By Joseph Cunniff
Following is a look at some of the best upcoming Chicago theater and music:
BROADWAY IN CHICAGO: The perennial hit musical “Wicked,” billed as “the untold story of the witches of Oz,” flies into Chicago and plays the Nederlander Theater, 24 W. Randolph, now through Dec. 4. Visit broadway inchicago.com.
CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER presents “The Notebook,” the world premiere of the musical based on the hit novel about the enduring power of love. Through Nov. 16 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand. CST will also begin their new production of “Measure for Measure,” set in Cuba, Oct.28. Visit chicagoshakes.com.
GOODMAN THEATER presents Lynn Nottage’s hilarious comedy “Clyde’s,” set in a truck stop café and centering on a desire to create the perfect sandwich. Extended through Oct. 9 at the Goodman, 150 N. Dearborn.
Goodman also presents the outstanding playwright Rebecca Gilman’s “Swing State,” directed by Robert Falls, Oct.7-Nov. 13. Goodmantheater.com
WINDY CITY PLAYHOUSE presents the immersive drama “Southern Gothic,” set in a 1960s home with four couples celebrating a birthday. Through Nov. 30 at Petterino’s lower level, 150 N. Dearborn (entrance to the theater is on Randolph. Windycityplayhouse.com.
KOKANDY PRODUCTIONS presents Stephen Sondheim’s grisly classic “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” now through Nov. 6 at Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division. Kokandyproductions.com.
MERCURY THEATER presents “Clue,” based on the popular board game, Oct. 13-Jan. 1 at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport. mercurytheaterchicago.com.
INVICTUS THEATER presents a modern-dress production of Shakespeare’s classic “Julius Caesar” Oct.20-Nov. 20. Invictus Theater, 1106 W. Thorndale.invictustheatreco.com.
MUSIC THEATER WORKS presents Lerner and Loewe’s evergreen musical “Camelot” Oct. 20-Nov.13 at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. musictheaterworks.com.
BLACK ENSEMBLE THEATER presents “Blue Heaven,” in which blues legends Howlin’ Wolf, Big Momma Thornton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Muddy Waters reminisce while waiting for B.B. King. Oct.22-Nov. 27 at Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark. Blackensembletheater.org.
WRITER’S THEATER presents “Tiger Style!,”a comedy about two squabbling Asian-American siblings now through Oct. 30 at Writer’s Theater, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. Visit writersheatre.org.
REMY-BUMPPO THEATER presents “Routes,” which looks through the eyes of immigrants, refugees, and children in conflict with the law as they try to get help. Oct. 12-Nov. 30. RemyBumppo.org.
LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO presents Verdi’s thrilling “Ernani,” featuring five of today’s top Verdi voices and led by Lyric’s outstanding new Music Director Enrique Mazzola at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 1.
Lyric presents the ever-popular “Fiddler on the Roof” Oct. 2 at 2 p.m., and Oct. 6 and 7 at 7 p.m. lyricopera.org.
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: The world-famous ensemble will be led by the renowned Riccardo Muti, in his last year as Music Director, in a program including the stirring Mussorgsky-Ravel “Pictures at an Exhibition” Oct. 6 at 7:30 and Oct. 7 and 8 at 8 p.m.
CIVIC ORCHESTRA OF CHICAGO, the prestigious training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, presents their first free concert of the season as Ken-David Masur, son of the famed conductor Kurt Masur, leads of program of Richard Strauss’s “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks,” “Tower” by Jamaican-born composer Eleanor Alberga, and concluding with the Brahms Third Symphony. Oct.17 at 8. Visit cso.org.
JAZZ SHOWCASE: Since 1947, Chicago’s home for the best in jazz presents bass-baritone jazz singer Devon Sandridge Oct. 6 through 9. In the Dearborn and Polk Building, the big red-brick building with the clock tower, which is the oldest standing former train station in Chicago. The Showcase is on the Plymouth Court side of the building, at 806 S. Plymouth Court. (312) 362-0234. jazzshowcase.com.