Theaters gear up for holiday shows
Christmas may still be more than a month away, but local theaters are already into the holiday spirit. Whether you take your family to a brand new production or a classic like “A Christmas Carol” or “The Nutcracker,” seeing one of these shows together is a great way to start a new holiday tradition.
“Sing-Along with Santa!”
Steel Beam Theatre: 111 W. Main St., St. Charles, (630) 587-8521; steelbeamtheatre.com
Time: 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays Nov. 20 to Dec. 19
Price: $12; $10 for kids under age 16
Director and writer Bonnie Gruesen used her experience at Second City to develop the improv-based “Sing Along with Santa!” The 30-minute show, geared toward kids ages 3 to 10, features sketch comedy between songs. At the end of the show, kids visit with Santa and take home a goody bag.
“There's a lot of audience participation, singing Christmas songs together and making people laugh,” Gruesen said. “The audience gets all the words in their programs so they can sing along.”
“Mooseltoe”
Hemmens Cultural Center: 45 Symphony Way, Elgin, (847) 931-5900; hemmens.org
Time: 2 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18
Price: $15-$30
A whimsical fable geared toward families with kids ages 4 and up, “Mooseltoe” stars a moose who dreams of flying with Santa's reindeer. The hourlong musical about self-discovery features a cast of actors dressed in plush suits as moose, penguins and a walrus.
“A Charlie Brown Christmas with David Benoit”
North Central College's Wentz Concert Hall: 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville, (630) 637-7469; northcentralcollege.edu
Time: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17
Price: $45-$50
Five-time Grammy nominated jazz pianist David Benoit composed music for the “Peanuts” television series for more than 10 years. He'll perform music from the show's holiday specials along with some of his own compositions.
Holiday classics “A Christmas Carol” and “The Nutcracker” are being performed at multiple venues during the holiday season. Here is a sampling of some of the upcoming productions.
“A Christmas Carol”
Batavia Government Center: 100 N. Island Ave., Batavia, (630) 406-8838; albrighttheatre.com
Time: 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday Dec. 10-19
Price: $13; $10 for students and seniors
Pfeifer Hall at North Central College: 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville, (630) 637-7469; northcentralcollege.edu
Time: 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4
Price: $10; $5 for students and seniors
Paramount Theatre: 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, (630) 896-6666; paramountaurora.com
Time: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, and 9 a.m. and noon Dec. 6
Price: $20-$37; $14-$26 for kids
McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage: 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, (630) 942-4000; cod.edu/atthemac/
Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 27-28
Price: $11-$12
Charles Dickens' story of miserly Ebenezer Scrooge finding Christmas spirit with the help of a group of ghosts may be the ultimate holiday tale.
“We produce it every two years, and the few years we've done a different show there's been an outcry from the community,” said Connie Canaday Howard, director of theater at College of DuPage. “It's a piece that is near and dear to a lot of people's hearts.”
TheatreworksUSA puts on a musical version of the tale at North Central College, the Albright Theatre Company performs it at Batavia Government Center and Nebraska Theatre Caravan's production at Paramount Theatre includes music and dance.
This will be McAninch Arts Center's fourth time using the same adaptation of the story, although each rendition includes modifications including an entirely new scene this year. Clocking in at just over an hour long, the play at McAninch is designed for audiences of all ages, who can get to know the characters when they perform a little improv before the show.
“It is a ghost story and there are lots of special effects, but it really focuses on the idea of community and doing unto others as you would have them do unto you, and the need for us to look out for one another,” Howard said.
“The Nutcracker”
Paramount Theatre: 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, (630) 896-6666; paramountaurora.com
Time: 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4
Price: $30.50; $24.50 for kids
The Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community: 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, (847) 622-0300; tickets.elgin.edu
Time: 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12
Price: $25; $15 for kids ages 12 and under
McAninch Arts Center at College of DuPage: 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, (630) 942-4000; cod.edu/atthemac/
Time: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19
Price: $27-$37
A cast of 65 local and world-renowned dancers from Salt Creek Ballet will put on the Tchaikovsky classic at the Paramount. The Civic Ballet of Chicago production of Ruth Page's “Nutcracker” returns to Blizzard Theatre. And the von Heidecke Chicago Festival Ballet celebrates its 20th anniversary of performing the ballet at McAninch. The von Heidecke production features live music from the New Philharmonic Orchestra and a cast of more than 85 dancers from around the world.
“The music of Tchaikovsky is so beautiful,” said director and choreographer Kenneth von Heidecke. “He was a great genius. Because it's a story that takes place on Christmas Eve, it makes it the perfect holiday event.”