Holiday theater shows offer something for everyone

If you love theater and live in the suburbs, you're in luck this holiday season. Whatever style of seasonal fare you prefer — from classic tales to satirical sketches — you'll find it represented on suburban stages.

We include the best of the 'burbs and offer suggestions on Chicago productions in our annual holiday theater guide.

Keep in mind not all the productions are family-friendly, but we're sure you'll find something that suits your fancy.

Screen to stage

• Marriott Theatre delivers a spirited regional premiere of “Elf,” the 2010 musical adapted from the hit 2003 film starring Will Farrell. The not-so-secret weapon in director/choreographer Marc Robin's ebullient production is Alex Goodrich, who charms as Buddy, the human raised as an elf whose mission is to spread Christmas cheer throughout the year. Runs through Dec. 31 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. $50-$55. (847) 634-0100 or marriotttheatre.com.

• “Sisters,” “Blue Skies” and the titular song are among the American standards featured in “White Christmas, The Musical,” the stage version of the 1954 film about a couple of Broadway song-and-dance men who romance two sisters while trying to save the failing Vermont inn owned by their former general. Drury Lane Theatre artistic director William Osetek helms the pleasantly nostalgic revival notable for Irving Berlin's winning score. Runs through Jan. 3 at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. $45-$60. (630) 530-0111 or drurylane.com.

• Fans of the 1983 film don't have to wait for the TBS marathon now that Paramount Theatre is reviving 2012's “A Christmas Story — The Musical,” based on Jean Shepherd's tales of growing up in Indiana during the 1940s. The musical centers on the efforts of 9-year-old Ralphie to secure a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Michael Harp stars as Ralphie in the production, which marks the Paramount debut of TimeLine Theatre artistic associate Nick Bowling. Runs Nov. 25 through Jan. 3 at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $41-$56. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

Classic fare

• The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre remounts Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol,” adapted by resident playwright Scott Woldman with music arrangements by Micky York. Ron Turner plays Ebenezer Scrooge, who rediscovers his humanity after a night of soul searching, and Joshua Harris plays Bob Cratchit, the family man who benefits from his employer's change of heart. Runs Nov. 28 through Dec. 24 at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $15, $30. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

• “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical,” the stage adaptation of the animated television special, comes to Rosemont for a brief run. The family-friendly show tells the story of the young buck ousted from the reindeer games who runs away, makes new friends in Hermey and Yukon and returns to the North Pole just in time to save Christmas. 7 p.m. Dec. 18 and 10 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $25-$275. (866) 448-7849 or ticketmaster.com or rudolphthemusical.com.

Return of the Plaids

• Steel Beam Theatre celebrates the season with the “Forever Plaid” seasonal doo-wop revue “Plaid Tidings,” in which the fresh-faced quartet return to earth at the behest of guardian angel Rosemary Clooney to spread some Christmas cheer, plaid-style. Runs Friday, Nov. 20, through Dec. 27 at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. $23-$28. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.

• Williams Street Repertory also revives “Plaid Tidings,” which features seasonal standards like “The Christmas Song,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and “Joy to the World,” among others. Runs Nov. 28 through Jan. 3 at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $32.50-$38.50. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

Holiday humor for grown-ups

• A Second City touring ensemble brings “The Second City's Holidazed and Confused Revue” to Aurora's Copley Theatre. The show, which skewers holiday dinners, office parties and gift exchanges, runs Dec. 4-20 at 8. E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $36. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

• The “Holidazed” sketch and improv comedy revue returns to the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, again this year for a brief run, Dec. 11-31. $30, $35. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

On the air

• Improv Playhouse Radio Theatre remounts for the sixth year its 1940s-inspired radio drama re-enactment of director Frank Capra's beloved “It's A Wonderful Life!,” the redemptive tale of everyman George Bailey who repeatedly sacrifices his own dreams for the people he loves. David Brian Stuart plays George and helms the family-friendly production, which features Foley-style sound effects and period commercials. Runs Dec. 12-19 at 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. Advance tickets cost $10-$20 or $15-$25 at the door. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com.

In Chicago

• After 37 years, the Goodman Theatre's annual holiday spectacular “A Christmas Carol” remains one of the season's most enduring holiday traditions. Returning for his eighth season is Larry Yando, who stars as Ebenezer Scrooge. Henry Wishcamper directs the show, which runs now through Dec. 27 at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

• Quest Theatre Ensemble revives Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens' musical “A Christmas Carol” featuring the life-size puppets that have become a Quest signature. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. The show runs Nov. 20-Dec. 20 at The Blue Theatre, 1609 W. Gregory Ave., Chicago. (312) 458-0895 or questensemble.org.

• Hip-hop hooray. “A Q Brothers' Christmas Carol,” a clever, contemporary re-imagining of the Charles Dickens' favorite, returns for a third year to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. Performances run Nov. 28-Jan. 3. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

Family-friendly

• American Blues Theater presents its 14th annual production of “It's A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!” ABT introduced the often duplicated 1940s radio play version of Frank Capra's beloved “It's a Wonderful Life” in 2002. The show features live Foley sound effects and an original score by Michael Mahler and Austin Cook. It runs Nov. 20-Dec. 27 at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-7336 or americanbluestheater.com.

• Raven Theatre injects a bit of mystery into the holiday season with “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Goose,” adapted from a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story by co-artistic director Michael Menendian and John Weagly. Raven's production about the disappearance of a precious gem stars Jeff Meyer as the famed sleuth and Darren Hill as Dr. Watson. It runs Dec. 9-Jan. 3 at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 338-2177 or raventheatre.com.

• A young girl defeats the evil Rat King with help from a magical nutcracker in The House Theatre of Chicago's acclaimed adaptation of “The Nutcracker,” running through Dec. 31 at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. (773) 769-3832 or thehousetheatre.com.

• Mercury Theater's production of “The Christmas Schooner,” the musical by John Reeger and Julie Shannon inspired by the true story of the ship captain who brought Christmas trees to Chicago's German immigrants during the late 19th century, runs Nov. 25-Dec. 27 at 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. (773) 325-1700 or mercurytheaterchicago.com.

• Emerald City Theatre and Broadway in Chicago team up for the stage adaptation of the beloved animated TV special “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Performances run through Jan. 3 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• The Annoyance Theatre brings “A Charlie Brown Christmas” to the stage as part of a double-bill that also includes “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” The shows run through Dec. 20 at 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• “Tinsel! The Musical,” an original show from Li'l Buds Theatre about a nearsighted reindeer, runs Dec. 12-27 at No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. (773) 334-4543 or lilbudstheatre.org.

• The Ruffians remount “Burning Bluebeard,” Jay Torrence's bittersweet play inspired by the 1903 Iroquis Theatre fire and attempts by a group of ghostly performers to perform the pantomime cut short by the tragedy. It runs Nov. 19-Jan. 10 at The Den Theatre, 1329 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. See the-hypocrites.com.

• Looking for some ecumenical holiday entertainment? Check out Stage 773's “It's a Wonderful Santaland Miracle, Nut Cracking Christmas Story ... Jews Welcome” an interactive mash-up that incorporates music, dance, comedy and puppets. It runs Nov. 19-Dec. 27 at 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or stage773.com.

• Kokandy Productions serves up holiday cheer with “A Kokandy Christmas,” comprised of songs and stories performed by musical theater artists, including Aurora native Garret Lutz. The show runs Dec. 3-23 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or kokandyproductions.com.

Something for adults

• Zlatomir Moldovanski takes over as The Driver in Profiles Theatre's seasonal return of “Hellcab.” Will Kern's bittersweet chronicle of a day in the life of a Chicago cabdriver and his oddball customers runs through Jan. 10 at 4139 N. Broadway St., Chicago. (773) 549-1815 or profilestheatre.org.

• Strawdog Theatre Company incorporates Bunraku, a form of Japanese puppetry, in its production of “The Long Christmas Ride Home,” Paula Vogel's drama about a family transformed by a Christmas Eve tragedy. Runs through Dec. 12 at 3829 N. Broadway St., Chicago. (866) 811-4111 or strawdog.org.

• “Twist Your Dickens,” a cheeky revision of “A Christmas Carol” from The Second City and Goodman Theatre, runs Dec. 4-27 at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

• Mitchel Fain suits up again this year as Crumpet the Elf in Theater Wit's perennially popular production of David Sedaris' “The Santaland Diaries” running Nov. 20-Dec. 30 at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

• Up Comedy Club hosts “The Second City's Holidazed and Confused” show through Dec. 31 at Piper's Alley, 230 W. North Ave., Chicago. (312) 662-4562 or upcomedyclub.com.

• Step Up Productions examines holiday chaos and cheer with “Holidaze,” a showcase of original short comedies by Mia McCullough and Steven Simoncic, among others. The show runs Nov. 20-Dec. 20 at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6875 or stepupproductions.org.

• Hell in a Handbag Productions remounts its Joan Crawford-inspired parody “Christmas Dearest,” starring David Cerda as the late Hollywood diva. It runs Nov. 28-Jan. 2 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago. See handbagproductions.org.

• Dysfunction, distrust and disaster underscore a family's annual Christmas celebration in “It's Christmas, (expletive),” running Nov. 21-Dec. 26 at The Annoyance Theatre, 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• After making life miserable for everyone at the North Pole, Santa Claus' bigoted son flees to Chicago where he ends up in a gay bar in “Barney the Elf,” a musical parody of the 2003 film “Elf.” The Other Theatre Company's production runs Dec. 2-20 at The Greenhouse Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-7336 or theothertheatercompany.com.