If you’re looking to mix it up this weekend, head over to Theater Wit for the first Chicago Theatre (Anti) Conference, designed in part as a response to June’s TCG conference in Chicago, and in part as a return to the old days of League of Chicago Theatres ’ annual retreat. A host of speakers and panelists from companies large (Martha Lavey of Steppenwolf Theatre , Roche Schulfer of Goodman Theatre ), and small (Don Hall of WNEP ) will hold forth on the challenges and controversies swirling around our two-fisted community of theatermakers. I’ll be on a panel on Saturday at 10 a.m., moderated by Tony Adams of Halcyon Theatre , on theatre festivals. The entire shindig costs $32, including lunch and dinner. More info online or at 773/975-8150.

I had never been to Marriott Theatre when I headed out to see Once On This Island, but I had consistently heard good things about their work, so I was looking forward to the experience. People just don’t stage musicals in the round that often. They’re not designed for it, it’s hard on the singers. But somehow Marriott has made that their calling card. Gary Griffin made a name for himself by stripping down musicals to their essence so we can focus on the characters and the relationships. Marriot, because of their unusual stage layout, has been doing this for years.

Playwright Randall Colburn had quite an auspicious beginning with his production of Pretty Penny at The Right Brain Project . Despite little-to-no technical support, the production expertly explored the interplay of sex and power and featured some excellent performances from Right Brain’s ensemble. Clearly the Right Brain folk realized they had found a good thing, and so they are now producing Colburn’s Hesperia.