A Beer Carol
Sean Benjamin and Steve Mosqueda of the Drinking & Writing Theater get Dickensian with their latest, in which heartless domestic-beer exec Bud Miller, CEO of Milweiser, is haunted by the ghosts of the four ingredients of beer. Drinking & Writing Theater at Haymarket Pub & Brewery, 737 W Randolph St. Sat 19–Dec 17; $15.

Winter Solstice Festival
December 17
North Park Village Nature Center (5801 N Pulaski Rd, 312-744-5472, www.chicagoparkdistrict.com). 6:00pm-9:00pm, FREE.
We all love Chicago, but sometimes the city can get tiresome. Grab a break for an evening at the North Park Village Nature Center and get reconnected with the great outdoors. Take a stroll though the trails, visit the critters from the Big Run Wolf Ranch, and make some edible ornaments for the animals. Oh, and let’s not forget you’ll get to roast chestnuts on an open fire…for real.

The Santa Stories: One naughty, one nice
November 18-December 18
Studio BE (3110 N Sheffield Ave, studio-be.org, 773-732-5450) G-rated show: Sundays, 6pm; R-rated show: Fridays and Saturdays, 11:59pm, $8-$15.
Ever wonder how Santa came to be? Check out pH Productions’ The Santa Stories to find out. Bring the kids to the G-rated version to see the journey of how a little boy named Santa became the Father of Christmas. The show is made for all ages and milk and cookies will be served. Looking for something naughtier? Leave the kids with a sitter and check out the R-rated version where nothing is off limits, including swearing, homoerotic undertones and blood. This show is BYOB.

JOY!
November 30-December 21
iO Theater (3541 N Clark St, chicago.ioimprov.com, 773-880-0199) Wednesdays, 9pm, $10.
iO Improv wants to bring enthusiasm back to Christmas by putting on a show free from the bitter cynicism seen in most comedy holiday shows. The show features sketches and songs from the iO family and a finale where audience members join the cast for a caroling romp through Wrigleyville. Call to reserve tickets.

Charles Dickens Begrudgingly Performs “A Christmas Carol.” Again.
Even Dickens has Scrooge fatigue in this new piece by Blake Montgomery, which combines a loose biography of the author with a(nother) retelling of his most-told tale. The Building Stage, 412 N Carpenter St (312-491-1369). Dec 1–Dec 24; $22, students $12.

Joffrey Ballet’s The Nutcracker
December 9-27
Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (50 E Congress Pkwy, auditoriumtheatre.org, 800-982-ARTS) Performance times vary, $30-$115.
Catch one of 20 performances of The Nutcracker as The Joffrey Ballet turns the Auditorium Theatre into a winter wonderland full of toys and waltzing snowflakes. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the show, which features both the full Joffrey Company and 118 young dancers from Chicago and beyond. The performances maintain the classic choreography created by Robert Joffrey and feature elegant costumes and an extravagant set.

Hannukatz the Musical
Hannukatz, a groovy, tie-dye-wearing rock & roll cat, teaches a Skokie family the true meaning of Hanukkah in this trippy new musical by Terry Abrahamson and Michael Carlson, based on Abrahamson’s self-published children’s book. Abrahamson’s other theater work includes Kama Sutra: The Musical, but we’re promised Hannukatz is family friendly. National Pastime Theater, 4139 N Broadway (773-327-7077). Dec 2–31; $25, kids ages 12 and under $10.