KC events Dec. 21-27: Chris Porter, ‘Great Russian Nutcracker,’ Shen Yun

A Kansas City native who moved to Los Angeles, Chris Porter has become a national touring comedian who returns to his hometown to perform only occasionally. He made his name on “Last Comic Standing” in 2006, finishing third behind Josh Blue and Ty Barnett, and has appeared on “Comedy Central Presents.” His comedy special, “Chris Porter: Ugly and Angry,” is available on multiple streaming services. 816-759-5233. Tickets are $17-$47 through improvkc.com.

As part of its Third Thursday series, the Nelson invites the public to wear pajamas, onesies or ugly holiday sweaters for a relaxing evening in the Bloch lobby. The event will feature live music, free programs and art projects as well as other activities that showcase the talents of local artists, communities and businesses — all for adults. 816-751-1278. nelson-atkins.org. Free.

Our local Major Arena Soccer League team will take on the league’s best when the Milwaukee Wave visits three days before Christmas. In addition to having operated continuously since 1984, the Wave has set itself apart among indoor soccer teams by starting the season 8-0. The Comets, with Leo Gibson among the league leaders in assists (13) and points (19), are 2-5 and in third place in the four-team Central Division. 1-888-926-6387. Tickets are $15-$50 through kccomets.com.

Believe it or not, it has been 24 years since the stop-motion animated film from the mind of Tim Burton premiered. The tale of Jack Skellington, a resident of Halloween Town who finds himself in Christmas Town and decides to celebrate the holiday, will be shown on a huge screen in Helzberg Hall while the Kansas City Symphony plays Danny Elfman’s score. Kauffman Center. 816-471-0400. Tickets are $45-$90 through kcsymphony.org.

The 25th anniversary tour of Moscow Ballet’s holiday production will include larger-than-life puppets, nesting dolls and handcrafted costumes, as well as celebrated principal dancers such as Ekaterina Alaeva, Kostyantyn Vinovoy, Alisa Voronova and Dmitry Kozhemyakin. They will perform dances to Tchaikovsky’s classic score with new costumes and backdrops. 816-283-9921. Tickets are $28-$175 through midlandkc.com.

Shen Yun was created in 2006 when a group of elite Chinese artists came together in New York determined to revive their traditional culture and to share it with the world. Combining ancient legends and authentic costumes with technological innovations and animated backdrops, Shen Yun presents classical Chinese dance as a way to share ethnic and folk traditions. Tickets are $69-$150 through ticketmaster.com.

The ongoing Downtown Dazzle will bring together streetcars, tango music and holiday celebrations for one evening. Live music by Cucharada, a tango quintet with a guitar, flute, violin, bass and accordion, will enhance the downtown Kansas City holiday experience for streetcar riders who are heading to Union Station, Crown Center, the City Market or the Power & Light District. downtowndazzle.com. Free.

For those who have never visited the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, the holidays are a great time to do so. For folks who have already checked out the world’s largest fine-scale miniature collection and one of the nation’s largest antique toy collections, this would be a good time to return. In addition to festive decorations and special displays, the museum will offer stories about holidays past in its Tureman Education Center. 816-235-8000. toyandminiaturemuseum.org. $5; ages 4 and under free.

This will be your last chance to see a wildly different holiday show presented by Late Night Theatre. The story follows the president of the Midwest Judy Garland Fan Club, who coaxes three friends into helping her kidnap Garland and put on a live Christmas show in an effort to save her family’s public-access TV stations. Celebrities such as Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley and Ethel Merman will drop by. Also, 8 p.m. Thursday-Friday, Dec. 21-22. Tickets are $15-$20 through latenighttheatre.com.

The Chiefs’ final home game of the season on Christmas Eve will be a rematch of the teams that played in the NFL’s longest game ever on Christmas Day 1971, when the Dolphins won a playoff matchup 27-24 in double overtime. This game doesn’t carry the significance of that one, but the Chiefs would clinch their second consecutive AFC West Division championship with a victory. 816-920-9300. Tickets are $35-$350 through chiefs.com.

The fifth annual Truce Tournament, a competition involving three-on-three soccer matches, will commemorate the Christmas Truce during World War I. Matches will be played on Memorial Hill, with the downtown skyline as a backdrop. Meanwhile, the city’s largest Boxing Day English Premier League Watch Party will take place inside the museum. thetrucekc.com. Tournament viewing free; watch party, $20-$25.

Guy Torry, Dec. 27-30, Kansas City Improv. improvkc.com

Illenium, Dec. 21, Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. midlandkc.com

Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Dec. 22, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

The Floozies with Late Night Radio and DJ Chicken Sammich, Dec. 23, The Truman. thetrumankc.com

Black Label Society with Corrosion of Conformity, Dec. 30, Uptown. uptowntheater.com

UMKC men’s basketball vs. South Dakota State, Dec. 22. Municipal Auditorium. umkckangaroos.com

This story was originally published December 19, 2017 at 8:00 AM with the headline "KC events Dec. 21-27: Chris Porter, ‘Great Russian Nutcracker,’ Shen Yun."