Sunday picks: Chamber Opera Chicago presents 'Amahi'

Posted December 14, 2013 5:00 am

By Laura Milbrath Stewart and Scott C. Morgan

The ensemble of Chamber Opera Chicago's production of "Amahi and the NIght Visitors."

Miracle opera

“Amahl and the Night Visitors” doesn't get regular play on TV nowadays, so see it live this weekend when Chamber Opera Chicago brings Gian Carlo Menotti's 1950s holiday opera to the Harold Washington Library's Cindy Pritzker Auditorium, 400 S. State St., Chicago. $25; $20 students; $10 kids. (312) 951-7944 or chamberoperachicago.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15

Ho, Ho, Yo

Kids and parents who are die-hard fans of the Nickelodeon TV show “Yo Gabba Gabba” should check out“A Very Awesome Yo Gabba Gabba! Live! Holiday Show!” this weekend at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $22-$72. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15

Nutcracker in Naperville

Dance West Ballet presents its takeon Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas ballet “The Nutcracker” this weekend at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $30; $23 seniors/kids. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15

Radio play 'Miracle'

Hired to play Macy's Santa, Kris Kringle tries to convince single mom Macy's executive 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. 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. $20, $15. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15

Orchestral magic

Soprano Elizabeth Norman, the Elgin Choral Union and the Elgin Children's Chorus are combining artistic forces with theElgin Symphony Orchestra this weekend for a few Magical Holiday Concerts conducted by Stephen Squires. See them at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. $25-$45. (847) 931-5900 or hemmens.org. 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 (sold out)

Christmas Fantasia

The Fox Valley Orchestra presents its Christmas Fantasia concert in the Crimi Auditorium at Aurora University, 407 S. Calumet Ave., Aurora. The program includes classical and holiday selections. Tickets are $10-$12 in advance or $11-$13 at the door. Visit foxvalleyorchestra.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15

Dance Windows

Hubbard Street Dance Chicago revives choreographer Alejandro Cerrudo's large-scale 2012 “One Thousand Pieces,” which famously takes its inspiration from Marc Chagall's “American Windows” stained glass at the Art Institute of Chicago. Catch it starting Thursday at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. (312) 334-7777 or hubbardstreetdance.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15

Symphonic greetings

David Ott's orchestral setting of “'Twas the Night Before Christmas” and Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn's jazzy reinvention of Tchaikovsky's “Nutcracker Suite” are on the bill of theDupage Symphony Orchestra's Holiday Traditions concert today at North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. $20-$25; $15-$20 students/kids. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15

Holiday Magic at the zoo

See more than 1 million colorful holiday lights at the 32nd annual Holiday Magic celebration at Brookfield Zoo, at First Avenue and 31st Street, Brookfield. Along with viewing the twinkling light displays, zoo guests can sing holiday carols to the animals, visit with Santa Claus, watch ice-carving demonstrations and much more. Free with paid $10.50-$15 zoo general admission. Visit czs.org. 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15

Hug a tree!

Stroll through the one-mile outdoor Illumination: Tree Lights exhibit at the Morton Arboretum, at 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Guests can interact with the decorated trees by hugging them to make the lights brighter, or by singing to change the colors. Tickets are $5-$15. (630) 725-2066 or visit mortonarb.org. 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. daily through Saturday, Jan. 4

Holiday laughs

Janus Theater hosts a holiday show and fundraiser this weekend at the Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St., Elgin. Janus regulars perform in the show, a humorous take on why the company hasn't reprised its readers' theater version of David Sedaris' “The Santaland Diaries” since 2005. Proceeds help pay for Janus' 2014 season. $15. For dinner reservations, call (847) 468-8810. See janustheater for more information. 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15

Youngsters can come face-to-face with Santa Claus himself at the annual Holiday Magic celebration at Brookfield Zoo. Courtesy of Scott Hardesty/ Chicago Zoological Society

Courtesy of the Morton ArboretumSee a variety of light technology at the "Illumination: Tree Lights" interactive, outdoor exhibit at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle.

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