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Best Bets: Where to catch ‘The Nutcracker’ before it dances away

Nutcracker’ in the ’burbs

• Engage Dance Theatre brings its version of “The Nutcracker” — including a special sensory-friendly performance with a smaller house and gentler lighting and special effects — to the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. The production features guest artists from the Milwaukee and English National ballets and includes tumbling. $32, $20 for students 17 and younger and seniors; sensory-friendly performance tickets are $25, $17 for students. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20, (sensory-friendly) and 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21-22

The Ruth Page Center for the Arts presents “The Nutcracker” at the College of Lake County’s James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts. Courtesy of Anthony Robert LaPenna

• College of Lake County’s James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake, hosts the season’s final performances of “Ruth Page’s The Nutcracker,” a re-creation of Page’s staging of the ballet, which debuted at the Arie Crown Theatre in 1965. $15-$65. ruthpage.org. 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22

Holiday magic

Chicago Magic Lounge, 5050 N. Clark St., Chicago, added performances of its Signature Show — consisting of preperformance, close-up magic, followed by a stage show — for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Tickets start at $55. (312) 366-4500 or chicagomagiclounge.com. 7 p.m. Thursday through Monday, Dec. 26-30, and 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 26-28

Beatles tribute band American English performs Saturday at Crystal Lake’s Raue Center for the Arts. Courtesy of the Raue Center for the Arts

Blast from the past

The Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake, welcomes back Beatles tribute band American English, which incorporates vintage instruments, costume changes and special effects as it chronicles the band’s evolution from playing Hamburg clubs to starring in Hollywood films and more. Tickets start at $49, $34.30 for RaueNOW members. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28

Comedian Brad Williams headlines the Chicago Theatre.

'Dynamic dynamo'

Comedian Brad Williams, a veteran of “The Tonight Show” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” whose latest special, “Brad Williams: Starfish,” was released last year, headlines the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. $29.50-$145. msg.com/the-chicago-theatre. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28

Conductor/music director Kirk Muspratt and The New Philharmonic usher in 2025 at the McAninch Arts Center. Courtesy of the McAninch Arts Center

NYE at the MAC

Limited tickets are available for the New Philharmonic’s annual New Year’s Eve performances at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Bass-baritone Richard Ollarsaba joins conductor Kirk Muspratt and the orchestra for a program featuring classical, opera and popular music. The event also includes a champagne toast and other surprises. The early performance is sold out, but tickets remain for the late afternoon and evening performances. $70-$80. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 5 and 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31

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