Live entertainment choices abound over the holidays.There are the traditional seasonal choices of The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol ( well, maybe not the star-studded one that cancelled its engagement at the Civic Opera House ) . There's also counter-programming that have nothing to do with Christmas ( like American Buffalo at Steppenwolf or the national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights ) .
Then there are the quirky little shows that can spoof, smirk at or sex up the season ( sometimes all three ) . They can even become long-running traditions in their own right. So check out these shows by scrappy storefront troupes and bodacious burlesque collectives:
Camping through the snow
Another Year Without a Witty Title Chicago Christmas Spectacular comes courtesy of a troupe with a similarly long-winded name, A Reasonable Facsimile Theatre Company. Each evening features a different set of comedy sketches, ranging from The Snuggie Incident to A Very Vegan Christmas. The lineup alternates on Fridays and Saturdays through Jan. 9 at the Cornservatory, 4210 N. Lincoln. Tickets are $12-$15; call 773-418-4475 or visit www.arftco.com .
It took so long to say the title of The David Bowie Hepzikat Funky Velvet Flarney Solstice Spectacular, Live... From Space! ( David Bowie's Christmas Special 1977 Network Edit ) that New Millennium Theatre Company decided to revive this musical spoof with celebrity rock stars like Iggy Pop, Mick Jagger and more for a second time at the National Pastime Theater, 4139 N. Broadway. Performances continue through Dec. 19. Tickets are $15. Call 773-327-7077 or visit www.nmtchicago.org .
Hell in a Handbag Productions may do other holiday works now and then, but David Cerda and Scott Lamberty's homegrown gay musical spoof Rudolph, The Red-Hosed Reindeer still remains its Christmas calling card. See it this year in the more intimate atmosphere of Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark, through Jan. 2. Tickets are $10-$15. Call 800-838-3006 or visit www.handbagproductions.org .
Here's something truly odd: A family-friendly production at the Annoyance Theatre. But then again, there are sure to be some quirks in the Annoyance's take on Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer, playing through Dec. 18 at 4830 N. Broadway. Tickets are $10-$15; call 773-561-4665 or visit www.TheAnnoyance.com .
With a title like A Silent Night: Grandma Got Run Over Without Healthcare, expect Shantz Theatre to inject plenty of current politics into its holiday comedy revue. It plays until Dec. 20 at Gorilla Tango Theatre, 1919 N. Milwaukee. Tickets are $12; call 773-598-4549 or visit www.gorillatango.com .
Silent Nightmare is a very dark comedy involving murderous elves, an escaped mass murderer and much more. Check to see if that's blood on your candy cane through Dec. 26 at the Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N. Broadway. Tickets are $15. Call 773-561-4665 or visit www.TheAnnoyance.com .
The Santaland Diaries used to over-produced, but this year Theater Wit appears to be the only local company sharing David Sedaris' sardonic tale about his time working as a Macy's Santaland Elf. It continues through Jan. 2 at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont. Tickets are $24; call 773-327-5252 or visit www.theaterwit.com .
Next Theatre may be producing A Very Merry Unauthorized Scientology Pageant this year, but it was A Red Orchid Theatre that first locally introduced this musical of merry children who tell the story of Scientology founder and hero L. Ron Hubbard. It continues through Jan. 3 at 1531 N. Wells. Tickets are $25 with student/senior discounts available; call 312-943-8722 or visit www.aredorchidtheatre.org .
New gifts
With Redmoon Theatre, it's best to expect the unexpected. See what Redmoon has dreamed up for its 2009 Winter Pageant, playing now through Dec. 27 at 1463 W. Hubbard. Tickets are $10-$15. Call 312-850-8440 or visit www.redmoon.org .
What's a fading TV star to do as his holiday show heads for broadcast in 1968? Find out in Chad Morton's TV Christmas Miracle, a new show by Jack Crowe and Jim Keating playing until Dec. 20 at Village Players Theatre, 1010 W. Madison St., Oak Park. Tickets are $20-$25. Call 866-764-1010 or visit www.village-players.org .
Breathing on Cougarness and Holiday Hunger Pains are the two plays featured in the Annoyance Theatre's Holiday Short Shorts, playing now through Dec. 17 at 4830 N. Broadway. Tickets are $10; call 773-561-4665 or visit www.TheAnnoyance.com .
Shawn Pfautsch's The Birthday of the Unconquered Sun, Scott T. Barsotti's Holiday Parade and Andrew Burden Swanson's An Eve at McTavish's are all featured in The 2nd Annual Holiday Special at EP Theater, 1820 S. Halsted, now through Dec. 21. Tickets are $15. Call 312-850-4299 or visit www.eptheater.com .
Santa's sexy helpers
The dynamic Cockettes celebrate the season in Cockettes: The Christmas Spectacular through Dec. 20 at the Annoyance Theatre, 4830 N. Broadway. Tickets are $10. Call 773-561-4665 or visit www.TheAnnoyance.com .
Girlie-Q Productions promises to be naughty with a queer burlesque holiday revue called Delight Before Christmas. It strips until Dec. 19 at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont. Tickets are $15-$20. Call 773-327-5252 or visit www.Theatrebuildingchicago.org .
Expect more this season from The Flaming Dames in Naughtier & Nicer, now shedding their stuff until Dec. 19 at The Spot, 4437 N. Broadway. Tickets are $15. Call 312-458-9083 or visit www.nmtchicago.org .
