Things to Do in Chicago Dec. 11-17: The Mix

Theater

• Cameron Mackintosh presents a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary musical “The Phantom of the Opera” featuring Maria Björnson’s original design and based on the direction of Harold Prince. Isaiah Bailey, Jordan Lee Gilbert and Daniel Lopez star. From Dec. 11-Feb. 1 at Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St. Tickets: $64-$195. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.

• Rick Schuler’s holiday show “Rocky Mountain High Experience, A John Denver Christmas,” features the singer-songwriter’s hits including “Rocky Mountain High,” “Sunshine On My Shoulders,” “Take Me Home Country Roads,” “Aspenglow” and more. From Dec. 12-14 at Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St. Tickets: $50-$105. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.

• “A Merry Little Christmas with Megan Hilty” features the Tony Award nominee and her music director Matt Cusson performing classic and contemporary holiday tunes along with Broadway favorites. At 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 and 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St. Tickets: $99-$149. Visit steppenwolf.org.

• “‘Twas the Night Before” is Cirque du Soleil’s acrobatic filled show about a jaded young girl who rediscovers the magic of the holidays. From Dec. 11-28 at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St. Tickets: $39+. Visit ticketmaster.com.

• “Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol” is the performance collective’s imaginative adaptation that updates the holiday tale as Aunt Trudy, an avowed holiday skeptic, is recruited to channel her late husband’s famous Christmas cheer. From Dec. 12-28 at Studebaker Theater, Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets: $54.50+. Visit fineartsbuilding.com.
• In John Weagly’s new play, “Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Clowns,” the detective investigates the theft of missing jewels stolen during a pantomime at a holiday party. Brian Pastor directs. From Dec. 12-Jan. 4 at City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. Tickets: $28. Visit citylit.org.
• “Christmas with C.S. Lewis” is set on Christmas Eve as British author C.S. Lewis (David Payne) reminisces about an encounter with his friend J.R.R. Tolkien that forever changed his beliefs about Christmas. From Dec. 16-21 at Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St. Tickets: $80. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.

• “Anthony Rapp: Home for the Holidays” is an intimate holiday cabaret with the Broadway actor accompanied by Rick Bertone and joined by Chicago singers. From Dec. 17-20 at Lookingglass Theatre, Water Tower Water Works, 163 E. Pearson St. Tickets: $55+. Visit lookingglasstheatre.org.
• Blake Montgomery performs his Jeff Award-winning solo show “Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs ‘A Christmas Carol’ Again,” which imagines a still-living Dickens forced to perform his classic just as he has done since 1853. To Dec. 28 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. Tickets: $45. Visit theaterwit.org.

Dance

• Hyde Park School of Dance presents its version of “The Nutcracker,” which features classical ballet, hip-hop, breakdancing, tap, West African dance and more. From Dec. 12-14 at University of Chicago’s Mandel Hall, 1131 E. 57th St. Tickets: $18+. Visit hydeparkdance.org.
• Ballet Chicago’s staging of “The Nutcracker” features George Balanchine’s Sugar Plum Fairy Pas de Deux. From Dec. 12-14 at Athenaeum Center, 2936 N. Southport Ave. ($30-$60). From Dec. 19-21 at Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St. ($25.30-$94.30). Visit balletchicago.org.

• “Mary, A Holiday Dansical,” performed by members of Black Girls Dance, is a modern twist on the traditional “Black Nativity” told through ballet, hip-hop, tap and contemporary dance. At 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. Tickets: $25-$65. Visit blackgirlsdance.org.

Music

• Preservation Hall Jazz Band: A Creole Christmas celebrates the season with performances of New Orleans classics and best-loved holiday tunes served up with a twist. At 8 p.m. Dec. 12 at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston. Tickets: $52.14-$90.14. Visit evanstonspace.com.

• Cameron Winter, the front man for the New York band Geese, has forged a new path with his debut solo album, “Heavy Metal,” a collection of new songs that meld his eclectic influences into searching, lyrical pop songs. At 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16-17 at Rockefeller Chapel at University of Chicago, 5850 S. Woodlawn Ave. Sold out but there is a wait list. Visit emptybottle.com.
• Pink Martini performs classic seasonal favorites as well as its signature blend of pop, big band, jazz and Latin tunes. The all-new show features three of the group’s longtime collaborators: NPR’s Ari Shapiro, Edna Vazquez and “America’s Got Talent” finalist Jimmie Herrod. At 7 p.m. Dec. 17 at The Auditorium, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive. Tickets: $45+. Visit auditoriumtheatre.org.

• The Lemonheads tour behind “Love Chant,” the band’s first album of all-new material in almost two decades. It marks a welcome reemergence of singer-songwriter-guitarist Evan Dando’s legendary rock band. Erin Rae opens at 8 p.m. Dec. 17 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. Tickets: $59.68, $79.50. Visit thaliahallchicago.com.
• Joel Paterson’s Christmas Extravaganza features the guitarist with his annual solo show celebrating the release of his new Christmas album, “The More the Merrier.” At 8 p.m. Dec. 17 at FitzGerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn ($24.38, fitzgeraldsnightclub.com) and 7 p.m. Dec. 21 at Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston ($27.27, evanstonspace.com).

Museums

• “Transformations” is Ellen Lustig’s solo exhibition that spans decades of creative evolution from drawings and sculpture to immersive multimedia installations that combine light, sound, animation and original music composition. To Feb. 1 at Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. Chicago Ave. Admission: $10 suggested donation. Visit uima-chicago.org.

Holiday happenings

• The curving, quarter-mile Maggie Daley Park Ice Skating Ribbon offers stunning views of the downtown skyline and has become a winter family tradition for many. Skate rentals start at $17. The nearby Rink Café offers food and beverages. Open daily to March 8 337 E. Randolph St., with available time slots; online reservations are recommended. Visit maggiedaleypark.com.
• Winter Wonderfest features light displays, decorated trees, ice skating, entertainment, train rides, a bounce house, bumper cars, a carousel, arcade games and more. To Jan. 4 at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand Ave. Tickets: $25+. Visit navypier.org/winterwonderfest.

Holiday markets

• Martyrs’ Krampus Fest features a holiday artisan market (noon-6 p.m.), a Krampus Cafe serving German-style street food and mulled wine, a Krampus parade along Lincoln Avenue (6:30 p.m.) and an on-stage Krampus Pageant and Costume Contest with live music beginning at 7:30 p.m. From noon-close Dec. 13 at Martyrs’, 3855 N. Lincoln Ave. Admission is free. Visit martyrslive.com.
• Randolph Street Holiday Market features vendors with vintage and modern holiday décor, fashion, jewelry and retro furnishings. Plus there’s food, DJs and festive photo installations. From 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 13-14 at 1340 W. Washington Blvd. Tickets: $12, kids under 12 free. Visit randolphstreetmarket.com.