Steel Beam to present Willson's 'Christmas'

Steel Beam Theatre celebrates the season with Meredith Willson's “It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas,” a show inspired by the film “Miracle on 34th Street,” in which a wary mother and her daughter learn to love and trust again with help from a department store Santa and a do-gooder attorney. Artistic Director Donna Steele directs the show, which stars Amy Steele, with Geneva's Greg Zawada and Schaumburg's Jamey McDunn as Kriss Kringle.

Opens Saturday, Nov. 20, at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.

Gershwin revue

The Prairie Center for the Arts presents the professional touring production of “'S Wonderful,” a revue that celebrates the music of George and Ira Gershwin while paralleling the lives of the brothers responsible for classics like “Shall We Dance?” and “Let's Call the Whole Thing Off.”

8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org.

A little levity

Remy Bumppo Theatre manages a nifty bit of counterprogramming this season with its revival of “The Importance of Being Earnest,” Oscar Wilde's comedy of manners about a couple of bachelors who pretend to be men who they are not while pursuing a couple of country girls. David Darlow plays Lady Bracknell in the production, which features ensemble members Annabel Armour, Linda Gillum and Hoffman Estates native Gregory Matthew Anderson.

Previews begin Wednesday, Nov. 24, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Nov. 29. (773) 404-7336 or remybumppo.org.

What's new

• Evanston's Piccolo Theatre presents as its annual holiday offering, “Robin Hood: The Panto!” by Jessica Puller, with music by Tyler Beattie. This “fractured fairy tale” picks up after Robin rescued Marian, with the discovery of a book of spells that upends the Merry Men and causes havoc in Sherwood Forest. The show opens Friday, Nov. 19, at the Evanston Arts Depot, at the Metra Station at 600 Main St., Evanston. (847) 424-0089 or piccolotheatre.com.

• “Boojum! Nonsense, Truth and Lewis Carroll” opened this week at the Storefront Theater, 66 E. Randolph St., Chicago. A collaboration between Caffeine Theatre and Chicago Opera Vanguard that features soloists, choir, piano and percussion, the show is a “romp through the mind of Lewis Carroll.” It riffs on his poem “The Hunting of the Snark,” which follows a group of people (including Alice) who are tracking the mysterious Snark. The show runs through Dec. 19. (312) 742-8497 or dcatheater.org.

• Von Orthal Puppets presents the world premiere of “Berwyn Avenue,” an original show set in 1971 Chicago and incorporating puppetry, music and special effects. The show, which is centered around the quirky characters inhabiting neighboring houses, opens Saturday, Nov. 20, at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 878-8337 or berwynavenue.com.

• John Judd takes on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge for the first time in Goodman Theatre's “A Christmas Carol,” directed by William Brown and featuring South Elgin's Cameron Conforti as Tiny Tim and St. Charles' Christine Sherrill as Mrs. Cratchit. Previews begin Friday, Nov. 19, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. The show opens Nov. 28. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

• Previews begin Friday, Nov. 19, for Porchlight Music Theatre's production of “Miracle on 34th Street,” inspired by the 1947 film about how a bearded man claiming to be Santa Claus spreads love and goodwill among a group of New Yorkers, including a divorced mother and her somber daughter. The show, featuring music arranged by Jon Steinhagen (“The Teapot Scandals”), opens Sunday, Nov. 21, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or porchlighttheatre.com.

• Pride Films & Plays showcases the finalists in its “Great Gay Screenplay Contest” with staged readings this weekend at the Center on Halsted. 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago. “The Trouble With e,” Louise Wadley's play about a DJ on the run with a stash of cash and “Detasseling,” Tom Hietter's drama about a gay teen's coming-of-age will be featured beginning at 5 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20. Chris French's “Bethlehem” about gay expectant parents struggling to redefine ‘family;' Chris Mason Johnson and Kate Stayman-Londan's “Skirt,” about a woman who agrees to pose as her boss's girlfriend to promote marriage equality; and Gary Polston's “The Queen of Hearts,” about a famous drag queen who tries to adopt a more masculine way of life, are featured beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 21. (800) 838-3006 or pridefilmsandplays.com.

• The Gift Theatre hosts a discussion that includes Irish music and whiskey following its Sunday, Nov. 21, performance of “The Lonesome West,” about a pair of battling middle-aged brothers and the third in Irish playwright Martin McDonagh's darkly comic Leenane trilogy. The performance is at 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 283-7071 or thegifttheatre.org.

• Actress/comedienne Kate Duffy premieres her solo show “Buckle: A One Woman Emotional Car Wreck,” inspired by her journey along the highway of bad judgment, Sunday, Nov. 21. The show runs through Dec. 26, at the Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4556 or theannoyance.com.

• Octogenarian Chicago actor Mike Nussbaum (“Men in Black,” “Gladiator”), who originated roles in David Mamet's early plays, is the guest of honor at the Theatre of Western Springs' next installment of the Cattell Lecture Series, named for the theater's founder and first artistic director Mary Cattell. Nussbaum will talk about his career at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 22, at 4384 Hampton Ave., Western Springs. Admission is free. (708) 246-4043 or theatrewesternsprings.com.

• Waukegan's Clockwise Theatre will take up residence at 221 N. Genesee, right next to the Genesee Theatre, on Jan. 1, 2011. The not-for-profit company secured a five-year lease with the city. Clockwise's next show is “Special Needs,” which opens Feb. 24, 2011. Written and directed by artistic director Madelyn Sergel, the show is about parents dealing with their special needs son. See clockwisetheatre.org for more information.

• Two weeks remain to catch “Billy Elliot,” the Tony Award winning musical by Elton John and Lee Hall inspired by Stephen Daldry's 2000 film. The show closes Nov. 28, at Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com

• TimeLine Theatre Company has added 7:30 p.m. performances on Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, of its world premiere of “To Master the Art,” William Brown and Doug Frew's drama about the personal and professional adventures of Julia Child and her husband, Paul. Performances are at 615 W. Wellington Ave., Chicago. (773) 281-8463 or timelinetheatre.com.

• Raven Theatre has extended its production of Tennessee Williams' “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” beyond the regular run which continues through Dec. 19. Extension performances begin Jan. 1, 2011 and continue through Jan. 15, at 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 338-2177 or raventheatre.com.