advertisement

Weekend picks: Let Cirque lead you into a 'Holidaze'

Holiday circus

Cirque Dreams gets into the spirit of the season with its winter season "Holidaze" starting Wednesday for a limited run at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $25-$75. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, Dec. 17-19; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

Pop holiday

Demi Lovato, Calvin Harris, Fall Out Boy, Iggy Azalea, One Republic, Nick Jonas, Meghan Trainor and more stars are on the bill of the 103.5 KISS FM Jingle Ball on Thursday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $35-$100. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18

Revisionist Dickens

The Organic Theater Company offers a different take on Charles Dickens' holiday classic by presenting Tom Mula's "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" at North Central College's Theatre at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St., Naperville. $20-$30. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentral college.edu. 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 18-20

FRIDAY

Frozemont

Step onto the ice at the NHL-sized outdoor Frozemont ice rink at MB Financial Park at Rosemont, 5501 Park Place, Rosemont. Skating runs through Sunday, March 1. Admission is free. Bring your own skates or rent some on-site for $8. Visit rosemont.com for information. 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21; 4 to 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 24; 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 25

Twinkly Christmas

Time is running out to catch the Naperville Sunrise Rotary's annual holiday display of Naper Lights at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. No admission charge. (630) 428-5800 or napersettlement.org. 5 to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday until Dec. 28 (closed Dec. 26)

Meet 'Zuzu'

Actress Karolyn Grimes is famed for playing the child "Zuzu" in the classic 1946 Frank Capra film "It's a Wonderful Life." Meet with Grimes and ask her a question or two about her acting opposite late actors James Stewart and Donna Reed when she appears this weekend at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $20 (includes reception, meet and greet, Q&A session and screening). (888) 695-0888 or oshows.com. 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19; 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20; 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

Green Oaks Holiday Chorus

The Green Oaks Holiday Chorus presents its Christmas Concert at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 29700 N. St. Mary's Road, Libertyville. The program includes Christmas choral works, popular Christmas songs and a singalong. Free admission; donations welcome. Donations will benefit the PADS homeless shelter in Lake County. For information, call Nancy at (847) 362-3809 or Kristie at (847) 362-5144. 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 19

'Wonderful Laugh'

Laugh Out Loud Theater serves up seasonal improv weekends through Dec. 27. "It's a Wonderful Laugh" incorporates audience suggestions and includes improvised carols and games all rooted in holiday themes, at Streets of Woodfield, 601 Martingale Road, Schaumburg. $19 adults, $12 kids. (847) 240-0386 or laughoutloudtheater.com. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19 and 20

Glamorous life

Famed pop star and drumming collaborator Sheila E. performs hits from her 2014 album "Icon" along with other past favorites on Friday at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $23-$48. (800) 982-2787 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19

Fun in dysfunction

Comedian Christopher Titus ("Titus") draws from the deep well of his dysfunctional early family life for his humor this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $28 plus purchase of two menu items. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 8 and 10:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19; 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20; 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

Local headlines Zanies

Chicago comedian Kevin Bozeman, a Comedy Central veteran and contestant on NBC's "Last Comic Standing," headlines Zanies' Rosemont at MB Financial Plaza, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. The Midwest winner of HBO's comedy competition in 2000, Bozeman performed on Comedy Central's "Premium Blend" and made it to the semifinals on "Last Comic Standing" in 2010. $22 plus a two-item food or beverage minimum. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19; 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20

Hello Weekend

The cover band Hello Weekend headlines at H.O.M.E. Bar (House of Music and Entertainment), 1227 N. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. The group performs tunes from chart-topping artists such as Lady Gaga, Rihanna and many others. Supercrush and the UFC band also perform. $7. (847) 577-4663 or homebarchicago.com. 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19

SATURDAY

Plenty of pancakes

The Sons of the American Legion invite the public to the group's Holiday Pancake Breakfast at the American Legion Hall, 122 W, Palatine Road, Palatine. The event is a fundraiser for Legion family charities. Santa Claus will be on hand to meet with youngsters and discuss their holiday wish lists. Photos with Santa are available for $2 - or free with a donation of a nonperishable food item. Menu includes "all you can eat" pancakes, French toast, scrambled eggs and more. $7 adults; $4 for children ages 6-12. Children 5 and under are free. For information, call (847) 359-1606. 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20

Land of Sweets

The Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet teams up again with the New Philharmonic Orchestra for performances of the Tchaikovsky seasonal classic "The Nutcracker" on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20-21, at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $43; $32 kids. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

Wise men miracle

Gian Carlo Menotti's opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" used to be an annual holiday TV tradition. If you miss it, then don't miss the return of a production by Chamber Opera Chicago and Ensemble EspaƱol Spanish Dance Theater this weekend at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Sung in English. $20; $15 seniors and students; $10 kids. (312) 988-9000 or chamberoperachicago.org. 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 20 and 21

Enchanted sweets

The domination of Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas ballet "The Nutcracker" continues on area dance stages when Berkshire Ballet Theatre revives its version this weekend at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $27-$30. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20; 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

Steamrolling along

Mannheim Steamroller celebrates its 30th anniversary of its best-selling Christmas album with a multimedia concert tour performance on Saturday at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $39-$95. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20

SUNDAY

Blackberry trains

The Blackberry Farm Holiday Express promises loads of games, activities, products and displays for toddlers up to teenagers on Sunday, at Fox Valley Park District's Blackberry Farm, 100 Barnes Rd, Aurora. $5. (630) 892-1550 or foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/blackberry-farm. 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

Dancing snow

The Joffrey Ballet "The Nutcracker" promises loads of games, activities, products and displays for toddlers up to teenagers on this week and next, at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $33-$134. (800) 775-2000 or joffrey.org. 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 21, 23, 26 and 27; 2 p.m. Wednesday and Sunday, Dec. 24 and 28

DIY Hallelujah

The Sing-a-long Messiah! Fox Valley Orchestra promises loads of games, activities, products and displays for toddlers up to teenagers on today, at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, 1201 Main St., Batavia. $9-$10. (630) 937-8930 or bataviafineartscentre.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

Celtic Christmas

The Michael Londra's Celtic Yuletide "A Christmas from Ireland" promises loads of games, activities, products and displays for toddlers up to teenagers on today, at the College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $38-$48; $37-$47 seniors; $12-$15 students. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

Illinois Brass Band

The 30-member Illinois Brass Band presents its "Holiday Classics" concert at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles. The concert features traditional carols, holiday classics and traditional carol singalong. No reservations required; tickets at door. $12 adults; $6 for youth under age 18. Family rate is $30 for two adults and up to five kids, under age 18. Visit illinoisbrassband.org. 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20

Rock on

The Robin Zander Band featuring Robin Zander of Cheap Trick promises loads of games, activities, products and displays for toddlers up to teenagers on today, at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $19-$79. (888) 695-0888 or oshows.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

Celebrate with the Griswolds

Join the fictional Griswold family on the quest for the ultimate Christmas at a screening of the 1989 John Hughes film "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. The film stars Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. Admission is $6 adults; $3 for seniors, military and children under age 12. Bring a nonperishable food item for donation to the event and get $1 off a ticket. Visit geneseetheatre.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

  Karolyn Grimes, who played Jimmy Stewart's daughter, Zuzu Bailey, in "It's a Wonderful Life," is set to met fans at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles. Daniel White/dwhite@dailyherald.com
Comedian/actor Christopher Titus stars at the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg.
Peter Yarrow of the legendary folk group Peter, Paul and Mary will perform at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28.
A Mannheim Steamroller Christmas plays the Rosemont Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 20.
The Berkshire Ballet Theatre performs "The Nutcracker" at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake.
The ensemble of Chamber Opera Chicago's 2007 production of "Amahl and the Night Visitors."
Grammy-nominated singer Sheila E. poses for a portrait in support of her new album "Icon" and her memoir "The Beat of My Own Drum." Associated Press
"Cirque Ziva" comes to College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts in Grayslake.
See a screening of the 1989 John Hughes film "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," starring Chevy Chase, pictured above, at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan.
Joel Huff stars in Organic Theatre Company's production of "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" at North Central College's Meiley-Swallow Hall in Naperville. Courtesy of Anthony Perrella Jr.
Bring your skates - or rent some onsite - at the outdoor Frozemont ice rink in Rosemont.
Joel Huff stars in Organic Theatre Company's production of "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol" at North Central College's Meiley-Swallow Hall in Naperville. Courtesy of Anthony Perrella Jr.
Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.