Holiday theater in Chicago
Don't be a Scrooge! Get tickets now for holiday drama and comedies
October 29, 2009
2009 Winter Pageant
- Redmoon Central - 1463 W. Hubbard St. - West Town
Redmoon Theater remounts its annual spectacle featuring seven masked characters who journey through changing landscapes that represent the four seasons. Expect large scale sets, puppets and songs.
A Christmas Carol
- Civic Opera House - 20 N. Wacker Drive - Loop
Update: This show is cancelled.
Horrible
- Apollo Theater - 2540 N. Lincoln Ave. - Sheffield/De Paul
A holiday-themed, romantic dark comedy about a good-natured female cannibal who finds unexpected love as she attempts to cope with murders, ghosts, family struggles and her failing flower shop.
A Christmas Carol
- Goodman Theatre - 170 N. Dearborn St. - Loop
Chicago actor Larry Yando recreates his role as Scrooge in Tom Creamer's stage adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and the true meaning of Christmas.
It Came Upon a Midnight Queen
- Chemically Imbalanced Theater - 1420 W. Irving Park Rd. - Chicago
In an attempt to save her small-town community center during an economic crisis, a young girl attempts to convince Nick Nolte via the Internet to appear in her "celebrity" benefit holiday pageant--the story of Jesus told through the music of rock band Queen.
It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play
- American Theater Company - 1909 W. Byron St. - Chicago
American Theater Company's eighth annual production, based on Frank Capra's holiday film of the same title, is performed as a radio show with live music, advertisements and Foley sound effects. Includes complimentary milk and cookies after the show.
Miracle on 34th Street
- Theatre Building Chicago - 1225 W. Belmont Ave. - Lakeview
A new, musical adaptation of George Seaton's classic film about a white-bearded gentleman whose claim that he is Santa Claus sparks renewed hope in the lives of a cynical single mother, her somber daughter and other New Yorkers.
Rudolph, the Red-Hosed Reindeer
- Mary's Attic - 5400 N. Clark St. - Andersonville
A campy musical parody of the classic tale features a cross-dressing reindeer.
The Snow Queen
- Victory Gardens Biograph Theater - 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. - Sheffield/De Paul
Jim Corti directs a revival of the 2006 musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fairytale about children lost in a winter wonderland, with a script by Michael Smith ("Hello Dali: From the Sublime to the Surreal").
Snow White and the Drag Queen Who Stole Christmas
- Hydrate - 3458 N. Halsted St. - Chicago
A campy mash-up of the classic fairytale and Dr. Seuss story, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," in which an evil madame attempts to ruin Christmas for a family of drag queens. The show concludes with a drag revue.
EP Theater's Second Annual Holiday Special
- EP Theater - 1820 S. Halsted St. - Pilsen/Heart of Chicago/Little Village
See three new holiday one-acts by local playwrights with live music and holiday songs by a rotating roster of Chicago bands.
Whining in the Windy City: Holiday Edition
- Royal George Theatre Center - 1641 N. Halsted St. - Sheffield/De Paul
Actress Jackie Hoffman (currently performing as Grandmama in "The Addams Family") debuts her original musical comedy solo show about showbiz, not-so-charming children and yes, the holidays.
Nutcracker by Hyde Park School of Ballet
- Mandel Hall, University of Chicago - 1131 E. 57th St. - Hyde Park/University Of Chicago
More than 140 teen and child dancers perform in the 11th annual production of Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas ballet as choreographed by Hyde Park School of Ballet founder and Lyric Opera of Chicago ballet mistress August Tye.
A Bronzeville Nutcracker
- Harold Washington Cultural Center - 4701 S. King Drive - Grand Blvd/Oakland / Fuller Park
Youth, teen and professional dancers perform an adaptation of Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas ballet, reset to an original score by EveryPeople Jazz Workshop. The story--about a girl who learns that an ordinary gift can become an extraordinary experience--is set in Chicago's South Side.
The Nutcracker by the Joffrey Ballet
- Auditorium Theatre - 50 E. Congress Pkwy. - South Loop
The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago and the Chicago Sinfonietta Orchestra perform Tchaikovsky's classic Christmas ballet.
A Silent Night: Grandma Got Run Over Without Healthcare
- Gorilla Tango Theatre - 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Bucktown/Wicker Park
Shantz Theatre performs their fourth annual holiday-themed sketch comedy revue.
A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant
- A Red Orchid Theatre - 1531 N. Wells St. - Old Town
A nativity pageant provides the backdrop for this satire about the life and work of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.
Burlesque is More
- The Annoyance Theatre - 4830 N. Broadway - Uptown
A scantily clad, all-female troupe performs a racy, holiday-themed burlesque and improv set.
The David Bowie Hepzikat Velvet Flarney Solstice Spectacular…Live From Space! (David Bowie's Christmas Special 1977 Network Edit)
- National Pastime Theater - 4139 N. Broadway - Uptown
Characters portraying Mick Jagger, Annie Lennox, Iggy Pop, Marianne Faithfull, Charo, the ghost of Freddie Mercury and yes, David Bowie appear in a fictional '70s TV-style Christmas special.
Santa Claus Conquers the Nazis!
- ComedySportz Theatre - 929 W. Belmont Ave. - Lakeview
The Hot Karl improv troupe performs a scripted musical in which a desperate Adolf Hitler kidnaps Santa Claus in an attempt to steal Santa's magical secrets.
The Holiday Show
- Donny's Skybox Theatre - Piper's Alley - 1608 N. Wells St. - Old Town
The Number 10 Productions performs a musical sketch revue about holiday traditions gone awry.
Holy $#!% It's Christmas! Where Did Jesus Go?
- Donny's Skybox Theatre - Piper's Alley - 1608 N. Wells St. - Old Town
The fourth annual fast-paced Christmas sketch revue features songs and dance.
It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!
- Victory Gardens Biograph Theater - 2433 N. Lincoln Ave. - Sheffield/De Paul
An adaptation of Frank Capra's holiday film of the same title is performed as a radio show with live music and Foley sound effects.
Father Christmas
- Gorilla Tango Theatre - 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Bucktown/Wicker Park
A staged reading of an interactive, PG-13 comedy in which Santa Claus receives a visit from an adolescent daughter he never knew he had. Chaos ensues when he must balance his North Pole duties with the demands of fatherhood.
The Madame Barker Holiday Variety Show
- Prop Thtr - 3504 N. Elston Ave. - Irving Park / Avondale
Ensemble member Molly Brennan sings numbers from "500 Clown Christmas," "500 Clown and the Elephant Deal" and more and hosts local holiday-themed music, comedy, magic and burlesque acts.
Mark and Laura's Couples Advice Christmas Special
- Gorilla Tango Theatre - 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Bucktown/Wicker Park
A satire of TV relationship advice programs in which a counseling guru couple's own volatile relationship threatens to derail their show's prime time debut.
Mid-Winter's Tales '09
- Ruth Page Center for the Arts - 1016 N. Dearborn St. - Near North Side
A showcase of stories and songs from various cultures and generations which celebrate the Winter Solstice.
Santa's Great American Depression Holiday Show! America 2: Son of Santa’s Great American Depression Holiday Show! America
- The Gift Theatre - 4802 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Jefferson Park
The second annual holiday-themed sketch comedy and improv revue is performed by actors from The Second City and iO.
Jingle Belles! (The Naughty List)
- The Playground Theater - 3209 N. Halsted St. - Chicago
The Belmont Burlesque Revue's annual holiday show features striptease and variety acts by cast members and special guests.
Mother Superior's Ho-Ho-Holy Night
- Royal George Theatre Center - 1641 N. Halsted St. - Sheffield/De Paul
A holiday-themed, interactive comedy by Vicki Quade ("Late Nite Catechism") in which a jovial nun explains connections between Santa Claus and the birth of Jesus.
Delight Before Christmas
- Theatre Building Chicago - 1225 W. Belmont Ave. - Lakeview
When a lonely TV anchorwoman posts a personals ad on Craigslist, the Craigster Fairy leads her on a quest--through GLBT-themed classical burlesque, boylesque, drag, butoh dance, juggling, drag and other performances--to find the meaning of the holiday season.
Christmas Spirits: I'm a Lawyer, Get Me Out of Here!
- Merle Reskin Theatre - 60 E. Balbo Drive - South Loop
More than 60 singing and dancing attorneys, judges and law students (aided by a professional band in the orchestra pit) perform in The Chicago Bar Association's 86th annual satirical revue of local and national political celebrities and the year's noteworthy events.
Second City's Dysfunctional Holiday Revue
- Beverly Arts Center of Chicago - 2407 W. 111th St. - Beverly/Mt Greenwood
The Second City Touring Company performs a parody of Christmas traditions.
Florida Devereaux Does the Holidays
- Prop Thtr - 3504 N. Elston Ave. - Irving Park / Avondale
A family friendly musical comedy in which a washed-up actress attempts a comeback with a public access TV holiday special.
AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players
- Claudia Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center - 77 E. Randolph St. - Loop
Professional voice actors and sound effects artists perform "It's a Wonderful Life" live as a radio-style show.
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer
- The Annoyance Theatre - 4830 N. Broadway - Uptown
A comedic, family-friendly retelling of the classic tale of the reindeer who struggles to fit in because of his unusual appearance.
The Santaland Diaries
- Theatre Building Chicago - 1225 W. Belmont Ave. - Lakeview
An adaptation of David Sedaris' humorous and irreverent essay that details his bizarre experiences and struggle to maintain dignity as a Macy's Christmas elf.
Another Year Without a Witty Title Chicago Christmas Spectacular!
- The Cornservatory - 4210 N. Lincoln Ave. - Chicago
In its third annual Christmas show, A Reasonable Facsimile Theatre Company performs a rotating roster of 16 humorous, short holiday plays by local and national writers--interspersed with seasonal songs--selected from more than 100 submissions inspired by the company's website posting of ensemble members' personal holiday photos.
Cold
- Dream Theatre - 556 W. 18th St. - Pilsen/Heart of Chicago/Little Village
A dark Christmas love story by local playwright Jeremy Menekseoglu ("Anna in the Darkness") in which two lonely, introverted people with addiction issues manage to find each other and begin a relationship.
No Tell Motel: Kinky X-Mas
- Debonair Social Club - 1575 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Bucktown/Wicker Park
Eve's Parlor Burlesque and fire-eating stripper Miss PussyKat perform holiday-themed exotic dances.
Cockettes: The Christmas Spectacular
- The Annoyance Theatre - 4830 N. Broadway - Uptown
A humorous, R-rated holiday-themed variety show features a nativity reenactment, an eight-headed sweater routine, a soaring Kris Kringle and more.
Holiday Short Shorts
- The Annoyance Theatre - 4830 N. Broadway - Uptown
Features two humorous one-acts from the "Triple Feature" series: "Breathing on Cougarness," which explores the experiences of two man-eaters during the holidays; and "Holiday Hunger Pains," in which a hitchhiker gets more than he expects when he accepts a ride.
The Flaming Dames in 'Naughtier & Nicer'
- The Spot - 4437 N. Broadway - Uptown
The Flaming Dames sing traditional carols and bawdy original tunes in a holiday-themed cabaret and burlesque revue.
The Nut Tapper
- Athenaeum Theatre - 2936 N. Southport Ave. - Lakeview
Tap dancer Reggio "The Hoofer" McLaughlin stars with guests from local dance troupes in an adaptation of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite," set in Chicago's South Side. Tap, hip-hop, flamenco, Mexican zapateado, Irish step and clog dancing are among the featured styles.
Sappho's Solstice Salon
- Women & Children First - 5233 N. Clark St. - Andersonville
Kathie Bergquist (author of "A Field Guide to Gay and Lesbian Chicago") hosts holiday-themed performances by spoken word performer C.C. Carter and dance-poetry collective the POW-WOW Finer Figure Performance Ensemble.
