A cheerful new production of my favorite Gilbert and Sullivan operetta, “The Pirates of Penzance,” opened at the Marriott Theatre Lincolnshire recently.
“The Pirates of Penzance,” which premiered in 1879, is a timeless story about a boy with a complicated life who meets and falls in love with a beautiful girl whose father is less than enthusiastic about her suitor – which could be the plot in 75% of the musicals written more recently.

Anyone who has ever given birth to a child will howl at the truths contained in the very funny “Motherhood: the Musical” at the Royal George Theatre.

I’ve said before and I’ll say it again, the kids in the Towle Youth Theater Ensemble are terrific. Their new show, “A Heart Divided,” is a thoughtful look at racism and the meaning of the Confederate flag.

Victory Gardens’ new production, “We Are Proud to Present a Presentation About the Herero of Namibia, Formerly Known as South-West Africa, From the German Sudwestafrika, Between the Years 1884-1915” came out of Victory Gardens’ 2010 IGNITION Festival.

** NOTE ** Due to some scheduling conflicts (among other things I was on vacation), I never got to the Goodman Theatre to see “Camino Real.” Many thanks to the Goodman staff for getting me in to view the show, even at the end of its run.

“Camino Real” is a nightmare! It's one of those weird dreams you just can’t get out of, no matter how many times you try to wake up.

Photo: Kilroy (Antwayn Hopper) arrives at the Camino Real and takes in the grisly scene at the fountain in Calixto Bieito's reimagined production of Tennessee Williams' Camino Real.

First Folio Theatre’s gothic interpretation of Henry James’ psychological thriller, “The Turn of the Screw” is delightfully scary.

Chicago poetry artist Kevin Coval’s new one-man show, “L-Vis Live!” based on his book, “L-vis Lives!: Racemusic Poems,” is a multi-media experience. Coval will be taking “L-Vis Live!” on a national tour.

“August: Osage County” is an intense drama about the Westons, an American family who are neither nice nor normal. 4th Street Theatre’s production of Tracy Letts’ Pulitzer Prize winning play is terrific.