Best Bets: Broadway vet Levi Kreis returns to Metropolis, and holiday music fills the air

Levi Kreis in concert

Tony Award-winner Levi Kreis (“Million Dollar Quartet”) puts a jazz, soul and rockabilly spin on holiday classics as part of his “Home for the Holidays” tour, which also includes uproarious stories. He performs at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. $40, $46. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, and 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3

Drive-thru delights in East Dundee

Santa’s Village promises to dazzle visitors with dazzling light displays synchronized to holiday music as part of its fifth Magical Christmas Drive-Thru at 601 Dundee Ave., East Dundee. The family-friendly event concludes with a visit and photo opportunity with Santa. $29.99 per vehicle, $5 discount for season-pass holders. Reserve advance tickets at (847) 426-6751 or santasvillagedundee.com. Select evenings Friday, Nov. 28, through Dec. 30

Comedy at the Vault

Comedian Helen Hong (National Public Radio’s “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me,” “Go Fact Yourself” podcast), whose “Well Hong” comedy special is streaming on Amazon Prime and Apple TV, headlines The Comedy Vault, 18 E. Wilson St., Batavia. $31, plus a two-item minimum. (630) 454-4174 or comedyvaultbatavia.com. 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 28-29

Calling all ‘Dr. Who’ fans

Fans of the long-running British TV series “Dr. Who” can meet Christopher Eccleston (9th doctor); Jo Martin (Fugitive Doctor); Annette Badland (Margaret Slitheen); and Carole Ann Ford (Susan Foreman, the first Doctor’s companion) and other stars during the Chicago TARDIS 2025 convention taking place this weekend at the Westin Chicago Lombard, 70 Yorktown Center, Lombard. Activities include celebrity meet-and-greets, episode screenings, costume contest, parties and karaoke. Friday and Saturday admission is $50 per day, $25 for kids; Sunday admission is $40 per day, $20 for kids. VIP passes start at $105 for adults, $50 for kids. chicagotardis.com. Friday through Sunday, Nov. 28-30

Music of the season

• Pianist/composer Christ White and his trio play Vince Guaraldi’s music from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” — including “Christmastime is Here” — and other “Peanuts” animated shows at Hey Nonny, 10 S. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $38-$50. (224) 202-0750 or heynonny.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28; 6:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29; and 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30

• Ravinia Festival, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park, hosts a weekend of holiday music featuring the award-winning a cappella group Take 6 (7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3). They’re followed by the Grammy Award-winning Klezmatics, who perform jazz, punk, classical and Latin-infused klezmer music (7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4); pianist Kevin Cole (7:30 p.m. Dec. 5); and Canadian Brass, who play versions of “You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch,” “Carol of the Bells” and other favorites (7:30 p.m. Dec. 6). The trio Mr. Chair concludes the mini-fest with selections from the Vince Guaraldi Trio’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” (1:30 p.m. Dec. 7). $30-$50. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org. Wednesday through Sunday, Dec. 3-7

• Soloists from Midwest Opera Theatre join the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, the Elgin Master Chorale and members of the community for a 75-minute interactive performance of selections from George Frideric Handel’s “The Messiah” at the Second Baptist Church of Elgin, 1280 Summit St., Elgin. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Well Child Center in Elgin that provides support for expectant mothers and their families. $5. (847) 888-4000 or elginsing-alongmessiah.org. Caroling at 6:30 p.m., followed by “The Messiah” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4

• The Bach + Beethoven Experience, a Chicago-based group that performs a mix of classical, folk, indigenous and new music, presents “’Twas the Week Before Christmas in Chicago,” a “not-so-classical concert of carols, holiday cheer and a Chicago-themed version of the famous story.” $20 at The Den Theatre; $25 at the Irish American Heritage Center. bbexperience.org. 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, and 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, at the Irish American Cultural Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave., Chicago

Season of Concern fundraiser

Chicago-area cabaret artists unite at The CheckOut, 4116 N. Clark St., Chicago, to perform holiday favorites as part of their annual fundraiser Merry Measures. The concerts benefit Season of Concern, which helps support Chicago-area theater artists facing health and/or financial challenges. $25. thecheckout.org/schedule. 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 1-2

Chicago premiere

Chicago Opera Theater presents the Chicago premiere of Antonio Salieri’s “Falstaff, ossia le tre burle,” adapted from William Shakespeare’s comedy “The Merry Wives of Windsor” about an arrogant knight who attempts to seduce two married women. Portrayed as a mediocre composer in Peter Shaffer’s play “Amadeus” (currently running at Steppenwolf Theatre), Salieri was a respected 18th-century court composer who, along with librettist Carlo Prospero Defranceschi, were among the early adapters of Shakespeare’s plays into operas. The performances take place at the Studebaker Theatre, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $50-$150. cot.org. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 3, and 3 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7