This spring, Chicago theaters have a menu of shows that are sure to get people off their couches and into the theater. But, with so many options to choose from, how will you decide which play is the right one for you?

No need to worry. From now on, WBEZ will be curating a monthly list of shows you should consider. We’ll base it on our reporting, shows we’ve seen and upcoming productions we find interesting. Think of it as a one-stop-shop where you can access a curated list of noteworthy shows around the city.

This April, our picks have a little of everything — from romance to sci-fi, to sword-fighting and existential crisis, whatever you’re into — we’ve got you covered. You may even find a musical — or a play with music. Here’s our theater guide for the month of April. Thoughts? Tell us at arts@wbez.org.

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Purpose

Where: Steppenwolf Theatre

When: Through April 28

There was already plenty of intrigue sparked when Steppenwolf announced it was producing a play written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, whose drama Appropriate is fresh off a Broadway run, and directed by two-time Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad. I spoke to Jacobs-Jenkins and Rashad ahead of the opening. But nothing on the front end prepared me for how much I would enjoy this three-hour, turbulent epic drama about a prominent Black political family. With a star-studded cast that includes Harry Lennix (NBC’s The Blacklist) and Tamara Tunie (Law & Order SVU) and a dynamite performance from Steppenwolf ensemble member Jon Michael Hill — this is the play you must see in April.

If you go: 1650 N. Halsted St., tickets from $52.

* * *

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Where: Court Theater

When: March 29-April 21

Court Theater offers a fresh look at the tragic comedy penned by Tom Stoppard in the 1960s that centers two Shakespearean characters from Hamlet. Director Charles Newell, whose recent credits include a production of Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice and who is stepping down in June, reinterprets Stoppard’s script. By dropping the duo into an existential crisis, he challenges contemporary audiences to rethink what we know about Rosencrantz and Guildenstern — and perhaps how we think about existence in itself.

If you go: 5535 S. Ellis Ave., tickets from $23.

* * *

The S Paradox, presented by Babes with Blades Theater Company

Where: The Factory Theater

When: April 7-May 18

The season opener for Babes With Blades Theater Company is a sci-fi time-traveling thriller penned by Jillian Leff, winner of the Joining Sword & Pen International Playwright Competition. The inventive plot takes place in the distant future of the United States where guns are banned, health care is free and poverty is nearly eliminated. A woman who works for an intelligence agency is visited by a mysterious stranger from the future who warns her she is about to make the biggest mistake of her life. In Babes tradition, you can expect top-notch fight choreography and an action-packed theatrical experience.

If you go: 1623 W. Howard St., tickets from $20.

* * *

Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Where: Goodman Theatre

When: April 13-May 12

Resident Director Charles “Chuck” Smith helms this production after staging Goodman’s production of August Wilson’s Two Trains Running last February. Another work in Wilson’s famed American Century Cycle, Joe Turner’s Come and follows Herald Loomis and his daughter as they search for his estranged wife. But in looking for her, Herald finds himself. The Goodman is the first theater in the world to have produced all 10 plays in Wilson’s cycle, and the company is now aiming to once again stage all 10 plays, this time in chronological order at one per season.

If you go: 170 N. Dearborn St., tickets from $25.

* * *

Inanimate

Where: Theater Wit

When: Through May 4

When this humorously absurd play debuted off-Broadway at the Flea in 2017, it landed on the New York Times critic’s pick list. The concept from award-winning playwright Nick Robideau is intriguing. In the aftermath of her mother’s death, Erica, who has always been a misfit, is left contemplating the meaning of life. Oh, and she has recently fallen madly in love — with a Dairy Queen sign. This contemporary take on romance and isolation also dabbles in politics, familial dynamics and grief. In a time when society has shifted so many personal relationships from in person to online, the idea of someone falling in love with an inanimate object starts to feel less absurd than it should.

If you go: 1229 W. Belmont Ave., tickets from $18.

* * *

The Brightest Thing in the World, presented by About Face Theater

Where: The Den Theatre

When: Through April 13

I saw this play on opening night and was surprised at the depth of the story. It’s a rom-com, but beyond the typical notes you would expect from a budding cafe romance, there are complex debates challenging the ideological difference of far-left and moderately left-leaning politics. The plot itself is fueled by two major secrets, one of which places the audience face to face with the unlikely — and under-discussed — issue of middle-class drug addiction. This three-actor play, staged in a venue that holds under 100 people, packs a powerful emotional punch.

If you go: 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., tickets from $25.

* * *

How I Learned What I Learned, presented by Congo Square Theater

Where: Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place

When: April 20-May 5

This one-man show written by August Wilson explores Wilson’s personal journey from the streets of Pittsburgh to becoming one of America’s most celebrated playwrights. This production stars Chicago’s own Harry Lennix, whom audiences will remember from TV shows that include Blacklist, and films in the DC Extended Universe, fresh off a role in Purpose at Steppenwolf (see the top of this list). The fact that Lennix can transition from one role to another with seemingly only hours of buffer time between productions is a testament to the seasoned actor’s skill.

If you go: 175 E. Chestnut St., tickets from $61.

* * *

Rooted

Where: Oil Lamp Theater

When: Through May 5

This whimsical production, written by Helen Merrill Playwriting Award winner Deborah Zoe Laufer, makes its Chicago premiere. When a plant enthusiast who lives in a tree becomes an accidental viral internet sensation, she faces a difficult challenge — expanding her friendships beyond her plant companions and learning how to connect with humans.

If you go: 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview; tickets from $30.

* * *

Monsieur Chopin: A Play with Music

Where: Writers Theater

When: April 10-May 12

This is not your typical musical, but is in fact a play with music. Piano virtuoso Hershey Felder captivates audiences through tantalizing keystrokes while portraying the story of Fryderyk Chopin, who is giving a piano lesson to students days after the 1848 revolution in Paris. Set in the salon of Chopin, who was once referred to as “the poet of the piano,” audiences will revel in the performance of Felder, whose musical performance will be the heartbeat of the show.

If you go: 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe; tickets from $45.

* * *

Guys and Dolls

Where: Drury Lane Theatre

When: April 10-June 9

This is one of the great American Broadway musicals, staged by director, choreographer and Tony Award nominee Dan Knechtges.

If you go: 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace; tickets from $95.

Mike Davis is WBEZ’s theater reporter.