Holiday cheer comes early this year

We're halfway through November and the holiday season has begun at suburban theaters, where no fewer than five productions of "A Christmas Carol" open over the next few weeks. If the season wouldn't be the same without Charles Dickens, you can choose from several solid regional productions. If you prefer a show with a satirical edge, the suburbs offer that, too.

Here's a look at how local theaters will make the holidays bright.

"A Christmas Story." Noble Fool presents the stage adaptation of the well-loved film by Jean Shepherd, Leigh Brown and Bob Clark featuring child actors from the company's Performing Arts Academy. Saturday, Nov. 15 to Saturday, Dec. 27 at the Pheasant Run Resort & Spa, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 584-6342 or noblefool.org.

"A Christmas Carol." Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace sweetens its holiday production by offering a buffet breakfast or dinner with Santa on select dates. Thursday, Nov. 20 to Saturday, Dec. 20 at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. (630) 530-0111 or drurylaneoakbrook.com.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular. The Rockettes return for their 10th holiday show. Thursday, Nov. 20 to Sunday, Dec. 7 at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. (312) 559-1212 or ticketmaster.com.

"A Christmas Carol." Metropolis Performing Arts Centre's commendable production of the Dickens' tale whose score showcases music from the mid-19th century. Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Wednesday, Dec. 24 at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 522-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

"A Christmas Carol." Steel Beam Theatre presents a musical version of the holiday favorite by composer Alan Menken ("The Little Mermaid," "Beauty and the Beast"). Founder Donna Steele directs. Friday, Nov. 28 to Sunday, Dec. 21 at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.

"The Second City's Exceedingly Dysfunctional Holiday Revue." The comedy troupe skewers holiday traditions in this satirical alternative to sentimental seasonal shows. Friday, Nov. 28 to Tuesday, Dec. 30 at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 522-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

"Xtreme Holiday Makeover." New World Repertory Theater takes a page out of the home-improvement craze for its family-friendly improvisatory holiday show. Friday, Dec. 5 to Sunday, Dec. 28 at 923 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. (630) 663-1489.

"A Christmas Carol." The Nebraska Theatre Caravan brings its touring production of Charles Jones' adaptation to the Paramount Theatre for three performances only. Sunday, Dec. 7 and Monday, Dec. 8 at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

"A Christmas Carol." Writers' Theatre artistic director Michael Halberstam returns for his 13th solo adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale. Saturday, Dec. 13 through Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.

"500 Clown Christmas." 500 Clown's deliciously subversive, anti-Rockwellian, musical take on holiday traditions - from bad gifts, to over commercialization to family dysfunction - emerges as a heartwarming testament to compassion and generosity that Dickens' story promotes. For ages 14 and older. Thursday, Dec. 18 to Tuesday, Dec. 23 at Meiley -Swallow Hall at North Central College, Old Grace Evangelical Church, 31 S. Ellsworth, Naperville. (630) 637-7469 or boxoffice@noctrl.edu.

In Chicago

Sentimental favorites and darkly comic tales celebrate the season in the city.

"Dublin Carol." William L. Petersen returns to Chicago to star in Steppenwolf Theatre's production of Conor McPherson's dark tale about an aging alcoholic undertaker confronting his past on Christmas Eve. Through Sunday, Dec. 28 at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

"A Christmas Memory" and "The Thanksgiving Visitor." Provision Theater adapts Truman Capote's semi-autobiographical stories for the stage. Through Sunday, Dec. 21 at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 988-9000 or provisiontheater.org.

"Meet Me in St. Louis." Not a holiday show per se, this slice of Americana does include the classic "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Drury Lane Oakbrook's remount began previews this week. Opens Wednesday, Nov. 19 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 21 at Drury Lane Theatre, Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. (312) 642-2000 or drurylanewatertower.com.

"Anun's First American Christmas." Vitalist Theatre presents the world premiere of this pre-Columbian legend about a young man's coming-of-age. Tuesday, Nov. 18 to Sunday, Jan. 4 at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or vitalisttheatre.org.

"A Christmas Carol." Goodman Theatre's venerable production (in its 31st year) stars the impeccable Larry Yando as Scrooge. Previews begin Friday, Nov. 21. Opens Sunday, Nov. 30 and runs through Wednesday, Dec. 31 at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

"The Snow Queen." Victory Gardens' original musical inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale features Michael Smith's score, Frank Galati's direction and Blair Thomas & Co. puppets. Previews begin Friday, Nov. 28. Opens Monday, Dec. 1 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 28 at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.

"The Christmas Schooner." John Reeger and Julie Shannon's original musical about the ship that brought Christmas trees from Michigan to Chicago marks the end of Bailiwick Repertory's farewell to its Belmont Avenue home. Previews begin Friday, Nov. 28. Opens Sunday, Nov. 30 and runs through Sunday, Jan. 4 at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 883-1090 or bailiwick.org.

"Hansel & Gretel." Emerald City Theatre presents the world premiere of the musical by Ralph Covert ("Ralph's World") and G. Riley Mills suitable for ages 3 and older. Saturday, Nov. 29 to Sunday, Jan. 4 at the Apollo theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 935-6100 or emeraldcitytheatre.com.

"It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play." Marty Higginbotham directs American Theater Company's sixth annual stage adaptation of Frank Capra's hit movie. Thursday, Dec. 4 to Sunday, Dec. 28 at 1909 W. Byron St., Chicago. (773) 409-4125 or atcweb.org.

"The Seafarer." John Mahoney and Francis Guinan star in Conor McPherson's dark holiday fable about regret and redemption set in a rundown Dublin house inhabited by five poker-playing pals. Previews begin Thursday, Dec. 4. Opens Sunday, Dec. 13 and runs through Feb. 8 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650.

"Snowflake Tim's Big Holiday Adventure." A young boy tries to get his baby sister back before his mom gets home in this Lifeline Theatre KidSeries production. Previews begin Sunday, Dec. 13. Opens Monday, Dec. 14 and runs through Sunday, Jan. 4 at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. (773) 761-4477.

<p class="factboxheadblack">A slightly ... different ... look at the holidays </p> <p class="News">Looking for holiday theater that's more sassy than sentimental? Try these seasonal alternatives: </p> <p class="News"><b>"Winter Pageant Redux."</b> Previews begin Saturday, Nov. 15, for Redmoon Theatre's re-imagined annual holiday show. Opens Nov. 20 and runs through Dec. 21 at 1463 W. Hubbard St., Chicago. (312) 850-8440, ext. 111 or <a href="http://www.redmoon.org" target="new">redmoon.org</a>.</p> <p class="News"><b>"A Very Merry Unauthorized Scientology Pageant."</b> A Red Orchid's first foray into holiday fare satirizes L. Ron Hubbard's Dianetics. Previews begin Nov. 14. Opens Nov. 17 and runs through Dec. 28 at 1531 N. Wells St., Chicago. (312) 943-8722 or <a href="http://www.aredorchidtheatre.org" target="new">aredorchidtheatre.org</a>.</p> <p class="News"><b>"Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol."</b> Tom Mula stars in his irreverent adaptation of his 1995 novel examining the story behind Dickens' story. Previews begin Nov. 21. Opens Dec. 2 and runs through Jan. 2. at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or <a href="http://www.theaterwit.org" target="new">theaterwit.org</a>.</p> <p class="News"><b>"Soiree DADA: Schmückt der Hallen."</b> WNEP (What No One Else Produces) Theater introduces a holiday version of its dada-inspired show. Nov. 21 to Dec. 21 at the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St., Chicago. (312) 742-8497 or <a href="http://www.dcatheater.org" target="new">dcatheater.org</a>.</p> <p class="News"><b>"A Very Neo-Futurist Christmas Carol."</b> The Neo-Futurists put their spin on a classic. Nov. 22 to Dec. 23 at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. (773) 275-5255 or <a href="http://www.neofuturists.org" target="new">neofuturists.org</a>.</p> <p class="News"><b>"The Santaland Diaries."</b> Michael Fain stars as the surly elf in David Sedaris' wickedly funny one-man show. Nov. 28 to Jan. 3 at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or <a href="http://www.theaterwit.org" target="new">theaterwit.org</a>.</p> <p class="News"><b>"Drinking & Writing Vol. IV: The 12 Steps of Xmas."</b> The late-night show that uncorks seasonal traditions as expressed by the likes of Kerouac, Capote and Fitzgerald. Nov. 28 to Dec. 19 at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or <a href="http://www.victorygardens.org" target="new">victorygardens.org</a>.</p> <p class="News"><b>"Silent Night of the Lambs."</b> Hell in a Handbag combines a big screen thriller with a holiday TV special. Previews begin Dec. 3. Opens Dec. 5 and runs through Jan. 3 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago. (312) 409-4357 or <a href="http://www.handbagproductions.org" target="new">handbagproductions.org</a>.</p> <p class="News"><b>"The Hipmas Carol."</b> Actors Tyler Bohne, Patrick Zielinski and guitarist Ritch Valadez team up for a Beat-inspired version of Dickens' story. Dec. 4 to Dec. 20 at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, 777 N. Green St., Chicago. (312) 733-6000 or <a href="http://www.theaterland.com" target="new">theaterland.com</a>. </p>