Chicago News Desk

Shakespeare?s Twelfth Night staged by London?s Bush Theatre Artistic Director Josie Rourke. Set off the coast of Illyria, shipwrecked twins put this tale of mistaken identity and unlikely love into relentless motion. Alone in the world, Viola disguises herself as a boy and falls hopelessly in love with the Duke she serves, while he is enamored of the Countess Olivia?whose adoring gaze lands instead upon the Duke?s new page.

Babes With Blades closes its 2008-2009, 11th anniversary season with an all-female production of William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth,' directed by Next Theatre's Kevin Heckman.

Lifeline Theatre continues its 26th anniversary MainStage season with the world premiere adaptation of Ron Hansen's contemporary bestseller 'Mariette in Ecstasy,' adapted by Lifeline ensemble member Christina Calvit, directed by Lifeline ensemble member Elise Kauzlaric.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce the new national tour of Rent, starring original Broadway cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, will play a limited engagement at Chicago's Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.) March 31 ? April 12, 2009. The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning musical Rent is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Kevin McCollum, and Allan S. Gordon.

From the writer of Lend Me a Tenor and Moon Over Buffalo comes a sidesplitting comedy of mistaken identities and harebrained schemes. Theatre at the Center presents the Chicago area premiere of Leading Ladies, running February 19 through March 22 at 1040 Ridge Road, Munster, Indiana.

16th Street Theater, a part of the North Berwyn Park District, is proud to announce its production of Anna Deavere Smith?s Fires in the Mirror directed by Artistic Director Ann Filmer

Now celebrating ten glorious years of girls, glitz and glamour across the country, the record-breaking smash hit musical CHICAGO is BACK IN TOWN and its PURE ENTERTAINMENT! Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce the return of CHICAGO The Musical for a limited run February 24 ? March 1, 2009 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre (24 W. Randolph St.). Group tickets are currently available by calling (312) 977-1710.

In February Chicago Shakespeare Theater will open Michael Pennington's 'Sweet William' as part of the World's Stage Series. Pennington's one-man salute to Shakespeare runs February 3 - 22, 2009 Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare.

Batterymouth receives one suggestion from the audience and then performs an original 30-minute show using their own long-form structure?utilizing slam poetry-esque riffs, three-person scenes and character monologues to create an entertaining, humorous and rhythmic piece that focuses on character and theme.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues its 2008-2009 season, an exploration of the imagination, with The Seafarer by Conor McPherson, directed by ensemble member Randall Arney. The production, features ensemble members Francis Guinan, Tom Irwin, John Mahoney and Alan Wilder with Randall Newsome.

ATC breaks ground with unprecedented mid-run cast switch, offering audiences the rare chance to see two versions of each play

Imagine - a concert for a new America! Nine of Chicago's top entertainers unite to present Imagine, a concert that is diverse as America itself, featuring music by Stevie Wonder, Irving Berlin, Pete Seeger, Madonna, Marvin Gaye, Lennon and McCartney, and many more.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) international programming initiative, the World's Stage Series, brings to Chicago world-renowned playwright Peter Weiss's The Investigation, based on transcripts of the 1964 Frankfurt World War II crimes trials.

A new version of the classic tale, Beauty and the Beast, will mark Winnetka Theatre?s fifth season presenting popular, one-hour musicals for children ages 3-10. The production, directed by professional director/choreographer Stacey Flaster (Evanston), opens January 17 and runs through February 1 at the Winnetka Community House, 620 Lincoln Ave, Winnetka.

Northlight Theatre continues its 2008-2009 Season with the World Premiere of Po Boy Tango by Kenneth Lin, directed by Chay Yew. The production, featuring Ken Narasaki, Jeanne Sakata and Jacqueline Williams, runs January 7-February 15, 2009 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

Court Theatre continues its 2008-09 season with the World Premiere translation of Henrik Ibsen's modernist classic The Wild Duck, directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell. The production will run at the MCA Stage at the Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 East Chicago Avenue, January 15 - February 15, 2009.

Batterymouth brings its unique and hilarious brand of improv to Chicago?s Apollo Theater Studio, 2540 N Lincoln Ave., every Wednesday night from January 21 through February 25, 2009. Each week, a different Chicago improv group will perform as an opening act for Batterymouth.

Jeffrey A. Katz, presents the world premiere of 'Slaphappy,' a romantic comedy of lost lovers and tormented ducks, by Chicago playwright Gary Slezak. Set in a Paris hotel, the play explores the idea of happiness through the eyes of four Americans, a loopy bellboy, an astute concierge, and a society of pâté lovers. Battling couples, exploding rockets, mistaken medications and a taste of foie gras come together in a delirious confection. This Equity show runs about two hours plus two intermissions. The poster illustration is by New Yorker cartoonist Pat Byrnes (copy below; more info at www.patbyrnes.com).

TimeLine Theatre Company announces the world premiere of Not Enough Air by Masha Obolensky. The play, directed by Nick Bowling, runs January 24 through March 22, 2009 (previews January 21 through January 23) at TimeLine Theatre

The Mill premieres Ken Urban's The Private Lives of Eskimos (or 16 words for snow.) Eskimos opens Sunday January 11, 2009 at 8pm at Stage Left Theatre, 3408 N. Sheffield Ave. in Chicago.