Part of the 13th annual Stages, Sights & Sounds, performances run May 3-12. The story is told by King Lear's closest companion--his fool. Uses exuberant storytelling, music and film. Purchase tickets at (312) 494-9509 or chicagohumanities.org.

Solo puppeteer Nori Sawa performs fresh takes on classic fairy tales from May 9-12. From Japan and based in Prague, Sawa uses puppets, masks, music, paper cutouts and his body to tell beautiful and sometimes slightly twisted versions of traditional tales.

Performances run most Tuesdays through Saturdays at 10 a.m., and added performances March 27, 29 and 30 at 12:30 p.m. 

The story concerns Frederic, who, having completed his apprenticeship to a band of pirates on his 21^st birthday, is released from his servitude. Soon after, he meets the fair maiden Mabel, daughter of Major-General Stanley. The two fall instantly in love; but, as always, obstacles threaten to cause trouble for young Frederic. It turns out Frederic was born during the leap year which means even though he is 21 he has only had 5 birthdays, and is in fact indebted to the pirates for 63 more years. Bound by his own sense of duty, Frederic's only solace is that Mabel agrees to wait for him faithfully. Performances run April 11-June 10.