It may be July and we may be in summer music festival mode, but it’s never too early to be thinking about the holidays—especially with announcements of beloved characters coming to Chicago’s stages for Christmas.
Broadway in Chicago and Emerald City Theatre announced this week that A Charlie Brown Christmas will return to the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place November 11–January 8. Adapted by Eric Schaeffer from the classic TV special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson (itself based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz), A Charlie Brown Christmas will mark its second holiday season at the Broadway Playhouse, this year newly staged by Ann Filmer.
Also recently announced, a touring production of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical will play the Chicago Theatre for nine performances the week before Thanksgiving, November 17–20. Also based on a 1960s TV special, the show follows young Rudolph to the Island of Misfit Toys and back as he overcomes jerky treatment at the hooves of his fellow reindeer to help Santa save Christmas.
And for your further advance planning, the Goodman Theatre has announced dates for its 39th annual production of A Christmas Carol, November 19–December 31, with Larry Yando returning for his eighth outing as Ebenezer Scrooge. Happy holidays!