Blue Man Group NYE and holiday shows — see it before it leaves Chicago Jan. 5

The holiday season is the perfect time to leave your expectations at the door and let three bald and blue men take you on a spectacular journey bursting with music, laughter and surprises. To make it easier, Blue Man Group is kicking off the holiday season with an expanded performance schedule at the Briar Street Theatre in Chicago, where unfortunately it will end its historic 30-year-fun on Jan. 5.
Blue Man Group Chicago’s holiday performance schedule includes four festive New Year’s Eve performances on Tuesday, December 31 at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Families with young children can take advantage of Blue Man Group’s early performances at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. These shows feature early “midnight” countdowns after the show complete with party hats, noisemakers and a special performance by the Blue Men. Other festivities include pre-show face painting, where children will be transformed into members of Blue Man Group’s band.

Blue Man Group will continue ringing in the New Year with additional performances at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Guests of the 7 p.m. show can enjoy a celebratory champagne toast, festive party hats and a post-show meet and greet with the Blue Men. Audiences of the 10 p.m. performance will experience a New Year’s Eve countdown party complete with noisemakers, a midnight champagne toast, balloon drop and performance of “Auld Lang Syne” by the Blue Men.

Blue Man Group Chicago tickets start at $49, but you can secure a family four-pack for 25% off and save 20% more by signing up for their newsletter. The final performances are at the Briar Street Theatre at 3133 N. Halsted in Chicago. BlueMan.com/Chicago

Exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry

Quite simply, the world-renowned Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park is the kind of place where you can spend an entire day. Check out the Science of Storms exhibit, where your little ones can track tornadoes, discover what causes tsunamis and experience the physics behind an avalanche.

The Blue Paradox exhibit is a powerful, immersive experience that takes you below the ocean’s surface to explore the impact plastic pollution has had on our planet’s largest ecosystem. It’s a great way to introduce your children to the negative impact we are having on our planet and what needs to be done to reverse it.

As the centerpiece of the museum’s imposing Transportation Gallery, The Great Train Story is a massive model railroad that features more than 20 trains and 1,400 feet of winding track in astounding detail (think Rocky Mountains, farms, crossing lights, a replica of downtown Chicago and Seattle’s docks, etc.). The craftsmanship is superb, and interactive buttons allow kids to set off tunneling dynamite, cut down trees, lift drawbridges and pull a Metra train out of the station.

If you venture down to the basement, the younger kids can pick
corn aboard a full-sized combine or splash, stack and spin their way around The Idea Factory.

And don’t forget to get an up-close-and-personal look at the ocean’s most astonishing creatures in Oceans: Our Blue Planet, playing in the Giant Dome Theater through Jan. 6.

5700 S. Lake Shore. MSIChicago.org

Cinderella at The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences through Dec. 29
By Jenny Soukup

The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences concludes its 2024 children’s season with the beloved fairy tale adventure, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and it is a perfectly timed family outing for your winter season.

The production is joyful, festive and upbeat — and peppered with audience interaction and fun surprises that have the kids oohing and ahhing. The length of the performance is perfect for all ages and attention spans, and the show flows seamlessly from moment to moment, maintaining the magic of Cinderella while just skimming the surface of the cruelty of the stepfamily (so, it’s perfect!).

If you’ve never experienced the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, know that the theater-in-the-round format makes each seat a great seat. It’s a great place to introduce children to the glowing, animated world of theater. The Q&A at the end of the performance gives children (and adults) the opportunity to learn more about the story, the actors and the secrets behind the magic they saw onstage.

Cinderella plays most Wednesdays through Sundays at 10 a.m. with select 12:30 p.m. performances, through Jan. 5. Visit MarriottTheatre.com for the exact schedule. 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire.