Weekend picks: See 'Rudolph' sing at Rosemont Theatre

Nose so bright

Journey to the Land of Misfit Toys, meet an elf who wants to be a dentist and see how an ostracized reindeer strives to be accepted at the North Pole when the tour of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical” plays this weekend at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $29.50-$75. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com or rudolphthemusical.com. 10 a.m., 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19

Light up the night

See thousands of colorful holiday lights and holiday scenes at the annual Zoo Lights fest at Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark St., Chicago. Be wowed by musical light shows, ice-carving demonstrations, crafts, ice skating, animal encounters and more. Free admission. lpzoo.org. 4:30 to 9 p.m. nightly (except Thursday and Friday, Dec. 24-25) through Sunday, Jan. 3

Still shopping?

Find original handmade items by local crafters and artisans for those on your holiday gift list at the seventh annual Christmas Craft Fair at Knupper Nursery & Landscape, 1801 N. Rand Road, Palatine. Admission is free, but a nonperishable food item for donation to the Palatine Food Pantry will be accepted. (847) 359-10809 or knuppernursery.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19

Holiday revue

The seasonal song-and-dance revue “Jingle Bell Rock” plays two locations this weekend: first at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $25. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com; then at College of Lake County's Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake. $45-$52; $44-$51 students; $12-$15 youth. (847) 543-2300 or clcillinois.edu/tickets. 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, in St. Charles; 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, in Grayslake

Tchaikovsky classic

The New Philharmonic teams up again with Von Heidecke's Chicago Festival Ballet for suburban performances of “The Nutcracker” this weekend at Belushi Performance Hall at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $43; $32 youth. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19; 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20

Orchestral youth

Cheer on young musicians when the Schaumburg Youth Orchestra performs its annual Presto! Holiday Concerts this Saturday at Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. $30. (630) 942-4000 or prairiecenter.org. 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19

Comfort Ye

Gurnee native Amanda Majeski is one of the featured soloists for performances of Handel's “The Messiah” by the Apollo Chorus this weekend at Millennium Park's Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph Drive, Chicago. $30-$60. (312) 334-7777 or harristheaterchicago.org or apollochorus.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19; 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20

Chicago-trained comedy

If you've loved seeing comedian Michael Palascak from his TV appearances on Comedy Central or “Last Comic Standing,” then don't miss him performing standup live at Zanies at MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $22-$25 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 813-0484 or zanies.com. 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19

Congenital comedy

Catch up with comedian Christopher Titus when he questions his upbringing in the show “Born with a Defect” this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $28 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19; 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20

SharkDog at Dock's

The pop/rock band SharkDog plays covers from the Black Crows, Eddie Money, Tom Petty, John Cougar, Rick Springfield and many others at Dock's Bar and Grill, 313 Liberty St., Wauconda. Cover charge is $5. (847) 526-3625 or docksbarandgrill.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19

Wheaton presents 'Miracle'

Wheaton Drama combines live music, sound effects and special guests for the classic holiday tale “Miracle on 34th Street” at Playhouse 111, 111 N. Hale St., Wheaton. The show is designed to give audience members the feeling that they are watching a live, old-time radio show as it is being broadcast across the airwaves. $15. (630) 260-1820 or wheatondrama.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20

Celebrate in Elgin

A holiday variety show, including music and dance performances from local Elgin groups like the Eastern Groove Studio, Urban Dance Concept, the Elgin Master Chorale and many others, takes center stage at the Elgin Celebrates The Holidays event at the Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. GreenRoom Improv, the current resident improv troupe at the center, serves as masters of ceremonies at the celebration. $10. All proceeds benefit performing arts groups in Elgin. Call the Hemmens box office at (847) 931-5900 or see hemmens.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20

Santa on skates

Santa and Mrs. Claus will strap on skates and take to the ice with visitors at the Skate with Santa event at the Triphahn Center and Ice Arena, 1685 W. Higgins Road, Hoffman Estates. Guests are invited to bring their cameras. Plus, don't miss the cookies and hot chocolate. Free admission and skate rental. (847) 885-7500 or heparks.org. 4:20 to 6:10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20

Holiday crooner

Singer Ron Hawking performs an intimate Christmas Show tonight at Austin's Fuel Room, 481 Peterson Road, Libertyville. $35-$75. (847) 549-1972 or austinsaloon.com. 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20

The Academy Is ... back

After a successful reunion show at this fall's Riot Fest, The Academy Is ... has made the reunion tour official. Spending December touring North American venues they visited during their eight years touring, the Northwest suburban-bred pop-punk rockers pay a visit to Chicago's House of Blues with California rockers PARTYBABY in tow. Expect to hear fan favorites from the band's influential first release, 2005's “Almost Here,” and 2008's “Fast Times at Barrington High,” which made it onto Rolling Stone Magazine's 50 Best Albums of the Year. At House of Blues Chicago, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $25; (312) 923-2000 or houseofblues.com. 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20

Latin pop star Luis Miguel

Fans of Mexican pop music won't want to miss Luis Miguel in concert tonight at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $79.50-$225. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20

Upcoming concerts

Presto! Holiday Concert: 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, Prairie Center For The Arts, 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg. Classical and popular holiday music. $15-$25. (847) 895-3600 or prairiecenter.org.

Joy to the World: A Community Christmas Carol Singalong: 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, First Congregational Church of Elgin, 256 E. Chicago St., Elgin. Freewill offering welcome. (847) 741-4045.

The Illinois Brass Band with “Holiday Classics” concert: 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles. Holiday tunes, updates of Christmas favorites and more. Adults: $12; Children and students 18 and under: $6; family: $30 (two adults and up to four children, ages 18 and under). Tickets available in advance at illinoisbrassband.org or at the door on the day of the performance.

22nd Annual Toy-Ful Celebration Concert: 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, Glenview Community Church, 1000 Elm St., Glenview. Join the 45-voice Chancel Choir and the Glenview Concert Band for an evening of holiday music. Concert benefits the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots program. Free admission; guests are asked to bring an unwrapped new toy (or toys) to donate. (847) 724-2210 or gccmusic.org.

Shout Section Big Band's Holiday Concert: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, Skokie Theatre, 7924 Lincoln Ave., Skokie. Jazz, rock, Latin and swing. Tickets $25; $10 for students ages 21 and younger. (847) 677-7761 or visit skokietheatre.org.

Linda Eder: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Broadway, pop and more. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com.

The Ragged Rascals: An Irish Christmas: 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, Dellora A. Norris Cultural Arts Center, 1040 Dunham Road, St. Charles. Irish folk band performs Irish favorites and a mix of holiday standards. $10-$15. Visit norrisculturalarts.com.

Oak Park Concert Chorale “What Sweeter Musick” Christmas concert: 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1025 W. Lake St., Melrose Park. General admission is $18; seniors/students $10. (708) 848-2130 or oakparkconcertchorale.org.

The Lake County Folk club presents Tricia Alexander: 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, Fatman Bowl, 13860 Rockland Road, Green Oaks. Folk, jazz, seasonal favorties and more. Percussionist Alpha Stewart Jr. also performs. $12 nonmembers; $10 for seniors and members; $5 for teens (suggested donation). Call (847) 602-8882 for reservations. Visit thelakecountyfolkclub.org.

Luis Miguel: 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. Latin music and more. $79.50-$225. Visit ticketmaster.com.

Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.