Hell in a Handbag Productions is decking the halls with camp this season as it unveils the world premiere of The Real Housewives of The North Pole at The Clutch, the company's intimate performance space at 4335 N. Western Ave. in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. The holiday parody, written by Artistic Director David Cerda and directed by Tommy Bullington, runs through January 4, 2026, giving Chicago theatergoers plenty of chances to add some outrageous yuletide glamour to their calendars.

The Real Housewives of The North Pole presented by Hell In A Handbag Productions at The Clutch

In this new comedy, the North Pole is in crisis. Santa and all the North Pole power players have been indicted for fraud, leaving their families staring down financial ruin. Years of wealth and privilege have left the women with walk-in closets full of designer labels and jewelry, but precious few practical skills. Santa's wife, Ruth Claus (Honey West), is newly sober and scrambling to keep the books balanced, leaning on her suave sobriety coach Carlos (Taylor Mercado Owen) for support. When Andy Cohen (David Lipschutz) swoops in from the Bravo network and turns their woes into a reality TV spectacle, Ruth joins a frostbitten lineup of holiday divas - Mrs. Samantha Frosty (Robert Williams), Suzy Snowflake (Britain Shutters), Mrs. Gladys Dasher (David Cerda) and Clarice, wife of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Anna Rose Steinmeyer) - all ready to share holiday spirit... and actual spirits. Rounding out the mayhem are an anonymous Production Assistant (Kelly Opalko) and Cookie (Terry McCarthy), an unapologetic make-up guru, plus cameos from some of the North Pole's most famous (and infamous) residents, thanks to a little onstage tech magic.

As with many Handbag titles, The Real Housewives of The North Pole takes a piece of pop culture everyone recognizes and gleefully turns the volume all the way up. The Bravo universe of feuds, confessionals and champagne-fueled chaos becomes the perfect frame for a story about Christmas excess gone wildly off the rails. By dropping these glittery "housewives" into a legal and financial scandal, the show gives audiences both the comfort of familiar holiday iconography and the fun of seeing Santa's world reimagined as a reality-TV playground, complete with producer meddling, surprise cameos and the occasional emotional "reunion special" moment.

The cast brings together a powerhouse roster of Handbag regulars and guest artists. Ensemble members David Cerda, David Lipschutz, Terry McCarthy and Robert Williams are joined by Kelly Opalko, Taylor Mercado Owen, Britain Shutters, Anna Rose Steinmeyer and Honey West, with understudies Gretchen Greear, Brenda Holiday, Silas Kachman, Riley Partin and Hannah Tymoko on deck to keep the show running smoothly throughout the run. The production is backed by a full creative team that leans into Handbag's signature brand of high-gloss camp, from scenic and costume design to wigs, make-up, video and puppetry that help populate the North Pole with larger-than-life personalities.

For Cerda, this new parody is a natural next step for a company that has built its reputation on sending up beloved TV, film and holiday traditions. "Like it or not, The Real Housewives series is a pop cultural phenomenon, so it's only natural that Handbag would tackle it, head on. I find the entire Bravo/Andy Cohen universe both compelling and cringeworthy, and I think it's a barometer of the world we live in today. Handbag Productions is known for its satirical take on pop culture, making it the perfect company to bring this over-the-top reality series to life on stage. The series mirrors society's obsession with fame and excess, highlighting both the allure and absurdity of modern celebrity culture."

To see a list of all the holiday shows in Chicago, visit our Holiday Shows in Chicago page.