1. WBEZ’s Lynette Kalsnes reports on Filament Theatre Ensemble‘s attempt to create zero-waste productions. Their current production carries a bit of this mentality with them too - it’s called From the Circle: Remembering the Earth Through Folktales. Click through for more details on Filament’s interesting practices, which we’ve written about before.

2. Because my boss is breathing down my neck, go to the last Schadenfreude Rent Party of the year tonight. Besides the obvious brilliance of Schad (including Henneman, of viral video fame), Brian Babylon will perform, and there will be a cameo by Marcus Gilmer, who’s very funny in writing, but will he deliver in person?!The suspense is killing me. 8 pm, Beat Kitchen.

3. There’s stuff continuing on, and stuff that’s coming back. Love, Loss and What I Wore has been extended through January 1, with Dawn Wells of Gilligan’s Island fame joining the cast. And In The Heights will be returning to Chicago to the Oriental Theatre in January. Tickets went on sale today. Also here’s a slightly NSFW (titled) Tumblr about the man who penned the musical, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

4. Stuff to (not) see this weekend: Seascape with Sharks and Dancer at Promethean Theatre Ensemble. TimeOut was unimpressed, characterizing Don Nigro’s 1985 play “one part Neil LaBute, one part Miranda July and zero parts enjoyable.”

5. Kerry Reid gives us a look into the three plays that are part of Steppenwolf’s First Look. “I can’t say that any of the three feels fully realized at this stage of the game, despite generally strong direction and ensemble work,” writes Reid. “But each offers moments of wit, sorrow, and insight into the human desires for what you can’t have, what’s bad for you, and what’s simply evil.

Questions? Tips? Email kdries@wbez.org.