It's A Wonderful Life, American Blues Theater, and The Snow Queen, Victory Gardens Theater, both at the Biograph through Dec 27.Celebrate the return of a pioneering Chicago ensemble with this replica radio-broadcast of Frank Capra's holiday classicbetter yet, make a day of it with ( star-watcher alert! ) Leslie Ann Sheppard lighting up the stage in Hans Christian Andersen's immortal fairy tale. MSB
Little Women, Circle Theatre, through Jan. 24. The acting is uneven, but the four March sisters are excellent, as are their most important supporting players, in this new not-too-sweet staging of a sticky-sweet chestnut. Great costumes and set as usual. JA
The Nutcracker, Joffrey Ballet at the Auditorium Theatre, through Dec. 27. Call it a warhorse if you will. E.T.A. Hoffman's Yuletide tale of a magic toy and a fairy kingdom populated by dancing sugarplums remains enchanting in the Joffrey's capable hands. And Tchaikovsky's score is simply sublime. CS
Thoroughly Modern Millie, Drury Lane Oak Brook, through Dec. 20. This screen-to-stage musical might not be the most original ( what with all of its song interpolations ) , but Drury Lane's production of it is joyously top-notch and very tap-happy. SCM
By Abarbanel, Barnidge,
Morgan and Sullivan