Best bets: Dunham & Co. hit the Allstate
Talking head(s)
Comedian and ventriloquist Jeff Dunham and his cadre of comic puppet creations have played Rosemont before, but never at the Allstate Arena. See how Dunham adapts his routines for an arena-style staging this Tuesday at 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $45.50. $20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28
Nutcracker of the week
Time is running out to catch the classic Tchaikovsky ballet “The Nutcracker” this holiday season. The Joffrey Ballet's “Nutcracker” is the biggest one around locally, and it only has two more performances this weekend at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, 50 E. Congress Parkway, Chicago. $30-$115. (800) 982-2787 or joffrey.org. 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 24, and Sunday, Dec. 26
Unkosher comedy
Instead of getting Chinese food and catching a movie on Dec. 25, area Jews might want shake up their Christmas Day routine by seeing the “unkosher” comedy show “Jewmongous” by former Rockapella member Sean Altman this Saturday at the Skokie Theatre, 7924 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie. $20. (847) 677-7761 or skokietheater.com. 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 25
Log on the lam
33rd Annual Hunt for The Yule Log at the Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. $11. $10 seniors. $8 youth ages 2-17. (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org. 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26; Yule Twig Hunt 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. same day
Wrestling wrath
Get out any post-holiday aggression safely by watching wresting stars pound each other in the ring when the WWE Smackdown returns Sunday at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $20-$70. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26
Sliva strings
Hear the music of Vivaldi, Corelli and Bach in the “Sliva Family Christmas Concert” on Monday at Holy Spirit Catholic Community Church, 2003 Hassert Blvd. and 111th St., Naperville. $5; $20 family admission. psilva.com/concerts. 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27
Hoop-la
Long before the NBA became a worldwide brand, the comic Harlem Globetrotters helped to popularize basketball around the world. Catch these humorous hoopsters next week at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $15-$170. (800) 745-3000 or allstatearena.com. 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 28-29
Ha-ha Hannibal
“30 Rock” staff writer and former Windy City comedian Hannibal Buress makes two suburban appearances at Zanies before his New Year's Eve gig at the Chicago Zanies. Catch Buress first at Pheasant Run Resort, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 584-6342; then at 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills: (847) 549-6030. $25 plus two menu-item purchase. or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, in St. Charles; 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, in Vernon Hills
Jazzy New Year
Fans of jazz and show tunes won't want to miss multiple Jeff Award-winning stage actress E. Faye Butler (“Ella,” “Dinah Was”) when she presents “New Year's Eve with E. Faye Butler and her Combo” starting Thursday at the Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $45-$55. (847) 673-6300 or northlight.org. 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 30-31