For its 23rd season, First Folio Theatre (Mayslake Peabody Estate, 31st St. & Rt. 83.) will run the gamut from the horrors of Edgar Allan Poe to the sublime comic nerdiness of the world of Star Wars.

The House Theatre of Chicago announces its 17th season of creating “Amazing Feats of Storytelling” with productions taking place at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St. The 2018 - 19 Season features three world premiere titles, and two returning audience favorites, creating a diverse slate of epic stories and stagecraft. The season opens with a brand-new work written by guest artist Bennett Fisher, and helmed by guest artist Monty Cole. Borealis is a brother/sister adventure story offering a heartfelt look at the way we fail each other by building narratives to support our pre-existing worldviews. Borealis plays at the Chopin August 30 to October 21. In the spring, The House will premiere Pinocchio adapted for the stage by Company Members Joseph Steakely and Ben Lobpries, and directed by Company Member Chris Mathews. Pinocchio's wish to become a "real boy" invites us to reconsider definitions of identity. Pinocchio plays at the Chopin from March 28 to May 19, 2019.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is thrilled to present Guards at the Taj, a stunning tale about the search for beauty in desperate circumstances, written by acclaimed playwright Rajiv Joseph (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo). As previously announced, ensemble member Amy Morton directs this Chicago premiere, featuring the original cast members, Omar Metwally (Humayun) and Arian Moayed (Babur), who were last seen on Steppenwolf’s stage together in Homebody/Kabul. Morton directed the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway world premiere, which won the 2016 Obie Award for Best New American Play.

Babes With Blades Theatre Company (BWBTC) starts its 21st Season with the world premiere of The Lady Demands Satisfaction, playing at City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., July 21 – August 25. Winner of the most recent Joining Sword and Pen Competition, and developed in 2017-18 through BWBTC’s Fighting Words Program, this play is written by Arthur M. Jolly, directed by Babes With Blades Theater Company Member Morgan Manasa with combat by Violence Designer and BWBTC Member Samantha Kaufman.

Chimera Ensemble today announced the casting for its US Premiere of DON’T SMOKE IN BED, written by award-winning playwright Aurin Squire, and directed by acclaimed director Chika Ike. Kai A. Ealy, who earlier this year appeared in MARY STUART at Chicago Shakespeare and FRANKLINLAND for Jackalope Theatre company; and ensemble member Nicole Fabbri, seen in Chimera’s SISTER CITIES, will play an interracial couple being interviewed about their marriage by an unseen journalist via webcam.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST), the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, and Boeing partner to present the annual citywide summer tradition, Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks. Made possible by production sponsor BMO Harris Bank, 25 performances of Shakespeare’s timeless classic A Midsummer Night’s Dream, adapted and directed by the Theater’s founder and artistic director Barbara Gaines, will tour free for all to 18 neighborhood parks across the City, July 25–August 26, 2018.

The Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival (NDSF) has announced the casting for its upcoming production of The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice to run August 14th through 26th. The flagship production of the 2018 season, Othello will feature stage & screen veteran Esau Pritchett in the title role, with celebrated stage actor Robert Ramirez returning to the NDSF stage as Iago, and featuring Delaney Feener as Desdemona, Maggie Kettering as Emilia, and Paul Hurley as Roderigo.

Casting has been announced for Pride Films and Plays’ American premiere of PINK ORCHIDS - the first play of the “PAC Pride Fest” - a summer season of five plays. PINK ORCHIDS, by Patrick Cash, is a British play in which five eloquently interwoven and often funny monologues explore the experience of living with HIV - a virus that attacks the emotions as well as the body. It premiered in London in 2016 under the title THE HIV MONOLOGUES.