November brings bounty of fabulous theater and music

Take a look at some of the best in what promises to be an outstanding month in Chicago theater and music.

GOODMAN THEATRE

Tony Award-winning director Robert Falls and Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Rebecca Gilman team up for “Swing State,” set in Wisconsin with four working-class characters. Gilman has a wonderful ear for everyday life in the Midwest and her plays so often deliver a marvelous experience. Now through Nov. 13 at The Goodman, 170 N. Dearborn St., (312) 443-3800. (goodman.org)

CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER

“Measure for Measure,” the bard’s remarkably up-to-date examination of corruption and hypocrisy, returns in director Henry Godinez’s 90-minute production. Set in a sultry Havana nightclub in the 1950s, before Castro, the show is complete with pre-show mambo, bolero, and Afro-Cuban jazz. Now through Nov. 27 at 800 E. Grand Ave. on Navy Pier. (312) 595-5600. (chicagoshakes.com)

LYRIC OPERA

The Lyric is scheduling more afternoon performances than ever. Verdi’s powerful “Don Carlos,” set in 16th century Spain and considered as one of the greatest of all operas, will be presented with an all-star cast Nov. 9 at 7 p.m., Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 17 at 2 p.m., Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. and Nov. 25 at 7 p.m.

Rossini’s rollicking comedy “Le Comte Ory,” starring tenor Lawrence Brownlee and soprano Kathryn Lewek, will be presented Nov. 13 at 2 p.m, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m, and Nov. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Both operas will be conducted by Enrique Mazzola, only the third music director in Lyric’s history, after Bruno Bartoletti and Sir Andrew Davis. Mazzola, born in Barcelona and raised in Milan, is internationally renowned, especially as an expert in Verdi and in French operas. (lyricopera.org)

SYMPHONY CENTER

Dancers from the famed Joffrey Ballet will take the stage along with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Harry Bicket, in musical performance of Rameau, Mozart, Wagner, and Ravel Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. (cso.org)

Highly praised conductor Manfred Honeck leads the CSO in Glinka, Auerbach and the Shostakovich Fifth Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 19 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 20 at 3 p.m. (csy.org)

The famed Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra visits Chicago and plays Mahler’s mysterious and thrilling Symphony No. 7, “The Song of the Night,” Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. Conducting will be Kirill Petrenko, born to an Ukrainian father and a musicologist mother in a small town in Russia—a superlative and very modest musician who does not give interviews. (cso.org)

MERCURY THEATER

Mercury Theater presents the fun-loving comedy, “Clue,” based on the popular board game, now through January 1 at 3745 N. Southport Ave. (773) 360-7635. (mercurytheaterchicago.com)

BROADWAY IN CHICAGO

BIC has two shows on the boards in Chicago in November. Disney’s spectacular musical, “The Lion King,” plays the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Nov. 17 through Jan. 14. The ever-popular musical, “Wicked,” called the “untold story of the witches of Oz,” plays at the James M. Nederlander Theatre at 24 W. Randolph St., through Dec. 4. (broadwayinchicago.com)

INVICTUS THEATRE COMPANY

ITC, performing at the far-north Reginald Vaughn Theater at 1106 W. Thorndale Ave., presents a modern-dress production of Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” now through Nov. 20. (773) 293-7117. (invictustheatreco.com)

And that’s just some of the great bounty November has to offer in Chicago.

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