Night at the museum

If you find the offerings on Chicago theater’s fall roster a little predictable, our prescription is the Museum of Contemporary Art (220 E Chicago Ave, 312-397-4010, mcachicago.org). Peter Taub, the MCA’s director of performance programs, always has interesting tricks up his sleeve, but this season is especially exciting. He’s importing two primo acts from New York’s hipster downtown scene—both making their criminally overdue Chicago debuts—and producing a new piece by a local experimental-performance legend.

New York–based monologuist Mike Daisey tends to stir up trouble wherever he goes, which is amusing given that his shtick is nothing more than common sense on funny steroids. His new monologue play, If You See Something, Say Something, explores the history of nuclear testing in New Mexico. Oct 10–12, $25.

Daisey’s show will be followed by fellow NYC tricksters Elevator Repair Service. Fans of Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby won’t want to miss the company’s legendary (and in some cities, contraband) adaptation of the book: Gatz is a seven-hour adaptation that includes every single word of the novel read aloud. The Fitzgerald estate famously put the smackdown on the New York production of the show in order to reserve the rights for a possible unrelated Broadway production, which would be more mainstream and, of course, more lucrative. But in other cities, the event has played to Second Coming–esque reviews. If the length sounds off-putting, don’t forget how much you wanted to see the three-and-half-hour August: Osage County a second time; consider it proof you have seven hours of riveting theatergoing in your system. Nov 15, 16, $40.

Finally, gonzo puppeteer and Redmoon Theater cofounder Blair Thomas debuts a new piece from the company that bears his name. The Ox-Herder’s Tale, based on an ancient Buddhist parable, will be rendered with Thomas specialties such as Japanese Bunraku puppets, stilt dancing and live percussion. Since breaking away from the populist Redmoon, Thomas has explored more personal and esoteric projects. Here’s a chance to see one played out on a grand stage. Nov 19–30, $25.

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