The Five

Don’t-miss picks for Wednesday, December 24 through December 30, 2014

1 Hannibal Buress and Amy Schumer

Comedy: Surprise! Comics Hannibal Buress and Amy Schumer put on a last-minute show at Beat Kitchen, but only for those fortunate enough to have gotten tickets. The show sold out quickly.
12/24 at 9:30. $22.50. Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont. beatkitchen.com

2 American Football

Music: Birthed during emo pioneer Mike Kinsella’s years at the University of Illinois, American Football split up shortly after releasing its 1999 self-titled album. Fifteen years later, the band’s going on a string of live tour dates. See how well they’ve aged.
12/30–12/31. $25–$45. Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake. ticketweb.com

3 The Santaland Diaries

Theater: This weekend’s your last chance to catch Mitchell Fain’s priceless rendition of David Sedaris’s one-elf monologue about working with Santa at Macy’s. Commiserate anew with the overworked seasonal employee.
Through 12/28. $18–$35. Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont. theaterwit.org

4 The Nutcracker

Dance: Take in the Joffrey’s expertly rendered mounting of this cash cow before the year ends.
Through 12/28. $32–$134. Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Congress. joffrey.org

5 2014 Annual Music Box Christmas Show

Film: The Lakeview Theater screens two holiday classics, White Christmas and It’s A Wonderful Life. Sing Christmas carols during intermission.
12/24 at 6:30 and 9:40. $10–$13. Music Box Theater, 3733 N. Southport. musicboxtheatre.com

Freebie of the Week

Lineas Borrosas

Art: Local muralist Gabriel Villa takes his craft indoors with a new series of canvases about the Mexican American experience in the border town of El Paso (where he was born) and in urban Chicago.
Through 1/18. Free. National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th. nationalmuseumofmexicanart.org