Whether experiencing Christmastime in the city or traveling over the river and through the woods to the suburbs, Chicagoland’s transformation into a winter wonderland includes holiday shows, festive events and seasonal activities for all ages.
The Driehaus Museum celebrates “Drie-cember” with several special programs including Yuletide-themed ghost stories (Dec. 12) by the Ghostlight Ensemble. “The Museum truly sparkles during the holiday season,” says Executive Director Lisa Key. “We are thrilled to partner again with the African American Museum of Performing Arts for a special [Dec. 4] performance of gospel music celebrating the holiday season, in addition to welcoming in a dazzling array of local artisans for our first annual Holiday Market [Dec. 7-8, 14-15].”
In addition to housing the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, Millennium Park invites guests to its Holiday Sing-Along series on Fridays (Dec. 6-20). Across town, Santa Claus is hosting a Christmas Carols Sing-A-Long before the screenings of It’s A Wonderful Life and White Christmas at Music Box Theatre (Dec. 7-24). But not before You Are Not Me opens at the historic cinema on Dec. 6. The holiday thriller by Marisa Crespo and Moisés Romera is in Spanish with English subtitles.
Film fans can also enjoy Love Actually in Concert at the Auditorium Theatre (Dec. 7). On the following evening, the historic venue will open its doors for the Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show (Dec 8). The venue is also the place to be for Too Hot to Handel: The Jazz-Gospel Messiah (Jan. 11-12).
“Holidays a cappella is really about the warmth, nostalgia, and joy of the season,” says Chicago a cappella Artistic Director John William Trotter of the organization’s concert at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville (Dec. 6); Family Edition at Szold Hall in Chicago (Dec. 7); at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Oak Park (Dec. 8); at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago (Dec. 13); and at Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston (Dec. 14).
Chicagoland native and Emmy winner Jane Lynch graces Steppenwolf’s Downstairs Theater stage with her humorous and heartwarming holiday show Jane Lynch’s A Swingin’ Little Christmas (Dec. 12-15) featuring Kate Flannery, Tim Davis, the Tony Guerrero Quintet, and good tiding for all.
Veronica Garza resumes her Jeff-nominated role as a grown and R-rated Cindy-Lou Who in the adult comedy Who’s Holiday! at Chicago’s Theater Wit (through Dec. 29).
Thanks to M.A.D.D. Rhythms and Chicago Tap Theatre, the Chicago Tap Allstars will perform Winter Wonderland at the Harold Washington Cultural Center (Dec. 14) while Chicago Sinfonietta performs Holidays of Joy (Dec. 19). The special concert features guest conductor Maestro Chelsea Tipton II and the Sinfonietta musicians who will play audience favorites “Winter Wonderland” (1934), “Sleigh Ride” (1948), and other holiday hits.
Jessica Thebus directs Goodman Theatre’s 47th Annual production of A Christmas Carol (through Dec. 30). Like Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol at Lifeline Theatre (through Dec. 22) and Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol at the Studebaker Theater (Dec. 13-29), it’s inspired by the same-named Charles Dickens classic.
Beloved characters from Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” (1813) are revived in The Wickhams: Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble in Glen Ellyn (through Dec. 15). “I’m very excited about directing BTE’s production of The Wickhams,” says Managing Artistic Director Emerita Connie Canaday Howard. “It introduces important situations and subjects, like Downton Abbey or Upstairs Downstairs, but also has laughter, heart and holiday cheer. Audiences don’t have to have seen last year’s production of Miss Bennett nor do they have to be an expert in the world of Jane Austen to enjoy this holiday theatrical treat.”
E.T.A Hoffman’s famed holiday tale The Nutcracker will be performed by the Joffrey Ballet Company at Chicago’s Lyric Opera House (Dec. 6-28) and by Salt Creek Ballet at the McAninch Arts Center in Glen Ellyn (Dec. 14-15). Both dance productions feature live orchestration of Tchaikovsky’s timeless score.
On Dec. 8, dancers from ages 3 to 80 from TTD (Time to Dance) ensemble and NSSD (North Shore School of Dance) students will perform The Peanut Cracker at the Cressey Center for the Arts at Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest. “The Nutcracker has been part of our lives in one way or another for literally decades, and this is a chance to create a whole new memory for the dancers and their families around this holiday treasure,” says Dr. Chervony Belsky, who co-founded TTD with the show’s director and choreographer Lisa Gold.
This year, 25 nutcrackers painted by high school art students from 17 Chicago area high schools will be on display at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center and Rosemont Theatre (through Dec. 8). Rosemont’s Parkway Bank Park entertainment district continues to celebrate the season with access to the Chicago Wolves Ice Rink (through Jan. 26). Admission is free and skates are available for a modest rental fee.
Kids up to 8 years old (and their families) can partake in The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party at Chicago Children’s Theatre (through Dec. 29). Refreshments will be served after the “no shushing” performance.
As PlayMakers Laboratory’s family-friendly sketch show That’s Weird, Grandma: A Holiday Spectacular! performs at the Neo-Futurist Theater (Dec. 12-15) in Chicago, the Second City’s comedy act The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Sweater can be seen at Paramount’s Copley Theatre (through Dec. 23) in Aurora.
The Paramount Theatre is also staging Disney’s Frozen the Broadway Musical (through Jan. 19). Emily Kristen Morris and Beth Stafford Laird will play Elsa and Anna, respectively, in this Midwest regional premiere. The production includes the songs “Let It Go” and “For the First Time in Forever” plus Adam Fane as Sven the reindeer and Ryan Stajmiger as Olaf the snowman. After or before the show, guests are encouraged to visit the free Christkindlmarket in nearby RiverEdge Park.
Small Business Saturday kicked off Live Love Shop Rogers Park, a special rebate program (through Dec. 31) from the Rogers Park Business Alliance. Across town, Greektown retailers are offering a Holiday Shopper’s Reward Program (through Dec. 31). The Halsted Street area will also be decorated with blue and white lights as well as with a display of Greek holiday karavákia (little boats) designed by local artists (through Jan. 6).
