Chicagoland Gears Up For The Holidays With Charles Dickens

The holidays wouldn't be complete in Chicagoland without spending time with the classic characters created by Charles Dickens. A CHRISTMAS CAROL, for example, can be seen from downtown at the Goodman Theatre (Nov. 19 - Dec. 31) to out of town at Milwaukee's Pabst Theater (Nov. 29 - Dec. 24),

In Oakbrook Terrace, Drury Lane Theatre for Young Audiences offers a special hour-long adaptation (sans intermission) of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Designed for children and their families, the venue also provides holiday meals (breakfast or dinner) to complete the play on select dates. For details, visit http://drurylanetheatre.com/shows/youth-theatre.

Come November 22, cinemas across the city and suburbs will be screening THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS. Destined to become a new festive favorite, the upcoming movie features DOWNTON ABBEY's Dan Stevens as a young Charles Dickens creating his legendary characters Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim and more.

For those who cannot wait until next month to get their Dickens on, Lookingglass Theatre Company is currently staging its award-winning adaptation of Charles Dickens's HARD TIMES directed by Heidi Stillman.

The Dickensian circus setting is brought to life with The Actors Gymnasium and cast including ensemble members David Catlin, Raymond Fox, Louise Lamson, and Troy West as well as Atra Asdou, Audrey Anderson, Amy J. Carle, Raphael Cruz, Cordelia Dewdney, Marilyn Dodds Frank, Nathan Hosner, and JJ Phillips.

Whether watching the work as a warmup to or substitute for A CHRISTMAS CAROL, the near perfect play deftly delivers the social commentary and satire of Dickens through January 14, 2018. For more information, visit lookingglasstheatre.org.