Tickets Now Available for MUSIC BOX CHRISTMAS SHOW

On Christmas Eve 1983, the operator of a vintage movie palace on Southport Avenue decided to show a couple of old holiday movies and sing a few Christmas carols during intermission. On that snowy Chicago evening, no one could have predicted that 30 years later the Music Box Christmas Show would develop into a nine-day extravaganza that grows increasingly popular every year. Friends, families and film lovers from across the Midwesthave made this terrific, old-fashioned event part of their holiday tradition. The 30th annual Music Box Christmas Show - featuring White Christmas and/or It's a Wonderful Life - takes place December 13-24, 2013 at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Avenue. www.musicboxtheatre.com/collections/30th-annual-music-box-christmas-show

Each year, holiday revelers are greeted by Santa Claus, live and in person. Santa welcomes the audience and, accompanied by the theater organist, leads them in singing Christmas carols. The lyrics are projected onto the screen so no one misses a chance to sing their hearts out.

Then the audience sits back and enjoys a Christmas movie classic. Some folks opt to keep the music going and see White Christmas so they can sing the timeless lyrics of Irving Berlin along with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney. Others prefer to cheer for Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey and hiss Mr. Potter during a showing of the heartwarming It's a Wonderful Life. And those truly filled with holiday spirit see both films.

Families that want to be part of the holiday fun can send a photo from past years at the Music Box Theatre with the names of those in the picture toboxoffice@musicboxtheatre.com and the theater will add them to the preshow slideshow on the big screen.