Theater events: Laughs to be had at Janus fundraiser
Holiday laughs
Janus Theater hosts a holiday show and fundraiser this weekend at the Elgin Public House. Janus regulars perform in the company’s humorous take on why it hasn’t reprised its readers’ theater version of David Sedaris’ “The Santaland Diaries” since 2005. Proceeds help offset expenses for Janus’ 2014 season.
6 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at 219 E. Chicago St., Elgin. $15. For dinner reservations, call (847) 468-8810. See janustheater for more information.
Radio play ‘Miracle’
Hired to play Macy’s Santa, Kris Kringle tries to convince skeptical single mom Doris and her daughter Susan that he is the man himself in Improv Playhouse’s radio play adaptation of the 1948 film “Miracle on 34th Street.” Libertyville’s Egon Schein stars as Kris Kringle.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. $20, $15. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com.
Redmoon pageant
Farid ud-Din Atta’s poem “The Conference of the Birds,” about how a flock of birds’ happy life is upended by an evil raven, inspired Redmoon’s 15th annual winter pageant. It’s produced in collaboration with hip-hop dancers from The Happiness Club of Chicago, Indian dancers from Kalapriya Dance, members of Indonesian Dance of Illinois, clown artist Fernando Cordova Hernandez, aerialist Helena Reynolds and surf-rock band The San Andreas Fault. The show also includes Redmoon’s singular puppetry.
Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 13, and continue Friday through Sunday through Dec. 22 at 2120 S. Jefferson St., Chicago. $25, $15. (312) 850-8440, ext. 123, or redmoon.org.
— Barbara Vitello