Entertainment

Christmas classics, seasonal sendups fill local stages

Posted November 30, 2014 4:45 am

Barbara Vitello

Miserly Scrooge (John B. Boss) has no interest in the holidays in Metropolis Performing Arts Centre's “A Christmas Carol.” Courtesy of Metropolis

From various incarnations of a yuletide classic to a world premiere rock 'n' roll Christmas tale, local theaters serve up holiday fare for every taste.

Here's a look at some seasonal productions in the city and suburbs:

"A Christmas Carol"

Now in its 37th year, Goodman Theatre's is the granddaddy of Chicago-area "Carols." Through Dec. 28, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

Drury Lane Theatre's production stars Bradley Armacost as the miser who learns the meaning of the season. Through Dec. 23, at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. (630) 530-0111 or drurylane.com.

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre's play-with-music features a largely suburban cast. Through Dec. 24, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

JQ and GQ put a hip-hop spin on the tale in "A Q Brothers' Christmas Carol." Through Dec. 31, at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

Dream Theatre promises a Victorian era immersion with "A Christmas Carol: An Evening of Dickensian Delights." Through Dec. 21, at 5026 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 552-8616 or dreamtheatrecompany.com.

This marks Commedia Beauregard's final production of "A Klingon Christmas Carol." Performed in the language created for the "Star Trek" TV series (with supertitles), it centers around the efforts of SQuja' (Scrooge) to reclaim his honor. Dec. 4-21, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6875 or cbtheatre.org.

Eta Creative Arts Foundation examines the story from an African American perspective in "If Scrooge Was a Brother" by Ekundayo Bandele. Dec. 6-20, at Kennedy King College, 740 W. 63rd St., Chicago. (708) 926-4641 or etacreativearts.org.

Capra favorite

American Blues Theater set the standard 13 years ago when it debuted "It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!" recreating Frank Capra's beloved film as a 1940s radio broadcast, with Foley effects and an original score. Through Dec. 28, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-7336 or americanbluestheater.com.

BrightSide Theatre sets its production of "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" on Christmas Eve, 1946, in the fictional WBST radio studio. Through Dec. 14, at the Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, North Central College, 31 S. Ellsworth Ave., Naperville. (630) 637-7469 or brightsidetheatre.com.

This marks the fifth year of Improv Playhouse's radio version of "It's a Wonderful Life" complete with sound effects and period commercials. Dec. 13-21, at 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com.

Second City sendups

"The Second City's Holidazed and Confused" runs through Dec. 31, at UP Comedy Club, Piper's Alley, 230 W. North Ave., Chicago. (312) 662-4562 or upcomedyclub.com.

"Holidays in the Heights" runs Dec. 4-31, at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

"The Second City Dysfunctional Holiday Revue" runs Dec. 5-21, at the Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

Second City teams up with Goodman Theatre for the mashup "Twist Your Dickens, Or Scrooge You!" by former "The Colbert Report" writers Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort. Dec. 5-28, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

Family friendly

The House Theatre of Chicago remounts its original music adaptation of "The Nutcracker" in which Clara battles the Rat King to save her family. Through Dec. 28, at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. (773) 769-3832 or thehousetheatre.com.

Fox Valley Repertory's jukebox show "Christmas on Broadway" features standards and satirical originals. Through Dec. 31, at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 584-6342 or foxvalleyrep.org.

Stage 773 combines music, dance, puppets and spoken word in "It's a Wonderful Santaland Miracle, Nut Cracking Christmas Story ... Jews Welcome!" Through Dec. 28, at 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or stage773.com.

Annoyance Theatre's double bill consists of staged versions of "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer." Through Dec. 19, at 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

Fictional radio stars host their annual "Christmas on the Air" show in Provision Theater Company's production. Through Dec. 28, at 1001 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago. (312) 455-0066 or provisiontheater.org.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson investigate a mysterious theft in Raven Theatre's adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Goose." Dec. 10-Jan. 4, 2015, at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 338-2177 or raventheatre.com.

More than 40 performers, dancers, aerialists, singers and puppeteers celebrate love in Redmoon's Winter Pageant 2014. Dec. 12-21, at 2120 S. Jefferson St., Chicago. (312) 850-8440, ext. 123 or redmoon.org.

Adults only

Storefront theater legend Richard Cotovsky stars as the Driver in Profiles Theatre's revival of "Hellcab," Will Kern's bittersweet drama about a lonely cabbie working Christmas Eve. Through Jan. 11, 2015, at 4139 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 549-1815 or profilestheatre.org.

Mitchell Fain reprises his role as the irreverent elf Crumpet in Theater Wit's "The Santaland Diaries" by David Sedaris. Through Dec. 28, at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

Step Up Productions' "Holidaze" consists of six short plays chronicling the chaos and craziness of the season. Through Dec. 21, at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. (312) 316-8355 or stepupproductions.org.

The Ruffians' "Burning Bluebeard," inspired by the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire, is about six singed clowns attempting to perform their Christmas pantomime. Dec. 12-Jan. 4, 2015, at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

Rockin' carols

Broadway in Chicago presents the world premiere of "Dee Snider's Rock & Roll Christmas Tale," about a heavy metal band that gets a dose of the Christmas spirit. Through Jan. 4, 2015, at Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

Scrooge (John B. Boss) gives Bob Crachit (Goran Norquist) a hard time in Metropolis Performing Arts Centre's production of “A Christmas Carol.” Courtesy of Metropolis

Scrooge (John B. Boss) gets a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Present (Amanda Bloom) in Metropolis Performing Arts Centre's “A Christmas Carol.” Courtesy of Brett Beiner

Scrooge (Bradley Armacost) journeys into the past in “A Christmas Carol” at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace. Courtesy of Brett Beiner

Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace presents the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol.” Courtesy of Brett Beiner

Taxi driver Richard Cotovsky, right, ferries around assorted oddballs (Jeff Gamlin) in Profiles Theatre's revival of Will Kern's classic Chicago tale, “Hellcab.” Photo courtesy of Michael Brosilow

“The Second City Dysfunctional Holiday Revue” sends up the holidays at Paramount Theatre in Aurora. Courtesy of Paramount

Kristiana Rae Colon's “Gift Horse Grill” is among the short plays featured as part of Step Up Productions second annual Holidaze showcase. Photo courtesy of Liz Lauren

Jacob Marley (Joe Foust, left) warns Ebenezer Scrooge (Larry Yando) against his miserly ways in Goodman Theatre's 37th annual production of “A Christmas Carol” Photo courtesy of Liz Lauren

JQ and GQ put a hip-hop spin on a holiday classic in “A Q Brothers' Christmas Carol” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Courtesy of Justin Barbin Photography ¬ Rock star and co-author Dee Snider narrates the story of the metal band Daisy Cutter in “Dee Snider's Rock & Roll Christmas Tale” at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place in Chicago.

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