New year begins with plenty of tantalizing options for community theatergoers
The final performances of "Disney's The Little Mermaid" at Drury Lane Theatre and "The Dinner Detective" at the Hyatt Regency Lisle-Naperville are among the shows to check out as area stages welcome audiences in 2025. (photos provided)
Add a late entry to your 2025 resolution list: see more theater! It shouldn't be difficult to follow through with a lineup of notable productions on tap nearby. Local stages are continuing their 2024-25 seasons with productions ranging from hit musicals to comedies, and from romance to whodunit. Book your seat now, and enjoy the show!
• "Disney's The Little Mermaid" continues its run through Sunday, Jan. 12, at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace.
Dive beneath the waves with Ariel, a young mermaid with a captivating voice and an insatiable curiosity, as she defies her father and makes a daring deal for the chance to create the world of her dreams on land. Enjoy the beautiful score, including favorites like "Under the Sea," "Part of Your World," and "Kiss the Girl."
Show times are at 1:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 1:30 and 7 p.m. Thursdays, 7 p.m. Fridays, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 6 p.m. Sundays. Dinner-theater packages are available. Tickets for the show only start at $52.95. Visit http://www.drurylanetheatre.com/the-little-mermaid or call (630) 530-0111.
• Theatre of Western Springs presents "Outside Mullingar" from Thursday, Jan. 23, to Sunday, Feb. 2, in its Mary Cattell Theatre at 4384 Hampton Ave.
From the writer of "Moonstruck," the play is a compassionate, delightful work about how it's never too late to take a chance on love as Anthony and Rosemary's romantic journey is heartbreaking, funny and ultimately deeply moving.
The show runs Thursdays through Sundays, with show times of 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. The Jan. 24 and 26 shows are sold out.
Tickets are $28, $15 for children and students. Visit http://www.theatreofwesternsprings.com or call (708) 246-4043.
• Get your golden ticket for Stage Door Fine Arts' performance of the musical "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" from Friday, Jan. 24, to Sunday, Feb. 2, at The Community House, 415 W. Eighth St. in Hinsdale.
Based on the famous novel by Roald Dahl, the world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory, but only to a lucky few. Young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a life-changing journey through Wonka's world of pure imagination including chocolate waterfalls, nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka's army of curious Oompa-Loompas.
The show runs Fridays through Sundays, with most shows at 7 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays.
Tickets are $25 to $30. Visit http://www.sdfa.booktix.com.
• The Buffalo Theatre Ensemble invites audiences to dig into "Native Gardens" from Thursday, Jan. 30, to Sunday, March 2, at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd. in Glen Ellyn.
This comedy follows Pablo, a high-powered lawyer, and his very pregnant wife, doctoral candidate Tania, who have purchased their first home next door to community stalwarts Virginia and Frank. Soon a disagreement over a long-standing fence line derails the young couple's plan for the American Dream with an all-out war of taste, class, privilege and entitlement. The hilarious results guarantee no one comes out smelling like a rose.
A pre-show discussion with the director and designers will be held at 6:45 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30; a post-show discussion with the director and cast will be held on Friday, Feb. 7. An ASL performance is offered on Thursday, Feb 20.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays to Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays.
Tickets are $44, $42 for seniors. Visit http://www.atthemac.com.
• For an interactive theater experience, the Dinner Detective Murder Mystery Dinner Show will keep you guessing when you join the sleuthing on select Saturday nights year-round at the Hyatt Regency Lisle-Naperville, 1400 Corporetum Drive in Lisle.
Audience members tackle a challenging crime while feasting on a fantastic dinner (see website for full menu). But beware - the actors are not dressed in costume and are hidden in the audience. And with the criminal lurking somewhere in the room, you may even find yourself as a prime suspect.
Show dates are posted for sale eight to 12 weeks in advance. The next shows available are from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 1 & 15.
Tickets start at $69.95. Visit http://www.thedinnerdetective.com/western-chicago-suburbs.
