Theater
- Robert Horn, Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally’s “Shucked” is a Tony Award-winning musical comedy about corn that proves sometimes tearing down a few walls in the only way to preserve our way of life. New York Stage Review says the show is “more hilarious than any show since ‘The Book of Mormon.’ ” Jack O’Brien directs. From Jan. 7-19 at CIBC Theatre, 18 W. Monroe. Tickets: $35-$125. Visit broadwayinchicago.com.
- The 38th annual Young Playwrights Festival features staged productions of three plays written by area high school students. Chosen from more than 300 submission, the plays are Lydia Vodopic’s “Family Fishing Trip,” Lily Zhang’s “Love & Gyros” and Carolina Boss’ “Superheroes Anonymous.” From Jan. 5-26 at Chicago Dramatists, 798 N. Aberdeen. Tickets: $15-$30. Visit pegasustheatrechicago.org.
- “Kid Prince and Pablo” is Brian Quijada and Marvin Quijada’s hip-hop musical adaptation of the Mark Twain story “The Prince and the Pauper.” In a divided city, the ruling class has banned rap and dance after an attempted revolution, which is followed by mayhem and music when Kid Prince, the heir to the throne, trades places with rap battle drummer Pablo. Raquel Torre directs. From Jan. 3-Feb. 16 at Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood. Tickets: $45. Visit lifelinetheatre.com.
Comedy
- Emmy-winning comedian Jerrod Carmichael, the star of the darkly funny documentary series “Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show,” performs stand-up shows at 7:15 p.m. Dec. 27-28 ($22-$50), and comedian-actor Cameron Esposito, host of the podcast “Queery,” will light up the New Year’s Eve stage with her razor-sharp humor at 8 and 10:30 p.m. Dec. 31 ($35-$70). The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee. Visit thedentheatre.com.
- For more New Year’s Eve laughs there’s Paula Poundstone, known for her witty observational humor and as a mainstay on NPR’s “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me.” She’ll perform two shows at 7 and 10:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph. Tickets: $55-$115. Visit citywinery.com.
Music
- Alt-country band Lucero comes to town for a three-night residency at Evanston’s Space. A double album revisiting songs from the band’s 25-year catalog, “Lucero Unplugged” (due out Jan. 24) ranges from fan favorites to more obscure rarities, all recorded live. Cory Branan opens at 8 p.m. Dec. 29-31 at 1245 Chicago, Evanston. Tickets: $45, $55. Visit evanstonspacemusic.com.
- Welcome the New Year with a massive house music party with The Chosen Few DJs (Alan King, Mike Dunn, Terry Hunter and Wayne Williams) and the Hot Mix 5 DJs (Farley “Jackmaster” Funk, Gene Hunt, Mickey “Mixin” Oliver and Scott “Smokin” Silz). With an opening set by Adorio. At 6 p.m. Dec. 31 at Park West, 322 W. Armitage. Tickets: $55. Visit jamusa.com.
- First Night Evanston returns with performances by Corky Siegel, Ernie Watts and The Sons of the Never Wrong. Mentalist Chris Carter, whose mind reading and insight are always a hit, opens the evening. At 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at Music Institute of Chicago, 1490 Chicago. Tickets: $15-$35. Visit firstnightevanston.org.
- Chicago’s Friko, led by vocalist/guitarist Niko Kapetan and drummer Bailey Minzenberger, recently released an expanded version of “Where we’ve been, Where we go from here,” which includes previously unreleased studio recordings and live tracks from the forward-thinking indie-rock band plus a cover of My Bloody Valentine’s “When You Sleep.” OK Cool and The Courts open at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 27 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport. Tickets: $23. Visit thaliahallchicago.com.
- Nicholas Tremulis celebrates his 65th birthday and a 40-year friendship and history with Metro owner Joe Shanahan with a special live concert, benefiting Collaboraction Theatre. Joining Tremulis is the 15-piece band The Prodigals, featuring all the original members of Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra. Special guests include blues artist Wayne Baker Brooks, punk producer Ivan Julian and more. Shanahan gets the party started with a DJ set. At 8 p.m. Jan. 4 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark. Tickets: $45-$75. Visit metrochicago.com.
- Electronic music producer and sampling virtuoso Pretty Lights (aka Derek Vincent Smith) showcases his blend of mesmerizing visual production and electro-soul at 8 p.m. Dec. 30 and 9 p.m. Dec. 31 at Wintrust Arena, 200 E. Cermak. Tickets: $79-$99. Visit jamusa.com.
- The annual end-of-year double-header by the Waco Brothers is always a sure bet for a good time. Expect the usual hijinks amid the band’s country punk sound. At 8:30 p.m. Dec. 26-27 at The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia. Tickets: $25. Visit hideoutchicago.com.
Museums
- “Resilience — A Sansei Sense of Legacy” explores the enduring effects of incarceration camps as told by third-generation Japanese Americans. Featured are works by eight artists who look at how the camps resonated from generation to generation. The artists are Kristine Aono, Reiki Fuji, Wendy Maruyama, Lydia Nakashima Degarrod, Tom Nakashima, Roger Shimomura, Judy Shintani and Jerry Takigawa. To June 1 at Illinois Holocaust Museum, 9603 Woods, Skokie. Admission: $6-$18, children 5 and under free. Visit ilholocaustmuseum.org.
Movies
- The Worlds of Wiseman is a films series showcasing 33 films, described as “complicated, messy, demanding, rich and always rewarding,” all by master documentary filmmaker Frederick Wiseman. The 4K digital restorations range from 1969’s “Law and Order” and “Hospital” to 1990’s “Central Park,” 1995’s “Ballet” and 2007’s “State Legislature.” From Jan. 1-Feb. 5 at Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State. Tickets: $14.50. Visit siskelfilmcenter.org.
- Also at the Siskel Film Center, the annual Settle In film series returns with some verrrry long movies: Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s “Happy Hour” (317 min.), all three films in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” trilogy (534 min.), Peter Watkins’ “The Journey” (873 min.) and Frederick Wiseman’s “Near Death” (358 min.). From Jan. 4-25 at 164 N. State. Tickets: $30-$55. Visit siskelfilmcenter.org.
Family Fun
- The 27-year Chicago run of Blue Man Group, the crazy, imaginative art form which uses music, comedy and unexpected elements of surprise to tell the universal story of what it means to be human, comes to an end on Jan. 14. So catch the family-friendly blue men and their blend of percussion, audience interaction and visual effects while you can. Additional New Year’s Eve shows at 1, 4, 7 and 10 p.m. Dec. 31 at Briar Street Theater, 3133 N. Halsted. Tickets: $49+. Visit blueman.com.
- Blending professional sports and entertainment, the Harlem Globetrotters have been wowing fans since 1926, when Abe Saperstein founded the organization on Chicago’s South Side. (For the complete story check out “Globetrotter: How Abe Saperstein Shook Up the World of Sports” by brothers Mark and Matthew Jacob). Find fan interaction, incredible ball handling and a good dose of comedy when the team comes to town at 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 27 at Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim, Rosemont. Tickets: $26+. Visit ticketmaster.com.
- Enjoy episodes of “Kukla, Fran and Ollie” during a three-day celebration of the classic Chicago television show. Beloved by children beginning in 1947 and beyond, it featured comedian Fran Allison and a cadre of colorful puppets created by Burr Tillstrom. From Dec. 26-27, 30 at Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark. Museum admission: $17, $19, Illinois residents 18 and under free. Visit chicagohistory.org.