Holiday Plays In Chicago

Welcome to Theatre In Chicago's 2013 Holiday Show Round-Up, the most comprehensive (of course) list of all of this year's seasonal-themed plays and musicals performing all over Chicagoland. As ever, there is a vast and diverse array of offerings from which to choose, from the time-honored traditional (A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theatre and elsewhere) to the alternative (take your pick). As to the latter, the increasing trend of late seems to be reinterpretations and "mash-ups". These hybrids have been popular for some time (see Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or the TV series Once Upon A Time), and they have certainly found their way into the smallest, blackest boxes of the Chicago storefront theatre scene. With this is mind, allow me to highlight a few of these genre-benders below.

Given the enduring popularity of A Christmas Carol, it comes as no surprise that there are a bunch of so-related productions. What is surprising is the sheer how-do-they-come-up-with-this? variety. Back for its fourth year is A Klingon Christmas Carol, presented by Commedia Beauregard at the Raven Theatre. It is performed, as before, in the Original Klingon with English supertitles and includes narrative analysis from the Vulcan Institute of Cultural Anthropology.

NightBlue Performing Arts Company is presenting Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, written by Tom Mula, at Stage 773. Long relegated to macguffin status, Marley finally gets to tell his own story of holiday redemption as he recalls his life and partnership with Ebenezer Scrooge.

A Q Brothers' Christmas Carol, created by hip-hop sensations The Q Brothers (Othello: The Remix) in conjunction with Chicago Shakespeare Creative Producer Rick Boynton, is playing at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. It is billed as a "hip-hop reinterpretation" of the tale, as Chicago audiences will be the very first to experience this world premiere production. (See also If Scrooge Was A Brother by eta Creative Arts Foundation.)

Silent Theatre Company at Prop Thtr is presenting A Silent Christmas Carol. Silent Theatre's mission is to re-create classic literature as silent "films" for the stage, right down to the black-and-white palette. Or, in their words, "With two colors, one live musician, and no (spoken) words, the spirit of A Christmas Carol will be reborn."

Moving on, the offerings get even more outlandish, with new premieres as well as old favorites. Christmas Dearest, as the title should imply, portrays Joan Crawford (played by David Cerda) as "Mommie Dearest" attempting to salvage her career and her role in a new MGM musical about the Virgin Mary. It is presented by Hell In A Handbag Productions at Mary's Attic.

Raven Theatre's Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Goose is sure to provide a dose of English mystery to anyone's holiday season. Holmes and Watson investigate the theft of a valuable jewel, the Blue Carbuncle, as they sleuth throughout Christmastime London. It includes live music, a closing sing-along, and is appropriate for the whole family.

In contrast, you will probably want to leave Grandma home with baby Bella for Silent Night of the Living Dead, presented by New Millenium Theatre Co. When Barbara returns home from college for the holidays with her new boyfriend Ben, she quickly discovers that something is off. As in "zombie apocalypse" off. Also features a talking snowman.

Last year's hit musical We Three Lizas is returning to Stage 773, courtesy of About Face Theatre, from an engagement at Joe's Pub in New York City. Featuring a revised book and expanded score, We Three Lizas is the story of Conrad Ticklebottom, a down-on-his-luck designer who receives a very special holiday visit from a trio of Liza Minnellis that helps him rediscover and re-invent himself.

It should be obvious by now that some shows are family-oriented, some are less so. As always, please research beforehand any production you plan to see so as to avoid any surprises. Surprises under the Christmas tree are fun. Surprises in a theatre at $45 a ticket are not. For the complete list of holiday shows, please see the link below. Have a great holiday!

For a complete list of the holiday shows in Chicago go to our Holiday Plays In Chicago page.

Luke Heiden
Contributing Writer