Alas, we lost Tom Stoppard, who I think was my favorite living playwright before his death on Saturday. Chicago theater produced much of his work over the years, especially Court Theatre and especially by the director Charles Newell, in whom Stoppard placed a great deal of trust.

Chicago's Gift Theatre has announced several new ensemble members and also the return of its "TEN" festival of 10-minute works. The fresh folks are: Jennifer Aparicio, Shanésia Davis, Angela Morris, Jennifer Rumberger, Netta Walker and Patrick Weber.

Second City, Monday only, is offering $25 tickets for all Monday-Thursday shows in January. Use the code DEALS2025. Also, the code CROCGIFT40 will get you 40% off tickets to Roald Dahl's "The Enormous Crocodile" at the Studebaker Theater at the Fine Arts Building. Produced by the Dahl estate, this show is also part of the Chicago International Puppet Festival. High hopes here. Finally, a $30 donation to the Rivendell Theatre Ensemble gets you a ticket to a screening of the movie "Ghostlight" on Dec 9 at the Davis Theatre, which stars folks connected to that theater. Free popcorn, too.

More cyber deals: Use the code BLACKFRIDAY for 40% off tickets to upcoming Broadway series productions at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. You can see "Dear Evan Hansen" and "South Pacific." The code BFBOGO25 gets you 25% off "Million Dollar Quartet," also in Aurora. The code BOGO gets you two-for-one tickets for "The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party" on Saturday at Chicago Children's Theatre. And Broadway in Chicago also has cyber deals on most of its upcoming shows.

Goodman Theatre has announced the cast for its upcoming production of "Holiday," as adapted from the Philip Barry play by the late Richard Greenberg and directed by Robert Falls. The cast will include Rammel Chan, Christiana Clark, Alejandra Escalante, Jessie Fisher, Bryce Gangel, Molly Griggs, Erik Hellman, Jordan Lage, Luigi Sottile and Wesley Taylor. This show is likely to move to Broadway, although I'd imagine not with this entire cast.

Upcoming openings include "Gaslight" on Thursday at Northlight Theatre. On Broadway, "Marjorie Prime" opens next Monday at Second Stage with Cynthia Nixon. That play was seen back in 2015 at Writers Theatre in Chicago. Finally, if you are looking for a warm, family-friendly show this month, check out my review of "Much Ado About Nothing" at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. It's lots of fun.

Have a great week. I will see you at the theater.

— Chris Jones, chief theater critic

The cast of “Much Ado About Nothing” in Chicago Shakespeare’s Courtyard Theater on Navy Pier. (Kyle Flubacker)

Our current list of Chris Jones Recommends: “Jekyll & Hyde” through Dec. 21 by Kokandy Productions at Chopin Theatre; “Diary of a Black Illusionist” in an open run on Wednesdays at Chicago Magic Lounge; “White Christmas” through Dec. 29 at Paramount Theatre in Aurora; “Sister Act” through Jan. 11, 2026, at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace; “Much Ado About Nothing” through Dec. 21 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.