Whether you're in the mood for a heartwarming Christmas tale or an irreverent camp comedy, there are all kinds of stage plays and musicals to get you in the mood for the holiday season. Here's a select sampling of shows; those marked with an asterisk ( * ) indicate significant LGBTQ content. All productions in Chicago unless otherwise noted.
Holiday theater:
*The Rip Nelson Holiday Spectacular—Hell in a Handbag Productions at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. Ed Jones returns to the embittered title role of a campy, embittered Hollywood has-been hosting a 1982 holiday TV show with guests like Liza Minnelli, magician Doug Henning and even Bruce Jenner. ( now to Dec. 30; HandbagProductions.org )
*This Way Outta Santaland—Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Since the rights were restricted this year for David Sedaris' The Santaland Diaries, the veteran star Mitchell Fain of that beloved Theater Wit production has created his own holiday play with songs to share with audiences this season. ( now to Dec. 23; TheaterWit.org )
*Barney the Elf—The Other Theatre Company at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Leave the kids at home for the return of this very queer 2015 spoof on the 2003 film Elf. The production is full of scantily clad chorus boys and drag queens led by Chicago sensation Dixie Lynn Cartwright. ( now to Jan. 1; TheOtherTheatreCompany.com )
A Christmas Carol—Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. Larry Yando returns once again to star as Ebenezer Scrooge in this special effects-filled staging which is an annual family favorite. ( now to Dec. 31; GoodmanTheatre.org )
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley—Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon create a pleasant fan fiction stage sequel to Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice for the holidays. ( now to Dec. 24; Northlight.org )
The Christmas Schooner—Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Ave. John Reeger and Julie Shannon's beloved home-grown historical musical about a sailing family who braves the treacherous waters of Lake Michigan to deliver Christmas trees to the Windy City is back for another run. ( now to Dec. 31; MercuryTheaterChicago.com )
A Christmas Carol—Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. When Crazy for You isn't on the stage, a family-friendly version of Charles Dickens' popular Christmas novella takes up residence. ( now to Dec. 23; DruryLaneTheatre.com )
The Nutcracker—Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Choreographer/director Marc Robin is the mind behind this family-friendly musical comedy take on the classic E.T.A. Hoffmann Christmas tale. ( now to Dec. 30; MarriottTheatre.com )
The Other Cinderella—Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St. Jackie Taylor's popular Afro-centric holiday take on the classic fairytale returns with new twists and material to close out the theater's 40th anniversary season. ( now to Jan. 8; Black Ensemble.org )
It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!—American Blues Theater at Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. The audience gets to sit in on a 1940s radio broadcast adaptation of this much-loved American Christmas tale. ( now to Dec. 31; AmericanBluesTheater.com )
The Nutcracker—The House Theatre of Chicago at Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division St. If ballet isn't your thing, be sure to see the return of this puppet-filled and mournfully modernized take on the classic E.T.A. Hoffmann Christmas tale. ( now to Dec. 31; TheHouseTheatre.com )
A Christmas Survival Guide—Williams Street Repertory at Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. A musical comedy revue offering tips on how to get through the holidays makes its Chicago-area debut. ( now to Dec. 4; WSRep.org )
A Christmas Story: The Musical—Citadel Theatre, 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. This is the Broadway adaptation of the 1983 holiday film about a young boy in the 1940s who wants a toy rifle for Christmas. ( now to Dec. 18; CitadelTheatre.org )
Christmas Bingo: It's a Ho-Ho-Holy Night—Fans of the the long-running interactive Catholic comedy Late Nite Catechism won't want to miss the return of this holiday sequel that gets audiences playing bingo for prizes. ( Nov. 25 to Jan. 1; Nuns4Fun.com )
The Christians—Steppenwolf Theatre, 1750 N. Halsted St. Rather than warm Christmas feelings, consider modern theological debates in the Chicago premiere of Lucas Hnath's drama about a mega-church pastor whose new views on salvation rattle his closest confidants and his congregation. ( Dec. 1 to Jan. 29; Steppenwolf.org )
Christmas at Christine's—Silk Road Rising at Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington St. Christine Bunuan invites audiences to share songs and stories from her Catholic-Jewish background that also encompasses a journey from Chicago to the Philippines. ( Dec. 1-23; SilkRoadRising.org )
Twist Your Dickens—The Second City and Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. Rather than seeing a straightforward take on Charles Dickens' ever-popular Christmas tale, laugh along at the third return of this comedy collaboration involving The Second City and the Goodman Theatre. ( Dec. 2-30; GoodmanTheatre.org )
Choral concerts:
*Don We Now: 2016—Windy City Performing Arts at First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington St. ( 5 and 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 ). The Windy City Gay Chorus and the Windy City Treble Quire ensembles welcome their new artistic director, Dr. Eric Esparza in his first holiday concert for the organization which encompasses Chicago's oldest gay chorus. ( WindyCitySings.org )
*Home for the Holidivas—Chicago Gay Men's Chorus at Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph St. ( 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2 ), then at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie ( 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 ), then at Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St. ( 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13 ). Opera singer Cynthia Clarey ( Porgy and Bess at Gyndebourne ) is the special guest star for this holiday concert featuring songs popularized by pop and classical divas like Mariah Carey, Jessye Norman and Barbra Streisand. ( CGMC.org )
One-night-only events:
*His and His—Pride Films and Plays at Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway In honor of World AIDS Day, this concert revue features theater songs sung by gay characters and music by gay composer William Finn, famous for the Broadway musical Falsettos. ( 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1; PrideFilmsAndPlays.com )
*The Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque—Tom Boi Theatricals and Cuckoo's Theater Project at Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway. Burlesque and "Boylesque" are feature in this eclectic spoof of the classic Tchaikovsky Christmas ballet. ( 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2; UptownUnderground.net )
*SheFest—Pride Films and Plays at Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway Expect some holiday themes in this variety show ( formerly known as LezFest ) which features lesbian and genderqueer performers who excel in music, movement, storytelling, standup comedy and more. ( 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1; PrideFilmsAndPlays.com )
*UNWRAPPED: The XXXmas Cabaret—Pride Films and Plays at Pride Arts Center, 4139 N. Broadway Honey West is the host for this holiday revue featuring the Sinzation Dancers, GayCo, Boylesque and more. ( 7:30 p.m. Dec. 1; PrideFilmsAndPlays.com )
*Songs From My Holiday Closet—Uptown Underground, 4707 N. Broadway. Gay singer-songwriter L.T. Cousineau returns with a holiday revue featuring music by Patrick Sinozich, Jake Anthony, James Morehead and more. ( 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21; UptownUnderground.net )
Theater editor's note: The author of this piece previously performed with Windy City Gay Chorus and is currently on a leave of absence from the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus.
