15 seasonal shows (both naughty and nice) for the holidays

Posted November 22, 2017 9:00 am

Larry Yando, left, and Ron E. Rains reprise their roles as Ebenezer Scrooge and Bob Cratchit in Goodman Theatre's 40th annual production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." Courtesy of Liz Lauren

Looking for some holiday entertainment? Here's a partial list of seasonal shows on stage in the city and the suburbs.

A classic revived

• Larry Yando returns for the 10th year to play Ebenezer Scrooge in Goodman Theatre's 40th anniversary production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

Performances run through Dec. 31, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

• Metropolis Performing Arts Centre stages its family-friendly "A Christmas Carol" as a play with music.

Performances run Wednesday, Nov. 29, through Dec. 27, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

Classics re-imagined

Frank Farrell plays Ebenezer Scrooge in Citadel Theatre's premiere of the new musical "Scrooge and the Ghostly Spirits." Courtesy of North Shore Camera Club

• Citadel Theatre premieres "Scrooge and the Ghostly Spirits," a new musical adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" featuring 17 original songs by writer/composer Douglas Post.

Performances continue through Dec. 23, at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. See citadeltheatre.org.

• Chicago's Q Brothers return to the Chicago Shakespeare Theater to remount their hip-hop interpretation of Dickens' tale "Q Brothers Christmas Carol" in CST's new space, The Yard.

Performances run through Dec. 31, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

• The House Theatre of Chicago delivers its ballet-free, family-friendly, original interpretation of "The Nutcracker," in which a young girl grieving the loss of her brother tries to save Christmas for her family.

Performances run through Dec. 30, at The Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. (773) 769-3832 or thehousetheatre.com.

New(er) favorites

Kyle Adams stars as lovable elf Buddy in Paramount Theatre's production of "Elf The Musical." Courtesy of Thomas J. King

• Paramount Theatre presents "Elf the Musical," the musical adaptation of the hit 2003 film about overgrown elf Buddy, who leaves his foster home at the North Pole to search for his biological family in New York City.

Performances run through Jan. 7, at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

• "The Christmas Schooner," a musical that recounts the story of the Great Lakes ship whose crew members transported Christmas trees from Michigan's Upper Peninsula to German immigrants in Chicago, sails into The Mercury Theater Chicago.

Performances run through Dec. 31, at 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. (773) 325-1700 or mercurytheaterchicago.com.

Rusty Schwimmer, right, stars as the beleaguered taxi driver in the Agency Theater Collective revival of "Hellcab," which co-stars Gabrielle Gulledge and Reginald Robinson. Courtesy of Bill Richert

• "It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!" - a radio-play adaptation of Frank Capra's classic film complete with Foley effects and an original score - has become an annual tradition since its premiere 16 years ago at American Blues Theater.

Performances run through Jan. 6, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or americanbluestheater.com.

• Broadway in Chicago presents the touring production of "Irving Berlin's White Christmas," the stage adaptation of the 1954 film about a pair of army buddies who team up with two singing sisters to put on a show to save their commanding officer's Vermont inn.

Performances run through Dec. 3, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

Season-inspired satire (for mature audiences)

• Chicago's best-known improv company brings seasonal, sketch comedy to the suburbs.

"The Second City's Nondenominational Christmas Show" runs Dec. 1 to 23 at the Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

"The Second City's Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue" runs Dec. 20 to 31, at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

• Rusty Schwimmer stars as a beleaguered cabdriver having her worst day ever in the Agency Theatre Collective's revival of Will Kern's beloved, Chicago-set tale "Hellcab."

Performances run through Dec. 17, at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-3830 or wearetheagency.org.

• After starring in "The Santaland Diaries" for eight seasons, Mitchell Fain returns to Theater Wit with his original show "This Way Outta Santaland," in which he recalls holiday war stories both personal and professional.

Performances run through Dec. 30, at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

Family friendly

• Drury Lane Theatre for Young Audiences presents its 60-minute adaptation of "A Christmas Carol," which on select dates includes breakfast or dinner with Santa.

Performances run through Dec. 23, at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. (630) 530-8300 or drurylanetheatre.com.

• The Annoyance Theatre presents its annual Christmas pageant consisting of stage adaptations of the well-known holiday cartoons "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."

Performances run through Dec. 23, at 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

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