Arts & Entertainment

Eat, Drink, Be Merry!

Chicago Cabaret Professionals host annual holiday cabaret and fundraiser

Chicago Cabaret Professionals will host Merry Measures, its annual holiday fundraiser, at 7:30 p.m. December 5 and 6 at Davenport’s Piano Bar, 1383 N. Milwaukee Ave. This year, 28 diverse cabaret artists will take the stage. Every year, the group selects a charity to support, so this year, “We wanted to recognize that Chicago has one of the largest concentrations of Ukrainians in the U.S., to honor their contributions to the city for over 100 years,” producer Laura Freeman said. Net proceeds from ticket sales and a raffle at each performance will be donated to UNICEF USA to ensure that the children and families of Ukraine have access to safe water, nutrition, health care, education, and protection. General admission $20, plus a twodrink minimum; tickets available at davenportspianobar.com and at the door. Must be 21+.

The Power of Voices!

Holidays/Hanukkah a cappella

You hear them every year. Over and over again. Take a break from the Christmas radio station and let the beautifully blended voices and golden harmonies of Chicago a cappella singers lift you into the clouds with soaring sacred music and lesser-known holiday songs, plus a few classics that will make you want to sing along! “Holidays a cappella” will feature Christmas music in seven languages, and “Hanukkah a cappella” will include a repertoire from over 25 years of the group’s performances. “Holiday a cappella” at 8 p.m. Friday, December 9, at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 115 E. Delaware Place, and 4 p.m. Sunday, December 18, at Nichols Concert Hall, 1400 Chicago Ave., Evanston. “Hanukkah a cappella” at 8 p.m. Saturday December 10, at Congregation Rodfei Zedek, 5200 S. Hyde Park Blvd., and 8 p.m. Sunday, December 11 at Congregation Sukkat Shalom, 1001 Central Ave., Wilmette. Tickets $35+ at chicagoacappella.org

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Mrs. Claus! A Holiday Musical

Chicago Kids Company’s holiday classic celebrates the 23rd year of “Mrs. Claus! A Holiday Musical.” Christmas is around the corner, and Santa’s list is missing! Join Mrs. Claus and the Elf Class of 2022 as they try to find it in time to save Christmas. “Mrs. Claus! A Holiday Musical” was written in 1999 by Jesus Perez and features original songs by Paige Coffman. Daytime performances will be at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., through December 23, and at the Stahl Family Theater, 5900 W. Belmont Ave. from December 6-23. Individual tickets range from $15-$20; kids under 2 are FREE. Group rates are also available. Tickets can be purchased at chicagokidscompany.com/mrs-claus

A Choral Celebration!

A Chanticleer Christmas

The beloved, Grammy-winning men’s chorus brings its “rich, intricately blended sound” (Washington Post) to its signature holiday celebration, 7:30 p.m. December 6 and 7, at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St. Following their history of mixing past and present, the Chanticleers will make a candlelit entrance singing Gregorian chant, move on to Renaissance music, then to new arrangements of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and “Merry Christmas, Darling,” popularized in the 1970s by The Carpenters, and close with a medley of Christmas spirituals. Tickets $39+ at cso.org/performances/22-23/scp-specials/a-chanticleer-christmas/

A Joyous Commute!

CTA Holiday Train and Bus

Santa and his sleigh ride on an open-air, flat bed rail car, with passenger cars outlined in thousands of lights. Find them on the CTA Red Line December 6, 8 & 10; the Purple Line December 7 & 9; the Pink Line December 13-14; the Blue Line December 15, 16 & 17; and the Yellow Line December 20. Santa waves from the roof hatch of the lit-up Holiday Bus. Ride it December 6 on the #74 Fullerton route; December 7-8 on #66 Chicago; December 9 on #126 Jackson; December 12 on #12 Roosevelt; December 13 on #62 Archer, December 14-15 on #49 Western/Express; December 16-17 on #3 King Drive; December 20 on #79/79th Street; December 21 on #28 Stony Island; December 22 on #29 State Street and December 23 on #J14 Jeffrey Jump. Exact times at transitchicago.com/holidaybustracker