Pictured: Melanie Keller, who will perform in First Folio’s WOMEN IN JEOPARDY, and direct MARY’S WEDDING

First Folio Theatre has announced their 22nd season, beginning with the world premiere of THE MAN-BEAST, which runs October 4th through November 5th. Following is the Chicago premiere of WOMEN IN JEOPARDY, January 24 through February 25. MARY’S WEDDING runs March 28 through April 29th, 2018, and the world-premiere musical SHREW’D runs July 11 through August 19th, 2018.

THE MAN-BEAST is a werewolf tale from the playwright who wrote The Gravedigger and Dr. Seward’s Dracula, Joseph Zettelmaier. This final installment of his horror trilogy will be directed by Hayley Rice. WOMEN IN JEOPARDY is billed as a “Thelma and Louise meets The First Wives Club” comedy about a woman dating a serial killer. Penned by Wendy MacLeod, the production will feature Lydia Berger Gray, Melanie Keller, Joe Foust, and Gail Rastorfer. Stephen Massicotte’s MARY’S WEDDING is a story of innocence and youth that takes place on the 100th Anniversary of the end of World War I. The production will be directed by Melanie Keller and feature Heather Chrisler. The musical SHREW’D will be performed in the outdoor venue, as adapted by David Rice from Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew” to set in 1930’s jazz-infused Chicago. It will be directed by Johanna McKenzie Miller, and features lyrics by Rice and music by Michael Keefe.

First Folio’s performances take place at the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook. Season subscriptions and individual tickets go on sale on June 1 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 630.986.8067 or online at www.firstfolio.org.