Northlight Theatre, Strawdog Theatre announce 2012-2013 seasons

Skokie's Northlight Theatre today announced the bulk of its 2012–2013 season, to include a Woody Guthrie musical revue, an Irish comic two-hander and a new play set in the aftermath of the Civil War that's making the regional-theater rounds. These are in addition to a production of Neil Simon's The Odd Couple starring George Wendt and Tim Kazurinsky as Oscar and Felix, as first reported last month. A fifth title remains to be announced.

Northlight's slate opens with Woody Sez—The Life & Times of Woody Guthrie (September 14–October 21), followed by The Odd Couple (November 2–December 9) with Kazurinsky and Wendt reprising the roles they played in a Kansas City production last year.

The Whipping Man, a three-actor piece by first-time playwright Matthew Lopez that's had a dozen productions around the country since 2009, is next up (January 18–February 24), with Marie Jones's 1996 comedy Stones in His Pockets (previously seen on the North Shore in a 2005 Apple Tree Theatre production) coming in the spring (March 8–April 14). Stones is an import from the Utah Shakespeare Festival, performed by that fest's co-artistic directors Brian Vaughan and David Ivers. Northlight artistic director BJ Jones will helm The Odd Couple; no further directors or casting have been announced.

Strawdog Theatre Company in Lakeview also announced its three-play season this week, kicking off with Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom (October 7–November 10). Jennifer Haley's comic thriller, about a zombie-themed role-playing game that takes on a life of its own, will be directed by Joanie Schultz.

That's to be followed by Improbable Frequency (February 24–March 30), a quirky musical first seen at the Edinburgh Fringe a few years back; Strawdog artistic director Brandon Bruce will direct. The season is rounded out by Charles Mee's Big Love, in a production helmed by Matt Hawkins (April 21–May 25).