“The Nutcracker”: The Joffrey Ballet’s annual production sets the classic holiday show at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago, where Marie journeys with the Nutcracker Prince through the wonders of the fair’s pavilions. The story is brought to life through puppetry, projections, rich sets and costumes, and Tchaikovsky’s music performed by the Lyric Opera Orchestra. Through Dec. 27 at Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive; tickets $36-$208 at 312-386-8905 and joffrey.org
“A Magical Cirque Christmas”: A Christmas fairy played by comedic magician Lucy Darling leads a journey through time from the 1890s through the 1970s in a show featuring music from each period plus juggling, a unicyclist, acrobats and some audience participation. 7:30 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe St.; tickets $22-$142 at broadwayinchicago.com
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“Dear Evan Hansen”: The Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway musical follows a socially awkward high school student whose therapist-assigned letter-writing project gives him an unusual chance to fit in. Through Dec. 31 at the Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St.; tickets $36-$157 at broadwayinchicago.com
“Bluey’s Big Play”: A theatrical version of the Emmy Award-winning animated kids show uses a mix of actors, puppets and new music to tell an original story about the Blue Heeler dog and her younger sister Bingo as they find ways to disrupt their dad’s Sunday afternoon off. 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; tickets $25-$155 at msg.com
“Duke It Out! Nutcracker”: The Music Institute of Chicago fuses Tchaikovsky’s classical score and the Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn jazz version into a single family-friendly show featuring music from Quintet Attacca. Bring the kids early and they’ll be able to try some of the instruments used in the performance. 2 p.m. Sunday at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston; tickets $10 at musicinst.org/nch
“Ornaments 4 All”: Shop one-of-a-kind ornaments created by 30 Chicago artists at the second annual show. You can also browse the store’s collection of products from small manufacturers and crafters including hats, shirts, candles, rugs, pillows and ceramics. Through Dec. 31 at Buddy at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.; admission is free, more information at hi-buddy.org
The Color Is: Renaissance Weekend: The closing celebration for “Nick Cave and Jack Cave: The Color Is Fashion Exhibition,” which explores the history of Black aesthetics through the Ebony Fashion Fair and Black cinema, features presentations, screenings, panels, performances, a gala, and a dance party. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at the DuSable Black History Museum, 740 E. 56th Place; tickets free to $80 at eventbrite.com
Celtic Woman: A Christmas Symphony: The Billboard-topping Irish music ensemble performs a family-friendly show with the Chicago Philharmonic featuring Irish and Gaelic carols, a new arrangement of “Silent Night,” classic holiday tunes and a “Deck the Halls” singalong. The show incorporates traditional instruments such as bagpipes and the bodhrán drum. 7 p.m. Sunday at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive; tickets $47-$158 at 312-341-2300 and auditoriumtheatre.org
“Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins”: Strawdog Theatre Company’s fifth annual musical adaptation of Eric Kimmel’s Caldecott Honor-winning book features a traveling troupe of actors and a clever man who must save the Jewish holiday from a group of goblins haunting the old synagogue. Through Dec. 31 at The Edge Off Broadway Theater, 1133 W. Catalpa Ave.; tickets are free with a reservation at strawdog.org
“Himali Singh Soin: Static Range”: The multidisciplinary exhibit uses a mix of text, music, video, textiles and ceramics to explore the environmental fallout caused by a lost plutonium-powered device the CIA and the Indian Intelligence Bureau installed in the Indian Himalayan mountain Nanda Devi in 1965 in an attempt to intercept Chinese nuclear missile data. Through May 15, 2023, at the Art Institute, 111 S. Michigan Ave.; tickets $20-$25 at artic.edu
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