By All Means, Scrooge Yourselves to Death

By Kari Geltemeyer in Arts & Entertainment on Dec 10, 2004 5:00PM

‘Tis the season for all sizes and flavors of “Christmas Carol” offerings, plus variations on its time-honored (some might say “tired”) theme. Our favorite standby is ye olde Muppets version, costarring a surprisingly tuneful Michael Caine, but our job here is to send you out into the world, not to your sofa zones. Luckily, Chicagoland has plenty of theatrical Scrooges to please everyone, everywhere, over the holidays:

For the Purists:
“A Christmas Carol”
The Cadillac of the bunch, this is the Goodman’s 27th annual production, which tends to do some brisk annual business.
Goodman Theatre
Tickets: $20-$60
Through Dec. 26

For the Faith-Based:
“A Christmas Carol”
The Provision Theatre Company production tips the scales with what the Tribune calls “an evangelical dimension.”
Chopin Theatre
Tickets: $15-$25
Through Dec. 23

For the Suburbans:
“A Christmas Carol”
A “family classic” (ahem: kid-friendly) version in Arlington Heights.
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre
Tickets: $12-$24
Through Dec. 26

For the Hipsters:
“The Hipmas Carol”
This 50-minute-long snippet by Head Cheese-Fat Boss Productions is a two-person “scat adaptation” with a jazz/blues backdrop.
Frankie J’s on Broadway/MethaDome Theatre
Tickets: $12
Through Dec. 23

For the Slackers:
“A Christmas Carol: A Radio Broadcast”
Presented by The Hypocrites as an old-time radio broadcast at a college station, so you can probably expect some "dude" references along the way.
Athenaeum Theatre
Tickets: $12, $15
Through Jan. 2

For the Kids:
“The Last Christmas Carol”
A musical comedy edition with an “exciting new, upbeat spin.” The very thought of which makes us want to hurt some people, but you're probably way nicer than we are.
Beverly Arts Center of Chicago
Tickets: $20
Through Dec. 12

Photo from the-hypocrites.com