Local theater
Holidays at Metropolis
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre offers holiday fare for varied tastes with its annual production of “A Christmas Carol,” a play with music directed by Brad Dunn and starring Joshua K. Harris as Scrooge, and Second City’s annual “Holidays in the Heights,” which skewers assorted holiday traditions.
Both shows start previews Friday, Nov. 23, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $15.50-$34.50. For a list of times and dates see metropolisarts.com or call (847) 577-2121.
‘Life’ in Crystal Lake
Williams Street Repertory presents its radio play version of “It’s A Wonderful Life” following Crystal Lake’s Festival of Lights Parade. The company promises to put an original spin on WSR’s production by revealing some of the chaotic moments that may have unfolded during a 1949 radio broadcast.
9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, and 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at the Raue Center, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $22-$28. For a list of other times and dates see rauecenter.org or (815) 356-9212.
Scrooge and Santa
Drury Lane Theatre invites audiences to enjoy a breakfast or dinner buffet with Santa Claus on select performance dates of its family-friendly production of “A Christmas Carol” starring Michael Joseph Mitchell as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Show opens at 10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 23, at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. The first breakfast buffets are at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. Show tickets are $12; breakfast, $22, $25; dinner $27, $35. For additional times and dates see drurylaneoakbrook.com or (630) 530-0111.
Adult fare
The “50 Shades of Grey” parody “50 Shades! The Musical” comes to the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. Baby Wants Candy performs the adults-only show, which centers on a ladies book club’s interpretation of the steamy novel.
8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, and Saturday, Nov. 24, at 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $20. (847) 673-6300 or northshorecenter.org.
— Barbara Vitello