Things to Do in Chicago Dec. 4-10: The Mix

Theater

• “Mister Romantic” stars actor John C. Reilly singing sweet songs of love in this critically acclaimed vaudeville show. He’s backed by a band featuring Grammy winners David Garza, Charles De Castro, David Piltch and Gabe Witcher. From Dec. 4-7 at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted. Tickets: $99-$169 (nearly sold out, check ticket availability). Visit steppenwolf.org.
• Porchlight Music Theatre presents “Porchlight Sings the Season,” a holiday revue with music from Broadway and Hollywood performed by musical theater artists including Adrian Aguilar, Neala Barron, Sharriese Hamilton and George Keating. At 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8-9 at Rhapsody Theater, 1328 W. Morse Ave. Tickets: $65. Visit porchlightmusictheatre.org.

• Playmakers Laboratory presents “That’s Weird, Grandma: Holiday Party!,” which features adaptations of stories written during creative writing residencies in Chicago elementary schools. Linnaea Groh directs. From Dec. 5-14 at Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. Tickets: $15, $25. Visit playmakerslab.org.
• The Second City presents “Jack Frost Roasting on an Open Fire,” a comedy revue taking aim at everything from classic holiday movies to family gatherings and office parties. At 5 and 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd. Glen Ellyn. Tickets: $39-$57. Visit atthemac.org.

• Phil Timberlake performs “Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol,” Tom Mula’s solo show that recounts what happened to Marley, Scrooge’s business partner. To Dec. 21 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 Glenwood Ave. Tickets: $45. Visit lifelinetheatre.com.

Dance

• The Joffrey Ballet’s annual presentation of Christopher Wheeldon’s reimagining of the holiday classic, “The Nutcracker,” sets the tale on Christmas Eve 1892, months before the opening of the 1893 World’s Fair, as an immigrant family prepares to celebrate the holiday. From Dec. 5-28 at Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive. Tickets: $64+. Visit joffrey.org.
• Chicago Tap Theatre’s “Winter Wonderland” features performers celebrating the holidays through the sounds of festive holiday jazz. At 12 p.m. Dec. 6 at Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. Martin Luther King Drive. Tickets: $25-$75. Visit chicagotaptheatre.com.

• Salt Creek Ballet’s annual staging of “The Nutcracker” features professional guest artists and student dancers from Salt Creek. Dec. 5-6 at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie ($28+; northshorecenter.org;); and Dec. 19-21 with live accompaniment by the New Philharmonic at McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn ($37, $47; atthemac.org).
• Music Institute of Chicago presents “Duke It Out! Nutcracker,” which pairs Tchaikovsky’s classical score with the Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn version performed by Quintet Attacca, members of Braeburn Brass and Dance Chicago. At 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dec. 6 at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston. Tickets: $20. Visit musicinstitute.org.

Music

• Sligo fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada’s Irish Christmas in America features a lineup of traditional artists from Ireland in a showcase of music, song, dance and stories of seasonal Irish traditions. At 5 and 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: $45. Visit oldtownschool.org.
• KISS FM’s Jingle Ball includes performances by Nelly, Renee Rapp, Teddy Swims, Shinedown, Audrey Hobert, Jessie Murph, Ravyn Lenae, Jackson Wang and Zara Larsson, plus a sing-along from “K-Pop Demon Hunters.” At 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8 at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets: $34+. Visit ticketmaster.com.

• Q101 Twisted 2025 is a four-night lineup of rock artists: AJR, Wet Leg and Out in Front (6 p.m. Dec. 9); Cake (7 p.m. Dec. 10); Third Eye Blind, Yellowcard and The Paradox (7 p.m. Dec. 11) and Sublime, Soul Coughing and One for the Ditch with Dermot Mulroney (7 p.m. Dec. 12). At Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave. Ticket prices vary. Visit ticketmaster.com.
• Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus presents Holly Dolly Christmas, a dazzling and heartwarming holiday tribute to country diva Dolly Parton. At 8 p.m. Dec. 5 at Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St. ($31.10-$71.30); 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium, 5500 N. St. Louis Ave. ($40); 3 p.m. Dec. 7 at North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie ($58+). Visit cgmc.org.
• Uniting Voices Chicago, the citywide ensemble of high school students, performs a mix of holiday classics, choral tunes and seasonal music from around the globe. At 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 6 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets: $30, there is also a pay-what-you-can option. Visit cso.org.

Museums

• “Framed Views” features work from the Open House Chicago photo competition. More than 1,200 photos were submitted by people of all ages and abilities. Sixty of these photographs are now on view through Feb. 22 at Chicago Architecture Center, 11 E. Wacker Drive. Admission: $15, children 5 and under free. Visit architecture.org.

Movies

• The Music Box Theatre presents its 42nd annual holiday double feature of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “White Christmas” with Santa leading a sing-along, accompanied by organist Dennis Scott, before each screening. Lyrics are projected onto the theater’s screen. From Dec. 6-24 at 3733 N. Southport Ave. Tickets: $10, $17, double feature $15, $25. Visit musicboxtheatre.com.

Family fun

• “The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party” features four classic Beatrix Potter stories that come to life in a 45-minute show followed by playing with puppets, photos, crafts and holiday treats in the lobby. Dec. 6-7, Dec. 13-14, Dec. 20-21, Dec. 23-24 and Dec. 27-28 at Chicago Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine Ave. Tickets: $47.25+. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
• “Rudolph Runs Wild” is an interactive children’s holiday show filled with music, improv and mischief. To Dec. 31 at The Second City, 230 W. North Ave. Tickets: $29+. Visit secondcity.com.
• Collaboraction Theatre’s Sunday Family Magic Matinee features The Magical Myster AJ and his interactive hourlong performance for all ages, filled with magic, laughs and absurdity. At 1 p.m. Sundays to Dec. 28 in Collaboraction’s new home at Kimball Arts Center, 1757 N. Kimball. (No show Dec. 14.) Tickets: $25. Visit collaboraction.org.
• Let It Snow is a holiday sing-along with teaching artists Stella Childs and Skylar Grieco sharing songs of the season, both old and new. At 10:30 a.m. Dec. 6 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4545 N. Lincoln Ave. Tickets: $19. Visit oldtownschool.org.

Holiday markets

• The annual shopping extravaganza, the One of a Kind Holiday Show, returns with a selection of handmade work from more than 600 artists and makers, from fine art and furniture to apparel and jewelry. From Dec. 4-7 at The Mart, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza. Admission: $15. Visit oneofakindshowchicago.com.
• Design Museum of Chicago presents Made in Chicago, a market featuring nearly 50 vendors who, in addition to their creations, bring an educational or interactive element to highlight their creative process. From 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 6 at Harold Washington Library Winter Garden, 400 S. State St. Admission is free. Visit designchicago.org.