Suburban theaters stage serious and silly seasonal delights

Theater lovers looking for holiday entertainment in the suburbs have plenty of options this year.

While Marriott, Drury Lane and Citadel theaters offer traditional productions, Paramount, Metropolis and Janus examine the season through a more satirical lens. Here's a look at some shows in the suburbs as well as a few Chicago offerings.

Family friendly

• Drury Lane Theatre presents a young audience production of "A Christmas Carol" through Dec. 23, at 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. (630) 530-0111 or drurylanetheatre.com.

• In Lincolnshire, "The Nutcracker," with additional music and lyrics by longtime Marriott Theatre director Marc Robin, runs through Dec. 30, at 10 Marriott Drive. (847) 634-0200 or marriotttheatre.com.

• Further north, Citadel Theatre revives "A Christmas Story, The Musical," adapted from the heartwarming 1983 film about a young boy's quest for the ultimate holiday gift. The show runs through Dec. 18, at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. (847) 735-8554 or citadeltheatre.org.

• Steel Beam Theatre puts its spin on Charles Dickens' classic in its production of "The Ultimate Christmas Carol," featuring song parodies by Douglas Oryk. It runs through Dec. 30, at 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. (630) 587-8521 or steelbeamtheatre.com.

For adults

• Members of The Second City touring company bring the satirical "Nut-Cracking Holiday Revue" to the Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, beginning Friday, Dec. 2. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

• Janus Theatre remounts "That Holiday Show" Dec. 3 and 4, at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St., Elgin. See janusplays.com.

• For those who find the holidays pose a challenge, Williams Street Repertory offers "A Christmas Survival Guide," running through Dec. 4, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. (815) 356-9212 or wsrep.org.

Something for everyone

The three holiday shows on the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre schedule range from sweet to sardonic. "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play," adapted from Frank Capra's beloved film, runs through Dec. 27. The theater's new production of "A Christmas Carol," adapted by and starring Andrew Pond, begins Wednesday, Nov. 30. And Metropolis ushers in the new year with The Second City's sketch comedy revue "Holidazed," running Dec. 28 to 31. The Metropolis is at 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. (847) 577-2121 or metropolisarts.com.

New this year

• Angela Ingersoll, hailed for her performance as Judy Garland in Porchlight Music Theatre's "End of the Rainbow," brings her solo show "The 12 Dames of Christmas" to Elgin. Ingersoll channels Garland, Eartha Kitt, Julie Andrews, Edith Piaf and others in this celebration of the holiday songbook. It takes place Dec. 10, at the Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. (847) 622-0300 or elgin.edu.

• Northlight Theatre premieres "Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley," Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon's imagined sequel to Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice." The play picks up two years after the novel ended, with middle Bennet sister Mary seeking independence and a bit of romance during a holiday sojourn with her family. The show runs through Dec. 24, at 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. (847) 673-6000 or northlight.org.

Revisiting 'Santaland'

After eight years, Mitchell Fain - who starred in Theater Wit's production of David Sedaris' "The Santaland Diaries" - hangs up his striped tights and tries on a new role in "This Way Outta Santaland (and other Xmas miracles)." Fain recalls what it was like to play Sedaris and his alter-ego Crumpet in this world premiere. Previews begin Friday, Nov. 25, at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. The show opens Dec. 3. (773) 975-8150 or theaterwit.org.

Classics (one with a twist)

• American Blues Theater presents its 15th anniversary production of "It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!" Staged as a 1940s radio broadcast, the show features original jingles by Michael Mahler and includes a cookies and milk reception following every performance. The show runs through Dec. 31, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. (773) 404-7336 or americanbluestheater.com.

• The House Theater of Chicago's contemporary, ballet-free production of "The Nutcracker" runs through Dec. 30, at Chopin Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., Chicago. Directed and choreographed by Tommy Rapley, the production incorporates puppetry and dance to tell the story of a young girl, grieving the loss of her older brother, who tries to heal her shattered family by defeating the Rat King and his minions. See thehousetheatre.com.

• Performances begin Wednesday, Nov. 30, for Mercury Theater's "The Christmas Schooner," the musical about the shipwreck of the Rouse Simmons, a Great Lakes ship whose sailors transported trees from Michigan to Chicago for German immigrants' holiday celebrations. Performances run through Dec. 31, at 3745 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, (773) 325-1700 or mercurytheaterchicago.com.

• Goodman Theatre's much-loved "A Christmas Carol" returns for the 39th year with Larry Yando returning as Ebenezer Scrooge for the ninth time. The production runs through Dec. 31, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.

• Also returning to Goodman is The Second City's "Twist Your Dickens," a satire on Charles Dickens' original tale written by "The Colbert Report's" Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort and starring Ron West. The interactive show runs Friday, Dec. 2, through Dec. 30, at 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. (312) 443-3800 or goodmantheatre.org.