This issue of Windy City Times is the first of two that focus on holiday season theater and dance events. December is, indeed, the sugar plums-and-treacle time of year, with some three dozen holiday-themed theater events. Just like girls and boys, some are naughty and some are nice. We figured the typical Windy City Times reader would want to know about the naughty stuff first. See next week's issue for nice shows and holiday dance events ( in Eric Eatherly's Dancin' Feats column ) .
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( From left ) Lori Lee, Corey L. Wells and Dan Hickey in Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer.
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Prices quoted are for regular adult tickets. You can purchase tickets by phone, e-mail or at the theater box office or often at a discount through the League of Chicago Theatres Hot Tix program. Check www.chicagoplays.com .
ARFTCo's Soon-To-Have-A-Witty-Title Chicago Christmas Spectacular, A Reasonable Facsimile Theatre Company, through Dec. 29. This elaborately non-titled new holiday season show is a collection of new one-act plays by authors from around the country, inspired by personal Christmas photos of members of A Reasonable Facsimile's acting ensemble. They promise Marshall Field's, Obi-Wan Kenobi, zombies, pierogies, Jews, Gentiles and more. There are 14 plays altogether—not all performed each night—at the Cornservatory ( sic ) , 4210 N. Lincoln; 773-282-9728; $15.
A City Lit Christmas, City Lit Theater Company, through Dec. 30. A new and improved version is promised in this second annual holiday revue for grownups, offering less familiar stories and songs. No Rudolph or Frosty here, but mature holiday tales by Edna Ferber, Mark Twain, Ben Hecht, etc. and songs from the 1400s to the present. Created and directed by City Lit artistic director Terry McCabe. At the Edgewater Presbyterian Church, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr; 773-293-3682; $25.
Dickens in America, Remy Bumppo Theatre Company, Dec. 16-18 only ( 7 p.m. curtain ) . A special presentation of a new one-man show, based on the famous reading tours performed by Charles Dickens himself extensively throughout the United States ( including Chicago, where Dickens' black sheep brother lived ) . It's not specifically a Christmas show, but one never has to dig very far in Dickens to come across Xmas. James Ridge portrays the famous British author and social reformer. At Victory Gardens Greenhouse, 2257 N. Lincoln; 773-871-3000; $25-$40.
Every Christmas Story Ever Told!, Noble Fool Theatricals at Pheasant Run Resort ( St. Charles ) through Dec. 29. This new entry in the holiday show sweepstakes has three actors portraying as many holiday traditions and stories as they can remember in 90 minutes, from Marley and Scrooge to The Grinch. And if A Christmas Carol seems to blend with It's a Wonderful Life, and if you don't quite recall Gustav the Green-nosed Reingoat, well, who cares? 630-584-6342; $27-$38 ( dinner show option also available ) .
How the Diva Stole Christmas, Lakeshore Theater, through Dec. 23. It's the triumphant return of Amy & Freddy with their new holiday revue, which promises to deliver more spice than your standard sugar plum. Naturally, vocalist and diva Amy Armstrong is in the spotlight except when talented pianist Freddy Allen is. Together: Jingle Bells, Santa Baby, The 12 Drinks of Christmas'and more. This secular seasonal show promises no cute children, singing Santas or nativity scenes. 773-472-3492; $25.
No-El, or How the BlagojeGrinch Stole Christmas!, Shantz Theatre, through Dec. 23. How 'bout a little political satire with your Xmas? For its second holiday show, Shantz Theatre reveals the culprit behind the CTA crisis. Shoddy planning? Inept management? Failure to invest in infrastructure? Yeah those too, but the real reason is that somebody with a certain haircut lost that holiday spirit—The BlagojeGrinch! At Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee; 773-598-4549; $10.
The Nutcracker, The House Theatre of Chicago, through Dec. 29. There's Clara, a nutcracker and a Rat King. But other than that, only the name is the same as the House offers an original dark, psychological take on the E.T.A. Hoffmann story. Since it's a House production, it certainly will have original music and since Tommy Rapley is the director, it's likely to dance a little, too. But this Nutcracker ain't no dang ballet! At Steppenwolf Upstairs, 1650 N. Halsted; 312-335-1650; $29.
Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer, Hell in a Handbag Productions, through Dec. 30. Can fey little Rudy, the cross-dressing reindeer who wears red stockings, really be 10 years old? Yes, but he claims he's only seven. This annual holiday musical by David Cerda and Scott Lamberty returns yet again with such characters as Herbie, Yukon Cornelia, the Abominable Drag-Beast and the Halsted Street party elves. At Bailiwick Arts Center, 1229 W. Belmont; 773-883-1090; $20.
Santa Claus and Other Lies, Hell in a Handbag Productions, Dec. 8, 22 and 29 only. Musical duo Trista Smith and Jason Grimm can't go home for the holidays, so they'll do their best to recreate a Missouri Christmas here in the city, complete with candied hams, a traditional Jesus piñata and an old-fashioned sing along. Jason and Trista will take you on a musical journey of love, laughter, life and various bodily functions. At Bailiwick Arts Center, 1229 W. Belmont; 773-883-1090; $12.
The Santaland Diaries, Theatre Wit, through Dec. 30. David Sedaris' wry and pointed tale of life as a department store elf quickly has become an adult holiday tradition. In years past there have been competing productions of it, but Theatre Wit alone has laid claim to it the last two years. Mitchell Fain—perhaps born to play an elf—repeats his performance in the one-person show. At Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont; 773-327-5252; $25.
Second City's Dysfunctional Holiday Revue, Metropolis Centre, through Dec. 31. Santa Claus is dyspeptic as, once again, this annual show returns to Arlington Heights, along with your uncle who eats with his mouth open, your aunt with a moustache, your sister's ex-con boyfriend and burnt turkey. You get the idea for this revue of songs, sketches and improvised scenes. 847-577-2121; $27-$32.
7 Santas, Bailiwick Arts Center, through Dec. 30. Scandal erupts at the North Pole when Santa is sentenced to rehab for a minor traffic violation. But when he finds himself in a detox program run by the estranged Mrs. Claus, Santa's desperate struggle to conceal the truth about his arrest uncovers another sordid secret that could mean the end of Christmas as we know it. Corn Productions Robert Bouwman directs this 75-minute show by Hollywood writer Jeff Goode. 773-883-1090; $25.
The 12 Steps of Christmas, Drinking and Writing, through Dec. 21, 10:30 p.m.. Rock Bottom Brewery dry-hopped holiday ale is $4 as this adult show proves that true Xmas spirit comes out when drunk. This is Volume IV of Drinking and Writing's continuing exploration of the links between creativity and alcohol, this time featuring holiday-related scribblings by Hemingway, Bukowski, Fitzgerald, Kerrouac, Capote and others. Expect to drink, participate or both. Lobby bar of Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln; 773-871-3000; $15.
