The beloved TV classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer soars off the screen and onto the stage for an early family treat this holiday season. Come see all of your favorite characters from the special, including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph, as they come to life inRudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. Can Rudolph save his family and friends and help Santa save the holiday? Find out in this cheerful, song-filled adventure packed with an inspiring message that what makes you different can be what makes you special. Don’t miss this wonderful holiday tradition that speaks to the misfit in all of us when this fun family musical lights up The Chicago Theatre with November performance dates.

Prepare to blast off on an intergalactic adventure for space-age family fun as the ultimate circus experience launches into the future with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents Out Of This World. Audiences will take the helm to join the Circus Space Fleet on a heroic quest of good versus evil that will let imaginations run wild with unexpected surprises and thrills at every turn. Through the lens of a magic telescope, Out Of This World transports your entire family on an unforgettable journey as the circus Star Seeker battles to bring the most spectacular and talented performers back to Earth after years in outer space. Children of all ages will be amazed by the cosmic voyage as you discover the wonders of gravity-defying acrobats, orbital aerialists, majestic animals, fearless daredevils and humorous clowns.  November performance dates are available at both The United Center or Allstate Arena.

The mischievous Cat in the Hat joins a cast of everyone’s favorite Dr. Seuss characters, including Gertrude McFuzz, Lazy Mayzie, the Whos of Whoville and the grouchy Grinch in this whimsical production of Seussical. The famous stories of Dr. Seuss are linked together in the show by JoJo, a young boy who’s a “thinker of strange and wonderful thinks,” and Horton the Elephant, who’s out to prove that “a person’s a person, no matter how small.” Each charming story is backed by a myriad of musical styles, from Latin to pop, swing to gospel, and R&B to funk. Dr. Seuss’s trademark sense of fun and wonder come through loud and clear, making this a musical that appeals to all ages. Bring the whole family and join the fun when the show comes to Big Noise Theatre at Prairie Lakes in Des Plaines.  Goldstar has tickets at half off the $30 regular price with performance dates through October 16.  Seussical the Musical is a fantastic show for all ages!

See The Addams Family: Creepy, Kooky Musical Comedy at Lund Auditorium in River Forest on October performance dates for only $8.50 plus service fee.  I’ve attended shows here before and it’s super easy to get to, park and leave.  The creepy and kooky adventures of the mysterious and spooky Addams Family have inspired this altogether ooky musical comedy from the writers of the Tony-winning Jersey Boys. The Addams Family: A Musicaltells the story of every father’s nightmare: Gomez’s little girl Wednesday is all grown-up and in love with a seemingly “normal” boy. Inviting his family to the Addams Mansion sets the stage for a meet-and-greet gone gothic. Savor the horrific hospitality of Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Grandmama, Lurch and everyone’s favorite weirdo, Uncle Fester, as this popular Broadway show comes to Dominican University’s Lund Auditorium just in time for Halloween.

Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got — but now you can take a break from all of your worries because TV’s No.1 comedy is now live on stage. Cheers Live On Stage at Chicago’s Broadway Playhouse finds baseball player-turned-bar-owner Sam Malone managing a watering hole full of eccentric customers and staff, like tough-talking waitress Carla, Coach, the slow-witted bartender, regular patrons Cliff and Norm and his newest employee, the lovely poet Diane. Adapted using actual scripts from the first season of the beloved series, Cheers Live On Stage gives modern audiences the opportunity to experience the rapid-fire dialog, sexual tension and laughter live and in the moment. Tickets start at $25 on Goldstar for performance dates through October 2nd.

Cited as one of the greatest rock albums ever by Rolling Stone, VH1, Time and others, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars made David Bowie both a star and a legend. Now, Classic Albums Live, known for their killer note-for-note concert recreations, bring Bowie’s groundbreaking concept album to Ravinia. Favorite songs like “Moonage Daydream,” “Starman,” “It Ain’t Easy,” “Hang On to Yourself,” “Suffragette City,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide” and, of course, the title track, tell the story of a doomed rock star who acts as a messenger for aliens on the eve of Earth’s destruction. If you never got to experience David Bowie live, here’s your chance to hear Ziggy Stardust “at maximum volume.”  Grab Goldstar tickets for only $22.50 for this September 9th performance at Ravinia.  We saw Classic Albums Live do Abbey Road and they were incredible!

The Bardy Bunch tickets start at $16 with performance dates throughout September.  Two households, both alike in dignity and airtime, are about to come head-to-head in the ultimate musical mash-up The Bardy Bunch. Mercury Theater lays the scene in the fair summer of 1974, where infamous TV families the Bradys and the Partridges are reeling from a recent cancellation by ABC. No longer under America’s watchful eye, the two “wholesome” sitcom families settle their heated rivalry the only way they know how: an all-out Shakespearean-style blood bath. Featuring groovy hits like “I Think I love You,” “It’s A Sunshine Day,” and “I Woke Up in Love This Morning,” this is one musical parody you won’t want to miss. Watch them sing and dance, tell corny jokes, and off one another through jealous fits of rage when The Bardy Bunch comes to Chicago.

Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, a Monstrously Funny Musical, is now available on Goldstar for $19 a ticket with performance dates into November.  Hollywood — and now Broadway’s — King of Comedy Mel Brooks reunited with the creative team behind his 12-time Tony-winning musicalThe Producers for this theatrical re-imagining of his hit movie comedyYoung Frankenstein. Taking on the classic horror film genre with tongue firmly in cheek, the musical follows young Dr. Frankenstein as he tries to complete his grandfather’s experiments to bring a corpse back to life. He’s aided by the hunchbacked Igor (otherwise known as Eye-Gore), his curvaceous lab assistant, Inga, and the frightfully eccentric housekeeper Frau Blucher, who sing a number of catchy tunes like “Transylvania Mania,” “He Vas My Boyfriend” and “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” Catch Brooks’ latest lively creation at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights.

The Great American Lobster Fest at Navy Pier features Food, Fireworks, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Beatles Tribute & More and you can get them all for from zero to $6 on Goldstar.  This celebration of the world’s tastiest crustacean is all it’s cracked up to be and more, with two nights of headliner concerts in the Aon Grand Ballroom on Chicago’s Navy Pier. The Dirty Dozen Brass Band are the famed New Orleans horn stars who combine Cajun and zydeco melodies with bebop, funk and blues to create a Mardi Gras-style party wherever they go. And the Liverpool Legends re-create the seminal pop sounds of The Beatles from their mop-tops to Sgt. Pepper and beyond. As a bonus, the members of the group were hand-picked by George Harrison’s sister, Louise, who’s scheduled to be on hand to meet and mingle with fans. On top of the music, you’ve got the entire festival to explore, including — of course — bites for purchase made with lobster flown in fresh from the East Coast by the New England Seafood Company, plus a Saturday night fireworks show that’s sure to send the summer out with a bang. If you purchase a Lobster Meal ticket, you’ll get to enjoy a delicious meal, including a full pound-and-a-quarter of fresh steamed lobster. Additionally, the fest will feature a vast array of fresh seafood selections, non-seafood related items, surf & turf, snacks, sweets and vegetarian options. The lobster meal includes your choice of a full steamed lobster or lobster roll served with corn on the cob, potatoes, dinner roll, fresh cut lemons and melted butter. Rock out with your bib on at the third annual Great American Lobster Fest this Labor Day weekend.

Free tickets, anyone? Hop aboard Goldstar’s Comp Train and enjoy complimentary tickets to fun events across the country. Thousands of free tickets to live theater, concerts, dance, comedy and more and all you pay is a small service fee (amount varies depending on the event).  It’s a great way to discover new events in your area.

The Dog Film Festival is coming up in September – get your freebie tickets!