Weekend picks: Revisionist 'Christmas Carol'

SATURDAY

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. Saturday, Dec. 19-20

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

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. 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

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. 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20; 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21

Holiday circus

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

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 Español 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

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. Saturday and Sunday until Dec. 28 (closed Dec. 26)

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. 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. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20

'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. Saturday, Dec. 20

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