Steel Beam presenting musical 'Carol'

A musical 'Carol'

Steel Beam Theatre founder and artistic director Donna Steele directs the company's holiday offering, composer Alan Menken and lyricist Lynn Ahrens' musical adaptation of "A Christmas Carol." Thomas Thomas stars as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Facts: Opens Friday, Nov. 28, at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.

Double shot of cheer

Metropolis Performing Arts Centre satisfies audiences' fondness for sentimental holiday fare as well as their taste for satirical seasonal entertainment by pairing its music-enhanced production of the family favorite "A Christmas Carol" with the holiday sendup, "The Second City's Exceedingly Dysfunctional Holiday Review."

Facts: Shows open Friday, Nov. 28, at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

'Stomp' returns

New routines incorporating tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans comprise the latest version of "Stomp," the percussive music and movement performance piece that debuted 14 years ago at the Edinburgh Festival. A touring version of the show returns to the suburbs for a brief run at the Paramount Theatre.

Facts: Runs Friday, Nov. 28, to Sunday, Nov. 30, at 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

What's new

•Victory Gardens Theater remounts for the third year its original holiday show, "The Snow Queen." adapted from Hans Christian Andersen's tale of Gerda, who tries to rescue her childhood friend Kai, who has fallen under the spell of the beautiful but sinister Snow Queen. It's the brainchild of composer Michael Smith, director Frank Galati and puppeteer Blair Thomas. Performances begin Friday, Nov. 28, at the Biograph Theater at 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The show opens Monday, Dec. 1.

•Bailiwick Repertory Theatre's residency at the Theatre Building concludes with its holiday favorite, "The Christmas Schooner," the history-inspired musical by John Reeger and Julie Shannon about the 19th century Great Lakes sailors who transported fir trees across Lake Michigan to immigrants in Chicago for their Christmas celebrations. Previews begin Friday, Nov. 28, at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens Sunday, Nov. 30. (773) 883-1090 or bailiwick.org.

•Theater Wit's popular annual production of "The Santaland Diaries," humorist David Sedaris' account of his tenure as a Macy's elf, opens Friday, Nov. 28, at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or theaterwit.org.

•"Drinking and Writing" creator Steve Mosqueda teams up with new co-host Phil Ridarelli for "Drinking & Writing IV: The 12 Steps of Christmas." The seasonal salute to famous writers and fine spirits runs at 10:30 p.m. Fridays through Dec. 19 at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 871-3000 or victorygardens.org.

•Mention the password "gloves" at 2114 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago and you'll be ushered into Tommy Gun's Garage where the ensemble performs a holiday version of its long-running 1920s interactive revue through Dec. 31. (312) 225-0273, (773) 728-2828 or tommygunsgarage.com.

•Mo Roses and Vaudezilla present "Sexy Santa's Spectacular - Burlesque's Naughty List," the adults-only holiday version of their burlesque show beginning Friday, Nov. 28, at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. (773) 598-4549 or gorillatango.com.

•Team Creepy Hug debuts its third annual year-in-revue "Behind the '08 Ball" beginning Friday, Nov. 28, at Donny's Skybox Theatre at Piper's Alley, 4th floor, 1608 North Wells St., Chicago. (312) 337-3992 or secondcity.com.

•Previews continue for "Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol," Theater Wit's production of Tom Mula's stage adaptation of his irreverent novel about Marley's efforts to save his friend Ebenezer's soul. Mula stars in the play which opens Tuesday, Dec. 2, at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. (773) 327-5252 or theaterwit.org.

•The 7th annual "Blue Nativity," Quest Theatre Ensemble's family-friendly holiday show using puppetry and music to tell the nativity story opens Saturday, Nov. 29, and will be staged at various locations throughout the Chicago area. Suburban performances are: Dec. 6 at St. Luke's Church, 159 W. North Ave., Elmhurst; Dec. 7 at Christ Community Mennonite Church, 888 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg and First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights at 1903 E. Euclid Ave.; Dec. 13 at Lexington Square of Lombard at 555 Foxworth Blvd.; Dec. 20 at Beacon Hill Retirement Community, 2400 S. Finley Road, Lombard. (312) 458-0895 or questensemble.org.

•Zanies concludes its 30th anniversary celebration with the finals of its "Zaniest Person in Chicago" contest beginning at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, at 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago. The show features winners of five different standup comedy competitions going head-to-head for the Chicago title. (312) 337-4027 or zanies.com.

•Playwright/actors Tyler Bohne and Patrick Zielinski play 25 characters in "The Hipmas Carol," a modern retelling of Charles Dickens' tale featuring a progressive jazz score by guitarist Ritch Valadez. The show opens Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, 777 N. Green St., Chicago. (312) 733-6000 or theaterland.com.

•"It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play," American Theater Company's sixth annual radio version of Frank Capra's classic film, begins previews Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 1909 W. Byron St., Chicago. Former ATC artistic director Damon Kiely directs. (773) 409-4125 or atcweb.org.

•Jimmy McDermott, who directed Writers' Theatre's brilliant "The Puppetmaster of Lodz" returns to the Glencoe theater to direct Jean Genet's thriller "The Maids," an examination of oppression, domination and class envy, in which two maids plot the murder of their mistress. Previews continue through Sunday, Nov. 30, at Books on Vernon, 664 Vernon Ave., Glencoe. The show opens Wednesday, Dec. 4. (847) 242-6000 or writerstheatre.org.

•"Frostbite," an original show comprised of twisted holiday tales - including one about a snowman who inspires distrust - continues Saturdays through Dec. 27 at the Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N. Broadway, Chicago. (773) 561-4665 or annoyanceproductions.com.

-Barbara Vitello