As the sun begins to beat down on the city of Boston, why not escape the heat (and reduce your risk of developing melanoma in the future) in a cool, dark theater? This summer, Boston theater companies are tackling everything from Shakespearian classics to bold experimental pieces that promise to entertain at least as well as your favorite beach read. So hop on the T to check out what's playing — your skin and your sense of culture will thank you.
American Repertory Theater: There's no shortage of soul-searching pieces on the American Repertory Theater's (A.R.T.) Loeb Stage this month. "Mouth Wide Open," directed by Sabrina Peck, stars Amy Brenneman in her autobiographical play. The "Private Practice" star guides the audience through Hollywood, hospitals and holy hotspots (including a Tibetan temple and an evangelical church), where she seeks the balance between fame and meaningfulness. (Running May 24 to 29.)
Another introspective piece, "I Speak, Therefore I Am," explores the power of the human voice. Director John Tiffany collaborates with the A.R.T. Institute class of 2011 in this theatrical hodgepodge, embracing everything from fairy tales to physical theater to examine how speaking enables us to express our identities. (Running May 25 to 28.)
Boston Playwrights' Theatre: The Boston Playwrights' Theatre, founded in 1981 to promote new works, is the home of the New England premiere of Enrique Urueta's "Learn to be Latina." A lesbian romantic comedy with an acidic bite, the play is about a Lebanese pop star who discovers that faking a Latina heritage means she is able to sell more records. (Running through June 5.)
Company One: In light of Osama bin Laden's recent capture, Jason Grote's "1001," a portentous reinvention of "Arabian Nights," has become increasingly meaningful and relevant. The play explores American and Middle Eastern identities by conjuring a storybook world that collapses suddenly into an apocalyptic envisioning of the 21st century; bin Laden even makes a cameo. (Running July 15 to August 13.)
The Huntington Theatre Company: The Huntington goes Shakespearean this summer, playing the Bard's "Richard III" and "Comedy of Errors" in repertory. Both productions are the Boston debuts of the all male Propeller Theatre Company from England and are innovative adaptations of the time-honored works.
"Richard III," Shakespeare's play about one of the darkest figures in English history, is set in a gothic Victorian hospital and features the dark aesthetic of Grand Guignol. "Comedy of Errors," a play with a bit more levity, follows two sets of identical twins who have been separated at birth and reunited in adulthood with farcical consequences. This version of the comedy is set in Mexico and is replete with sombreros and a mariachi band for maximum zaniness. (Both running through June 19.)
The Nora Theatre Company: Located just a few miles from Tufts, The Nora Theatre Company in Central Square is too convenient not to know about. This summer, The Nora is offering an original musical written by local playwright Amy Merrill and music and lyrics by activist folksinger Si Kahn. "Silver Spoon," set in the 1960s, follows Polly Bullock, a woman who works at her family's Wall Street brokerage firm and moonlights as a radical underground newspaper publisher. Exploring themes of self-definition, class and family commitments, this colorful and original production will definitely be worth watching. (Running through June 19.)
SpeakEasy Stage Company: SpeakEasy embraces spirited, self-conscious theater with "The Drowsy Chaperone," directed by David Connolly. When a die-hard musical fan listens to his favorite cast album, the show magically comes to life, ushering him and the audience into front-row seats for a hilarious celebrity wedding. Wacky antics abound. (Running through June 5.)
