The Second City invites people to laugh their way through the holidays.
“I Saw Mommy Kissing the Second City” runs Nov. 25-Dec. 23 at the Copley Theatre in Aurora. It’s a show dedicated to poking gentle fun at the holidays and all their trappings, traditions and aggravations.
Cast member Cassidy Russell has been with Second City for over a year and will be seen onstage in Aurora. She thinks audiences will love the show.
“There are songs, sketches, some improv and it’s all holiday-themed or loosely holiday-themed,” she said. “We’re not cramming Santa down anyone’s throat. It’s a mix of material, but when our director gave us the running order of the show everyone was really excited. There’s a mix of really fun (skits), some stuff that’s really heartfelt and some singing and dancing.”
You’ll see some improv, a few brand-new sketches written specifically for this show and some previously written material that’s never been done in Aurora before, she said. Audiences will see themselves in sketches like dealing with family and trying to make new traditions.
“We have a sketch that I think is really funny about dealing with TSA over the holidays,” she said. “We’re coming at the holidays from a lot of different perspectives. Like — what do you do with a white elephant gift you don’t want? Everyone has had that moment.”
If nothing else, the night will give people a chance to relax and laugh at themselves and their own seasonal circumstances.
“The holidays are weird and I feel like this show does a really good job at looking at the joy of the holidays and also the parts that aren’t as joyful and figuring out where there is lightness in the darkness,” she said.
Here are 10 things you should put on your holiday check list this season.
1. An Almost Winter Day: 2-5 p.m. Nov. 19 at South Elgin Business Association Park, 151 Water St., South Elgin. Tickets: free. 847-742-5780; southelgin.com/residents/special_events.
Residents can make s’mores, decorate cookies, make a craft, watch an ice sculptor, partake in some asphalt curling, enjoy a bonfire and witness a giant sling shot in action. Santa will be on hand until 4:45 p.m. for pictures. At 5 p.m., the festivities move to Panton Mill Park across the street for the village tree lighting. The event ends with the fireworks rescheduled from the End of Summer Music Fling.
2. Illumination: Tree Lights at Morton Arboretum: 4:30-8 p.m. (last ticket entry) Nov. 19-Jan. 7, 2023, at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle. Tickets: $14-$27. 630-968-0074; mortonarb.org.
At the 10th annual Illumination: Tree Lights at the Morton Arboretum, guests can explore 50 acres of color, light and sound featuring six new displays as well as returning favorites.
A new display in the Arboretum’s new Grand Garden leads to a laser-light finale.
Also new this year is Electric Illumination, where adults 18 and older can observe the lighted displays synced to a curated mix of trance and progressive house music. The limited run is from 9:30-11 p.m. Dec. 16, 23 and 30.
3. Bret Michaels — Home for the Holidays: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets: $79-$109. 630-962-7000; arcadalive.com.
Award-winning singer songwriter Bret Michaels brings his holiday show to the Arcada Theatre.
4. NaperLights: 4-10 p.m. daily Nov. 24 to Jan. 1, 2023, on Water Street, Foyo Plaza, Jaycees Park and the Riverwalk in Naperville. Tickets: free. naperlights.com.
Naperville Sunrise Rotary’s NaperLights holiday display returns, featuring 150,000 lights and giant lighted holiday figures including skating polar bears, penguins, skaters, snowmen, carolers, gifts and dancing trees. Families can visit with Santa by the Great Tree on Friday and Saturday evenings beginning Dec. 2. The interactive lighted Honey Locust Tree, which responds to noise, returns to Jaycees Park. Musicians from Bach to Rock will perform Dec. 17 and 18.
Holographic viewing glasses will be available weekends while supplies last.
5. “Miracle on 34th Street” live radio show: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays Nov. 25-Dec. 18 at Steel Beam Theatre, 111 W. Main St., St. Charles. Tickets: $22-$28. 630-587-8521; steelbeamtheatre.com.
This heartwarming holiday classic about a department store Santa who thinks he’s the real deal plays out as a live 1940′-era radio broadcast, with holiday songs and commercial jingles.
6. “I Saw Mommy Kissing the Second City:” 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. most Sundays Nov. 25-Dec. 23 at Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Tickets: $38. 630-896-6666; paramountaurora.com.
The Second City’s famous brand of seasonal hilarity comes to Aurora for the holidays with its annual holiday revue. This production is for audiences 18 years and older.
7. Geneva Chirstmas Walk: 6 p.m. Dec. 2, starting at 113 S. Third St. in downtown Geneva. Tickets: free. 630-232-6060; genevachamber.com.
Festivities begin with Bob’s Candy Cane Parade, Graham’s Chocolates’ first candy cane of the season and the arrival of Santa Lucia, the Swedish symbol of the season. The town tree is lit and Santa Claus and the Grinch will arrive. All Chocolate Kitchen will recreate its record-breaking candy cane. There will also be carolers and fresh-roasted chestnuts.
Also, the Holiday House Tour is from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 2 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 3. Tickets are $38. Five Geneva homes will be decorated for the holidays by local designers and open to visitors for self-guided tours. Tickets include a traditional holiday tea and a gift from Scentcerely Yours.
8. “Let It Be Christmas:” 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8-10, 15-17 and 3 p.m. Dec. 10 and 17 at Community Christian Church, 1635 Emerson Lane, Naperville. Tickets, $10-$37. 630-388-5000; communitychristian.org.
“Let It Be Christmas (The Gospel According to Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, George, and Ringo)” is Epic Theatre Company’s rock-opera version of the nativity story set to the music of The Beatles and performed by a live band and full ensemble.
9. Swingin’ into Christmas with the Pete Ellman Big Band: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 and 3 p.m. Dec. 10 at Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville. Tickets: $20-$25. 630-637-7469; finearts.northcentralcollege.edu/.
This concert, featuring jazz and traditional arrangements of holiday favorites and an audience sing-along, will mark the sixth collaboration between the 120-member Naperville Chorus and the Pete Ellman Big Band. It is also the final performance by Naperville Chorus’ music director, Jeordano Martinez, who will retire after 35 years.
10. Second City’s Jingle Bell Ruckus: 5 and 8 p.m. Dec. 10 at the McAninch Arts Center at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Tickets: $30-$48. 630-942-4000; atthemac.org.
The Second City’s “Jingle Bell Ruckus” serves up seasonal satire and belly laughs while poking fun at all the usual holiday trappings.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
