Save the Seats has tickets reserved for New Year’s Eve: 22 shows for 2022
What are you doing for New Year’s Eve, 2022 edition? Staying home and watching Hulu was so last year. And the year before that. And OK, maybe also patches of this year. But here we are, the Wednesday before the big night and you have no tickets to anything yet. That is where Save the Seats comes in.
This story is our annual feature with ticket reservations for Tribune readers for Dec. 31. Read on for almost two dozen performances, concerts and other events around town with tickets set aside just for you. Many are for shows that are otherwise sold out. And they’re yours for the buying if you’re one of the first to call or click.
Here’s how this works
1. Check out the shows on offer. The theaters and other venues are holding tickets for their Dec. 31 performances in the Tribune’s name, and Tribune readers who request them when the box office opens Wednesday can buy them at face value. Sorry, this is not a contest or giveaway — the tickets are not free.
2. Check prices and showtimes, have your credit card handy and call the phone numbers included here. In some cases, they’re not the usual box office numbers. Sales are mostly by phone — though some shows have online ticket sales set up with Tribune pass codes. When you speak with the show’s representative, identify yourself as a Tribune reader and request the Save the Seats tickets.
3. If the tickets on offer are still unclaimed, you can buy them. Complete the transaction and you’re all set. In most cases, the tickets will be held for you at the will-call window.
Consider this the fine print: We’ve made every effort to ensure that showtimes and prices are correct, but some shows also add ticket fees and last-minute changes and cancellations can occur; also check the venue’s COVID protocols. The Tribune made the reservations, but all sales arrangements are up to the venues. The Tribune is in no way associated with these shows; they’re just included in our feature.
On to the shows
“The Lion King”: Despite being 25 years old, writes Tribune critic Chris Jones, “‘The Lion King’ still manages to amaze adults and children with its level of spectacle.” Add the Elton John songs, the familiar story and the unforgettable opening and you have a musical that does not disappoint. The Broadway tour is now playing in the Loop. Claim your seats: two tickets for both the 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. shows (at $179 per) at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St. Call the Broadway In Chicago customer service line after 10 a.m. at 312-977-1702.
Metro and smartbar: Ring in 2023 on Clark Street with “Metro, smartbar & Queen! present a 40th Anniversary Celebration: Ruby Jubilee New Years Eve.” Featuring sets by CQQCHiFRUIT b2b La Spacer, Danny Daze, Garrett David, Harry Cross, Jeff Derringer, Justin Aulis Long, Lauren Flax, Michael Serafini, Phillip Stone and Sevron. Claim your seats: 10 tickets (at $30 per, discounted for Save the Seats) with doors opening at 9 p.m. at Metro and Smartbar, 3730 N. Clark St. Use code TRIBUNE to purchase at metrochicago.com/event/rubyjubilee
Blue Man Group: The bald men of Blue Man know how to do New Year’s Eve, and have been saving seats for Tribune readers since our feature began in 2005. Of the four performances on Saturday, the first two are especially for families, with preshow face painting as well as party hats, noisemakers and “midnight” countdowns at the end of the show with a Blue Dude rendition of “Auld Lang Syne.” Audiences at the 7 p.m. show get a celebratory Champagne toast, party hats and a post-show meet and greet. And at the end of the late show, a New Year’s Eve countdown party with noisemakers, a midnight Champagne toast, balloon drop and a performance of “Auld Lang Syne.” Claim your seats: Four tickets for each show (at $89 per) at 1 p.m., 4 p.m., 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St. Call 630-216-8833.
“A Christmas Carol”: This longtime Goodman Theatre tradition is in fine form, starring Larry Yando for his 15th year, writes the Tribune’s Emily McClanathan in her review: “It’s Scrooge’s transformation from hardhearted miser into ‘as good a friend … and as good a man, as the good old city knew’ that makes the novella by Charles Dickens a classic. Yando portrays this journey with profound depth.” Claim your seats: 14 tickets (at $114 per) for the 2 p.m. performance at Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St. Use code TRIBUNE to purchase at GoodmanTheatre.org/Carol or call 312-443-3800.
“The Sound of Music”: If you’ve been to a performance at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora, you know that this theater’s musicals often are as good if not better than touring Broadway productions downtown. No exception in this case. “It’s part of the magic of this particular musical,” writes Tribune critic Chris Jones, “that the audience immediately and intensely pulls for the relationship to work” between Maria and her chilly Captain von Trapp. Claim your seats: 16 tickets for both the 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. shows (at $45-$79 per) at Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Call 630-896-6666.
The Second City: How cool is it to spend New Year’s Eve at the famous corner of North Avenue and Wells Street? There are three shows on offer in Piper’s Alley, all with sketch and improv comedy to chase away the rest of 2022. “Do the Right Thing, No Worries If Not” is the mainstage revue with performances at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. “Great Altercations” is on the Second City e.t.c. stage, also 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. And the holiday-themed “What the Elf?” is in the UP Comedy Club at 8 p.m. Claim your seats: four general admission tickets to each show (at $50 per) at The Second City, 1616 N. Wells St. Call 312-337-3992.
“Dear Evan Hansen”: The musical is about a teenager who struggles with social anxiety, with songs such as “Waving Through a Window” and “You Will Be Found” by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The Broadway tour stars Anthony Norman as Evan and it’s an excellent cast all around, says Tribune critic Chris Jones. Claim your seats: two tickets for both the 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. shows (at $120 per) at the Nederlander Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St. Call the Broadway In Chicago customer service line after 10 a.m. at 312-977-1702.
Cameron Esposito: The comedian, actor and author is back at The Den Theatre in Wicker Park for a New Year’s Eve show, and ticket purchases also get you half off the admission to The Den’s “New Year’s Laughin’ Eve,” with additional comedy performances by Chicago comics Lucia Whalen and Nate Armbruster, music from DJ Thee David Davis, and a midnight toast, plus two cocktails. Claim your seats: eight tickets (at $35 each plus fees; after-party $47) for the 8:30 p.m. show at The Den Theatre, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Call 773-697-3830 between noon and 4 p.m.
“A Christmas Story”: Now at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire for the holiday season, a musical based on the movie and the Jean Shepherd story about an ordinary, working-class kid from northwest Indiana dreaming of getting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Claim your seats: 10 tickets (at $64 each, sold in pairs) for both the 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire. Call 847-634-0200.
Cabaret ZaZou’s “Luminaire”: The dinner-circus show in the Loop’s Cambria Hotel has reopened this fall more in the style of a Chicago-style cabaret. The circus arts still are impressive, writes the Tribune’s Chris Jones, and the fabulous Frank Ferrante is back as host and emcee — a major talent and a master of crowd work. A New Year’s Eve cocktail hour begins at 6:30 p.m. and preshow entertainment at 7:30 p.m., and the tent stays open afterward for a party with New Year’s Eve-only performances. Claim your seats: Six tickets (at $214 to $289 per) for the 8 p.m. show at the Cambria Hotel, 32 W. Randolph St. Call the Broadway In Chicago customer service line after 10 a.m. at 312-977-1702.
“Clue”: This play is a revamp of the 1985 Paramount movie, itself adapted from the long-lived detective game. It’s more of a spoof than a thriller, says critic Chris Jones, but this entertaining production has “stuffed all the famous rooms of an entire mansion onto the small Mercury stage, even replete with a trick chandelier.” Claim your seats: 10 tickets (at $80 to $85 per) for both the 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. shows (the later including a post-show glass of Champagne) at Mercury Theater Chicago, 3745 N. Southport Ave. Call 773-360-7365.
“Elf: The Musical”: The holiday show now at Drury Lane Theatre is a musical adapted from the 2003 comedy starring Will Ferrell. Buddy the elf makes a journey from the North Pole to New York City to find his birth father. Claim your seats: 20 tickets (at $89 each, sold in pairs) for both the 5 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. performances at Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace. Call 630-530-0111.
Chicago Magic Lounge: No better place to watch 2022 disappear than at the Magic Lounge; head inside the fake laundromat on Clark Street for a special New Year’s Eve show. The evening starts with close-up magic at your cabaret table, followed by an hour of stage magic performed by Chicago Magic Lounge house magicians. Includes a Champagne toast at midnight and a souvenir Champagne flute. Those with premium tickets are also invited to a close-up show in the 654 Club. Claim your seats: six tickets (at $80 to $110 per) for the 10 p.m. event at Chicago Magic Lounge, 5050 N. Clark St. Call 312-366-4500.
Zanies in Rosemont: The legendary standup club’s suburban location hosts Canadian comic Steph Tolev for New Year’s Eve, with both sets including party favors and a Champagne toast. Claim your seats: four tickets to both the 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. shows (at $40 per) at Zanies in Rosemont, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont. Call 847-813-0484.
“The Twenty-Sided Tavern”: What is this show? Is it a play or an interactive game? With a nod toward Dungeons & Dragons, “The Twenty-Sided Tavern” is a performance where the audience helps choose the adventure happening on stage. Tribune critic Chris Jones noted in his review that “the cacophonous audience around him appeared to be having a total blast.” Claim your seats: two tickets (at $65 per) for both the 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. shows at the Broadway Playhouse, 175 E. Chestnut St. Call the Broadway In Chicago customer service line after 10 a.m. at 312-977-1702.
Railroad Earth with Peter Rowan: The Americana band from New Jersey is headlining a New Year’s Eve concert at The Vic, with a midnight balloon drop to ring in 2023. Claim your seats: 12 mezzanine seats (at $75 per) for the 8 p.m. show at the Vic Theater, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave. Call 773-472-0449 or use code TRIBUNE to purchase at bit.ly/3AUqifu.
“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas”: The holiday musical with classic Berlin songs including, of course, “White Christmas,” is now on stage in Skokie by Music Theater Works, with the story of a pair of Army buddies who help out their former commander. Claim your seats: 10 tickets (at $84 per) for both the 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. performances at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie. Call 847-673-6300.
New Philharmonic’s New Year’s Eve Concert: The New Philharmonic, conducted by Kirk Muspratt, rings in the New Year on the College of DuPage campus with guest baritone Mischa Bouvier and members of the rock-violin group The CoverGirls in a program of pops, waltzes, arias and the traditional “Auld Lang Syne.” Claim your seats: eight tickets (at $67 per, sold in pairs) for the 8:30 p.m. performance at the McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Call 630-942-4000 (box office opens at noon).
Davenport’s Piano Bar: Two stages to choose from at Davenport’s Saturday night. The main stage will be limited to a crowd of just 50 for New Year’s Eve. Ring in 2023 and Davenport’s 25th anniversary with a 9:30 p.m. performance by Daryl Nitz and George Howe, plus a countdown to midnight with a Champagne toast and party favors; tickets are $25. Or in the Cabaret at 8 p.m., “De-Lovely: An Evening of (mostly) Cole Porter” is back at Davenport’s with David Edelfelt and Elizabeth Doyle taking turns at the piano, and a Champagne toast; tickets are $30 with a two-drink minimum. Claim your seats: Two tickets to each show at Davenport’s Piano Bar and Cabaret, 1383 N. Milwaukee Ave. Contact dpreservations@gmail.com.
Burlesque at the Greenhouse: A decidedly different kind of holiday show is in its sixth Chicago edition. “The Buttcracker: A Nutcracker Burlesque,” directed by Miguel Long and choreographed by Dylan Kerr, adds extra performances just for New Year’s Eve, plus a snack buffet, two drink tickets, a Champagne toast and prizes. Claim your seats: four VIP (at $150 per), 10 general admission center (at $80 per) and four general admission house left (at $60 per) for the 9 p.m. show at the Greenhouse Theater Center, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. Call 773-404-7336.
