Theater spotlight: Classic tales, seasonal reviews and cirque spectaculars
ABT’s ‘Wonderful Life’
American Blues Theater delivers its annual gift to Chicago theatergoers: “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!” Based on Frank Capra’s 1946 film about a man who sets asides his dreams of escaping his small town to serve his family and community, the production unfolds as a 1940s radio broadcast, complete with original music and classic carols.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22, Wednesday, Nov. 26, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at 5627 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Nov. 28. $34.50-$94.50. (773) 654-3103 or americanbluestheater.com.
Seasonal revue
Steel Beam Theatre presents a holiday music and sketch comedy revue titled “The Most Sketchiest Time of the Year,” written and directed by Peter Dytrych.
7 p.m. Sundays, Nov. 23 through Dec. 21, at 111 Main St., St. Charles. $22. steelbeamtheatre.com.
Metropolis’ ‘Carol’
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre artistic director Johanna McKenzie Miller adapts and directs this year’s production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” with music direction from Cody Goodrich. Steve Connell reprises the role of Ebenezer Scrooge, the miser who comes to learn the true meaning of Christmas.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 25-26, and Friday, Nov. 28, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. The show opens Nov. 29. $25-$49. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.
Cirque spectacular
Broadway in Chicago stages “A Magical Cirque Christmas,” a family-friendly variety show showcasing magicians, acrobats, aerialists, contortionists, jugglers and other circus artists.
7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25; 1 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, and Friday, Nov. 28; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29; and 1 p.m. Nov. 30 at CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., Chicago. $39-$117. broadwayinchicago.com.
Western-style ‘Christmas Carol’
Raue Center for the Arts presents “A Cripple Creek Christmas,” a western version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” which unfolds in a Colorado mining town whose founder enlists Charles Dickens to teach miserly mine owner Gooch the meaning of the season.
8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, and Dec. 6; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, and Dec. 7; 7 p.m. Dec. 4; and 8 p.m. Dec. 5 at 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. $34 adults, $19 students; 30% less for RaueNOW members. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.
Masculinity under a microscope
Teatro Vista Productions examines modern masculinity — power and panic, fear and violence — in an in-development work titled “God Complex” by Gabriel Ruiz. Co-created and directed by Lorena Diaz, the production is part of the theater’s In Process incubator series. Tommy Rivera-Vega stars.
8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22, at 1700 Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $33. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org/lookout or teatrovista.org.
A holiday panto for grown-ups
Tom Whalley, who has penned 20 British-style holiday pantomimes, wrote PrideArts’ adults-only, holiday panto “Rapornzel,” about a dashing prince who attempts to rescue a princess from her tower prison. Claire Hart Proepper directs in the Italian commedia dell’arte tradition.
Previews at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre in Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The show opens Monday, Nov. 24. $25, $35. (773) 661-0770 or pridearts.org.
Stage Left premiere
Stage Left Theatre premieres “Come Again,” Lisa Dellagiarino Feriend’s comedy about a Miami, Florida, hospice nurse who awakes one day to learn she is a climate change prophet.
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21-22, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, and through Dec. 21 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. $40. stagelefttheatre.com.