Theater events: Second City's holi-dazed improv comes to Aurora's Copley Theatre

Second City Christmas

Once again, The Second City brings its ecumenical brand of seasonal satire to Aurora's Copley Theatre. "The Second City's Non-Denominational Christmas Show" includes holiday sketches as well as "holi-dazed" improvisation. Performances run through Dec. 23. Opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. $36. (630) 896-6666 or paramountaurora.com.

Red Theater mash-up

Red Theater Chicago combines the swashbuckling romance of "Cyrano de Bergerac" with the violence of "Little Red Riding Hood" in its latest production, "Little Red Cyrano." Described as "an apocalyptic clown comedy," Aaron Sawyer's all-ages mashup of classic tales features hearing actors and actors who identify as deaf. The cast includes Benjamin Ponce as Cyrano and Dari Simone as Red. Opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Strawdog Theatre, 1802 W. Berenice Ave., Chicago. $15-$40. redtheater.org.

Here's to boy bands

Arlington Heights native and Joseph Jefferson Award nominee Max DeTogne co-stars in Theo Ubique's revival of "Altar Boyz." A sendup of boy bands and the Christian pop music scene, the mock concert unfolds during the final performance of a Christian rock band whose members are named Matthew (DeTogne), Mark, Luke, John and Abraham. Courtney Crouse directs. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at No Exit Cafe, 6970 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. The show opens Monday, Dec. 4. $34, $39. theo-u.org.

'BLKS' premiere

Steppenwolf Theatre premieres "BLKS," which poet-playwright Aziza Barnes has described as a self-portrait of her and her best friends when they were in their 20s. Ensemble member Namir Smallwood plays multiple roles in the New York City-set comedy directed by Nataki Garrett. Previews begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. The show opens Dec. 18. $20-$89. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

Other theater events

• Acclaimed director Gary Griffin returns to Chicago Shakespeare Theater to helm "Red Velvet," Lolita Chakrabarti's drama about Ira Aldridge, the African-American actor who took over the role of Othello in Covent Garden's 1833 production after star Edmund Kean fell ill. Aldridge took over the role at the same time Parliament debated the abolition of slavery. Dion Johnstone, a veteran of Canada's Stratford Festival, plays Aldridge in the production, which begins previews Friday, Dec. 1, at Navy Pier, 800 E. Grand Ave., Chicago. The show opens Dec. 8. (312) 595-5600 or chicagoshakes.com.

• The Neo-Futurists close 2017 with a revue showcasing the best of "The Infinite Wrench," the company's weekly, hourlong showcase of short plays. Performances of "Best of 2017: The Infinite Wrench" run from Friday, Dec. 1, to Sunday, Dec. 10, at 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. (773) 878-4557 or neofuturists.org.

• Pearl Poet Productions premieres "Sir Gawain and the Green Night," which puts a rock 'n' roll spin on the Medieval legend of Sir Gawain, one of King Arthur's knights, and his battle with a mythic opponent. Performances begin Friday, Dec. 1, at Raven Theatre, 6157 N. Clark St., Chicago. See pearlpoetproductions.com.

• A Christmas tree lot at the Uncommon Ground coffeehouse serves as the stage for the site-specific production of "Pine," a comedy by Jacqui Honess-Martin about five young people working a seasonal job selling Christmas trees. The production, directed by Arianna Soloway, marks the play's U.S. premiere. Performances begin Friday, Dec. 1, at Uncommon Ground, 1401 W. Devon Ave., Chicago. For information, see the tree lot website at festivepines.com.

• Drag performer Dixie Lynn Cartwright hosts "Cards Against Humanity Late Night Writers Room" at 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. The politically incorrect card game Cards Against Humanity inspired the improv show in which writer/improvisers ridicule the worst suggestions. The show is for ages 18 and older. Performance proceeds benefit Howard Brown Health. (773) 404-7336 or greenhousetheater.org.

• The Gift Theatre hosts its 16th annual fundraiser Gift Gala 2017: Revolutions from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at the Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. Tickets are $150 and include hors d'oeuvres, desserts, live music, a DJ and dancing and an auction. See thegifttheatre.org.

• The Artistic Home presents a radio play version of the 1947 family-friendly film "Miracle on 34th Street." The show runs Saturday, Dec. 2, through Dec. 16 at 1376 W. Grand Ave., Chicago. The play centers on a young girl, too rational to believe in Santa Claus, who changes her mind after she encounters Kris Kringle. (866) 811-4111 or theartistichome.org.

• The Chicago Children's Theatre invites young children to a holiday tea as part of its production of "Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party," which uses puppets and actors to dramatize stories by children's author Potter. Performances run Saturday, Dec. 2, through Dec. 17 at 100 S. Racine Ave., Chicago. (872) 222-9555 or chicagochildrenstheatre.org.

• "Wife Material," a one-woman musical comedy by Jamie Shriner examining female sexuality, marriage and gender politics, runs Saturday, Dec. 2, through Dec. 10 at Prop Thtr, 3502 N. Elston Ave., Chicago. (773) 742-5420 or propthtr.org.

• iO presents the monthly, late-night, drinking show "Hot Reads (The Semi-Scripted Train Wreck Drinking Show)" in which Chicago-area comedians read sketches live for the first time and audience members drink based on certain words. The adults-only show runs at midnight on the first Saturday of the month (Dec. 2) at 1501 N. Kingsbury St., Chicago. Also at iO Chicago, "A Very (expletive) (expletive)," a holiday sketch comedy show performed by Kristin Phillips and Sierra Carter. (312) 929 2401 or ioimprov.com/chicago.

• Saturday, Dec. 2, marks the latest incarnation of Pride Films and Plays' adults-only, late-night sketch show made up of 26 scenes, each inspired by a word that corresponds to a letter in the alphabet. "26 Presents: Happy Holigays" looks at awkward holiday situations. The show runs through Dec. 16 at 4147 N. Broadway Ave., Chicago. (800) 737-0984 or prideartschicago.com.

• A woman loses her granddaughter at the mall during a Christmas shopping trip in "Christmas Carolyn," a one-woman show by Scott Carter Cooper. RjW Mays stars as the grandmother in the Three Cat Productions premiere, which runs Monday, Dec. 4, through Saturday, Dec. 30, at the Berger Park Coach House, 6205 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago. See threecatproductions.com.

• "That's Weird, Grandma: Holiday Stories" is Barrel of Monkeys' latest stage adaptation of seasonal stories written by Chicago Public Schoolchildren. The holiday edition runs Monday, Dec. 4, through Saturday, Dec. 23, at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. (773) 506-7140 or barrelofmonkeys.org.

• For a holiday entertainment alternative, check out WildClaw Theatre Company's spine-tingling showcase Deathscribe X, the Tenth Annual International Festival of Radio Horror Plays at 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. WildClaw selected five entries from more than 100 submissions for the adults-only showcase performed with Foley effects. See wildclawtheatre.com.

• "Beautiful - The Carole King Musical" chronicles the personal and professional life of the beloved singer/songwriter. It returns to Chicago beginning Tuesday, Dec. 5. The show runs through Jan. 28 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• Hell in a Handbag Productions extends its popular parody of a 1980s television sitcom, this time with a seasonal twist. "The Golden Girls - The Lost Episodes: The Holiday Edition" runs Wednesday, Dec. 6, through Jan. 10 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St., Chicago. (800) 838-3006 or handbagproductions.org.

• "Wicked," the award-winning musical by Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel about the early friendship between Oz witches Elphaba and Glinda, flies back to Chicago. Performances begin Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., Chicago. (800) 775-2000 or broadwayinchicago.com.

• Saint Sebastian Players offers audiences a bonus production of "Greater Tuna," a two-hander by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard in which two actors play more than 20 eccentric characters inhabiting the fictional town of Tuna, Texas. Performances run Thursday, Dec. 7, through Sunday, Dec. 10, at St. Bonaventure Church, 1625 W. Diversey, Chicago. (773) 404-7922 or saintsebastianplayers.org.

• The Joyce Foundation awarded a $20,000 grant to Chicago Dramatists to help develop playwrights of African, Latino, Asian and Native American descent through the Tutterow Fellowship program. The two-year residency initiative is named for the late Russ Tutterow, the first and longtime artistic director of Chicago Dramatists. The Tutterow Fellowship is accepting submissions for its second class of fellows. To apply, see chicagodramatists.org/tutterow-fellows.