Weekend picks: Bolingbrook grad brings the funny home

Home for the holiday

Comedian and actor Lenny Schmidt (“True Blood,” “The Inbetweeners”) counts himself as a graduate of Bolingbrook High School. Schmidt returns home for the holidays for an extended run through Saturday, Dec. 28, at Zanies at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. $23 plus a two-item menu purchase. (630) 584-6342 or zanies.com. 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21

Saturday

'A Christmas Carol'

Drury Lane Theatre for Young Adults presents Charles Dickens' classic holiday tale “A Christmas Carol” at the Drury Lane Theatre and Conference Center, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. $15. (630) 530-0111 or drurylaneoakbrook.com. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21

Chicago's Christkindlmarket

Visit the 18th Annual Christkindlmarket, an outdoor German-American holiday market in Daley Plaza, between Washington, Clark and Dearborn streets in Chicago. Guests can sample German fare and find unique items made in Germany, such as handblown holiday ornaments, cuckoo clocks, nutcrackers and more. Don't miss the music and visits with Santa Claus. Free. (312) 494-2175 or christkindlmarket.com. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Dec. 22-23; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24

8000 Miles' sip and sushi

Lynfred Winery joins 8000 Miles, 107 Main St., Roselle, for a sip and sushi wine lunch Saturday. Eats include passed appetizers, the veggie lover's roll, crazy roll, triple K.C. roll and the dragon roll. Wine pairings feature Sangria Blanc, Oktoberfest, Chambourcin-Rose and more. $40 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. (630) 283-0053 or 8000milesrestaurant.com. 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21

Classic Nutcracker

Chicago-area residents with fond memories of “The Nutcracker” at the Arie Crown Theater can see that version again when Ruth Page Civic Ballet performs Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas ballet at College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $22-$30; $21-$29 seniors; $12-$15 students and kids. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22

Pageantry and gadgetry

The Nutcracker? A Christmas Carol? For something completely different in winter theatrical offerings, consider Redmoon Theater's 15th annual Winter Pageant that's equal parts gadgetry, acrobatics, ephemera and spectacle at Redmoon Theater, 2120 S. Jefferson St., Chicago. Large-scale sets, puppets, hip-hop dance, live music and machinery snag the attention of children and adults as the show evokes themes of community, bravery and hope. Collaborators include the hip-hop dancers of The Happiness Club of Chicago, Kalapriya Dance, Indonesian Dance of Illinois, Pineapple Dance Studio, Mexican clown artist Fernando Córdova Hernández, aerialist Helena Reynolds and surf-rock band The San Andreas Fault. Also, there will be free treats courtesy of Eli's Cheesecake. Single tickets cost $25 for adults, $15 for kids 3-18, $10 for college students with IDs, and free for kids younger than 3. (312) 850-8440, ext. 123, or redmoon.org. 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21; and 1:30 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22

Watercolor realism

Meet with watercolor artistTony Armendariz when he appears at the opening of his latest exhibit of realist island works at La Citadelle Gallery, The Arboretum, Unit H-30, Route 59 and Higgins Road, South Barrington. Free admission. (224) 622-9578 or shopthearb.com. 5 to 8 p.m. daily through Sunday, March 23

Theatre Hikes indoors

Theatre Hikes performs “A Very Irreverent Christmas Carol,” adapted by Matthew Powell from Charles Dickens' tale and performed as part of the company's Solstice fundraiser. A rock 'n' roll sendup, this “Carol” features Dolly Parton, Bob Marley and Elvis as the ghosts. See it at Evviva Bar & Eatery, 1017 Front St., Lisle. $30. (872) 202-4963 or theatre-hikes.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21

Dean's list

Comic and character actor Dean Edwards (“Saturday Night Live,” “Spiderman 3”) returns for another standup engagement at The Improv Comedy Showcase, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $17 plus a two-menu item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21; and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22

Country star

Martina McBride has been called “the Celine Dion of country music” because of her emotional ballads and powerhouse voice. McBride will make a stop at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont, to deliver a holiday-themed show. Tickets start at $36.50. Go to ticketmaster.com. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21

Four-part holidays

Hear holiday music sung with sophisticated four-part harmony when The Manhattan Transfer Swings Christmas is performed Saturday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $38-$68. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21

Sharp shootin'

A contest between tomboyish Annie Oakley and star sharpshooter Frank Butler sets in motion a bumpy romance that nearly gets upended by their respective egos in the Irving Berlin musical “Annie Get Your Gun.” Colette Todd and James Rank play the competitive couple in Light Opera Works' revival helmed by Rudy Hogenmiller with music direction by Roger L. Bingaman. See the play at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston. $32-$94. (847) 920-5360 or lightoperaworks.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21

Country Christmas

Country star Kenny Rogers will perform his Christmas & Hits Through The Years tour withspecial guest Linda DavisSaturday at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $70-$85. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21

Wedded bliss

Hard-edged Americana band Scott Lucas & the Married Men will take the stage this weekend for the fourth annual Hideout Holiday Music Hour. Lucas, a native of Zion, and his band will structure the evening like an old-time variety show (think “Prairie Home Companion”), with special guests galore. Expect lots of Christmas tunes as well as songs from Scott Lucas & the Married Men's records, which combine a rock sensibility with traditional instrumentation like organ, violin and accordion. Experience it at the Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, Chicago. $10. Go to hideoutchicago.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21

Sunday

Bell ringer

Actress Karolyn Grimes, Zuzu in “It's a Wonderful Life,” returns to sign autographs before special screenings of the classic 1940s Frank Capra holiday film at two locations: Hollywood Blvd. Cinema, 1001 W. 75th St., Woodridge, and at the Hollywood Palms, 352 S. Route 59, Naperville. $6-$8. (630) 427-1880 or atriptothemovies.com. 12:30, 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, in Woodridge; noon, 3, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, in Naperville

Holiday cookie walk

If you haven't had the time to whip up a batch or two of holiday cookies, head to the 18th Annual Prairie Crossing Cookie Walk and Bake Sale at the Byron Colby Barn at Prairie Crossing, 1561 Jones Point Road, Grayslake. Visitors can buy thousands of homemade holiday cookies, along with stocking stuffers and gifts from local artists and businesses. Cookie bakers can take part in a baking contest. Children can make holiday cards and decorate cookies. Free general admission. All proceeds go to local charities. For information, call Elizabeth at (847) 269-8533. 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22

Family & football

Bring the kids and watch football on a big screen when the Arcada Theatre opens up for a Chicago Bears Game & Family Christmas Event today at 105 Main St., St. Charles. No admission charge, though space is limited. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22