This week has mostly been about hunkering down in the face of the Great Blizzard of 2011, but Chicago theatermakers and audiences are a tough breed, and so the shows go on this weekend after a couple days in hibernation.

When you’re housebound, drinking and writing are often the way to go, but if you happen to feel like venturing forth, the Drinking & Writing Theater—a.k.a. Neo-Futurist vets Sean Benjamin and Steve Mosqueda—at the Haymarket Pub extends Drinking & Writing Volume III: To Cure a Hangover through March 5. And there is a special variety show at the venue on February 14 entitled “Local 737,” a nod to the address at 737 W. Randolph and the fake “Local 737 Beer Drinkers’ Union” housed there. The sketch evening features performances from other Neo-Futurists and Christopher Piatt, proprietor of the Paper Machete. The show starts at 7:37, natch. After the V-Day opening, “Local 737” will run the first Wednesday of every month.

In other extension news, Trap Door Theatre is running their acclaimed production of Heiner Muller’s Hamletmachine through February 26. And Writers Theatre runs Travels with My Aunt through April 3.

Openings: The Neo-Futurists open Laika Dog in Space this Saturday, which is based on Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s “The Little Prince,” TV cult classic “The Prisoner,” and the true story of the Russian dog who first went up into space (the opening salvo in the Sputnik onslaught that, as noted historian Sarah Palin reminds us, won the moon race for the Soviets, and led to the downfall of the communist regime). The show originated with the New York branch of the Neos and runs through March 12.

Maya Productions joins forces with “ShPiel – Performing Identity” to bring in the show Conviction at Theater Wit opening this weekend. The story of an Inquisition-era priest who falls in love with a Jewish woman runs through February 20 and has played in Israel and several U.S. cities.

Free Street Theater opens its newest ensemble-created piece, Between These Walls, on Saturday. Based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the show incorporates music and monologues as the teen cast explores the process of self-actualization. And speaking of process, the company also is presenting a series of “Inside Out” events that look at how their shows are created. On Thursday, February 17, you can view a rehearsal and listen to a discussion headed by Peter Handler, program director for the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation . Admission is free, but reservations are suggested at 773/772-7248 or online.

Striding Lion Performance Group hosts a salon, “Night Roars,” celebrating their 10th anniversary on Monday, February 7, at the darkroom, 2210 W. Chicago. The event kicks off at 8 p.m. and features 9 performances, each no longer than 5 minutes. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, and can be purchased online. Admission includes refreshments and a cash bar (21+ only, please).

Signal Ensemble Theatre opens Dario Fo’s Accidental Death of an Anarchist on Valentine’s Day, which seems perversely apropos. It runs through March 19 at their new space at 1802 W. Berenice. They’re hosting a benefit performance for Season of Concern on March 12.

Fifth House Ensemble continues its “Weaver’s Tales” season with Part Two on February 15 and 16. This installment, “The Weaver’s Tale: Of Cinderella and the Devil,” co-written and directed by Rebekah Scallet and Lindsey Marks, features Fifth House musicians playing selections ranging from Beethoven to Elliott Carter and Mark Fish. The show on February 15 is at the Chicago Cultural Center, the show on February 16 at the Mayne Stage in Rogers Park. See the Fifth House website for details and reservations.

Collaboraction is opening its new home at the Flat Iron Arts Building in Wicker Park on February 10. Sketchbook REVERB presents the best of Collaboraction ’s annual “Sketchbook” festival of short works. However, moving to their new space means that they are also postponing the previously announced revival of Brett C. Leonard’s Guinea Pig Solo, which they first presented in 2005, from this spring’s Woyzeck Project. The mini-Buchner celebration includes The Hypocrites ’ new adaptation of Woyzeck by Sean Graney and About Face Theatre ’s world-premiere production of Sally Oswald’s Pony, also inspired by Buchner’s seminal classic.

Right Brain Project kicks off its 2011 season with Philip Stokes’ My Filthy Hunt, which marks a collaboration with fringe artists around the world. The show, which was a hit at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, runs concurrently with productions by Horizon Arts at the Wakefield Arts Centre in the U.K. and with the Holden Street Theatre in Adelaide, Australia. The story concerns four “lost souls” who have all been touched by the mysterious Marvin and find their lives turned cattywampus as a result.

The 11th Annual Louder Than a Bomb Youth Poetry Festival, presented by Young Chicago Authors, Columbia College Chicago, and Chicago Public Media kicks off on February 19 and runs at various venues through March 12. There will be a screening of the documentary, Louder Than a Bomb, at the Gene Siskel Film Center February 4-10. The full schedule of events is available online.

Waukegan’s Clockwise Theatre opens co-founder Madelyn Sergel’s Special Needs, which she also directs, on February 25. The show, about a family raising an autistic son, will have a special preview on February 22 free to all educators, teachers, aides, school social workers, and therapists. It runs through March 27, and Clockwise will continue their season with one-time Chicago playwright Lydia Diamond’s comedy Stage Black.

If the hiatus of HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” has left you pining for some good Prohibition stories, check out Nobody Likes Retsina, a new musical about a pair of Greek-American brothers making bootleg versions of the title intoxicant—and finding that it has limited black-market appeal. The show features a book by Barbara Georgans, music by Philip Seward, and lyrics by Jon Steinhagen, and runs at Greektown’s Parthenon Restaurant February 28-April 5 in a co-production of The Retsina Group and Stockyards Theatre Project.

In other musical news, Chris Jones reports that Sean Cercone is out at Chicago Muse, the Company Formerly Known as Theatre Building Chicago. Meantime, Stage 773 , the company now running the old TBC space on Belmont, has a personnel change of its own to report. Megan Flanagan, the executive director, has accepted a post as managing director of the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts in Coralville, Iowa.

And American Theater Company executive director Mary Beth Coffey is also leaving her post after less than six months on the job. The company opens the world premiere of Dan LeFranc’s The Big Meal this weekend under Dexter Bullard’s direction. LeFranc’s play has already been picked up for a production at Playwrights Horizons in the 2011-12 season, and LeFranc was named the outstanding playwright of 2010 by the New York Times.

The prestigious Joyce Awards for 2011 have been named, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and choreographer Alonzo King of San Francisco’s LINES Ballet are among the recipients. The $50,000 awards are designed to recognize artists of color in Midwestern cities. Hubbard Street and King will partner to develop a new piece scheduled to premiere in 2012.

In other dance news, Hedwig Dances presents Bohemian Trilogy February 10-13 at Stage 773 , featuring work choreographed by Susan Marshall, Bill Young and Colleen Thomas, and company member Michel Rodriguez.

The Chicago Improv Festival announces the national finalists for the annual College Improv Tournament, scheduled for February 26th at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, beginning at noon. You can visit the CIF website for a complete schedule.

You can’t spell “politics” in Chicago without “Schadenfreude.” And the comedy troupe of that name will keep us all up to date on the topsy-turvy mayoral contest, thanks to 53rd Ward alderman Ed Bus, the latest contender to toss his hard hat in the ring. You can see videos of Bus interviewing various civic movers and shakers at www.53rdward.com, and you can also join Bus (who looks suspiciously similar to Schadenfreude member and WBEZ staffer Justin Kaufmann) at “victory parties” February 18 and 19 at the Gallery Cabaret at 2020 N. Oakley. $10 gets you performances by Schadenfreude, a chance to rub elbows with Bus, free food, and drink specials. (But you’re on your own if you’re looking for a cushy patronage job.)

If you prefer a more serious look at our national political scene, you could join Elizabeth Warren, the consumer-protection “czar” (take that, Glenn Beck!) in the Obama administration for the Joanne H. Alter Lecture on Women in Government, presented by the Chicago Humanities Festival on February 23 at Thorne Auditorium, Northwestern University School of Law, 375 E. Chicago, 6-7 p.m. Call 312/494-9509 or order online.

News from Pride Films and Plays: Five finalists have been named in the “Great Gay Play Contest,” including two locals—Tyler Dean’s Save the Date and Corinne J. Kawecki’s Short Expanse. The five scripts will be presented in a staged-readings festival at the Hoover-Leppen Theater at the Center on Halsted March 3-6. Meantime, Pride Films and Plays also announces the “Women’s Work” play and screenplay contest, focused on “Sapphics on Stage” and “Sapphics on Screen.” Both require scripts with lesbian characters, history, or themes. Applications are available now through March 28 online at http://www.pridefilmsandplays.com/wpsc.html.

The Windy City Times seeks nominations for its annual “30 Under 30” awards. If you know somebody who is still in that trustworthy age category and who has made significant contributions to the LBGT community in entertainment, politics, health, activism, academics, sports, or some other area, you can send your nomination to Andrew Davis. E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or fax 773/871-7609. And don’t be shy—self-nominations are welcome. Deadline is April 22, and the nomination shouldn’t be more than 100 words. The ceremony honoring this year’s group will be held on June 22 at Center on Halsted.

The second annual August Wilson Monologue Competition kicks off at University of Illinois-Chicago on February 28, with finals scheduled for April 11 at Goodman Theatre . Run by Derrick Sanders, former artistic director for Congo Square Theatre , who has directed and assistant-directed many productions of Wilson’s work, the competition encourages students to familiarize themselves with Wilson’s monumental “century cycle” of 10 plays by selecting a monologue to perform. (And there are no gender restrictions, so if a girl wants to do a monologue written for a man, that is acceptable.) This year’s contest is co-sponsored by Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company in Atlanta and the League of Chicago Theatres . Entrance information is available at www.chicagoplays.com.

Facets Multi-Media tackles school bullying with “No Bullies, Please!,” a selection of three programs of award-winning films selected from the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival focused on the theme of bullying. Facets hosts screenings of the films for school groups starting on March 1. To arrange a field trip, contact Anne Bustamante at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 773/281-9075, ext. 3009.

Got a jingle in your heart and a love of caffeine? Then consider entering the “Folgers Jingle Contest,” running now through March 1 at www.bestpartofwakinup.com. (Though, much as I love Preston Sturges’ Christmas in July, I’d suggest staying away from submitting “If you can’t sleep at night, it’s not the coffee—it’s the bunk.”) Former “American Idol” judge Kara DioGuardi will render her decision on the finalists, and the big winner takes home $25,000. Complete information at the website.

Local actor Rick Andrews has been diagnosed with melanoma, and his friends are raising money to help pay for his treatment at Rush Memorial. If you can spare a few bucks, please send them along to Richard Andrews, 861 Victory Lane, Justice, IL 60458. For more information, you can also e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . We wish Rick the best as he undergoes treatment.

Tony-and-Oscar Awards-winning costume designer Theoni Aldredge died at age 88 on January 21. Aldredge, a graduate of the Goodman School of Drama, had an exhibition of her work at DePaul University’s art museum in 2006.

And of course, Chicago Theatre and actors and improvisers everywhere mourns the death of Joyce Sloane.

Finally, a couple of new additions to announce. Angela McMahon of Chemically Imbalanced Comedy and her husband, Tom, welcomed a second daughter, Kaitlyn Grace McMahon, late last month. And actor/playwright Greg Hardigan and his wife, photographer Margaret K. Lakin Hardigan, are proud parents of their first child, son Grant. We send congrats and best wishes to all!

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