Our picks for events in and around Chicago this weekend.
“Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol”
Originally staged over Zoom during the pandemic, Manual Cinema has transformed the production to haunt a whole theater. Using its signature blend of puppetry and film techniques, the show follows Aunt Trudy as she attempts to reconstruct her late husband’s puppet-show version of the Dickens classic during lockdown. As the pressures of grief, isolation and the holidays converge, the ghosts take over the story. It’s a poignant, quintessentially Chicago adaptation, written in part by Nate Marshall. Of course, if you’re looking for the more traditional version, you’ve got until New Year’s Eve to catch Christopher Donahue as Scrooge at the Goodman Theatre.
“Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol” runs through Dec. 28 at Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave.; tickets from $31 at manualcinema.com. “A Christmas Carol” runs through Dec. 31 at Goodman’s Albert Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.; tickets from $69 at goodmantheatre.org
“‘Twas the Night Before”
Cirque du Soleil takes over the Chicago Theatre for most of the rest of the month with its holiday spectacle, “‘Twas the Night Before.” Expect a thin plot centered on a girl who feels like she’s outgrowing Christmas before she’s whisked off to a winter wonderland full of acrobats, dancers and whimsy. But then, the story isn’t what you’re paying for; it’s the cirque-style spectacle.
Through Dec. 28 at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; tickets from $45 at msg.com
“A Merry Little Christmas With Megan Hilty”
Megan Hilty performs holiday tunes and Broadway classics at the Steppenwolf. Hilty made her Broadway debut as Glinda in “Wicked” and was nominated for a Tony Award for her latest role in “Death Becomes Her.” You might remember her as Ivy Lynn on “Smash.” Want a preview? Check out her 2016 album, “A Merry Little Christmas.”
7:30 p.m. Dec. 12, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Steppenwolf, 1650 N. Halsted St.; tickets from $99 at steppenwolf.org
“The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party”
Tom Kitten, Squirrel Nutkin and of course Peter Rabbit return in the Chicago Children’s Theatre’s “Beatrix Potter Holiday Party.” This year, “The Tale of Pickles and Ginger” joins the lineup. The puppet show is followed by a photo op with the cast and holiday treats. Best enjoyed by little ones.
Through Dec. 28 at Pritzker Family Studio Theatre at Chicago Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine Ave.; tickets from $47.25 (lap seats $12.75 for 18 months and under) at chicagochildrenstheatre.org
“That’s Weird, Grandma: Holiday Party!”
Ever hear a kid tell a goofy and yet somehow brilliant story? That’s what this show aims to produce. Professional actors, comedians and musicians from Playmakers Laboratory adapt stories written by elementary school students. Don’t wait, performances of these holiday-inspired stories wrap up this weekend.
2 p.m. Dec. 13-14 at Neo Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave.; tickets $15-$25 at playmakerslab.org
Top 50 holiday concerts and shows in Chicago, from Cirque du Soleil to ‘Holly Dolly Christmas’
Christmas on the Farm
Looking to escape the city sidewalks, busy sidewalks? Head 45 minutes (or so) south to Locavore Farm, where you can enjoy an eight-course farm-to-table meal along with a live nativity, holiday music and caroling, a bonfire, and photos with Rudolph. And when we say live nativity, we’re talking real animals sourced from Sandy Oak Ranch, not kids dressed in costumes or dogs posing as sheep.
6-9 p.m. Dec. 13 at Locavore Farm, 11588 N. 17500E. Road, Grant Park, Illinois; tickets $99 at locavorefarm.com
Rod Wave
Last month, Rod Wave earned his first Grammy nomination for “Sinners” (written for the horror film) on the same day he was arrested in Atlanta on weapons and drug charges. Highs and lows, all at once: They’ve defined the trap-soul star’s rise. See him perform live when his “Redemption Experience” tour stops in Chicago for two nights.
8 p.m. Dec. 15-16 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.; tickets from $101.85 at unitedcenter.com
Christian Nodal
It’s been about six years since Rolling Stone declared Christian Nodal “the future of regional Mexican music.” This weekend, Latin Grammy Award-winner brings his brand of mariacheño — a fusion of mariachi and norteño music — to Allstate Arena.
8 p.m. Dec. 12 at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont; tickets from $56.95 at rosemont.com
The Sklar Brothers
Stand-up comedians Randy and Jason Sklar — twins born in St. Louis — play the Den Theatre this weekend. If you don’t know them for their podcasts “View From the Cheap Seats” and “Dumb People Town,” you may know them anyway. They’ve been on “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Better Call Saul,” “Maron,” “Children’s Hospital,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and more.
7:15 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave.; tickets from $22 at thedentheatre.com
“Birthday in Babylon”
“Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me” panelist and Chicago native Brian Babylon offers a mash-up of comedy and couture at Collaboraction Theater’s House of Belonging. Expect stand-up and a glimpse of Babylon’s BB Spoke fashion line.
8 p.m. Dec. 13 at Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N. Kimball Ave.; tickets $22 at collaboraction.org
Have something to do around Chicago? Email events to day.chitribevents@gmail.com
