Theater events: Metropolis hosts 'Second City's Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue'
To the holidays
The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre toasts the holidays and all the magic and mayhem that accompany them with "The Second City's Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue." The touring company show sends up the season in a series of sketches skewering everything from family reunions to gift exchanges to holiday music. Opens at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $30, $35. New Year's Eve tickets, which cost $50 and $60, include party favors and a glass of champagne. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.
All-nighter
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre hosts its first 24-hour theater festival beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17, at the Chicago location of Laugh Out Loud Theater, which is headquartered in Schaumburg. Over the course of 24 hours, six playwrights, six directors and 24 actors will produce six 10-minute plays, which they will perform the following evening. The performance takes place at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 18, at Laugh Out Loud Theatre, 3851 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $15. (773) 857-6000 or laughoutloudtheater.com/chicago.
Ride on
The Agency Theater Collective extends its revival of "Hellcab," Will Kern's well-loved dramedy about a day in the life of a beleaguered Chicago cabdriver. Rusty Schwimmer plays the lead role through Sunday, Dec. 17. After that, Molly Lyons takes over as the cabdriver, whose Christmas Eve shift turns out to be the worst day of her professional life. 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 3 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 30 at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. No performance Dec. 24. $5-$30. (773) 697-3830 or wearetheagency.org.
Other theater events
• The Improvised Jane Austen Society, a comedy ensemble whose members perform in the style of the 18th century British novelist, perform "Jane's BDay Brunch" at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at The Crowd Theater, 3935 N. Broadway, Chicago. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. See improvisedjaneausten.com.
• Cast members from the interactive "Tony n' Tina's Wedding" invite their guests to get into the holiday spirit this weekend by participating in the Ugliest Holiday Sweater Extravaganza. The ugly sweater contest takes place during the matinee at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Chicago Theater Works, 1113 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The performance begins with the wedding service at Resurrection Church, 3309 N. Seminary Ave., Chicago. The reception, including an Italian dinner, follows at Chicago Theater Works. (312) 391-0404 or tonylovestina.com.
• Steppenwolf Theatre hosts a salon series of events in association with its premiere of "BLKS," poet/playwright Aziza Barnes' play chronicling a day in the life of four African American women in New York City. "Curlz, 'Fros & Braids," an evening of standup and sketch comedy, takes place at 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16. Barnes hosts The Poetry Gods at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17. That's followed on Tuesday, Dec. 19, by Barnes' farewell salon showcasing Chicago poets. Events take place at Steppenwolf's 1700 Theatre at 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.
• Broadway in Chicago announced a day-of-show drawing for a limited number of $25 tickets for "Wicked" which runs through Jan. 21 at the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. Entry forms are available during business hours and up to two hours before curtain at Block 37, 108 N. State St., Chicago. There's one entry form per person, which allows for the purchase of up to two tickets for $25 each. Participants must have a valid photo ID and must be present to win. Cash only. See broadwayinchicago.com/wicked-day-of-show-drawing.
• Black Ensemble Theater announced its 2018 main stage season titled "Movers and Shakers" will include original tributes to Chuck Berry and Patti LaBelle. The company's 42nd season begins Feb. 17 with "Hail, Hail Chuck: A Tribute to Chuck Berry," featuring songs like "Roll Over Beethoven" and "Johnny B. Goode." That's followed by "A New Attitude: In Tribute to Patti LaBelle" (May 5-June 17). The historical musical revue "A Tribute to the Blues: From Muddy to BB Starring Rick Stone and Theo Huff" runs from July 14 to Aug. 26. "Hip-Hop Revolution" recalls the evolution of the music that changed an industry, running Sept. 29 to Nov. 4. The season concludes with "Women of Soul" (Dec. 8, 2018-Jan. 27, 2019) a salute to artists Chaka Khan, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston and Diana Ross. Performances take place at 4450 N. Clark St., Chicago. A five-play season subscription is $210. (773) 769-4451 or blackensemble.org.