Spotlight: Laughs abound this New Year's Eve
NYE matinee
Steve Cochran returns to the Raue Center for a New Year's Eve matinee for people who don't want to stay up until midnight. Comedians John DaCosse, Mike Toomey and emcee Tim Benker join Cochran for the show.
1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $36.40 (members), $52. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.
NYE at Second City
The Second City serves up laughs, dinner and drinks for New Year's Eve revelers attending its main stage show “Do You Believe in Madness?,” the e.t.c. show “Grinning From Fear to Fear” and UP Comedy Club's “Deck the Hallmark: A Greeting Card Channel Original.”
7 and 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at 1616 N. Wells St., Chicago (“Madness”); Piper's Alley, 230 W. North Ave., Chicago (e.t.c. and UP Comedy Club). Early shows are $55 (“Madness”) and $48 (“Fear” and “Deck the Hallmark”); late shows (general admission and reserved seats with drink/dinner package) are $110-$190 (“Madness”) and $100-$180 (“Fear” and “Deck the Hallmark”). (312) 337-3992 or secondcity.com.
Blue New Year
Chicago's Blue Man Group welcomes 2020 with afternoon family shows that include preperformance face painting and an “early midnight” countdown with party hats and noisemakers. The adults-only 7 p.m. show includes a champagne toast and party hat while the 10 p.m. show includes a countdown, confetti drop, champagne toast and the Blue Men singing “Auld Lang Syne.”
1, 4, 7 and 10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, at Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $49-$104. (800) 258-3626 or blueman.com.