Before we dunk our heads into the wassail bowl for the remainder of the holiday season, there’s still time to catch up with some current shows that are hunkering down by the fire for a few more performances.

Trap Door Theatre added shows to their hit run of Pierre Notte’s Me Too, I Am Catherine Deneuve and it now closes this Saturday. If you’re dreading spending time with your nutty relatives, Valery Warnotte’s staging and the insanely inspired four-member ensemble may make you feel better about the prospect. Trap Door moves the show down south to Atlanta’s 14th Street Playhouse for a performance on December 11.

Citadel Theatre keeps its production of Ann Noble’s The Boarding House up through December 12. And Theater Wit ’s presentation of Itamar Moses’ The Four of Us and About Face Theatre ’s production of Patricia Kane’s Float (also staged at Theater Wit ) will both run through December 18 now.dr

Down Hyde Park way, Court Theatre keeps Home for the holidays—Samm-Art Williams’ seldom-produced story, first presented by the Negro Ensemble Company in 1981, of one man’s struggle against the backdrop of the civil and social unrest of the ’60s and ’70s. The show will stick around through December 19. Meantime, Northlight Theatre runs Paula Vogel’s A Civil War Christmas: An American Musical Celebration through December 26. They’ll be ringing in the New Year at Northlight with a special concert by E. Faye Butler. The House Theatre keeps The Nutcracker up through December 26 as well at the Chopin Theatre .

And if your idea of the perfect holiday involves high-flying feats of derring-do, then Traces, the acrobatic tour de force from Quebec’s 7 Fingers is the show for you. It runs at the Broadway Playhouse (formerly Drury Lane Water Tower Place) through January 1.

Several more productions are continuing well into the New Year. Raven Theatre keeps Cat on a Hot Tin Roof up through January 15. Lookingglass Theatre will run Amanda Dehnert’s adaptation of Peter Pan (which she also directs) through January 23. If it extends beyond that, it might run the risk of being confused for the big-tent, high-tech version from London that’s coming in at the end of April to the parking lot of the “Freedom Center”—the Chicago Tribune’s printing plant on the Near North Side. That show has already played stateside in San Francisco and Costa Mesa, CA. (No word on whether its budget exceeds the $65-million-and-counting spreadsheet for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.)

The Squeamish shall inherit the earth—at least through March 26—with Chemically Imbalanced Comedy ’s production of Amy and David Sedaris’ The Book of Liz, which takes a holiday break and then returns January 7. And the Rolling Stones will be rocking the house with Signal Ensemble Theatre ’s hit production of Aftermath, which will get a third outing January 7-23 at their new home at 1802 W. Berenice (the old home of now-defunct Breadline Theatre).

If you believe in magic, you’d better hustle to catch the last performances of the long-running Magic Cabaret at the Greenhouse Theater . It closes December 29.

Some made-in-Chicago shows are heading overseas. Million Dollar Quartet, which started out here in fall of 2008, will open on the West End in the Noel Coward Theatre in January. The cast, according to Chris Jones’ “The Theater Loop,” will probably be all-British, if they can find someone across the pond who can do a believable Johnny Cash, Elvis, et al. Chicago Shakespeare ’s exuberant Funk It Up About Nothin’ hits Joe’s Pub at the Public Theatre on January 8, returns to Upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare January 21-February 13, and then goes on tour in Australia February 23-April 2.

In other Chicago Shakespeare news, the company has named Brooke Walters as the director of institutional advancement. Walters has previously logged time in fundraising and development with Santa Fe Opera, Ravinia Festival, and Steppenwolf Theatre .

Skokie Theatre has successfully fought off the threat of foreclosure under a new arrangement with First American Bank. Al Curtis continues as the manager for the venue, with Red Seal Development taking control as property manager. The company plans to expand its youth programming through theatre camps and productions in conjunction with Three Cat Education. This Sunday, December 5, Skokie hosts the Northshore Short Film Festival from 6 to 8 p.m. Entries include Maggie Kiley’s some boys don’t leave, starring Jesse Eisenberg.

Cutting Hall in Palatine suffered a fire on November 8. Smoke damage means that classes and performances at the 430-seat venue, run through the Palatine Park District, will relocate temporarily.

A new venue opens in town this weekend in Wicker Park. The Den, located at 1333 N. Milwaukee Avenue, brings together Lia Mortensen and Sinnerman Ensemble co-founder Ryan Martin for their mutual directorial debut in William Inge’s Bus Stop, running December 3-January 22. For reservations and information, call Martin at 773/398-7028 or visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/139046.

Just up the street, the Flat Iron Artist’s Association and Collaboraction host the “Deck the Walls” three-day extravaganza, which includes an art show, holiday auction, and a soiree with Collaboraction performances December 3-5 at the Flat Iron Building, 1579 N. Milwaukee. Tickets and scheduling info at the Collaboraction site.

On December 6, 7 p.m., Collaboraction hosts the “Birds Nest” forum from Two Birds Casting at the Flat Iron Building. The focus for this first-ever forum from the casting company is on the Actors Theatre of Louisville’s apprentice company. Reserve by December 3 at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if you’re interested. Two Birds will be hosting a series of workshops and forums in the months to come.

On December 8, 7:30 p.m., the Women’s Theatre Alliance hosts its 18th annual Actors’ Scene Showcase at Stage 773. If you’re interested in checking out some new talent (or reacquainting yourself with older talent), RSVP at 773/572-2390. Both female and male actors are featured in 10 2-actor scenes, and a wine reception follows.

Courier 12 Collective, a group of local playwrights and theatre artists, presents two evenings of short plays and live music December 6-7, 7:30 p.m., at the Lincoln Square Theatre at the Berry United Methodist Church, 4754 N. Leavitt. Tix are a budget-friendly $5.

Local members and interested non-members of the Dramatists Guild are invited to attend a Chicago town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, December 6, at Prop Thtr . The topic for discussion will be “to self-produce or not to self-produce,” and a social gathering at Chief O’Neill’s fine pub across the street will follow. In other DG news, the national office has, through the Dramatists Guild Fund, launched “The Legacy Project,” which films conversations between “preeminent writers for the stage and younger emerging writers.” (Which, come to think of it, would be a great thing to adapt for local purposes.)

In self-producing news, longtime Chicago writer, actor, composer, educator, and all-around Renaissance guy Paul Amandes premieres Local Wonders, co-written with Virginia Smith and featuring songs by Amandes, at Chicago Dramatists December 2-January 9. The play, featuring Amandes and folkie favorite Anne Hills as a husband-wife team based on the book of the same title by former U.S. poet laureate Ted Kooser, is the first show presented by Amandes’ Full Sky Productions. Smith co-directs and Mary Pat Sieck of Oak Park’s Open Door Repertory took on producing duties to help make Amandes’ job a little easier.

One local dramatist who could still use a helping hand for an ailing knee is Beau O’Reilly of Curious Theatre Branch, who is also a sometime-collaborator with Amandes. The second “Ricky Ree, Kick Him in the Knee” benefit to help defray costs of O’Reilly’s recent knee replacement surgery and rehab takes place at Experimental Sound Studio, 5925 N. Ravenswood, from 3-5 p.m. this Sunday, December 5. It’s $15 or whatever you can kick in, and the line-up includes composer/musician Jeff Kowalkowski, the Crooked Mouth String Band, and many other fine folks.

The Louisiana State University Department of Theatre seeks submissions for “Outworks 2011,” a festival of LGBTQ-themed one-act plays, 10 to 20 minutes in length, no more than two scripts per writer. Send scripts in Word or PDF via e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with “Outworks 2011” in the subject line by December 15. Those selected will be produced March 15-20, 2011 and each of the six winning playwrights get $150 apiece.

Clockwise Theatre in Waukegan hosts its first annual “Pitch Day,” in which anyone who wishes to submit a production-ready play or project for consideration in the 2011-12 season can reserve a 10-minute slot to make the case. One slot in the season is being held open for the best “pitch.” Reservations will be accepted beginning January 1, and you can visit the company website for more information.

Imagination Theater received the Al Ward Spirit of Giving Award, presented by Communities in Schools of Chicago. Imagination was singled out for its “No Secrets” programming that addresses sexual abuse. Since 2001, the company has performed for over 33,000 students at CISC partner schools.

If you want to take in some dance this month that ISN’T The Nutcracker, then head out this weekend to Northwestern University. Molly Shanahan and Mad Shak perform “Sharks Before Drowning,” part of Shanahan’s multi-year “Stamina of Curiosity” series, through Sunday at the Marjorie Ward Marshall Dance Center, Ballroom Studio, 10 Arts Circle Drive in Evanston. You can order tickets in advance at the Mad Shak site.

And if you’re looking for some holiday cheer, local composer and librettist Gregg Opelka suggests that you vote for his Christmas ballad, “Christmas Every Day,” in “The Next Holiday Classic” competition. You need to cast that vote by December 4. Gregg also tells us that he has been commissioned to write the songs for a new musical based on “The Beverly Hillbillies.” (We’re pretty sure that show won’t need $65 million.) He’ll be collaborating with Tony-nominated book writer David Rogers.

More holiday-and-beyond warbling from two of our favorites: Suzanne Petri presents her cabaret tribute to Dietrich, “Celebrate the Holidays with Marlene,” on December 20, 7:30 p.m., at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. (I’m not sure if “Baby It’s Cold Outside” is planned as an encore or not.) At the same venue, on January 24, 7:30 p.m., Hollis Resnik sings her favorite things—including songs from Coward, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jules Styne, and Kurt Weill. Don’t worry—you’ll be sitting on stage in a “climate-controlled” environment for both shows. Tickets for each are $15 and can be ordered at 312/742-8497.

If you’re heading over the lake and across the woods for the holidays (that is—Michigan), consider stopping in at the Acorn Theatre for some seasonal cheer. The theatre, founded by Chicagoans David Fink and Kim Clark, hosts a wide array of musical and comedic talent year-round, including a free open mike, “Pastiche,” every Tuesday at 7 p.m. (Remember—that’s Eastern Standard Time.)

Finally, the Wishbone Theatre Collective , founded by a group of Clemson University alums, hosts a one-night only event Thursday, December 9, 9 p.m., at Fizz Bar & Grill at 3220 N. Lincoln. “Awkward Turtling: A Night of Sketch Comedy,” provides a showcase of embarrassing moments—the perfect antidote to help you forget that terrible thing you did at the office holiday party.

Send your news—awkward or awesome—to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .