Stage Neighbors: 'I Love Lucy on Stage' returns to salute Ricardos and Mertz TV humor

Joanna Daniels and Curtis Pettyjohn, the Chicago duo of local stage veterans playing "stage veterans" Ethel and Fred Mertz of "I Love Lucy" TV fame have a clever way of interpreting their performance art.

Resurrecting the Favorite Redhead of Reruns: Midwest premiere of 'I Love Lucy Live on Stage' channels fans of sitcom characters

Rick Sparks, the man behind I Love Lucy Live on Stage, knows just how dedicated fans are of Lucille Ball and her landmark TV comedy starring the Ricardos and the Mertzes.

Sirena Irwin and Bill Mendieta as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo

Sirena Irwin and Bill Mendieta play classic TV characters Lucy and Ricky Ricardo of sitcom fame in I Love Lucy Live on Stage at Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place in Chicago through November 11.

Actress Sirena Irwin as Lucy Ricardo in "I Love Lucy Live on Stage"

Actress Sirena Irwin studied countless episodes of "I Love Lucy" to fine-tune the mannerisms of the famed red-headed comedienne's Lucy Ricardo character for I Love Lucy Live on Stage, which has its Midwest premiere in Chicago at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place through November 11.

Broadway in Chicago Presents Sirena Irwin and Bill Mendieta as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo

Sirena Irwin and Bill Mendieta play classic TV characters Lucy and Ricky Ricardo of sitcom fame in "I Love Lucy Live on Stage" at Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place in Chicago through Nov. 11.

OFFBEAT: 'I Love Lucy Live on Stage' fun, but antennae needs adjusting

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

OFFBEAT: Reader happy 'Castle' has tango classes

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Scene from "I Love Lucy" 1957 Episode "Lucy Raises Chickens"

Comedienne Lucille Ball, as her memorable Lucy Ricardo character, purchased 500 energetic baby chicks in cardboard crates, which ran amok in her country house in the 1957 "I Love Lucy" episode "Lucy Raises Chickens."

Crown Point business educates customers about chicks, eggs and opportunities

Tom Meyer, owner of Crown Feed & Supply in Crown Point, is well acquainted with the episode of the classic CBS comedy series "I Love Lucy," which centers around the Lucy Ricardo character buying 500 baby chicks with a plan to raise them to save money on eggs.