Theater spotlight
Die-hard fans of composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim won't want to miss Porchlight Music Theatre's rare revival of Marry Me a Little. The 1980s revue conceived by gay playwright Craig Lucas and Norman René features cut "trunk songs" by Sondheim to tell the story of two lonely New York singles whose apartments strangely combine into one. Expect plenty of musical magic since the production stars Jeff Award-winner Austin Cook ( Sondheim on Sondheim ) and Bethany Thomas ( Empire ). Marry Me a Little continues through Sunday, May 21, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets are $40-$51; call 773-327-5252 or visit PorchlightMusicTheatre.org .
Caption: Austin Cook and Bethany Thomas in Porchlight Music Theatre's Sondheim revue of Marry Me a Little. Photo by Michelle Leatherby
Critics' Picks
Beyond Caring, Lookingglass Theatre Company, through May 7. The company that usually transports us skyward to the realms of fantasy this time plummets us to the depths of minimum-wage squalor for a bleak 90 minutes and dares us to remain detached. MSB
Born Ready, Factory Theater, through April 29. Forget your cheap and silly campStacie Barra loves those mid-20th-century Hollywood "women's pictures" too much to make fun of them. MSB
In To America, Griffin Theatre at Den Theatre, through April 23. This verbal concert offers words spoken/written by American immigrants from 1607 'til now, opening eyes by portraying slaves as forced immigrants, and Mexican immigrants to Spain's California. It's a timely reminder to the perils and aspirations of the journey. JBA
Ruthless! The Musical, Steel Beam Theatre, St. Charles, through April 30. It's worth a day trip to the suburbs to see this campy, over-the-top musical comedy. Fans of The Bad Seed, Gypsy and All About Eve will be in heaven seeing this 1992 spoof on showbiz ambition. SCM
By Abarbanel, Barnidge and Morgan