| Good afternoon. Here's a scoop: The acclaimed Broadway composer and jazz musician David Yazbek ("The Full Monty,
" "Tootsie," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,
" "The Band's Visit," "Dead Outlaw," etc.) will show up in a relatively rare concert-style appearance in an intimate setting at Writers Theatre in Glencoe on Sept 15. No ticket details yet, but Yazbek is one of the greatest living Broadway composers, so this is one not to miss. Watch this space for more. Aug. 4 is the date of the League of Chicago Theatres' annual Spotlight Gala, this year to be known as
"A Night Under the Big Top" and held at Teatro ZinZanni at the Cambria Hotel (32 W. Randolph St.). The gala supports the nonprofit service organization; honorees this year are Henry Godinez (receiving a lifetime achievement award), About Face Theatre (receiving an artistic excellence award) and the Chicago Green Theatre Alliance (a Tribute award). The winners of the Broadway in Chicago Backstage Champion Award will be announced and presented at the event. Trap Door Theatre, which specializes in the European avant-garde, has announced its 32nd season. Mainstage shows are "Green Corridors," written by Ukrainian playwright Natalka Vorozhbyt and translated by John Freedman with Natalia Bratus; Kay Martinovich directs, and the run goes from Jan. 15 to Feb. 21, 2026. From May 14 to June 20, 2026, Trap Door will stage "Le Bal," adapted, devised and directed by Stephen Buescher and based on the film by Ettore Scola. Trap Door says the "dialogue-free
" show will use "movement and sound to capture the emotional pulse of a changing world." More shows for this summer: Kokandy Productions will stage
"Amélie the Musical" from July 17 to Sept. 28 in the Chopin Downstairs Studio (1543 W. Division St.). Opening night is Aug. 2. Also on that night: City Lit opens "Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train." Lastly, a reminder that Broadway in Chicago's annual free summer concert is set for 6:15 p.m.
Aug. 11 at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. See you at the theater! — Chris Jones, chief theater critic Anish Jethmalani and Tina Muñoz Pandya in “Dhaba on Devon Avenue” at Writers Theatre. (Michael Brosilow) Our current list of Chris Jones Recommended shows: "Always ... Patsy Cline" through Aug. 3 at Drury Lane Theatre;
"You Will Get Sick" through July 20 at Steppenwolf Theatre; “Always Something There ...” through Aug. 10 at Marriott Theatre; “Dhaba on Devon Avenue” through July 27 at Writers Theatre;
"The Color Purple" through Aug. 3 at Goodman Theatre. Sign up for the Theater Loop newsletter: Our weekly newsletter has the latest news and reviews from America’s hottest theater city. Theater critic Chris Jones will share a behind-the-curtain look at what you need to know. | 
