The magical production features lavish costumes, exquisite sets, including a Christmas tree that grows before your eyes and sensational choreography.

The characters will perform songs from the unforgettable musical score of legendary composer Vince Guaraldi at the Dec. 8 show.

The Vince Carney Community Theater at 108 S. Main St. in Rochelle will host its 10th annual winter gala fundraiser Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.

Polo Area Community Theatre is in rehearsals for its next production, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” by Barbara Robinson.

Check out these theaters across northern Illinois that are bringing holiday classics like "The Nutcracker" and "A Christmas Carol" to life this season.

The Prairie Arts Council will usher in the holiday season with The Magic of Christmas, a charming community theater children’s musical written and directed by Rachel Gorenz-Johnson. Performances will be held at the Prairie Arts Center, 24 Park Ave East in Princeton, on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6 at 7 p.m., with a matinee on Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children, and may be purchased by calling (719) 290-0954. The production is supported in part by grants from the Illinois Arts Council and The Princeton Closet, helping bring this seasonal tradition to the community.

“A Cripple Creek Christmas Carol” will run Nov. 21–Dec. 7 at Raue Center for the Arts in downtown Crystal Lake.

Fans of the holiday classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” are in for a double treat when the Morrison Music Theater Association performs the radio version at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Crossroads Community Church, 300 W. South St. in Morrison.

This festive spin on the Tony-nominated hit brings together four legendary voices – Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley – for a one-of-a-kind holiday jam session at Sun Records.

In the third installment of the Christmas at Pemberley trilogy, two friends forge their own way in a Christmas season tale filled with music, ambition and sisterhood.

‘Seussical Jr.’ will be performed at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 and 15 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 16 at Centennial Auditorium at Sterling High School, 1608 Fourth Ave., Sterling.

Seasoned performers are getting in on the act in Dixon, where seniors' talents are getting an encore performance, thanks to a new theater group.

The Kirk Players’ 60th season kicks off with a fiery rendition of “12 Angry Jurors.”

The Dixon Historic Theatre welcomes Dishwalla on Nov. 29, and Texas Flood on Nov. 9.

Classical Arts Entertainment presents “Swan Lake” Ballet at the Rialto Square Theatre in downtown Joliet on Sunday, Nov. 16.

Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland blends the spellbinding grace and daredevil athleticism of today’s greatest circus performers with a musical mix of timeless seasonal music.

Sauk Valley Community College's newly emerged Theatre Club began due to growing student interest. Many students involved with the club come from high school theater backgrounds and were looking for an outlet to reignite that passion in the college setting. 

Oregon High School will present its fall play, “Dystopia! The Hungry Maze Game of Divergent Death” by Don Zolidis on Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. in the OHS Auditorium.

DeKalb youth theater company Lightbeam Players will present its show “Secrets Lie Beyond” on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.

Additional performers in the 2025-2026 season include the Soweto Gospel Choir, Cirque Kalabanté and many more.

Improv Playhouse celebrates its 25th anniversary season in its newly expanded Libertyville theater space with a thrilling Halloween weekend presentation of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.”

The two-time Tony Award nominated musical is a family favorite that brings generations together to celebrate the magic of the holidays.

'Puffs' will be presented Nov. 14-16 and Nov. 21-23.

Dixon Stage Left announces an improv workshop with Stephen Osborne. It's a 6-week course that will meet from 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays from Nov. 4 through Dec. 16 at 105 S. Peoria Ave. in Dixon.

Woodstock’s Theatre 121 will produce the world premiere of the script, “It’s a Wonderful Christmas Carol” for several shows in November at the Woodstock Opera House.

Dixon Stage Left’s first Senior Theatre showcase performance, “We Still Got It!”, will be Sunday, Oct. 26 at The Next Picture Show.

Lyons Township Theatre presents the play, “The Outsiders” at 7 p.m. Oct. 30 and Nov. 1 and 2 p.m. Nov. 2 at in the North Campus Reber Center.

The final curtain hasn't fallen on small town community theater across the nation. That's the case in Polo, where performers of all ages and experience levels come together for a few shows a year to entertain and amaze local crowds.

Jim Healy will present his one-person play, “Louis Jolliet: A Solid Path Through Water,” at the Joliet Area Historical Museum at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.

The future of the Joliet park has been in question since the park manager was put on administrative leave.

It is time for a brain-busting, pizza-loving fundraiser. Timber Lake Playhouse is looking for people ready to show off their smarts, bring friends, form a dream team and join TLP at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025, at Manny’s Pizza, 211 Main St. in Savanna.

Improv Playhouse has announced the launch of IP Act 3, a performance showcase workshop designed for adults ready to rediscover their creative spark, step into the spotlight and experience the joy of theater in a supportive, workshop and community-driven environment.

Alan Barillaro will launch his new middle-grade book "Bunns Rabbit."

River Valley Players, based in Henry, is celebrating its 49th season with "Shrek, the Musical" a stage adaptation of the 2001 hit film starring Mike Myers as the curmudgeonly but ultimately kind-hearted ogre.

The Vince Carney Community Theater at 108 S. Main St. in Rochelle will present “An Evening of Edgar Allan Poe” on Oct. 17-19 and 24-25, 2025.

Stage 212 in La Salle will hold auditions for its Winter 2026 production of the musical “Little Women” on Friday, Oct. 24, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. at the theater, 700 First St.

Auditions will be held at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Morrison. The play will be presented on Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6.

Performing Arts Guild will present an original work, “Tapestry of Shadows,” Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. in Mt. Morris.

Performances run Oct. 10-12 at the Sandwich Opera House.

Performing Arts Guild's latest play, titled "Tapestry of Shadows", will be performed this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Allure of Pinecrest Grove Theatre in Mt. Morris. Tickets can be had at the Allure of Pinecrest Grove Theatre in Mt. Morris on the days of the performances, at performingartsguild.com or by calling 815-734-2103.

People came to the City Council meeting wanting answers on Joliet plans for Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park.

Lemont High School's drama club will feature “Little Women” for nightly shows from Oct. 16 to 18.

This fall, the Mt. Morris Performing Arts Guild will present Tapestry of Shadows, a theatrical tribute to Edgar Allen Poe. The show will consist of four of Poe’s most haunting works – The Raven, The Black Cat, The Cask of Amontillado, and The Tell-Tale Heart.

Stage 212 in Princeton announced its 2026 season, “Nostalgia Reimagined: Escaping Into Connection,” featuring four diverse productions exploring connection, memory, and imagination.

Performances are set for Oct. 10-11 and 14.

Festival 56 has appointed Marc Bitler as its new Producing Artistic Director, marking his return to the Princeton theater company after a decade away.

Based on the comic strip by Harold Gray, “Annie” won seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and features well-known songs such as “Tomorrow.”

The city of Joliet won't comment on status of the park manager, but says it has hired outside lawyers to look into operations at Bicentennial Park.

Enjoy discounts to select shows and free programming during October.

The Rochelle Township High School Theater Department will present its fall play, “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” by Don Zolidis, Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 2-4, at 7:30 p.m. each night in the RTHS Auditorium. Entry for adults is $5 and student entry is $3.