Spotlight: Practical Theatre Company toasts 2025 in annual revue

Practical Theatre’s annual revue

The Evanston-based sketch-comedy group Practical Theatre Company returns with its year-end revue “Quick! Before We’re Canceled!” starring Paul Barrosse, Dana Olsen and Victoria Zielinski. They’re accompanied by music director Steve Rashid and instrumentalists Jim Cox, Robert Rashid, Larry Schanker and vocalist Paul Marinaro.

7:30 p.m. Dec. 26-28 and Jan. 1-3 at Studio5, 1934 Dempster St., Evanston. $40, $55 for cabaret seating. Studio5.dance.

Spotlight on stand-up

• Comedian Chris O’Connor, co-creator of Netflix’s “Tires” and a Barstool Sports and Funny or Die contributor, headlines the Chicago Improv.

7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, and 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19-20, at 5 Woodfield Road, Woodfield Mall, Schaumburg. $29.49, plus a two-item minimum. (847) 240-2001 or improv.com/chicago.

• Actor/comedian Steve Rannazzisi, of FX’s “The League,” MTV’s “Punk’d,” and the films “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” and “For Your Consideration,” headlines Zanies Comedy Club.

7 and 9:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19-20, at 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. $37.95, plus a two-item minimum. (847) 813-0484 or rosemont.zanies.com.

Season of Concern fundraiser

Marta Bady and Darryl D’Angelo Jones from Drury Lane Theatre’s “Sister Act,” Brandon Dahlquist from American Blues Theatre’s “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!” and Joey Chelius of Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s “Much Ado About Nothing” join with other Chicago-area theater professionals for a Season of Concern fundraiser at The Understudy Coffee and Books. The show “Let It Snow” is a holiday compilation by The Beautiful City Project and Streamline Theatre about people whose holiday plans are upended by a Christmas Eve blizzard. Contributing writers include David H. Bell, Cory Goodrich, Michael Mahler and Paul Oakley Stovall, among others.

7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at 5531 N. Clark St., Chicago. $25. thebeautifulcityproject.com.

In other theater news

City Lit recently announced a three-year residency by The Vivero — a playwrights group devoted to creating new works rooted in the Latino diaspora founded by Esteban Andres Cruz, Kidany Camilo and Nelson A. Rodriguez. Next month’s showcase includes “Ay San Pluto” by Camilo, “Charlie Foxtrot” by Rodriguez and a new solo work by Cruz.

7:30 p.m. Jan. 10 and 3 p.m. Jan. 11 at Edgewater Presbyterian Church, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago. Pay what you can. citylit.org/thevivero.