Every year since before Tiny Tim was born, I’ve compiled this guide to Chicago’s seasonal attractions, loosely confining myself to 10 shows with a holiday theme. But if we are including a “Die Hard” parody this year, and we are, mostly on the dubious grounds of one song, that’s a pretty squishy rule and I reserve the right to overrule it.
This top 10 always is a grab bag. Some shows have already opened and been reviewed; some have yet to bow and a review is still to come; yet more are longtime favorites that come back each year, perhaps with new cast members and other twists.
Since I have the seasonal floor, let me say one thing to our city’s theater companies: Keep your shows open between Christmas and New Year. That’s when the inventory of shows drops rapidly, yet it’s the peak week of the year on Broadway and elsewhere. Keep ’em coming on Boxing Day and later. That’s when the most folks are ready to head out and find a fun show to enjoy together.
“A Christmas Carol” at the Goodman Theatre: If I had a CNN-like chyron caption at my disposal, I’d be using it here: The Goodman Theatre’s annual production of “A Christmas Carol” has a new Scrooge. You can blame “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” (another holiday option in downtown Chicago) for the exit of Larry Yando following year after year of his portrayal of tyranny and belatedly embraced reform. But now Christopher Donahue, a fine Chicago actor with a long history of collaborations with Mary Zimmerman, takes up the cudgel of staring into his own grave (literally) every night. I’m going back to see how he does, even though I wish the Goodman had taken the opportunity to also come up with a fresher adaptation. Next year, perhaps. Through Dec. 30 at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.; 312-443-3800 and www.goodmantheatre.org
“Frozen” at the Paramount Theatre: A show with a talking reindeer, a snowman who likes to sun himself and an ice queen debating just how much to “Let it Go’” qualifies as a holiday show in my book, and the Paramount Theatre’s new production of the Disney megabrand is the kind of epic and yet genuinely fresh and creative spectacle that could hook a kid on theater for life. It’s affordably priced, too. Watch for the best costume change of the year, right in the middle of you-know-what song. For families with kids looking for a big holiday spectacle, this is the one to choose. Through Jan. 19, 2025, at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora; 630-896-6666 and paramountaurora.com
“Into the Woods” by Kokandy Productions: This new basement staging of the poignant mash-up of fairy tales, crafted into a beloved musical by James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim, has my highest recommendation. It’s a very innovative staging, organized around two grand pianos with skilled and emotionally invested pianists who become part of the show. The cast is young, warm-hearted and highly talented and the atmosphere in the basement of the Chopin Theatre is as relaxed as can be, replete as it is with tables, drinks and and a festive atmosphere in which to enjoy your fellow travelers through the woods of life. Through Dec. 22 in the Chopin Studio Theatre, 1543 W. Division St.; kokandyproductions.com
“The Long Christmas Dinner” by TUTA: TUTA Theatre has been around Chicago for more than 20 years and long has specialized in serious, avant-garde fare produced with stellar craft and artistry. This year, the theater is dipping its toe for the first time into seasonal programming with a new production of Thornton Wilder’s “The Long Christmas Dinner,” slated for the new Bramble Arts Loft in Andersonville. Penned in 1931 and prescient in theme and style, the classic one-act American drama depicts 90 years in the lives of members of a Midwestern family, as some things remain the same but many changes come. Nov. 26 to Dec. 29 at the Bramble Arts Loft, 5545 N. Clark St.; www.tutatheatre.org
“It’s a Wonderful Life: Live From Chicago” by American Blues Theater: American Blues Theater opened a spiffy but friendly new home last year, so I went back then to see its annual radio-play adaptation of Frank Capra’s classic movie. Artistic director Gwendolyn Whiteside always casts American Blues regulars in the famed title, and they’ve so merged with the characters they play in my head, I can no longer tell them apart. If you’ll excuse the bragging, last year during preshow announcements, I won the prize for most prior productions seen. So take that, Henry Potter. Every time a critic wins, an angel gets its wings. Nov. 29 to Dec. 22 at American Blues Theater, 5627 N. Lincoln Ave.; americanbluestheater.com
“Jane Lynch’s A Swingin’ Little Christmas” at Steppenwolf Theatre: The comedic actress Jane Lynch, a skilled satirist and improvisor very much at home in Chicago, takes advantage of some spare seasonal capacity at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Lincoln Park and comes to town for a weekend to present her blend of comedy and music, performed with friends Kate Flannery, Tim Davis and the Tony Guerrero Quintet. Tickets have been going fast but Steppenwolf recently added an additional show. Demand for star-based cabaret at this time of year greatly exceeds Chicago’s supply. So don’t wait around for this one. Dec. 12-15 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.; 312-335-1650 and www.steppenwolf.org
“Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol” at the Studebaker Theater: Last time this show was on the list, it was being staged at Writers Theatre in Glencoe. This year, the production from Manual Cinema — a visually based Chicago company known for combining elements of live performance and film — has moved to the Loop. This version is not traditional at all. It takes place in 2020; a woman who has recently lost her longtime partner is performing a puppet version of “A Christmas Carol” over Zoom for his family, isolated as she is by the pandemic on Christmas Eve. Dec. 13-29 at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave.; manualcinema.com
“Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer” at Center on Halsted: This campy parody from Hell in a Handbag Productions has been a perennial on this last for the past two decades, even as it has moved all over town. In fact, the 2024 edition is billed officially as the “25th anniversary production.” In essence, you get a send-up of those old-school animated Christmas specials on legacy TV networks, replete with a cross-dressing lead character and a variety of caustic misfits. Handbag maestro David Cerda has been there from the beginning, ageless as ever. Nov. 15 to Jan. 5, 2025, in the Hoover Leppen Theatre at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted St.; www.handbagproductions.org
“White Christmas” at the Marriott Theatre: The senior set will dominate the audience at the Marriott Theatre’s new production of the seasonal title based on the 1942 movie which begat the 1954 movie that contained the most beloved of all Christmas songs. “White Christmas” is always playing somewhere around Chicagoland and this new production from director Linda Fortunato is quite charming. In terms of something suitable for kids and oldsters — and with easy, free parking — you cannot go wrong here. Through Dec. 29 at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire; 847-634-0200 and www.marriotttheatre.com
“Yippee Ki Yay” at Broadway Playhouse: You’re taking a risk on this one as I have not yet had the pleasure, but if your seasonal entertainment of choice is a “Die Hard” parody, I’ll wager that you’re pretty relaxed and may well begin your evening with a hot toddy. Good luck. This one-man touring show, which began in British fringe theater, claims to be both a parody of the least likely Christmas movie of all time and a personal confession of a lifelong “Die Hard” fan. Sounds like fun, at least. Nov. 19 to Dec. 15 at Broadway Playhouse, 175 E. Chestnut St.; www.broadwayinchicago.com
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.
cjones5@chicagotribune.com
