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Chicago Children’s Theatre announces its 21st season with four greatest hits from the past two decades: Carmela Full of Wishes, The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party, Manual Cinema’s Leonardo!, and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show.
CARMELA FULL OF WISHES
OPENS OCT. 25, 2026 | IDEAL FOR AGES 6 & UP
It’s Carmela’s birthday, and her wish has already come true–she’s finally old enough to join her big brother as he does the family errands. On their way to the laundromat, past fields of what Mamí calls “flores de cempazuchitl,” Carmela finds a lone dandelion growing in the pavement. But before she can blow its puffy white fluff away, her brother asks, “did you even make a wish?” If only she can think of just the right wish to make.
Full of touching and funny fantasies, the book by Matt de la Peña, and now the play, portrays Carmela’s migrant community as a vibrant place of possibility. Join families from all over the city for this moving ode to family, to dreamers, and to finding hope in the most unexpected places.
THE BEATRIX POTTER HOLIDAY PARTY
OPENS DECEMBER 5, 2026 | IDEAL FOR AGES UP TO 8
Four adorable Beatrix Potter favorites come to life in this mesmerizing, interactive trunk and puppet show, complete with original music. Storytellers weave Potter’s classic narration with gentle interactive moments, recruiting young watchers to join the adventure. After the show, head to the lobby to play with the puppets, take pictures with the cast, and join fellow Chicago families for a communal holiday party featuring a festive spread of holiday treats! Our stories this year will include ”The Tale of Jeremy Fisher,” The Tale of The Tailor of Gloucester,” “The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse,” and of course, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.”
LEONARDO! A WONDERFUL SHOW ABOUT A TERRIBLE MONSTER
OPENS FEB. 13, 2027 | IDEAL FOR AGES 3 & UP
Leonardo is a terrible monster. He tries so hard to be scary, but he just…isn’t. Then Leonardo finds Sam, the most scaredy-cat kid in the world. Will Leonardo finally get his chance to scare the tuna salad out of an unsuspecting human? Or will it be the start of an unlikely friendship? They will need to make a big decision: will they be friends or will they be controlled by their fears?
Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster is adapted from the beloved children’s books by Mo Willems, and realized through mind-bending projection, DIY cinema, music, and immersive sound by critically-acclaimed multimedia artists Manual Cinema.
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW
OPENS APRIL 11, 2027 | IDEAL FOR ALL AGES
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show has been dazzling audiences around the globe for over five years, faithfully bringing to the stage Eric Carle’s timeless classics. Created by Jonathan Rockefeller, each production of the critically acclaimed show features a menagerie of over 75 magical puppets, including the star of the show –The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Alongside “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”, the show features three other Eric Carle stories, including “Brown Bear, Brown Bear”, “10 Little Rubber Ducks”, and “The Very Busy Spider”.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns to communications@chicagochildrenstheatre.org.