As the holidays arrive, the Chicago theater scene is once again stepping into the spotlight with a lineup that blends beloved classics, local favorites, and new seasonal productions. From downtown mainstays to neighborhood gems, the city’s stages offer something festive for every age and taste, and audiences are already packing houses across the city.
Here’s a look at what’s playing across Chicago this holiday season:
Goodman Theatre — A Christmas Carol
Runs now through December 31, 2025
A Chicago tradition for more than four decades, the Goodman’s A Christmas Carol continues to anchor the city’s holiday calendar. With dazzling production design and an ensemble of top Chicago talent, the classic Dickens tale returns with its timeless message of generosity and transformation. Many performances historically sell out, making this one of downtown’s most in-demand seasonal tickets.
The Auditorium Theatre — The Nutcracker (Joffrey Ballet at the Lyric Opera House)
Runs December 5 through December 28, 2025
The Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker, reimagined by Christopher Wheeldon and set during the 1893 World’s Fair, remains one of the city’s most visually stunning holiday traditions. With its sweeping sets, award-winning choreography, and a uniquely Chicago spin on the classic, it draws families, ballet lovers, and first-time patrons every year.
American Blues Theater – It’s A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!
Runs now through December 28, 2025
American Blues Theater’s long running radio style version of It’s A Wonderful Life has settled in as one of Chicago’s essential holiday traditions. Performed as a live 1940s broadcast complete with onstage sound effects and classic carols, it turns the familiar film into an intimate, communal experience. It is a warm, nostalgic option for audiences who want something heartfelt without leaving the city.
Auditorium Theatre – Elf The Musical
Runs now through December 14, 2025
Auditorium Theatre brings Buddy the elf to the Loop in a full scale staging of Elf The Musical. The show follows Buddy from his accidental arrival at the North Pole to his wide eyed search for his father in New York City, with plenty of comedy along the way. Bright visuals, big musical numbers, and a clear Christmas message make it one of the season’s most family friendly tickets.
Marriott Theatre – Million Dollar Quartet Christmas
Runs now through January 4, 2026
At Marriott Theatre, Million Dollar Quartet Christmas mixes rock and roll energy with holiday spirit. Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley gather at Sun Records for a fictional holiday jam session that blends seasonal favorites with the hits that made them famous. It is a lively choice for audiences who prefer a jukebox vibe over a traditional carol based show.
Cirque du Soleil at The Chicago Theatre – ’Twas The Night Before…
Runs December 11 through December 28, 2025
Cirque du Soleil returns to The Chicago Theatre with ’Twas The Night Before…, a high energy spin on the classic poem. The story follows a skeptical young girl who is pulled into a topsy turvy Christmas world, told through acrobatics, dance, and bold visual design. It is an eye catching option for families who want a spectacle that still feels rooted in the season.
Manual Cinema at The Studebaker Theater – Christmas Carol
Runs December 12 through December 28, 2025
Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol at The Studebaker Theater offers a very different take on Dickens. The production follows Aunt Trudy, alone on a family video call as she tries to get through the holiday by retelling the Scrooge story. Using overhead projectors, puppets, live actors, and original music, Manual Cinema turns the familiar tale into a layered piece about grief, memory, and the ways families hold on to tradition.
eta Creative Arts – Mika Scrooge
Runs December 12 through December 14, 2025
At eta Creative Arts, Mika Scrooge moves the Christmas Carol framework into a contemporary setting. The story centers on a successful music producer wrestling with ghosts from her past over the holidays, set in a fictional Chicago suburb. It combines a familiar redemption arc with new music and a modern point of view, and it offers South Side audiences a holiday story in a setting that feels closer to home.
Chicago Kids Company – Mrs. Claus! A Holiday Musical
Runs now through December 23, 2025
Chicago Kids Company brings Mrs. Claus! A Holiday Musical to Beverly Arts Center and Stahl Family Theater. When Santa’s list goes missing right before Christmas, Mrs. Claus teams up with a class of eager young elves to save the day. Designed for younger audiences, the show leans into bright costumes, simple songs, and interactive moments that make it an easy first theater experience for children.
Theater Wit – Who’s Holiday!
Runs now through December 28, 2025
For adults who prefer their holiday theater with an edge, Theater Wit offers Who’s Holiday! Cindy Lou Who is all grown up, and she has a lot to say about the Grinch and what happened after that famous Christmas Eve. The play is profane, very funny, and unexpectedly touching, and it has become a go to pick for audiences who want something decidedly not for kids in December.
The Clutch – The Real Housewives of the North Pole
Runs now through January 4, 2026
Hell in a Handbag Productions brings over-the-top holiday comedy to The Clutch with The Real Housewives of the North Pole. When Santa and the North Pole elite are caught in a financial scandal, their glamorous spouses find themselves scrambling to rescue their reputations. Enter Andy Cohen and Bravo with a reality TV makeover that sends Mrs. Claus, Mrs. Frosty the Snowman, Suzy Snowflake, and Gladys Dasher into a battle for fame and fortune. It’s a campy, adult-leaning holiday romp for audiences who like their seasonal shows packed with satire.
Paramount Theatre – White Christmas
Runs now through January 11, 2026
Paramount Theatre’s production of White Christmas brings the beloved musical to life with sweeping dance numbers, colorful costumes, and a nostalgic, feel-good story. Audiences follow Bob and Phil, former WWII GIs turned entertainers, as they travel to a Vermont inn and discover their former General is on the brink of financial ruin. Their solution is pure musical comedy: put on a show. With classic Irving Berlin tunes and a finale that delivers the magic its title promises, it is one of the season’s most traditionally joyful offerings.
With classics, comedies, ballets, and brand-new musicals, the Chicago theater holiday season offers something for every kind of theatergoer. Whether you’re seeking timeless storytelling or a playful, contemporary twist, the city’s stages capture the magic of the season in unforgettable ways.
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