Spotlight: There’s a new Scrooge in town at Goodman
A Goodman ‘Carol’
The Goodman Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” returns for another Chicago holiday season. This year features Steppenwolf Theatre Company ensemble member Tim Hopper taking on the role of Scrooge for the first time. Malkia Stampley directs Tom Creamer’s tried-and-true adaptation of Charles Dickens’ beloved 1843 Christmas novella.
Friday, Nov. 13, through Dec. 31 at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $44-$153. Dynamic pricing may come into effect. 312-443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org/.
1940s Radio ‘Life’
Citadel Theatre in Lake Forest turns into a 1940s radio studio for its holiday run of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” Experience the classic 1946 Frank Capra film re-imagined as more of an audio experience.
Friday, Nov. 13, through Dec. 13 at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. $50. 847-735-8554 or citadeltheatre.org/.
Boy stage players
What’s a male Jacobean actor to do when he faces down plague playhouse closures and Puritanical denouncements while playing great Shakespearean heroines onstage? Find out in playwright Zoe Sense-Grossberg’s drama “Boy My Greatness” in a production directed by Emily Newmark for The Village Theater.
Friday, Nov. 13, through Monday, Nov. 23, at Chicago Dramatists, 1105 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago. $27.09-$73.43. the-village-theater.com/.
Unreasonable ruler
Modern Archaic Theatre Company tackles Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” with great intimacy. See how a royal court strains under an unstable ruler who wrongfully accuses his wife of adultery.
Saturday, Nov. 14, through Nov. 22 at Mrs. Murphy & Sons Irish Bistro, 3905 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $15-$35. modernarchaictheatre.org/.
Drama on the spot
Audiences help to devise an evening-length improvised drama in Theatre Momentum’s “A Box of Miracles, and instant drama.” The unpredictability is all part of the fun.
Friday, Nov. 13, through Saturday, Dec. 12 (no shows Nov. 27 and 28) at Studio Momentum, 1541 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $5. theatremomentum.com/.
Zoology Bros.
Family audiences who love the Emmy Award-nominated PBS Kids TV show “Wild Kratts” should be keen to catch the national tour of “Wild Kratts Live 2.0!” It stars brothers Martin and Chris Kratt.
1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. $54.30-$85.10. 312-341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org/events/detail/wild-kratts-live.
Firing neurons
British playwright Nick Payne has had great success with his two-character romantic drama “Constellations.” Pride Arts re-envisions the play as a same-sex love story by the directing team of Amber Mandley and Jay Españo with alternating performances featuring a female-female or male-male couple.
Friday, Nov. 13, through Dec. 13 at Hoover-Leppen Theatre at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $35. pridearts.org/.
‘SNL’ songstress
Jive along with Ana Gasteyer when she swings her “Sugar & Booze Holiday Spectacular” concert tour to town. Space in Evanston presents the beloved “Saturday Night Live” alumna and Broadway veteran of shows like “Wicked,” “Schmigadoon!” and more with a big-band lineup of Christmas favorites and new seasonal comedy songs.
7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Northwestern University’s Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston. $51.75-$101.85. 847-492-8860 or evanstonspace.com.
Quarter-century Bailey
American Blues Theater celebrates the 25th anniversary of its annual holiday tradition of “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!” This interactive show is inspired by the beloved 1946 Frank Capra film, but is transformed as a 1940s radio broadcast. The production features an original score by Austin Cook with music direction by Michael Mahler, who also takes on the role of George Bailey for the first time.
Thursday, Nov. 19, through Dec. 27 at 5627 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $34.50-$119.50. 773-654-3103 or americanbluestheater.com/.