Stand”Joan Marcus/WP Theater

What: The final entry in the Steppenwolf NOW virtual season is “Where We Stand,” a storytelling tour-de-force about community and accountability written and performed by Donnetta Lavinia Grays. Through poetic verse and music, the drama challenges our ability to forgive and our ideas of mercy and who might deserve it. The filmed play captures a performance originally presented at Baltimore Center Stage co-produced with WP Theater.

When/tickets: A $75 ticket includes all six of the productions in the NOW series available online through Aug. 31

Visit: steppenwolf.org/now

Summer Nights with Northlight

What: Summer Nights with Northlight is a cabaret series held at Evanston restaurants to benefit Northlight Theatre. The performers are Alexis J. Roston and Kelvin Roston Jr. (June 10, Good to Go Jamaican, 711 W. Howard), Linda Solotaire (July 27, Sketchbook Brewing Company, 4901 Main, Skokie) and Heidi Kettenring (Aug. 24, Peckish Pig, 623 W. Howard).

When: Performances times are 6 p.m.

Tickets: $60 includes light dinner and select drinks. Visit northlight.org.

Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collective

What: Labyrinth Arts and Performance Collective presents “Emerge,” a cabaret series featuring music, drag performance, comedy and spoken word.

When: every second Friday of the month

Where: Porkchop, 1132 W. Grand

Tickets: $20. Visit labyrinthartsperformance.com.

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Dear Doctors: Can you explain heat exhaustion and heat stroke?

Answer: Even on what feels like a mild day, missteps having to do with clothing, terrain, hydration and your level of exertion can turn the sunny weather that drew you outside into a serious health threat.

Heat-related illnesses fall into three categories — heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

The mildest is heat cramps, though, when you’re experiencing them, “mild” won’t be the word that comes to mind. They are painful, involuntary muscle contractions in the calves, thighs, arms or abdomen.

Heat cramps are associated with heavy sweating and can occur during intense physical activity or if you’re exercising beyond your level of conditioning.

Someone with heat cramps should move to a shady spot and drink water or a sports drink. Don’t resume activity until the cramps have subsided.

The next step on the heat illness continuum is heat exhaustion. Symptoms include heavy sweating, a rapid pulse that also might be weak or irregular, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting, headache, dizziness, cold or clammy skin, feeling weak and feeling confused.

Unless addressed promptly, heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke, which is a life-threatening emergency. Someone with heat exhaustion should immediately move to a cooler spot and loosen clothing to allow air circulation. Use damp cloths to cool the skin or immerse yourself — including the face and scalp — in cool water. Sip water gradually. Drinking too much can lead to cramps or vomiting.

Someone with heat stroke is at risk of dying. Symptoms include hot skin, a rapid, pounding pulse, nausea or dizziness, headache, shallow breathing, confusion or delirium and a temperature of 103 or higher.

Unlike someone with heat exhaustion, people with heat stroke will not sweat. Get them to a cool or shady spot, cool their body with water, and get them immediate medical care.

To avoid heat-related illness, choose activities appropriate for the weather. Wear loose, light clothing. Carry plenty of water, and drink it in moderation — you don’t want to over-drink. Rest in the heat of the day. Wear a hat and sunglasses. Use salty snacks or sports drinks to help replace lost electrolytes. And never ignore the signs of heat illness.

Dr. Eve Glazier and Dr. Elizabeth Ko are internists at UCLA Health.

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A man has been charged with murder in connection to a shooting earlier in August in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.

Justin Cortes, 25, was arrested Wednesday after police identified him as the man who shot and killed Angel Figueroa on Aug. 6, Chicago police said.

Figueroa, 38, was a passenger in a vehicle traveling that evening in the 3400 block of West Division Street when someone opened fire from another vehicle, police said.

Figueroa was shot in his face and driven to Humboldt Park Health Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Cortes was scheduled to appear in court later Thursday on a count of first-degree murder.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

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For many, the mention of “architecture” conjures thoughts of floor plans and blueprints that become houses and buildings and skylines — facts and figures about which are conveyed to us on riverboat tours of the built environment.

But the fourth edition of the Chicago Architecture Biennial, which opens September 17, centers on the unbuilt. Dubbed The Available City, the 2021 biennial pairs contributing architects and designers with community organizations to imagine — and, in some cases, implement — new projects for Chicago’s approximately 10,000 city-owned vacant lots.

The theme expands on work that this year’s artistic director, David Brown, presented under the same name as part of the inaugural biennial in 2015. A professor at the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago, he has been exploring the uses of vacant lots since the early aughts, when he taught at Rice University in sprawling Houston.

“I don’t think I fully expected that I would be able to continue it in Chicago,” Brown says of relocating here in 2004. “Moving from a kind of super-dispersed city, I think my initial thought of Chicago, not having spent much time here, was that it’s a super-dense city, so I was surprised to find that there were the quantity of vacant lots there are.”

As Brown soon learned, many of those lots are concentrated in underserved communities on the city’s South and West Sides. “I got exposed to it with a 2006 Chicago Architecture Center exhibit that I curated [about] North Lawndale. I think at the time they may have had the highest number in the city.”

Brown began mapping the vacant land and cataloging possible uses, first presenting his research at the Venice Biennale in 2012 and then at Chicago’s inaugural biennial. Since the end of the 2015 program, he’s been engaging with community organizations on implementing some of those ideas for collective spaces. A presentation to the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council in 2016, for instance, led to Brown connecting the neighborhood’s MLK Memorial District and Community Christian Alternative Academy with local designers to help develop their community garden programs.

That process is guiding Brown’s vision for the 2021 biennial, where attendees will visit installations from Englewood to the South Loop, on open land and in empty storefronts. Two examples from North Lawndale provide a peek into what’s in store.

A new play structure, designed by Miami’s Studio Barnes, will be built on a lot owned by the Westside Association for Community Action. The installation will also feature an “architectural-scale urban painting” created by Outpost Office, a design firm based in Columbus, Ohio. The work marks the first step in a proposed redevelopment of a 15-block stretch below the CTA Pink Line tracks between Kedzie and Kildare Avenues. Elsewhere in the neighborhood, the “design farm” Bittertang, which worked with CCA Academy on its community garden, will again partner with the school to install a permanent outdoor classroom.

“Activation weekends” will take place in different neighborhoods for six weekends, beginning September 25. Family days, featuring hands-on activities and theater, dance, and spoken-word performances, are also planned.

“The experience of the biennial is obviously very different than what people have encountered in the past,” says Rachel Kaplan, the biennial’s director. Some of that is due to practical considerations: Organizers had to make the call about this year’s event during the pandemic shutdown, and they didn’t know if the Chicago Cultural Center would be reopened in time.

“The Cultural Center obviously has served as a really great central hub for us being able to host free events, but since 2015, we’ve been saying the city is the site,” Kaplan says. “We’ve been working with David since 2015, and it just kind of clicked that this was a really amazing opportunity to take his vision and put it on this global scale.”

Different neighborhoods featured in the 2021 Chicago Architecture Biennial will be highlighted each weekend through October with special itineraries for visitors and additional programming by community partners. Visit chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org for complete schedules and locations.

■ September 25–26
North Lawndale, Garfield Park

■ October 2–3
Englewood, Woodlawn, Bronzeville

■ October 9–10
Pilsen, South Loop

■ October 16–17
North Lawndale, Garfield Park

■ October 23–24
Englewood, Woodlawn, Bronzeville

■ October 30–31
Pilsen, South Loop, North Lawndale

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