Vienna: a cacophony of music and intrigue. The emperor's composer, Antonio Salieri, holds court until the flamboyant entrance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: prodigy and wild child. The two artists begin a vicious and thrilling duet, a rivalry that will define their lives and legacies for years to come. Winner of 5 Tonys and 8 Academy Awards, Amadeus is the ultimate ode to ambition and musical genius, a brilliant requiem for a villain in history - but a hero in his own story. Vi saluto!

THE ANTHOLOGY is a one-of-a-kind dramatic improv show that unfolds like a collection of short stories brought to life on stage. Each performance is made up of a series of mini-plays, all exploring a single theme from different angles. Just as an anthology offers diverse voices within one volume, every scene in The Anthology reveals a new perspective – poignant, playful, intense, heartfelt, and all unexpected. No two performances are ever the same, but every show is a complete book of stories created before your eyes.

Facing exile at home, Orlando, Duke Senior, his daughter Rosalind and niece Celia seek safety and refuge in the Forest of Arden. Lost amidst the trees, these wounded souls end up finding a community of acceptance and transformational love, where all are welcomed and embraced. Featuring an original folk-pop score by Shaina Taub (Tony Award-winning composer of Suffs), this musical adaptation of Shakespeare's classic is an immersive dream-like tale of faithful friends, feuding families and chance encounters.

Struggling sculptor Brindsley Miller and his fiance, Carol, are having a party with the aim of impressing Carol's bombastic father, Colonel Melkett, and millionaire Georg Bamberger. They hope the two men might purchase some of Brindsley's sculptures. Without permission, they have borrowed the furniture of their fussy neighbor, Harold, to make their own flat more presentable. Just before the guests arrive, the main fuse blows, plunging the flat into darkness. What follows is a frantic romp with unexpected visitors, mistaken identities, and surprises lurking in every dark corner. Only we, the audience, can see the action that ensues in the dark. As you might expect, the results are chaotic, disastrous and downright hysterical.

Cafe Lounge Underwater is a sketch show that feels like a great house party. There's dancing, music, drinks, and of course, laughs. Join Caroline Burke, Tom Phelan, and Maryrose Sheridan as they perform sketches from their monthly show run!

Now over 200 years old, Charles Dickens finds himself once again booked to perform his overly familiar Christmas tale just as he has every December since 1853. Dickens, however, has other ideas. Perhaps he'll get his wish of simply hosting a festive holiday party. Or, perhaps, the Spirits of Christmas might intervene to give him what he really needs: a chance to rediscover the beauty in his work - and the joy of sharing it with an audience - one more time.

Now a beloved Chicago tradition, The Goodman Theatre ushers in the holiday season with its adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic holiday story A Christmas Carol. Audiences look forward to the "bah humbugs," the electrifying arrival of the ghosts, the jubilant musical numbers and dancing, and Scrooge's joyful rediscovery of life, love and the Christmas spirit. Goodman's Carol continues to lift heats and spirits after four decades more than a million visitors, and the timeless holiday tale promises to be merrier and more magical than ever. The Daily Herald says the play is "the crown jewel of the holiday season" -- find out for yourself or relive the magic again.

Charles Dickens' enchanting tale of redemption and hope comes to life in Arlington Heights' favorite holiday tradition. On a snowy Christmas Eve brimming with memorable characters, ghostly apparitions and splendid holiday music, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge visits the past, present and future to discover the true meaning of Christmas. Metropolis Performing Arts Centre's updated, record-breaking production returns with enough magic, joy and Christmas spirit to delight audiences of all ages.

Set in Victorian-era London, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol tells the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge and the ghosts that visit him one fateful Christmas Eve hoping to change his miserly ways. Continue your tradition or start a new one by gathering the whole family for the 30th anniversary of Drury Lane Theatre's heartwarming production. Complete with falling snow and magical illusions, the play is a visually-stunning experience and, at one hour long, perfect for children of all ages.

Miami hospice nurse, Marina Johnson, wakes one day to find a stranger in her apartment, telling her she has been tapped to be God's climate change prophet. A comedy for a species on the brink of self-destruction.

In a town obsessed with writing, the arrival of a mysterious devilish publisher sets off a sinister chain of events. As literary ambition turns feral, all hell breaks loose.

In a world obsessed with beauty and power, what happens when someone is given the chance to remain perfect-forever? This modern interpretation dives headfirst into vanity, desire, and the danger of refusing to age, illuminating the darkest corners of our obsession with self-image and fame. DORIAN fuses gothic horror, biting satire, and cabaret flair into an unforgettable night of theater.

The stage is set in a hidden library with over fifteen thousand books. Five classically trained actors meet as members of "The Drunk Shakespeare Society." One of them has at least 5 shots of whiskey and then they overconfidently attempt to perform a major role in a Shakespearean play. Hilarity and mayhem ensues while the four sober actors try and keep the script on track. Every show is different depending on who is drinking ... and what they're drinking!

ELF THE MUSICAL, inspired by the hit film, is the hilarious and heartwarming tale of Buddy, a young orphan child whose life is changed forever when he mistakenly crawls into Santa's sack of toys one Christmas Eve. When he discovers he is human, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and, in turn, helps the Big Apple rediscover the true meaning of Christmas. This all-new tour, based on the acclaimed 2024 Broadway production, was hailed by The New York Times, which said, "The show has CRACKED THE CODE OF ALL-AGES COMEDY, the kind that will leave children and grown-ups equally helpless with laughter," and celebrated in The New Yorker, "It's enough to MAKE YOU BELIEVE IN THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS." This modern-day holiday classic, says The Daily Beast, "is a gift for kids and adults, and a very 'sparklejollytwinklejingley' night out!"

Though best known today for his supposed rivalry with Mozart, Antonio Salieri was a prolific and successful composer in his own right. COT honors the 200th Anniversary of Salieri's death in 1825 with the Chicago premiere of his sparkling comedy, Falstaff, ossia Le tre burle (Falstaff, or The Three Tricks). Librettist Carlo Prospero Defranceschi based his work on the charming anti-hero, Sir John Falstaff, from multiple Shakespeare plays. Premiered in 1799 and inspired by the plot of Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor, Falstaff follows the misadventures of the arrogant and bumbling knight as he schemes to seduce two married women - only to be hilariously outwitted by their clever tricks. This comedic tale of human folly, deception, and the triumph of wit over arrogance remains as fresh and funny as ever.

The Theatre for Young Audiences adaptation of the beloved Pixar movie FINDING NEMO, with music by award-winning songwriting team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez (Frozen). Marlin, an anxious and over-protective clownfish, lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid Nemo, who longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves.

A new dark comedy that explores the complicated issue of gun proliferation when two young liberal couples are forced to confront their assumptions about who should own a gun and why.

In this turn-of-the-century Victorian mystery, strange things start to happen as the seemingly perfect marriage of Jack and Bella devolves into something sinister. Why is the attic door locked? Whose footsteps wander the halls at night? And is that light really flickering... or not? Bella's reality is twisted into an indistinguishable tangle of truth, manipulation, and her husband's intentions, where certainty is uncertain for characters and audience alike.

Georgiana and Kitty, two best friends who have been overshadowed by older siblings, find their own adventure and new relationships. In true Austen form, there are letters that reveal secrets, arranged engagements and meddlesome siblings. Nothing, however, will stop these determined friends from forging their own way in a holiday tale filled with music, ambition and sisterhood. Talkin' Broadway calls "Georgiana and Kitty" "...a lesson in staying true to oneself and a testament to the powerful things that women can accomplish;" and the San Mateo Journal calls it, "A joyful, uplifting way to celebrate the holidays." Whether an Austen fan or a first timer to the series, this play will be a charming holiday treat.

a sketch comedy show that has been running for over 15 years brings a drinking game to the audience. The actors will be sure to tell you the drinking games, or you can follow along with the “DRINK” light on stage! Happy Holly-Daze is a staple in Chicago comedy and each year brings new Holiday themed sketches front and center.

Are you tired of the same-old holiday reruns? Then skip them and dash to The Second City to see our holiday hit Holidazed and Amused! What better way to send off 2025 than to roast it like chestnuts on an open fire? Festive family gatherings, office parties, classic holiday movies... nothing is off limits! The Second City proudly continues its 65 year tradition of delivering innovative, fast-paced satirical comedy with this fresh take on festive fun. Stuffed with seasonal songs, sketches, and of course, a generous helping of our world-famous improv comedy, it's a holiday show you can actually look forward to!

In early nineteenth-century New Orleans, widowed mother Beartrice struggles to manage her headstrong daughters after the death of her second husband. But as the matriarch takes her place as head of the household, a more ominous transfer of power transpires in the region. The French-owned Louisiana Territory is about to be acquired by the United States, threatening the liberty of the free people of color residing on the land. A gripping examination of intersecting captivities, THE HOUSE THAT WILL NOT STAND follows four women in mourning as they look ahead to an uncertain and haunting future.

The Infinite Wrench is a mechanism that unleashes a barrage of two-minute plays for a live audience. Each play offers something different-some are funny, others profound. Some are elegant, disgusting, topical, irrelevant, terrifying, or put to song. All of the plays are truthful and tackle the here-and-now, inspired by the lived experiences of the performers. With new plays every week, The Infinite Wrench is The Neo-Futurists' ongoing and ever-changing attempt to shift the conventions of live performance and speak to the present audience, including those unreached or unmoved by other types of theater.

Experience unmatched holiday cheer with Frank Capra's beloved classic film, "It's a Wonderful Life," reimagined as a captivating live radio play, complete with foley sound effects and set in Oil Lamp's WBFR radio studio. Journey to Bedford Falls, where George Bailey's troubles lead him to wish he was never born. Clarence, an angel sent to intervene, steps in to make his wishes come true and George quickly learns just how many lives he has touched and just how blessed he really is.

George Bailey - the Everyman from small town Bedford Falls whose dreams of escape and adventure were stopped by family obligation and civic duty - has fallen onto desperate times. Only a miracle can save him from despair. Filled with original music and classic holiday carols, this warm "holiday favorite makes the bell ring every time." (Chicago Tribune) For nearly 25 years, American Blues has treated audiences to a live retelling of the Frank Capra classic in a 1940s radio broadcast tradition, making It's a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! the second longest-running holiday play in Chicago!

1 actor. 19 characters. 90 minutes of rousing good cheer! In Dickens' Christmas Carol, Scrooge gets a chance to amend his ways, but what happened to his partner Jacob Marley? Find out in Lifeline Theatre's production of Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, a one-man show written by Goodman Theatre's own Scrooge, Tom Mula, featuring a Jeff-nominated performance by longtime Chicago actor and Lifeline ensemble member, Phil Timberlake.

An evocative tale of two men – one, a doctor, passionate and romantic; the other, a terrifying madman – and two women – one, beautiful and trusting; the other, beautiful and trusting only herself – both women in love with the same man and both unaware of his dark secret. A devoted man of science, Dr. Henry Jekyll is driven to find a chemical breakthrough that can solve some of mankind's most challenging medical dilemmas. Rebuffed by the powers that be, he decides to make himself the subject of his own experimental treatments, accidentally unleashing his inner demons along with the man that the world would come to know as Mr. Hyde.

THE LONG CHRISTMAS DINNER - nine decades long in just one 75-minute act - showcases the lives of several generations of the Bayard family. Wilder breaks the boundaries of time as we measure it, and invites us to partake in "one long, happy Christmas dinner" - past, present and future. As generations appear, have children, wither, and depart, only the audience sees what changes and what remains the same. Join TUTA for this lively and musical holiday production, and reflect on life, death, and the family traditions we celebrate and endure with TUTA's ensemble.

Award-winning, third-generation magician Dennis Watkins delivers an evening of sophisticated tom-foolery in one of the Windy City's most unique entertainment experiences presented by The House Theatre of Chicago. The Magic Parlour is an elegant night out in the heart of downtown. This intimate magic show is replete with mind-blowing magic and mind reading in a small suite at the historic Palmer House Hilton Hotel.

Medieval Times is an exciting, family-friendly dinner attraction inspired by an 11th century feast and tournament. Guests are served a four-course banquet and cheer for one of six knights as they compete in the joust and other tests of skill. Expect lots of jousting, swordsmanship, thrilling hand-to-hand combat, and displays of extraordinary horsemanship as part of an exciting story set in Medieval Spain.

Four Legends. One Night. Music History Made. You may have loved Million Dollar Quartet in 2017 at Paramount Theatre - now imagine it set in Sun Studio itself. The new Stolp Island Theatre will be designed to immerse you in the experience so you can say "I was there!" On December 4, 1956, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins had a chance encounter at Sun Studio in Memphis. What transpired 
was one of the greatest impromptu jam sessions in music history.

From the creators of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, your favorite Rock 'n' Roll legends return this Christmas for a brand-new holiday musical experience. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley come together again to celebrate the holidays at Sun Records studio, filled to the brim with Christmas cheer and enough musical talent to power a city grid. Jam-packed with the sounds of the season and the chart toppers that made the "Million Dollar Quartet" famous, the gang is up to their usual antics as we journey through stories of Christmas past, present, and future.

The Nowaks of Buffalo, NY, have always believed in their family's miraculous Christmas Eve story—until Ruth decides to turn it into a one-woman show, only to have a deathbed confession threaten to unravel the legend. As the truth emerges, the Nowaks must face their faith, family and hilarious truths in this heartfelt comedy.

Prepare to be captivated by the incomparable John C. Reilly in Mister Romantic, a vaudeville show that has already garnered critical acclaim and captured the public’s imagination. Backed by a cracker jack band of multi Grammy winners Davíd Garza, Charles De Castro, David Piltch and Gabe Witcher, the New York Times calls the show "wryly funny, sometimes tender and sad, but always sincere" and Vanity Fair describes it as “fiercely funny” and says "John C. Reilly is one hell of a singer." Mister Romantic asks you to open your heart to the love all around you and marks a new chapter in Reilly’s acclaimed career.

It's almost Christmas, and Santa's list is missing! Join Mrs. Claus and the Elf Class of 2025 as they try to find it in time to save Christmas. Who stole the list? How will they get it back? Will Mrs. Claus save the day? Chicago Kids Company's biggest and most colorful show will put you in the Holiday Spirit in no time!

Meet Beatrice and Benedick: two ferociously independent individuals who have steadfastly avoided sharing their lives with anyone but themselves... until now. Despite their best efforts to remain single, falling for one another is inevitable in the wittiest and wildest of Shakespeare's comedies. CST welcomes back acclaimed director Selina Cadell, whose ground-breaking Hamlet starring Eddie Izzard broke box office records at CST and in theaters around the world. Set against the backdrop of romantic Italy, it's a warm-hearted ode to the power of love and the joy of partnership.

The all-star cast of Airotic Soiree is back in Chicago this December with a brand-new holiday spectacular: Naughty Noel. Sip on festive cocktails, choose from the restaurant's exceptional menu, and surrender to the season's most seductive celebration, where world-class acrobats, dazzling dancers, and sensual spirits take you on a holiday adventure filled with daring stunts, mesmerizing beauty, and a hint of mischief.

Witness the magical 1893 Chicago World's Fair with young Marie and her Nutcracker Prince in two-time Tony Award winning choreographer Wheeldon's holiday masterpiece. It's a celebratory Christmas Eve, and thanks to a surprise visit from the enchanting Great Impresario, Marie embarks on a spellbinding adventure into a realm of spectacle and wonder. Experience our holiday magic in this must-see tradition boldly reimagined for a new generation.

1941. In Occupied Paris, Pablo Picasso is summoned to a storage vault by a brilliant Nazi "cultural attache" to confirm the authenticity of three "confiscated" Picasso paintings before they are exhibited. But when he discovers the true purpose of the exhibition, a cat-and-mouse negotiation ensues - with life and death stakes. Art, politics, sex, power and truth collide in this fast-paced, witty drama with echoes of our world today. Does Picasso have the power to save his paintings - and himself?

An adult pantomime by Tom Whalley, author of last season’s SLEEPING WITH BEAUTY. Many years ago, the King and Queen of a far off kingdom were blessed with a baby girl with long, magical, downstairs hair. One day the jealous witch Mother F**ker kidnapped the child and locked her in a tower, selfishly squandering her merkin magic for herself. With the help of local hairdresser Dame Fanny Pigtail, her thick as s**t son Pascal, the dashing Prince Ride-her and the Hairy Fairy, will Rapunzel ever come out? Recommended for ages 18+

The North Pole is in trouble. Santa and all the North Pole power players are indicted for fraud and it's up to the women to try and save their families from financial ruin. But how? Years of wealth and privilege have left them with a lot of designer clothes and jewelry, but little else. Luckily, Andy Cohen and the Bravo network swoop in to save the day with the perfect showcase for those with no talent or skills - reality television! Join Mrs. Ruth Claus, Mrs. Frosty The Snowman, Suzy Snowflake, Gladys Dasher, and others as they claw their way to instant fame.

Share silliness this holiday season with Rudolph Runs Wild... a jolly extravaganza for kids, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and reindeer of all ages! Featuring a fun and festive blend of family-friendly songs and sketches from The Second City's rich comedy archives, fresh new material written specifically for young audiences, and - of course - the ridiculous improv hijinks The Second City is world famous for. Brighten your winter with this one-of-a-kind interactive theatrical experience offering audience members, young and old, the chance to enjoy the comedy fun both from their seats and by joining The Second City performers onstage! Make hilarious holiday memories with The Second City's Rudolph Runs Wild...

Salt Creek Ballet's The Nutcracker marches back onto the North Shore Center stage with an affordable full-length holiday production performed in the grand tradition by a professional company with exceptional guest soloists! For a holiday production that first delighted audiences way back in 1892, Salt Creek Ballet's The Nutcracker demonstrates how to make this historic ballet and holiday tradition just as accessible and relevant today. The Nutcracker is the perfect way to introduce young children to the power and beauty of classical dance.

Come dashing through the snow to the best elfing holiday experience this side of the North Pole! Explore a winter wonderland with eight immersive installations in search of Santa's vintage speakeasy (shh, don't tell Mrs Claus). Along the way, you'll find everything from naughty gingerbread girls and rugged lumberjacks to living snow globes. Then, once you stumble into Santa's speakeasy, enjoy Christmas cocktails, delicious food and a live band. The night concludes with an eye-popping variety show with a mix of ballet, burlesque and unique, jaw-dropping acts in which all of Santa's wildest secrets are revealed! You'll be laughing, singing along, and getting your buzz on.

Based on the hit 1992 film, this divine, feel-good comedy will have you rejoicing with your group this holiday season.

In SIX, the queens of Henry VIII take the mic to reclaim their identities out of the shadow of their infamous spouse-remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an exuberant celebration of twenty-first-century girl power. The all-woman cast, backed by an all-woman band known as the "Ladies in Waiting," traverses the spectrum of modern-day pop with a soundtrack that has stormed up the UK charts.

Blending magical realism with aching humanity, Smokefall unfolds inside a crumbling Midwestern home where three generations navigate love, loss and the passage of time. Talking fetuses debate existence, a father vanishes and an apple tree grows through the home - all in a poetic meditation on how families fracture, endure and find grace in the ordinary.

This comedy drama, which premiered at Steppenwolf Theatre in 2008 and transferred to Broadway in 2009, is set in a run-down donut shop in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. The owner, Arthur Przybyszewski, is a former 1960's radical whose routine is challenged when he hires Franco Wicks, a young African American man who has ideas for upgrading the shop.

The richest man in town has two daughters and one big problem: he refuses to marry the youngest, Bianca, until the eldest, Katherina, is married first. Much to her family's dismay, Katherina repeatedly - and violently - rejects the men interested in her and her wealth, and refuses to sacrifice her independence. When a mysterious gentleman enters the mix, suddenly Kate sees that surrender is no sacrifice. Perhaps there is strength in submission.

Enter a realm where reality and dreams converge; an experience unlike any other! Teatro ZinZanni is a whirlwind of international cirque, comedy and cabaret served with a multi-course feast. Described as the "Kit Kat Klub on acid," the fast-paced action unfolds around, above and alongside you as world-class acrobats, musicians, divas, illusionists, madmen and aerialists fill the intimate Spiegeltent ZaZou, a unique jewel box mirror tent. Teatro ZinZanni's signature blend of Love, Chaos & Dinner has played to sold out audiences in Seattle and San Francisco, and now comes to Chicago's Cambria Hotel with its "feast for the senses." (The New York Times)

That's Weird, Grandma features adaptations of stories written during PML's creative writing residencies in Chicago elementary schools. PML's ensemble of professional actors, comedians and musicians bring the young authors' stories to life as raucous sketches, songs and movement pieces, performing first for students in their schools and then for the public. These stories - from hilarious dialogues between unlikely characters to poignant pleas for social change, along with holiday-inspired stories - resonate with adults while celebrating the imaginations of young people.

Welcome to Urinetown: a dystopian-like city experiencing a water shortage, caused by a 20-year drought, which has led to a government-enforced ban on private toilets forcing the citizens to pay to use public amenities. With gusto, show-stopping numbers, and a little bit of love, our hero Bobby Strong and his ragtag friends rise from the sewage to spark the revolution. Thanks to the clever writing of Hollmann and Kotis, in this Tony Award-winning hit (Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score), nothing is safe from witty criticism - capitalism, politics, the establishment, the anti-establishment, and even musical theater itself.

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! is National Public Radio's Peabody Award-winning comedy news quiz show. Host Peter Sagal leads a rotating panel of comedians, writers, listener contestants, and celebrity guests through a rollicking review of the week's news. Contestants vie for the most coveted prize in all of public radio: a custom-recorded greeting by any of our cast members for their voicemail. Every week, Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me! records in front of a live audience, then carefully edits out all the raunchy, inappropriate, shocking, and hilarious stuff so we can broadcast something that doesn't get NPR in trouble... well, more trouble. The

Pageantry and spectacle come to life in this iconic holiday musical. World War II is over, and former GIs Bob and Phil have become a highly popular song-and-dance team. The men travel to a quaint ski resort in Vermont where they meet Betty and Judy, an equally talented up-and-coming sister act. Once there, they realize the mountain resort is owned by their former General, who is on the brink of losing it all. "Let's put on a show in the barn!" is the classic answer to help the beloved General save his business, culminating with epic dance numbers, spectacular costumes and a finale rendition of "White Christmas" that will make you a believer.

Who's Holiday! is a wildly funny and heartfelt adults-only comedy that tells the story of Cindy Lou Who as she recalls that Christmas Eve she first met the Grinch and the twisted turn of events her life has now taken.

Frog and Toad share seasons of adventures in a jazzy, upbeat, Tony-nominated musical. Get ready for some hopping good holiday fun when Arnold Lobel's beloved amphibians jump from page to stage in a family holiday show the NY Times called "bright, bouncy and altogether lovable!" Whether baking cookies, planting a garden, flying kites or celebrating the holidays in style, Frog and Toad discover that life is more fun when it's shared with a friend!