Spotlight: Suburban stand-up, sketch comedy showcases
Santa stand-up
Zanies showcases local comedians this weekend as part of its “Santa’s Stand-up Spectacular.”
7:15 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, at 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $30 plus a two-item food or beverage minimum. (847) 813-0484 or rosemont.zanies.com.
Holiday week magic
The Chicago Magic Lounge’s New Year’s Eve shows are sold out, but limited tickets remain for several holiday-week shows featuring close-up magic performed by house magicians and a 60-minute stage show.
10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 22-23, and Thursday, Dec. 28; also 7 and 10 p.m. Dec. 29-30 at 5050 N. Clark St., Chicago. $68.50-$75. (312) 366-4500 or chicagomagiclounge.com.
‘Christmas Carol’ on the air
WBEZ, in partnership with Goodman Theatre, airs its audio play production of “A Christmas Carol” recorded in 2020 when theaters were shuttered in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The recording stars Larry Yando as Ebenezer Scrooge.
2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24, on WBEZ 91.5 FM. wbez.org/christmas.
Happy ho-ho holidays
The Practical Theatre Company presents its “Ho-Ho Holiday Revue,” a vaudeville-style show featuring music and sketches about family, relationships, politics and pickleball. Writer-performers Victoria Zielinski, Dana Olsen, co-founder Paul Barrosse, and his and Zielinski’s daughter Emilia Barrosse star in the show, which features music by Steve Rashid and the Studio5 All-Stars.
7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 28-29, and Dec. 31 and Jan. 4-5, and 8 p.m. Dec. 30 and Jan. 6, at Studio5, 1934 Dempster St., Evanston. $30-$45; $45 and $50 on New Year’s Eve. (847) 328-6683 or studio5.dance.
A blue New Year
Chicago’s Blue Man Group performs several New Year’s Eve shows, including two family-friendly shows featuring early “midnight” countdowns complete with party hats and noisemakers. There will be a champagne toast at the 10 p.m. performance.
1, 4, 7 and 10 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, at the Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St., Chicago. Tickets start at $49. blueman.com/chicago.