Theater

Suburban and Chicago theaters serve up holiday cheer

Posted November 21, 2025 8:18 am

Barbara Vitello

Christopher Donahue, right foreground, plays Ebenezer Scrooge and Ella Boparai, left foreground, plays Tiny Tim in Goodman Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol.” The production also features Carmelo Kelly, background left, Chris Khoshaba, Viva Boresi, Jon Hudson Odom, Henry Lombardo and A’ mia Imani. Courtesy of Brett Beiner

With seasonal shows the rage on suburban and Chicago stages, here’s a list (checked twice) of holiday offerings.

It includes the classics (“A Christmas Carol” and “It’s a Wonderful Life”), seasonal send-ups, holiday musicals, Cirque du Soleil-inspired spectacles, productions for youngsters and a few just for adults.

Here’s to a merry month at the theater.

‘A Christmas Carol’ and its variations

Christopher Donahue plays reformed miser Ebenezer Scrooge in Goodman Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol.” Courtesy of Brett Beiner

• Christopher Donahue returns for the second time in as many years to play Charles Dickens’ Ebenezer Scrooge in Goodman Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol,” running through Dec. 31 at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

• At the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, Steve Connell reprises his role as the famed miser. The production runs Tuesday, Nov. 25, through Dec. 24 at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

• Raue Center for the Arts’ “A Cripple Creek Christmas,” a Western-style version of Dickens’ classic tale, runs through Dec. 7 at 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. (815) 356-9212 or rauecenter.org.

Phil Timberlake plays Jacob Marley in Lifeline Theatre’s production of the solo show “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol.” Courtesy of Jackie Jasperson

• Lifeline Theatre’s revival of “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol,” a solo show by Tom Mula recounting the story from Scrooge’s late partner’s perspective, stars ensemble member Phil Timberlake. It runs Nov. 30 through Dec. 21 at 6912 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. (773) 761-4477 or lifelinetheatre.com.

• Blake Montgomery reprises his role as the famous author in the solo show “Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs ‘A Christmas Carol’ Again.” Clownshow’s production runs Dec. 4-28 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

“Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol,” a multidisciplinary, puppet-inspired version of Charles Dickens’ story, returns to the Studebaker Theater in Chicago. Courtesy of Jenn Udoni, Franco images

• Aunt Trudy reluctantly takes over her late husband’s tradition of performing a puppet show version of “A Christmas Carol” for the family in “Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol” Dec. 12-28 at the Studebaker Theater, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. fineartsbuilding.com/christmascarol.

• Drury Lane Theatre for Young Audiences’ 60-minute adaptation of “A Christmas Carol” runs Nov. 28 through Dec. 27 at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. (630) 530-8300 or drurylanetheatre.com.

‘Wonderful Life’ radio play

• American Blues Theater’s 1940s radio-play-with-music adaptation of Frank Capra’s 1946 film set the standard for the productions that followed. “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!” runs through Dec. 28 at 5627 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 654-3103 or americanbluestheater.com.

Corey L. Mills, left, Nathaniel Thomas, Carolyn Plurad, Halli Morgan, Rami Halabi and Chase Wheaton-Werle star in Oil Lamp Theater’s radio-play production of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Courtesy of Gosia Matuszewska

• Oil Lamp Theater’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” runs through Dec. 28 at 1723 Glenview Road, Glenview. oillamptheater.org.

• “A Bedford Falls Christmas in Libertyville,” Improv Playhouse’s version of the classic film, runs Dec. 12-21 at 130 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville. (847) 968-4529 or improvplayhouse.com.

• “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” runs Dec. 12-31 at the Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. (312) 820-6250 or athenaeumcenter.org.

Merry musicals

• Marriott Theatre’s “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,” a sequel to the popular jukebox tuner “Million Dollar Quartet,” runs through Jan. 4 at 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

Paramount Theatre presents the holiday favorite “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,” starring Evan C. Dolan, left, Jessie J. Potter, Sophie Grimm and Alex Syiek. Courtesy of Amy Nelson

• Paramount Theatre’s revival of “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas,” adapted from the 1954 film musical starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, runs through Jan. 11 at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

• Black Ensemble Theater’s contemporary showcase “A Black Ensemble Holiday Spectacular” runs Dec. 6-14 at 4450 N. Clark St., Chicago. (773) 769-4451 or blackensembletheater.org.

More Yuletide treats

Robert Wood Frank, left, Naomi Hershman, Mindy Shore and Lorelei Sturm star in Citadel Theatre’s production of Tom Dudzick’s family dramedy “Miracle on South Division Street.” Courtesy of North Shore Camera Club

• Citadel Theatre’s revival of the warm-hearted comedy “Miracle on South Division Street,” about a family whose Christmas miracle may not have been so miraculous, runs through Dec. 14 at the West Campus building of the Lake Forest School District, 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. (847) 735-8554, ext. 1, or citadeltheatre.org.

• This year marks Buffalo Theatre Ensemble’s final installment of Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon’s “Pride and Prejudice”-inspired holiday trilogy. “Georgiana and Kitty: Christmas at Pemberley” runs through Dec. 21 at the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org.

• Tuta Theatre remounts Thornton Wilder’s “The Long Christmas Dinner,” a drama that chronicles the members of an American family across several generations. It runs Dec. 1-28 at Bramble Arts Loft, 5545 N. Clark St., Chicago. tutatheatre.org.

• City Lit Theater premieres “Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Clowns,” a mystery adapted by John Weagly from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels and G.K. Chesterton’s short story “The Flying Stars,” in which a detective seeks to locate jewels stolen during a holiday pantomime performance. It runs Dec. 12 through Jan. 4 at 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. (773) 293-3682 or citylit.org.

• C.S. Lewis describes how his friend J.R.R. Tolkien helped him return to his faith in “Christmas With C.S. Lewis,” running Dec. 16-21 at Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago. broadwayinchicago.com.

Family-friendly

Aerialist Leila Noone performs in “A Magical Cirque Christmas” at the CIBC Theatre. Courtesy of Broadway in Chicago

• Acrobats, jugglers, contortionists and other circus artists make up the cast of “A Magical Cirque Christmas,” running Nov. 25-30 at CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St., Chicago. broadwayinchicago.com.

• The Second City’s interactive children’s comedy show “Rudolph Runs Wild!” runs Nov. 28 through Dec. 31 at 1616 N. Wells St., Chicago. (312) 337-3992 or secondcity.com.

• Strawdog Theatre Company remounts “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins,” about a man who rids a town of its pesky goblins. Performances run Nov. 29 through Dec. 18 at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. strawdog.org.

• An orphan raised as an elf discovers he’s human and heads to New York City to find his birth father in “Elf the Musical.” The show runs Dec. 2-14 at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. broadwayinchicago.com.

• Playmakers Laboratory remounts its annual sketch-comedy holiday show “That’s Weird, Grandma: Holiday Party!” Dec. 5-14 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. (773) 878-4557 or neofuturists.org.

Chicago Children’s Theatre hosts its annual “Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party” featuring actor/puppeteers performing favorite Potter stories. In this 2022 photograph, Felix May tells “The Tailor of Gloucester.” Courtesy of Charles Osgood

• Chicago Children’s Theatre adds “The Tale of Pickles and Ginger” to the collection of Beatrix Potter tales making up the puppet-centered “The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party” Dec. 6-28 at 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. (312) 374-8835 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

• Cirque du Soleil’s “’Twas the Night Before …” runs Dec. 11-28 at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago. cirquedusoleil.com/usa/chicago/shows.

Second City satire and other grown-up shows

Second City touring companies bring the holiday send-up “Jack Frost Roasting on an Open Fire” to the Copley, Metropolis and McAninch theaters. Courtesy of The Second City

• Second City touring companies bring the holiday send-up “Jack Frost Roasting on an Open Fire” to several suburban venues.

The show runs through Dec. 23 at the Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com. On Dec. 6, the show comes to the McAninch Arts Center, College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. And Dec. 15-31, the show plays the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights, (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

• Hell in a Handbag Productions’ latest holiday parody satirizes reality TV’s real housewives. The premiere of “The Real Housewives of the North Pole” runs through Jan. 4 at The Clutch, 4335 N. Western Ave., Chicago. handbagproductions.com.

• Steel Beam Theatre’s holiday revue, “The Most Sketchiest Time of the Year,” runs Sunday, Nov. 23, through Dec. 11 at 111 Main St., St. Charles. steelbeamtheatre.com.

• “Holidazed and Amused: Naughty, Nice, and Everything In-Between” runs Wednesday, Nov. 26, through Jan. 1 at UP Comedy Club, 230 W. North Ave., Chicago. (312) 337-3992 or secondcity.com.

Veronica Garza reprises her role as a 40-something Cindy Lou Who in Theater Wit’s adults-only comedy “Who’s Holiday!” Courtesy of Charles Osgood Photography

• Itasca native Veronica Garza reprises her role as a 40-something Cindy Lou Who recalling her affair with The Grinch in “Who’s Holiday,” running Nov. 28 through Dec. 28 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

• A drama teacher writes a holiday musical to restore the reputation of his scandal-plagued school in The Annoyance Theatre’s “Miracle at Century High School,” running Nov. 29 through Dec. 20 at 851 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 697-9693 or theannoyance.com.

• Former nun and bingo caller Mary Margaret O’Brien answers holiday-related questions in “Christmas Bingo: It’s a Ho-Ho-Holy Night” on Dec. 18 at the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago. (773) 282-7035 or irishamerican.org.