Take a break from some of that turkey this Thanksgiving weekend by getting into the Christmas spirit early.
The Emerald City Theatre Company kicks off Chicago’s holiday season with the world premiere of A Nutcracker Christmas, giving audiences a taste of the holidays before the evergreens are decorated, the eggnog comes out or Kris Kringle drops down the chimney.
The highlight of the Emerald City’s Christmas Fundraiser, A Nutcracker Christmas is a new musical by the Jeff Award-winning tandem of playwright G. Riley Mills and composer Ralph Covert. Paced by fresh holiday songs and the engaging style of musical theater, Mills and Covert deliver a new rendition of the age-old classic The Nutcracker.
While Mills and Covert’s play is the centerpiece, it’s only one aspect of Emerald City’s fundraiser. A Christmas reception – where Covert’s kiddie rock band, Bad Examples, will perform a few songs – follows the show and offers a diverse selection of amenities. Attendees can play theater games, and every child will go home with a unique holiday gift.
And to cap the Christmas affair, Cold Stone Creamery will unveil a new flavor of ice cream, “Nutcracker Twist,” which was custom-made to celebrate Emerald City’s new musical.
The Emerald City Nutcracker Christmas Fundraiser takes place at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Nov. 26. Tickets cost $25 to $35. More information is available online at www.emeraldcitytheatre.com or by calling (773) 935-6100.
– Michael Burgner