Entertainment

Best Bets: Amy Grant, 'The Nutcracker,' Jingle Ball and more

Posted November 30, 2022 5:00 am

Barbara Vitello

Brian Shamie

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Amy Grant performs at the Rosemont Theatre as she and Michael W. Smith bring their Christmas tour to town Wednesday, Dec. 7. Associated Press, 2019

'The Nutcracker'

Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's “The Nutcracker” is a Christmastime tradition and enthusiasts have plenty of opportunities to enjoy it.

Performances of The Joffrey Ballet's acclaimed version choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon and set during Chicago's 1893 World's Fair are at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Upper Wacker Drive, Chicago. Tickets start at $36. (312) 386-8905 or joffrey.org. Various times and days Saturday, Dec. 3, through Dec. 28

The Joffrey Ballet remounts choreographer Christopher Wheeldon's production of "The Nutcracker" set during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Courtesy of Todd Rosenberg Photography

A & A Ballet remounts its “The Art Deco Nutcracker,” set during the Roaring 1920s and featuring The Trinity Irish Dancers, at the Athenaeum Theater, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. $25-$55. (312) 545-2142 or aacenterfordance.org. 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3

Originally presented at the Arie Crown Theater from 1965 to 1997, the current production of “Ruth Page's The Nutcracker” re-creates Page's original staging at two local colleges this holiday season. $22-$40, discounts for students. ruthpage.org. 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at NEIU, 3701 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Chicago, and 1 and 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, at the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts at the College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake

The Auditorium Theatre presents "Too Hot To Handel: The Jazz Gospel Messiah" for the first time during the holiday season. Courtesy of Kristie Khans

Hot Handel

The Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago, presents “Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah.” Created in 1992 by conductor Marin Alsop and orchestrators/arrangers Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson, this combination jazz-gospel-funk-rock version of G.F. Handel's oratorio was typically performed as part of birthday celebrations honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This marks the first year it will be performed during the holiday season. Tickets start at $28. (312) 341-2300 or auditoriumtheatre.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4

'Higher and Higher'

Bobby Wilson honors his father, the late legendary soul singer Jackie Wilson, with a tribute show - complete with faves like “Lonely Teardrops,” “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher And Higher” - at The Venue, 21 S. Broadway Ave., Aurora. $30-$40, $5 more at the door. themusicvenue.org. 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3

Bobby Wilson plays a tribute to his father, the late soul singer Jackie Wilson, Saturday, Dec. 3, at The Venue in Aurora. Courtesy of The Venue

Tappin' holiday classics

In other dance news, Chicago Tap Theatre and the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus team up for “On Broadway,” which features the holiday classic “White Christmas” as well as newer numbers from musicals such as “Elf” and “Catch Me If You Can.” The performance takes place at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. $27-$52. chicagotaptheatre.com. 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4

Guaraldi tribute

Seventeen-year-old piano prodigy Brandon Goldberg joins the Chicago Jazz Orchestra for a musical tribute to “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at the Studebaker Theater, 410 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Goldberg and the CJO perform Vince Guaraldi's soundtrack to the beloved 1965 animated television special. $31-$52. fineartsbuilding.com. 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4

Perlman the fiddler

Violinist and maestro Itzhak Perlman brings his acclaimed klezmer show “In the Fiddler's House,” featuring members of the Klezmer Conservatory Band, to the Chicago Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. $55-$399. cso.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4

Pitbull joins Jack Harlow, Khalid and more at 103.5 KISS FM's Jingle Ball Presented by Capital One Monday, Dec. 5.

Jingle Ball time

On Monday, 103.5 KISS FM's Jingle Ball Presented by Capital One takes over the Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Jack Harlow, Pitbull and Khalid take top billing, joined by Macklemore, Lauv, Tate McRae, Ava Max, Jax and Nicky Youre. Tickets start at $63 at rosemont.com. 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5

Jack White plays the second night of Q101's Twisted Christmas Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. Associated Press

Q101's Twisted Christmas

Now that Q101 is back on the airwaves, the station is also bringing back Twisted Christmas, which takes over the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. Portugal. the Man headlines Tuesday night along with Bob Moses and Chicago's own Beach Bunny. Thursday, Jack White leads the show, joined by Wet Leg and Starcrawler. The 1975 dominates the show Friday night. Tickets start at $51.50 at q101.com. 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, and Thursday and Friday, Dec. 8-9

Holiday duo

Grammy-winning, Christian-pop crossover artists and longtime musical collaborators Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith deliver their celebration of Christmas, drawn from three decades of heartfelt holiday albums. Special guest Michael Tait of The Newsboys joins them for their performance at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $39.50-$125. rosemont.com. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7

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