Things to do around Chicago: ‘Merry Chicago,’ a musical Grinch and holiday blues

It’s all holidays, all the time around Chicago this weekend, including the opening of the annual holiday concert by the CSO.

‘Merry, Merry Chicago!’

Symphony Center will be decked out in all its holiday finery for this annual tradition of a concert. Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will perform carols and festive holiday songs, including “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Sleigh Ride,” all joined by singer Ashley Brown, who originated the title role of “Mary Poppins” on Broadway in 2006. Thomas Wilkins conducts.

Dec. 15-23 in Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; tickets $45-$299 at 312-294-3000 and cso.org

‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical’

Dr. Seuss’ holiday classic is adapted as an 85-minute stage musical, with the Grinch singing and dancing through Whoville.

Through Dec. 31 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 51 W. Randolph St.; tickets from $56 at 800-775-2000 and www.broadwayinchicago.com

‘Sugar Hill’

In “Sugar Hill: The Ellington/Strayhorn Nutcracker,” Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s 1960 arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” provides the jazz backdrop for an all-star team, including tap dancer Caleb Teicher and popping phenom Jon Boogz of “So You Think You Can Dance” fame. “Sugar Hill” is a brand-new debut production set in 1930s New York, with libretto by Jessica Swan, directed by Joshua Bergasse.

Dec. 20-30 at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive; tickets from $52 at 312-341-2300 or www.auditoriumtheatre.org

‘A Latin American Christmas’

The Newberry Consort has previously performed Renaissance-era carols from Mexico; this year, they expand their borders to include sacred, secular and Indigenous songs from Peru, Spain, Guatemala and Panama.

Dec. 15 at St. Luke’s Church, Evanston; Dec. 16 at Mother of the Americas Catholic Church; Dec. 17 at St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church; tickets and more information at www.newberryconsort.org

‘Tammy McCann: A Jazz Christmas’

Tammy McCann, the Tribune’s 2020 Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz, collaborates with guitarist John McLean and a string orchestra to bring you a Music Institute of Chicago night of holiday favorites “plus a few surprises.”

7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston; tickets $30-$60 at www.musicinst.org

Delmark Records Holiday Concert

The oldest continuously operating jazz and blues label presents a holiday concert affair honoring Chicago blues history. Sheryl Youngblood, Carlise and Greg Guy (children of Buddy Guy), Demetria Taylor and Jimmy Burns (sister and uncle to Eddie Taylor Jr.) plus Muddy Waters’ guitarist Rick Kreher and oldest son Mud Morganfield will be there.

8 p.m. Dec. 20 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St.; tickets $30-$40 (ages 17+) at www.thaliahallchicago.com