Lifestyle

Weekend picks: Ralphie May brings a dose of cheer to the Arcada

Posted December 17, 2016 6:12 am

By Laura Milbrath Stewart and Scott C. Morgan

Comedian Ralphie May headlines the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles Saturday. Courtesy of Stacey Pokluda

May we laugh?

Catch up with comedian Ralphie May following his 2015 Netflix comedy specials "Unruly" and "Imperfectly Yours" at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $25-$65. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17

See the Rankin/Bass holiday special "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" at the holiday film medley at the Arcada Theatre. Courtesy of CBS via AP

Holiday classics

Spend Saturday watching four classic animated holiday programs on a 40-foot screen at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. See the 1965 TV special "A Charlie Bown Christmas" at 10 a.m.; the 1964 Rankin/Bass special "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" at 10:45 a.m.; 1966's "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas" at noon; and the 1969 Rankin/Bass animated film "Frosty the Snowman" at 12:45 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults and free for kids 12 and younger. arcadalive.com. 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 17

David Brian Stuart, left, George Elliott and Renee Johnson are among the actors appearing in Improv Playhouse's radio adaptation of "It's a Wonderful Life." Courtesy of Improv Playhouse

'Wonderful Life'

Improv Playhouse remounts its radio adaptation of "It's a Wonderful Life," Frank Capra's 1946 holiday classic about everyman George Bailey who glimpses how his community would have fared had he never been born. David Brian Stuart directs and stars as George. Egon Schein, of Libertyville, plays Clarence the angel, who takes George under his wing, and Mr. Potter, the greedy developer who wants to pull the rug out from under him. See it at 735 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. $20. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com. 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17

Chicago's Christkindlmarket

The Christkindlmarket Chicago outdoor market and holiday village honors German and European traditions with holiday items for purchase, German food and drinks and holiday entertainment. Find it at Daley Plaza, between Dearborn, Washington and Clark streets, through Dec. 24. Free. christkindlmarket.com. 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24

Berkshire Ballet Theatre returns with its version of "The Nutcracker" at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake this weekend. Courtesy of Kayla Natoli Photography

Tchaikovsky classic

More than 120 performers are featured in Berkshire Ballet Theatre and Summers Academy of Dance's production of the classic Tchaikovsky Christmas ballet "The Nutcracker," which returns this weekend to the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $28-$30. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18

Comedian Finesse Mitchell returns to the Improv Comedy Showcase in Schaumburg.

'SNL' alum at the Improv

Fans of comedian Finesse Mitchell ("Saturday Night Live," "Showtime at the Apollo") won't want to miss his ongoing standup gigs this weekend at the Improv Comedy Showcase at Woodfield Mall, 5 Woodfield Road, Schaumburg. $19 plus a two-item purchase. (847) 240-2001 or chicago.improv.com. 7 and 9:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18

Drive-Through Christmas Nativity

See actors and animals portray the birth of Jesus Christ at the annual Drive-Through Christmas Nativity at Faith World Outreach Church, 1280 S. Route 59, Bartlett. The event features a narrated CD (also available via live stream), mini-sets of various scenes, and cider and cookies. Free. (630) 830-0196. 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17

Sing out loud

Sing along to the Christmas portion of Handel's "Messiah" as well as traditional carols at the Messiah and Carol Sing-Along at First United Methodist Church, 128 N. Martin Luther King Drive, Waukegan. Specific sections of the church will be designated for those singing alto, soprano, baritone/bass and tenor. Adult general admission is $15; free for students 18 and younger. Advance tickets at brownpapertickets.com. Tickets can also be purchased with cash or check at the door. For details, call the Waukegan Park District at (847) 360-4740 or see waukeganparks.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17

Due 'Respect'

The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, performs iconic hit songs like "Think," "Daydreaming," "Freeway of Love" and more in a rescheduled concert at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $49.50-$149.50. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17

LOL holiday show

Laugh Out Loud ensemble members riff comedic on holiday traditions including gift exchanges and family reunions as part of the comedy club's "Yet Another Holiday Show" at 601 N. Martingale Road, Schaumburg. Early performances of the improv show are family-friendly. Late shows are for adults only. $20 adults, $12 kids. (847) 240-0386 or laughoutloudtheater.com. 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17

Susan McFadden of Celtic Woman, which brings its "Home for Christmas Symphony Tour" to North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall in Naperville this weekend. Courtesy of Günter Distler

Hibernian holidays

Fresh off the release of the holiday album "Voices of Angels," the Irish ensemble Celtic Woman returns with the "Home for Christmas: The Symphony Tour" concerts this weekend at North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 Benton Ave., Naperville. $90-$105. (630) 637-7469 or finearts.northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18

The holiday cabaret show "Season of Light With Megon McDonough" plays the Wilmette Theatre on Saturday, Dec. 17.

Christmas cabaret

Cheer on Crystal Lake singer Megon McDonough when she performs selections from her recent holiday album "Season of Light" at the Wilmette Theatre, 1122 Central Ave., Wilmette. $30. (847) 251-7424 or wilmettetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17

Steamrolling into the holidays

With Mannheim Steamroller's revolutionary 1984 album "Christmas," Chip Davis and his new-age progressive rock group put a fresh and sparkly face on many well-loved holiday classics. And 32 years later, his take on favorite carols still draws huge crowds to live performances. If you're in need of a dose of cheer (complete with a light show), head to the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, for this holiday tradition. $39-$199. (847) 671-5100 or rosemont.com/theatre/events/mannheim-steamroller. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17

Revel in seasonal music

Enjoy the music of the season, including traditional carols, holiday classics and jazzy updates of Christmas favorites, when the Illinois Brass Band presents it Holiday Classics concert at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles. Tickets are available in advance for $5-$10 at illinoisbrassband.org or for $6-$12 at the door. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18

Jennifer Yonally returns to Chicago Tap Theatre's "Tidings of Tap!" playing at Skokie's North Shore Center for the Performing Arts. Courtesy of Josh Hawkins

Percussive shoes

Chicago Tap Theatre celebrates Christmas, Hanukkah and the winter season in general in its holiday show "Tidings of Tap!" at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $24-$40. (847) 673-6300 or chicagotaptheatre.com or northshorecenter.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18

Hanukkah and Christmas

Chamber Opera Chicago pairs Victoria Bond's new one-act children's opera "The Miracle of Hanukkah" with Menotti's classic 1950s Bible-inspired Christmas opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on Sundays at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $20; $15 students; $10 kids ages 12 and under. (312) 988-9000 or chamberoperachicago.org. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18

'Tender' humor

Fans of truTV's practical joke series "Impractical Jokers" won't want to miss seeing The Tenderloins and their latest "Santiago Sent Us" tour playing twice at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $49.75-$68.50. (800) 745-3000 or thechicagotheatre.com. 5 and 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18

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