Since it snowed, and froze, long before Thanksgiving this year, you won’t need any help to put yourself in the mood for holiday attractions. Here is our annual guide to the theater of the festive season.
As usual, we’ve restricted ourselves to explicitly holiday fare. If you are looking for shows that are not themed to the holidays, my current recommendations include “Jekyll & Hyde” at the Chopin Theatre. You can also see the new national tour of “Phantom of the Opera,” which arrives in the Loop in early December. But here are your seasonal baubles for your familial tree, friends.
“A Black Ensemble Holiday Spectacular”
Chicago’s venerable Black Ensemble Theater has created a new, 90-minute revue designed to make your holidays rock and swing a little. Writer and director Daryl Brooks is in charge of the seasonal fun at this theater famed for the quality of its singing and musicianship. Expect soulful renditions of Christmas carols, gospel numbers, classic pop and, of course, plenty of Christmas music. BET is a notably friendly and welcoming place for all, ideal for this time of the year.
Dec. 6-14 at Black Ensemble Theater, 4450 N. Clark St.; 773-769-4451 and www.blackensembletheater.org
“A Christmas Carol”
Forty-eight years of “A Christmas Carol”! God bless us, every one. This year’s edition of the perennial Goodman Theatre version has a new director (Malkia Stampley), a new music director (Gregory Hirte) and a new choreographer (Tor Campbell). But Christopher Donahue, who took over the role of Scrooge from Larry Yando, is back for another year. The Goodman says this crew has “revisited much of the way that music and movement advance the storytelling.” (I mean, there are only so many ways …) You can also expect a reimagined Fezziwig party with a new Mrs. F (Christiana Clark) and some new tricks and music. I’m told Stampley, a rising Chicago director, also is interested in “putting at the beginning some of what Scrooge learns at the end of the play: the importance of taking care of each other, especially those new to our community.” Who could disagree in Chicago right now?
Through Dec. 31 at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St.; 312-443-3800 and www.goodmantheatre.org
Bri Sudia is the holly-covered Ghost of Christmas Present opposite Christopher Donahue in his first turn as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Goodman Theatre’s “A Christmas Carol” in December 2024. (Liz Lauren)
“Diary of a Black Illusionist”
Weirdly, many Chicago theaters go dark between Christmas and New Year, just when many families are together and looking to see a show. But if you are looking for a multi-generational good time, the Chicago Magic Lounge has programmed Walter King Jr., aka The Spellbinder, for the entire holiday week with multiple performances each night. I just saw The Spellbinder’s blast of a show a couple of weeks ago and it’s a cool experience hosted by a veteran magic man who has forgotten more than some musicians ever learn. I’ll bet he has some holiday tricks planned, too.
Select nights at Chicago Magic Lounge, 5050 N. Clark St.; 312-366-4500 and www.chicagomagiclounge.com
“Holidazed and Amused”
Chicago’s Second City has been around for decades so its cupboards are well stocked with seasonal comedy sketches designed to make fun of the rituals of the season (office parties, family dinners and other horrors). Also promised for escapees from the family bosom: music, improv and a grab bag of seasonal surprises. (The regular revues on the Mainstage and the e.t.c. Stage are also happening between Christmas and New Year, and various holiday kids shows are available too.)
Nov. 26 to Jan. 1, 2026, in the Second City’s UP Comedy Club, 1608 N. Wells St. in Piper’s Alley; 312-337-3992 and www.secondcity.com
Chicago magician Walter King Jr., aka The Spellbinder, performs “Diary of a Black Illusionist” at the Magic Lounge. (Sarah Elizabeth Larson)
“It’s a Wonderful Life: Live From Chicago”
I tend to go most years to American Blues Theater to see “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!,” a show I’ve been reviewing throughout its 24-year history. It’s a delightful community-oriented experience, long directed by Gwendolyn Whiteside, that has become part of my holiday tradition. The cast generally doesn’t change all that much and the staging even less so, which is kinda the point. This year’s homegrown show features Justin Banks (as Harry), Audrey Billings (Mary Bailey), Manny Buckley (Joseph), Dara Cameron (Violet) and Ian Paul Custer (Clarence and Mr. Potter), with Michael Mahler on the keys and J.G. Smith on Foley effects. And, thank heavens, the terrific Brandon Dahlquist is back once again as George Bailey. Seasonal cocktails are poured at the bar; this year’s production runs into the holiday week.
Nov. 21 to Dec. 28 at American Blues Theater, 5627 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-654-3103 and www.americanbluestheater.com
“The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show”
Fans of the 17 seasons (!) of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” likely will be interested in this holiday show from two of its most illustrious alums, Jinkx Monsoon (recently of “The Pirates of Penzance” and “Oh Mary!” on Broadway) and fellow queen BenDeLaCreme. Both of these artists hail from Seattle and their holiday show, at the historic Chicago Theatre for one night only, is a well-established seasonal attraction that tours all over the country.
7 p.m. Dec 7 at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; msg.com
Megan Hilty is doing a holiday cabaret-style show on Halsted Street with music direction by Matt Cusson. (Anthony Matula)
“A Merry Little Christmas with Megan Hilty”
The hilarious, much-loved star of NBC’s “Smash” and, more recently, the hit Broadway musical “Death Becomes Her” is bringing some glam seasonal jollies to Steppenwolf with her cabaret show, replete with live musicians. Expect Broadway music along with a program of seasonal fare and, of course, a big personality.
Dec 12-13 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St.; 312-335-1650 and www.steppenwolf.org
“Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol”
These past few years, I’ve been following this show all over the Chicago area, from the Chopin Theatre to Writers Theatre in Glencoe to its current berth at the beautiful Studebaker Theatre. It’s an ideal choice if you have out-of-town visitors over the holidays, because it embodies much of what makes Chicago theatre so special: a homegrown sensibility, gorgeous visuals, hugely talented artists and a certain audacity. Manual Cinema, if you’ve never had the pleasure, combines theater and film in its own unique way. The company tours the country for much of the year but likes to come home for the holidays. I’m happy and grateful that they do.
Dec. 12-28 at the Studebaker Theater in the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave.; manualcinema.com
“Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol” is a mixed-media take on the Charles Dickens story. (Provided by Manual Cinema)
“The Real Housewives of the North Pole”
Hell in a Handbag’s holiday show opens soon at The Clutch. Can’t say I’ve had the pleasure of this scary-sounding North Center venue, but Handbag maestro David Cerda now is older than Santa Claus and his crew has been camping up Christmas for longer than I can remember. The title of this year’s show is pretty self-explanatory and if you have to ask, maybe this is not your bag. But if you are a Cerda and a Honey West fan, roll up for the laughs.
Nov. 20 to Jan. 4, 2026, by Hell in a Handbag Productions at The Clutch, 4335 N. Western Ave., handbagproductions.org
“White Christmas”
Somebody in Chicago is always doing Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” and this year it’s the turn of the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. The accomplished Chicago director Stephen Schellhardt is in charge in the western ‘burbs; Evan C. Dolan plays Phil Davis, Jessie J. Potter will be Judy Haynes, Sophie Grimm plays Betty Haynes and Alex Syiek rounds out the cast as Bob Wallace. Given the Paramount’s big mainstage budgets and famous love of spectacle, I feel secure saying it surely will snow in the theater.
Through Jan. 11, 2026, at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora; 630-896-6666 and paramountaurora.com
Chris Jones is a Tribune critic.
cjones5@chicagotribune.com
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/16/holidays-2025-entertainment/