The Auditorium Philms Concert Series continues with The Holiday in Concert with the Chicago Philharmonic, December 20th

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THE AUDITORIUM PHILMS CONCERT SERIES continues with

The Holiday in Concert

with the Chicago Philharmonic

One night only, Saturday, December 20 at 7:30 PM at The Auditorium

The Chicago Philharmonic performs the Hans Zimmer score live to film

Tis the season for holiday fun with family and friends, or maybe even a special date. It's also cuffing season, ya know. What better way to set the mood than with a fun romcom and a live orchestra? Here at ChiIL Live Shows, we adore The Auditorium Philms Concert Series. This blend of iconic movies and live accompaniment by the Chicago Philharmonic makes for an incomparable live-to-film experience. Cut the clutter this season and make some memories with an experiential gift instead. 

The Auditorium (Chicago’s landmark stage at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive) and the Chicago Philharmonic bring a live-to-film experience of the beloved romcom The Holiday in Concert this festive season. The Chicago Philharmonic takes the Christmas classic and the score of world-renowned composer Hans Zimmer to new heights. The one-night-only presentation takes place Saturday, December 20 at 7:30 PM at The Auditorium, 50 E Ida B Wells Dr. 

Tickets are limited, starting at $48, and are available at auditoriumtheatre.org or by calling The Auditorium’s Ticket Service Center at 312.341.2300

The popular Nancy Meyers romcom The Holiday stars Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Jack Black. The film tells the story of Amanda, who lives in LA as a movie trailer editor, and Iris, who lives in Surrey as a journalist. The two decide to swap houses for two weeks at Christmas – both trying to forget their troubled love lives, until love finds them anyway. The Holiday premiered in 2006 and was a commercial success, grossing $205.8 million worldwide. The upcoming live-to-film experience at The Auditorium with the Chicago Philharmonic brings the beloved holiday classic and Hans Zimmer’s score to Chicagoans for an unforgettable live holiday experience under the direction of long-time collaborator conductor Thiago Tiberio.

“Once again, we’re thrilled to welcome guests for another truly magical movie night,” said The Auditorium CEO Rich Regan. “Hans Zimmer’s unforgettable score from The Holiday will be brought to life by the Chicago Philharmonic in a way you’ve never experienced before. We invite everyone to come celebrate the season with music, warmth, and holiday joy here at The Auditorium.”

“We can't wait to bring this movie and score to The Auditorium,” said Chicago Philharmonic Executive Director Terell Johnson. “It's a beautiful, nostalgic way to celebrate the holidays, and another opportunity to show new audiences the magic of live symphonic performance."

About The Chicago Philharmonic Society

Founded by musicians of the Lyric Opera Orchestra in 1989, The Chicago Philharmonic Society is on a mission to reimagine the orchestra concert experience. With nearly 200 musician members and a unique system of musician governance, the organization is one of the most versatile, innovative, and ambitious orchestras in the country.

Chicago Philharmonic proudly collaborates with the greatest artists of our time, in every genre. Past collaborations have included The Joffrey Ballet, English National Ballet, Kishi Bashi, Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Joshua Bell, Tank and the Bangas, William Basinski, the American Ballet Theatre, Ryan Speedo Green, and more.

In 2021, Crain’s Business Chicago 40 Under 40 awardee Terell Johnson joined the organization as Executive Director. Since then, the orchestra has become a force for innovation and inclusion in the city’s performing arts ecosystem with a series of increasingly high-profile events. 2024 brought the orchestra’s debut at Lollapalooza Chicago with Icelandic jazz/pop sensation Laufey as the first orchestra to ever perform at the famed festival; a highly anticipated return to Ravinia Festival with a World Premiere tribute to Whitney Houston and a concert with the Violent Femmes; and the World Premiere tour of An Evening with Sleeping At Last culminating in a sold-out debut at Carnegie Hall. Learn more at www.chicagophil.org.


About Thiago Tiberio

Mr. Tiberio is a specialist in musical synchronization to film, having conducted orchestras in scoring sessions during most of his career. This naturally led to positions in live-to-picture concert productions, such as Star Wars Live in Concert, Pixar in Concert, Danny Elfman: Music from the Films of Tim Burton, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Lord of the Rings: Live to Projection, and others. He premiered the fully orchestrated version of Coco in Concert for Disney, closing the 2019 Ravinia Festival, with the Chicago Philharmonic.

Tiberio is the official conductor of America’s Wonders, the world’s first 3-dimensional, IMAX-style cinematic journey with live orchestra—a celebration of America’s most breathtaking national parks and cities with classical, pop, and original music meticulously synchronized to picture. He also composed and orchestrated a large portion of the music in the show.

About The Auditorium

The Auditorium, located at 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive in Chicago, is an Illinois not-for-profit organization committed to presenting the finest in international, cultural, community, and educational programming to all of Chicago and beyond as The Theatre for the People. The organization is also committed to the continued restoration and preservation of this National Historic Landmark that originally opened in 1889. The Auditorium’s 2025-26 performance season features a dynamic mix of cultural events from ballet to rock and roll and everything in between. For more information on The Auditorium and a complete listing of events at The Auditorium please visit AuditoriumTheatre.org.

The One of a Kind Holiday Show Is Back December 5th Through Sunday, December 8th, 2024

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

THE ONE OF A KIND HOLIDAY SHOW AND SALE® CHICAGO 

Photo Credit: Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

RETURNS TO THE MART DECEMBER 5-8 FEATURING OVER 600 OF THE NATION’S BEST ARTISTS AND MAKERS 

Chicago’s Beloved Holiday Shopping Destination Celebrates its 23rd Edition with the Ultimate Winter Weekend of Exclusive Finds, Live Entertainment, Gourmet Food, Drinks and More! 

The holiday season fan-favorite will feature an impressive selection of original handmade work from over 600 talented artists and makers.

Here at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama, we've been covering The One of a Kind Holiday Show for 15 of their 23 years and we'll be back again on Friday for a photo filled feature. Check out our socials for a boots on the ground view of some of our favorites out of the 600 artists and makers! We cruised by THE MART on the final Chicago Architecture Cruise of the season the weekend before Thanksgiving and caught The One of a Kind Holiday Show signage from the river view, and started to get shopping fever.

Photo Credit: Bonnie Kenaz-Mara

We've always discovered so many unique finds here! You can knock out your holiday gift list with ease, while supporting artisans, craftsmen, and small businesses. Their reusable, canvas tote bags are adorable for gift giving, too, and will be welcome year round. Don't miss this!  

Chicago’s favorite 4-day shopping extravaganza is back! The One of a Kind Holiday Show is pleased to announce the 23rd edition of the beloved event will return to the 7th Floor of THE MART Thursday, December 5 through Sunday, December 8. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and shop directly from the show’s acclaimed artists and emerging talent to discover behind-the-scenes insights and inspirations. 

“We are so proud to be returning for the 23rd edition of the Holiday show this December. We have an incredible lineup of talented artists, each hand-selected by our jury.” Kathleen Hogan, Director of the One of a Kind Holiday Show. “Each maker has their own background, style and perspective, truly making it a one-of-a-kind event. Year over year we can’t wait to bring the holiday cheer while offering these makers a platform to share their work with the world.” 

The One of a Kind Holiday Show will offer the best in everything from Fine Art to Furniture, Apparel, Jewelry, Home Goods, Ceramics and more. In addition to an extraordinary shopping experience, attendees will enjoy music courtesy of acoustic powerhouse Nashon Halloway and the Old Town School of Folk Music, hands-on craft activities from local non-profit, Marwen, and a fresh Winter Pine Market with stunning seasonal arrangements and wreaths from show partner, Flowerchild Chicago. Attendees can also enjoy delicious food and drinks from many cafes and bars available on the show floor.

Shoppers should plan to save the date as tickets will officially go on sale online on Monday, October 21 via the show website. Tickets start at $15 for adult admissions (12+)and are valid for re-entry all four days of the show. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Ann and Robert H. Lurie’s Children’s Hospital of Chicago. 

General Show Information:

The One of a Kind Holiday Show® Chicago takes place at THE MART, 222 Merchandise Mart Plaza, 7th Floor, December 5-8, 2024. For tickets or more information, visit: http://oneofakindshowchicago.com/.

Hours are as follows:

Thursday, December 5: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Friday, December 6: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 7: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 8: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

For news and real-time updates, follow the One of a Kind Show on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

About THE MART

THE MART (formerly The Merchandise Mart), located in the center of the sought-after River North submarket, is interwoven into the fabric of Chicago as an innovator in business, technology, culture, art, media and more. It is one of the world’s leading commercial buildings, wholesale design centers and the preeminent international business location in Chicago. Encompassing 4.2 million gross square feet, THE MART spans two city blocks, rises 25 stories, and is visited by an average of 30,000 people each business day and nearly 10 million people annually. Offering continuous innovation and creativity from leading manufacturers and design forward showrooms, THE MART serves as the home to Chicago's most creative and technologically innovative companies. 

Hilarious Who's Holiday! back Nov. 24-Dec 30 at Theater Wit

 

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Ever wondered what happened after  The Grinch met Cindy Lou Who?

For mature audiences only! Now 40, Cindy Lou Who is back at Theater Wit to tell how her life took a sordid turn after her Christmas Eve encounter with everyone's favorite mean, green furry outcast. I caught this hilarious solo show the first year it opened and highly recommend it.  Veronica Garza returns to her Jeff-nominated role as Cindy Lou Who, who, in R-rated Seussian rhyme, welcomes audiences inside her mobile home, plies them with snacks and shots, and shares the wild turn her life took after she met The Grinch. Directed by Christopher Pazdernik “A hell of a lot of fun"  - Chicago Reader

Hilarious Who's Holiday! back by popular demand!  40-year-old Cindy Lou Who returns to recall the sordid events after she met the Grinch, Nov. 24-Dec 30 at Theater Wit

Veronica Garza, Jeff nominated as Cindy Lou Who in Theater Wit’s Who’s Holiday! by Matthew Lombardo, directed by Christopher Pazdernik, is back for her third season,  Nov 24-Dec 30, 2023. Credit: Charles Osgood Cindy Lou Who, now 40, holds court from her trailer home, retelling the story of the sordid events after she met the Grinch in Who’s Holiday!, Theater Wit’s smash hit holiday show, back for the season, November 24-December 30. Opening is Friday, November 24 at 7 p.m. Chicago theater star Veronica Garza returns to her Jeff-nominated role as Cindy Lou Who, who, in R-rated Seussian rhyme, welcomes audiences inside her trailer home, plies them with snacks and shots, and ultimately shares the untold story of the twisted turns her life took following her Christmas Eve encounter with a green furry outcast.  “A hell of a lot of fun,” wrote the Chicago Reader.  “Garza is a comic genius,” raved Chicago Theater Review, hailing Who’s Holiday! “a very funny, often poignant production guided with panache by an excellent director.”  That director is Christopher Pazdernik, who returns to direct Wit’s third outing of this hilarious, heartfelt holiday comedy by Matthew Lombardo. Also back is Angela Weber Miller’s Jeff Award-winning, Seuss-inspired recreation of Cindy Lou Who’s holiday-bedazzled mobile home. Designers include Shelley Strasser, lights; Uriel Gomez, costumes; Lonnae Hickman, props, and Matthew R. Chase, sound and production manager.

Veronica Garza, Jeff nominated for her portrayal last holiday season as an adult  Cindy Lou Who, returns for Theater Wit's 2023 remount of Who's Holiday!  Credit: Charles Osgood Shows run Saturday, November 25 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Sunday, November 26 at 3 p.m.; Thursday, November 30 at 7 p.m.; Friday, December 1 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, December 2 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, December 3 at 3 p.m.; Monday, December 4 at 7 p.m.; Thursday, December 7 at 7 p.m.; Friday, December 8 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, December 9 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Sunday, December 10 at 3 p.m.; Thursday, December 14 at 7 p.m.; Friday, December 15 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Saturday, December 16 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Sunday, December 17 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Wednesday, December 20 at 7 p.m.; Thursday, December 21 at 7 p.m.; Friday, December 22 at 7 p.m. and  9 p.m.; Saturday, December 23 at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Tuesday, December 26 at 7 p.m.; Wednesday, December 27 at 7 p.m.; Thursday, December 28 at 7 p.m.; Friday, December 29 at 7 p.m.; and Saturday, December 30 at 7 p.m. Run time is 65 minutes, no intermission. For mature audiences only. Tickets are $39-$48. Purchase tickets at theaterwit.org or call the Theater Wit box office, (773) 975-8150.  Theater Wit is located at 1229 W. Belmont Ave., in the Belmont Theatre District in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. Convenient parking is available for $8 across the street from the theater in the lot behind Kubo restaurant (pay at the Theater Wit box office.) Neighborhood street parking is available, as are private paid lots (tip: book ahead and at a discount with Spothero). Theater Wit is also accessible via the CTA 77 Belmont bus, and is three blocks west of the CTA Belmont Red/Brown/Purple line stop.  To learn more, visit theaterwit.org or follow the company on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  

Press play to watch and download video of  Cindy Lou Who asking the audience, "remember me?"

Press play to screen and download video of Cindy Lou Who rapping in Who's Holiday! More video clips here. 

Veronica Garza returns as an adult Cindy Lou Who in Theater Wit's  2023 remount of Who's Holiday! Credit: Charles Osgood Christmas Day is in our grasp. Where’s the vodka? Glad you asked!

Veronica Garza returns as an adult Cindy Lou Who in Theater Wit's  2023 remount of Who's Holiday! Credit: Charles Osgood  Be sure to stop by Theater Wit’s lobby bar for snacks, chocolates, a curated selection of beer, wine and soda, plus your pick of this year’s Who’s Holiday!-themed seasonal speciality drinks: Cindy’s Little Helper (a dessert shot! $6)  Fast and Delicious: Luxardo Cherry liqueur, Mozart Chocolate liqueur, whipped cream and a cherry Who’sy Boozy Hot Chocolate ($12) Hot & Sweet: Hot Cocoa, Peppermint Rumchata, Amaretto Liqueur, Whiskey Acres Bourbon, whipped cream, candy cane crumbles.  Who-skey Sour ($12) Sweet and Sour: Jameson, Plymouth Sloe Gin, House-infused Citrus Vodka, Rose’s Lime The Snowplow ($12) Creamy and Nutty Spices: Peppermint Rumchata, Shipwreck Coconut Rum Krampusberry ($12) Refreshingly Tart: Koval Cranberry Gin, North Shore Gin, Seltzer, Cinnamon stick Spiced Apple Cider ($5) Hot & Freshly Spiced: And could be freshly Spiked as well! For additional warmth: add any Liqueur +$4 (we like Koval Ginger) or Liquor +$6 (try the Four Roses small batch bourbon)

Cindy's Little Helper 

Veronica Garza returns as an adult Cindy Lou Who in Theater Wit's  2023 remount of Who's Holiday! Credit: Charles Osgood

Angela Weber Miller’s Jeff Award-winning mobile home set for  Theater Wit's Who's Holiday! Photo: Charles Osgood

Who’s Holiday! Who’s Who:

(from left) Veronica Garza plays Cindy Lou Who in Theater Wit’s return engagement of  Who’s Holiday!  by Matthew Lombardo, directed by Christopher Pazdernik. Veronica Garza (Cindy Lou Who, she/her/hers) returns for her third year as Cindy Lou Who, a role that earned her a Jeff Nomination, Best Actor in 2021. She also performed at Theatre Wit in Underscore Theatre’s Tonya and Nancy: A Rock Opera, for which she received a Jeff Award for her role as both Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan's mothers. Other roles include Rosalie Mullins, School of Rock (Jeff nomination, Best Supporting Actor) and the Deputy in Groundhog Day (Paramount), Roz in 9 to 5 (Firebrand), Sister Amnesia in Nunsense (Milwaukee Rep), Babs in Miracle (Royal George), Prudie in Pump Boys and Dinettes (Theatre at the Center and Timberlake Playhouse), The Homeless Lady in A New Brain (Theo Ubique), Lucy in A Charlie Brown Christmas (Broadway Playhouse) and the Fortune Teller in Sideshow(Porchlight).   Christopher Pazdernik (director, any pronouns) made his Wit debut with Who’s Holiday! He is Producing Director for Theo, where his credits include Assassins, Godspell and 8-TRACK: The Sounds of the 70s.Previously, Pazdernik was artistic director for three seasons of Refuge Theatre Project (Jeff Awards, Best Director and Best Production of a Musical, High Fidelity), and he has had a long association with Porchlight Music Theatre, including directing eight Porchlight Revisits productions and three years working in producing, casting and company management. He recently staged Avenue Q for Music Theatre Works. Also an openly HIV+ artist, Pazdernik is the founder and producer of Belting for Life, an annual benefit concert for Howard Brown Health, and co-captain of Team Option Up! for AIDS Run/Walk Chicago.

Matthew Lombardo (playwright, he/him/his) Broadway: High with Kathleen Turner at the Booth Theatre and Looped starring Valerie Harper in a Tony-nominated performance at The Lyceum Theatre. Off-Broadway: Who’s Holiday! (with Lesli Margherita) at the Westside Theatre; Tea at Five (with Kate Mulgrew) at the Promenade Theatre; Mother and Child (with Ann Wedgeworth) at Second Stage; End of the World Party at the 47th Street Theatre (director) and Guilty Innocence at The Actors’ Playhouse. His work has been produced at such prestigious theaters as Hartford Stage, Cleveland Playhouse, American Repertory Theatre, Seattle Rep, Arena Stage, Pasadena Playhouse, Cincinnati Playhouse, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and others. Television credits include Another World (WGA Award Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Writing). As a producer, he has presented concerts throughout the country for Broadway legends such as Carol Channing, Patti LuPone, Tommy Tune, Bernadette Peters, Barbara Cook, Billy Porter, Betty Buckley, Andrea McArdle and Faith Prince. Who’s Holiday! returns to Theater Wit not without controversy. In 2017, Lombardo was locked in a legal battle with Dr. Seuss Enterprises over accusations of copyright infringement, delaying the play’s New York premiere for nearly a year. A U.S. District Court eventually ruled in Lombardo’s favor, citing his depiction of an adult Cindy Lou Who living in a trailer on Mount Crumpit as “fair use.”  Freed of red tape, Who’s Holiday! went on to be hailed “a raunchy riff on Dr. Seuss’s yuletide tale” (New York Times) that “dares to be as tasteless as possible while replicating Seuss’s trademark rhythms” (Time Out New York).

About Theater Wit, Chicago’s “Smart Art” theater  As a production company, Theater Wit is the premier smart art theater in Chicago, producing humorous, challenging, and intelligent plays that speak with a vibrant and contemporary theatrical voice. As an institution, Theater Wit seeks to be the hub of the Chicago neighborhood theater scene. Led by Artistic Director Jeremy Wechsler, Wit brings together Chicago’s best storefront theater companies in its three, 99-seat spaces, where audiences find a smorgasbord of excellent productions, see the work of a parade of talented artists, and mingle with audiences from all over Chicago. Next spring, Theater Wit takes on a comic exploration of objectum sexuality with its Chicago premiere of Inanimate, Nick Robideau’s New York Times Critics Pick about a woman in love with a Dairy Queen sign, March 22-May 4, 2024. Press opening is Monday, April 1 at 7 p.m.  A great way to show support for Chicago storefront theater is to purchase a Theater Wit Membership. For a low monthly fee of $35 – often less than the price of a single ticket – Theater Wit members see as many shows as they want on the company’s three stages, year round. Sign up at theaterwit.org/boxoffice/membership. Note: Theater Wit follows the community masking guidelines recommended by the Chicago Department of Public Health and CDC. At press time, the community risk level is low, and mask use is optional. For updates, visit theaterwit.org/about/covid.