• The Ruffians remount their acclaimed holiday show“Burning Bluebeard”for three performances Friday through Sunday, Dec. 16-18, at the Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. Inspired by the 1903 Iroquois Theatre Fire, “Burning Bluebeard” tells the story of six clowns who attempt to complete the Christmas pantomime that was interrupted by a massive fire that claimed more than 600 lives. Performances are sold out, but theatergoers can put their names on a waitlist one hour before curtain to have a shot at unclaimed seats. See goruffians.org.

• Theatre-Hikes hostsOn The Rocks, a comedy improv fundraiser beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, at Rogers Park Social, 6920 N. Glenwood Ave., Chicago. Tickets are $10, $15 for a couple. See theatre-hikes.org.

•2nd Story,a storytelling collective, tells tales at 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, at Steppenwolf Theatre’s 1700 Theatre as part of the theater’s LookOut performance series. Composer/arrangerJaret Landonhosts a holiday concert featuring cast members from Steppenwolf’s production of “The Christians” at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19. Both performances take place at 1700 N. Halsted St., Chicago. (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.

• The Joyce Foundation, whose Joyce Awards support artists of color in Great Lakes cities, recently awarded The Free Street Theater $50,000 for the company’s commission of “Meet Juan(Ito) Doe,” a new play by Ricardo Gamboa. The foundation also awarded $50,000 to The Old Town School of Folk Music for the commission of a new work titled “Quantum Music/Englewood” by saxophonist/composer Ernest Dawkins and percussionist/sitar player Rahul Sharma.

— Barbara Vitello