Ready or not, the holiday season is upon us, and you know what that means… ugly Christmas sweaters and peppermint schnapps, of course! But for those searching for a little intellectual stimulation and entertainment between the white elephant exchanges and ornament hanging, there is no lack of holiday theater options.

The Chicago Fringe Festival runs September 1-11 in Pilsen, and will consist of 50 different hour-long productions by not only local companies, but also across the United States.

Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun lassos several issues including gender relations, abortion, racial integration, identity politics, and class tensions.