Theater
Emmy-winning actor Jane Lynch’s holiday cabaret, “A Swingin’ Little Christmas,” promises to be a delightful blend of comedy and music for the holidays. Joining Lynch are Kate Flannery, Tim Davis and the Tony Guerrero Quintet. From Dec. 12-15 at Steppenwolf Theater, 1650 N. Halsted. Tickets: $79-$119. Visit steppenwolf.org.
The touring cast of “Les Miserables” sings “One Day More.”
“Les Miserables,” the musical based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, is a story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption. It features Boublil & Schonberg’s score, filled with now classic songs, which helped make this one of the world’s most popular musicals. From Dec. 17-Jan. 5 at Cadillac Palace, 151 W. Randolph. Tickets: $40-$165. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.
Hell in a Handbag Productions presents the 25th anniversary edition of “Rudolph the Red-Hosed Reindeer (An Unauthorized Musical Parody),” its adults-only, twisted adaptation of the classic television special. From Dec. 13-Jan. 5 at Hoover Leppen Theatre at Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted. Tickets: $32-$65. Visit handbagproductions.org.
“Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol”
“Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol” is the performance collective’s imaginative adaptation which updates the holiday tale as Aunt Trudy, an avowed holiday skeptic, is recruited to channel her late husband’s famous Christmas cheer. From Dec. 13-29 at Studebaker Theater, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan. Tickets: $45-$65. Visit fineartsbuilding.com.
PlayMakers Laboratory presents “That’s Weird, Grandma: A Holiday Spectacular,” a sketch show featuring adaptations of stories written by elementary school students. From Dec. 12-15 at Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland. Tickets: $15, $25. Visit playmakerslab.org.
“Fairytale of New York”
Taking its name from the popular song by The Pogues, “Fairytale of New York” is an Irish-inspired concert with music and dance featuring holiday favorites and traditional Irish sing-along songs. From Dec. 17-18 at Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut. Tickets: $45-$115. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.
“It’s a Wonderful Life — A Live Radio Play“ features five actors performing dozens of characters in this staging of the classic story. From Dec. 13-29 at Athenaeum Center, 2936 N. Southport,. Tickets: $33. Visit athenaeumcenter.org.
Dance
Chicago Tap Theatre and the Chicago Tap Allstars present “Winter Wonderland,” a holiday-themed performance in commemoration of Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and the winter season. At 1 p.m. Dec. 14 at Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Dr. Tickets: $25. Visit maddrhythms.com.
“Mary, A Holiday Dansical,” performed by members of Black Girls Dance, is a modern twist on the traditional “Black Nativity” told through ballet, hip-hop, tap and contemporary dance. At 6 p.m. Dec. 15 at Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th. Tickets: $20-$60. Visit blackgirlsdance.org.
“The Nutcracker,” presented by Hyde Park School of Dance, features ballet, modern dance, hip-hop, breakdancing and more. From Dec. 13-15 at Mandel Hall, University of Chicago, 1131 E. 57th. Tickets: $15-$35, children 5 and under free. Visit hydeparkdance.org.
Celebrate the holiday season with Ballet Chicago’s staging of “The Nutcracker.” From Dec. 13-15 at Athenaeum Center, 2936 N. Southport ($20-$60 athenaeumcenter.org), and Dec. 20-22 at Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph ($31-$76; harristheaterchicago.org).
Music
Jennifer Hudson performs a Christmas show Dec. 13 at the Chicago Theatre.
Jennifer Hudson recently released “The Gift of Love,” her first album of seasonal music, which features collaborations with South African a cappella quintet The Joy (“Carol of the Bells”) and her beau Common (“Almost Christmas”) as well as her stunning take on Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” Hudson is now on a four-city tour celebrating the holidays which includes a performance at 8 p.m. Dec. 13 at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State. Tickets: $50+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Get a dose of Christmas cheer at Merry, Merry Chicago, a run of six concerts featuring familiar carols, holiday songs and festive surprises, including the local favorite “Christmas in Chicago,” performed by members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Symphony Chorus. From Dec. 18-23 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan. Tickets: $55+. Visit cso.org.
Pentatonix has an a cappella show Dec. 12 at the Allstate Arena.
The popular a cappella ensemble with the perfect harmonies, Pentatonix, returns with its annual holiday extravaganza of seasonal music. The group is featured in the new Netflix holiday movie “Meet Me Next Christmas,” a romantic comedy about a woman desperately trying to find a ticket to a sold-out Pentatonix concert. At 7 p.m. Dec. 12 at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim, Rosemont. Tickets: $50+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Mariachi Herencia de Mexico delivers a holiday concert that honors the magic of Christmas and the cultural vibrancy of Mexico with a blend of holiday classics and mariachi traditions. At 3 p.m. Dec. 15 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport ($40; thaliahallchicago.com); 7 p.m. Dec. 20 and 2, 5, 8 p.m. Dec. 21 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln ($40; oldtownschool.org).
Dave Koz and Friends return with the 27th edition of their jazz-based Christmas show, which always offers a fresh take on holiday classics. This year’s tour features the return of guitarist-singer Jonathan Butler and special guests: saxophonist Vincent Ingala, guitarist Adam Hawley and vocalist Rebecca Jade. At 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells. Tickets: $35.50. Visit auditoriumtheatre.org.
The Newberry Consort presents “A Latin American Christmas,” a concert of traditional holiday music of Central and South America. At 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church, 4220 N. Sheridan; at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 939 Hinman, Evanston, and 4 p.m. Dec. 15 at National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th. Tickets: $10-$65. Visit newberryconsort.org.
Museums
“Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica” is the first major exhibition to survey Pan-Africanism’s widespread influence on art and culture. Featured are some 350 objects, spanning the 1920s to the present, made by artists in Africa, North and South America and Europe. These span genres from paintings and speeches to video art, record albums and sculptural installations. From Dec. 15-March 30 at Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S. Michigan. Admission: $14-$32. Visit artic.edu.
“Making an Impression: Immigrant Printing in Chicago” examines how the city became a vital center of multicultural printing and celebrates what makes Chicago’s immigrant printers, their work and their communities unique. From Dec. 12-March 29 Newberry Library, 60 W. Walton. Admission is free. Visit newberry.org.
Movies
Will Ferrell (right) in “Elf.”
Enjoy the hilarious saga of Buddy (Will Ferrell), a Santa’s helper who doesn’t quite fit in at the North Pole and who goes on an adventure to New York City in search of his real father, in Jon Favreau’s 2003 film “Elf.” Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform John Debney’s score. At 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 1:30 p.m. Dec. 14 and 3 p.m. Dec. 15 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan. Tickets: $79+. Visit cso.org.
Holiday Fun
The Illumination light show is up now at Morton Arborteum.
Illumination: Tree Lights features 17 dazzling light and music displays, beginning in the Grand Garden and ending in the waterfront finale at Meadow Lake. New this year is a display of interactive tree shapes synchronized to different musical instruments plus added dates to the popular late-night experience, Electric Illumination. To Jan. 4 at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Ill. Rt. 52, Lisle. Admission price varies, children 3 and under free. Visit mortonarb.org.
Wear your best ugly holiday sweater and hit the dance floor at the Shedd Aquarium’s first Holiday House Party, with music provided by Dee Jay Alicia. Plus up-close animal encounters and new expansive exhibits to enhance the celebration. From 7-11 p.m. Dec. 14 at 1200 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Tickets: $19.95, $39.95. Visit sheddaquarium.org.
Randolph Street Holiday Market features 125 sellers with vintage and modern goods for gifting, entertaining and decorating. Plus craft cocktails, food, music, crafts for children and more. From 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 14-15 at Plumbers Union Hall, 1340 W. Washington. Admission: $12; children 12 and under free. Visit randolphstreetmarket.com.