For ages 8-15
Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30pm
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$138 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Designed for young people on the autism spectrum, this lively theatre workshop will engage you in acting, movement, and dance. Through ensemble building activities and movement-based theatre games, you will build confidence in expressing your creative side, while practicing social-emotional skills (and having a ton of fun)! In the final workshop, we will share some of our favorite parts of class with families.
For grades K-2
No class November 21
Tuesdays, 5:00-6:00pm
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$275 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Dragons, fairies, and witches, oh my! Through musical and theatrical explorations of classic fairy tales, you will bring well-known stories to life with new twists and turns invented by you and your classmates. This fun-filled class for music lovers in-the-making features singing, acting, dancing, and a variety of instruments to try out. The last day of class will culminate in the opening (and closing) of an original fairy tale mashup performed right in your classroom!
For grades 3-5
No class November 21
Tuesdays, 5:00-6:00pm
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$275 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Live from Chicago Children’s Theatre, it’s Tuesday Night! Master the basics of comedy through drama games, character creation, and sketch writing, as you develop your own comedic voice. After a semester of building confidence and community, the West Loop’s newest comedy troupe will share the laughs in a performance for friends and family.
For grades 3-5
No class November 22
Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30pm
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$275 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
A cold wind is blowing, and spooky characters are hiding around every corner! In this unique theatre class, you get to do it all. Using advanced theatre-making methods you will construct characters and design worlds to create an original ghost story. On the last day of class, your talented troupe of actor-designers will share and perform your story for family and friends!
For grades K-2
No class November 22
Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30pm
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$275 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Get ready to shake out the nerves and take the stage as a confident and collaborative performer! You’ll see the silly side of drama as we explore improv games, drama activities, and the possibilities of unscripted storytelling. On the last day of class, the West Loop's newest improv troupe will host a mini-improv show right in your classroom!
For ages 12-36 months with a caregiver
Thursdays, 9:30-10:15am
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$138 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
All aboard! Grab your little one and join us on the story train. Through engaging multi-sensory drama and movement activities that honk and beep, this playful class for you and your child will support the development of their fine and gross motor skills, communication skills, early childhood literacy, and blossoming creative spirit.
For ages 5-7
No class November 23
Thursdays, 4:30-5:30pm
at The Menomonee Club-Drucker Center, 1535 N Dayton St.
$275 | Register by 7/24 for a 15% discount!
Dragons, fairies, and witches, oh my! Through musical and theatrical explorations of classic fairy tales, you will bring well-known stories to life with new twists and turns invented by you and your classmates. This fun-filled class for music lovers in-the-making features singing, acting, dancing, and a variety of instruments to try out. The last day of class will culminate in the opening (and closing) of an original fairy tale mashup performed right in your classroom!
For grades 6-8
No class November 23
Thursdays, 4:30-6:00pm
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$413 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
From vocal warm-ups to scene study techniques, get ready to crack open your actor’s toolbox in this advanced acting class! Sharpen your acting skills while collaboratively working to create a unique short theatre piece. The last day of class will culminate in the opening (and closing) of an original performance right in your classroom!
For ages 8-11
No class November 23
Thursdays, 5:30-6:30pm,
at The Menomonee Club-Drucker Center, 1535 N Dayton St.
$275 | Register by 7/24 for a 15% discount!
Are you the next Broadway star? Or is singing in the shower more your speed? Either way, Triple Threat will have you learning the music and dances from some of your favorite classic and contemporary musicals. Through character work, movement study, and vocal exploration, you’ll develop essential skills for taking to the stage confidently and charismatically. On the last day of class, you will perform some favorite songs and scenes for family and friends.
Through fabulous storytelling and fast-paced comedy, Ben Franklin and his want-to-be-inventor niece, Sarah, travel to France where they use the Scientific Method to test a mystical man’s magical cure-all in MESMERIZED: A BEN FRANKLIN SCIENCE & HISTORY MYSTERY. Kids will laugh as they engage their minds to solve this mystery, fueled with stories about Ben Franklin’s many scientific discoveries and electrifying inventions.
Themes Explored: S.T.E.M., Women in Science, The Scientific Method, Ben Franklin
Based on the book “Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France” by Mara Rockcliff
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View The Trailer
For grades 1-5
9:30am-4:00pm at CCT, 100 S Racine Ave
Free before care from 8:30-9:30am and free after care from 4:00-5:30pm
$95
During Chicago Public School non-attendance days for students, Chicago Children’s Theatre offers high-energy day camps for children in grades 1-5. Throughout the day, students will rotate through a series of unique arts and theatre classes, dig deeper into their interests by making selections between curated arts activities, and forge new friendships along the way. Past camps have included: acting, improv, songwriting, clowning, beatboxing, puppet design, yoga, prop and costume creation, and much more. Each day of camp is entirely different from the last!
Masks will be strongly recommended during this camp. For more information on precautions we are taking during the pandemic, please see our Education Policies & FAQs.
For ages 2-5 with a caregiver
Sundays, 9:00-9:45am
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$138 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Get those wiggles out as we learn all about the body in Sunday Story Jams! Through multi-sensory drama activities, you and your child will move and shake from head to toe, sing songs, dance, and stretch your imagination to the sky, while supporting the development of your child’s fine and gross motor skills, communication skills, early childhood literacy, and blossoming creative spirit.
For ages 4-7 with a caregiver
Sundays, 10:30-11:30am
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$138 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Designed for youth on the autism spectrum with a participating grown-up, this highly-interactive drama class will get the whole family moving and imagining! Bond with your little one through creative drama, music, and multisensory activities, while supporting your child’s motor development, communication skills, self-confidence, and blossoming creative spirit.
For ages 12-36 months with a caregiver
Mondays, 9:30-10:15am
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$138 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Get dancing and grooving with your little one at Bubble Jams! This fun-filled class for tiny musicians-in-the-making and their grown-ups features singing, dancing, and a variety of instruments to try out. So come jam out to your favorite classic and new songs, show off your best dance moves, and play in a dazzling stream of bubbles!
On Friday, November 3, Chicago Children’s Theatre will celebrate our ongoing mission of service to our community as Chicago’s premier professional theatre company dedicated to children and families, with an emphasis on accessibility. CCT’s annual P.O.P. (Power of Play) Gala is Chicago’s hippest fundraising party, featuring the best in West Loop dining, a program showcasing CCT’s mission, and music from One Night Band.
We are pleased to be hosting the event back at the City Winery, which has served our event well in past years with a mix of great food and drink in an electric atmosphere. Our Board and Staff promise the most fun you will have on the gala circuit!
Proceeds from the 2023 P.O.P. Gala will benefit CCT’s mission-driven programming, with a focus on underserved communities including low-income families and youth with special needs. We believe the arts are essential for all of Chicago's young people.
We would not be here without your generous support. Thank you for your continued engagement with Chicago Children’s Theatre.
COVID-19 Safety Acknowledgment
CCT is taking precautionary measures in alignment with CDC recommendations, state and local mandates and the policies of our venues with regard to COVID-19 safety with regard to the planning and execution of our in-person events. By virtue of their attendance, in-person attendees have expressed their agreement to adhere to these CDC, state and local guidelines, and venue policies in place for COVID-19 safety. Further, by virtue of their attendance, in-person attendees acknowledge that they knowingly assume the risk of injury, harm and loss associated with COVID-19.
Duty Of Care
Individuals who fall within any of the categories below should not attend CCT in-person events. By attending the in-person events, you certify that you do not fall into any of the following categories:
• Individuals who currently or within the past fourteen (14) days have experienced any symptoms associated with COVID-19, which include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.
• Individuals who believe that they may have been exposed to a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19 or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and are not yet cleared as non-contagious by state or local public health authorities or the health care team responsible for their treatment.
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 tea party featuring a festive spread of holiday treats! Our stories this year are The Tale of Mrs. Tittlemouse, The Tale of Two Bad Mice, The Tailor of Gloucester, and The Tale of Peter Rabbit.
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For ages 2-5 with a caregiver
No class November 26
Sundays, 9:00-9:45am
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$138 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Grab your little one and dive into a sea of stories in Sunday Story Jams! Through multi-sensory drama activities, swim like a mermaid, splash with dolphins, and dance into the deep blue sea, all while expanding your child’s social emotional skills, motor skills, early childhood literacy, and blossoming creative spirit.
For ages 4-7 with a caregiver
No class November 26
Sundays, 10:30-11:30am
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$138 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Designed for youth on the autism spectrum with a participating grown-up, this highly-interactive drama class will get the whole family moving and imagining! Bond with your little one through creative drama, music, and multisensory activities, while supporting your child’s motor development, communication skills, self-confidence, and blossoming creative spirit.
For ages 12-36 months with a caregiver
No class November 20
Mondays, 9:30-10:15am
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$138 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Get dancing and grooving with your little one at Bubble Jams! This fun-filled class for tiny musicians-in-the-making and their grown-ups features singing, dancing, and a variety of instruments to try out. So come jam out to your favorite classic and new songs, show off your best dance moves, and play in a dazzling stream of bubbles!
For ages 8-15
No class November 21
Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30pm
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$138 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Designed for young people on the autism spectrum, this music workshop will get you beatboxing and making music with your whole body in no time! Build confidence in expressing your creative side, while practicing social-emotional skills (and having a ton of fun)! In the final workshop, we will share some of our favorite parts of class with families.
For ages 12-36 months with a caregiver
No class November 23
Thursdays, 9:30-10:15am
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$138 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Grab your little one and all their big feelings! Through engaging multi-sensory drama and movement activities we’ll smile, stomp, laugh and cry. This playful class for you and your child will support the development of their fine and gross motor skills, communication skills, early childhood literacy, and blossoming creative spirit.
For grades 3-5
No class November 26
Sundays, 10:00-11:30am
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$413 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Are you the next Broadway star? Or is singing in the shower more your speed? Either way, Triple Threat will have you learning the music and dances from some of your favorite classic and contemporary musicals. Through character work, movement study, and vocal exploration, you’ll develop essential skills for taking to the stage confidently and charismatically. On the last day of class, you will perform some favorite songs and scenes for family and friends.
For grades K-2
No class November 20
Mondays, 4:30-5:30pm
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$275 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
The Acting Adventures sleuths are on the case! Through theatrical explorations of mystery stories, you’ll act out scenes, play theatre games, and use your imagination to create characters in your own puzzling tale. The last day of class will culminate in the opening (and closing) of an original story performed right in your classroom!
For grades 3-5
No class November 20
Mondays, 5:00-6:00pm
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$275 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Are you ready to take your acting game to the next level? In this advanced acting class, you will sharpen your essential theatre skills through in-depth scene study, exploring methods that professional actors use to create characters and prepare for performance. The last day of class will culminate in a showcase of scenes performed right in your classroom!
This class will jump-start you to join the advanced ensembles that produce full-length productions in CCT’s Studio Theatre each season.
For ages 4-6
No class November 21
Tuesdays, 4:00-4:45pm
at Chicago Children's Theatre, 100 S Racine Ave
$275 | Register by 7/7 for a 15% discount!
Bounce like a bunny and sway with the wind in this high-energy drama class for young artists! Through movement-based drama activities, you will explore woodland creatures, dance with fairies and elves, and discover the mysteries of the forest, all while expanding social-emotional and motor skills, and building confidence expressing your creative side. On the last day of class, you will share some of your favorite parts of class with family and friends!
CCT presents the original story and song Edward The Tap Dancing Elephant by acclaimed musician Ralph Covert, of Ralph's World, and featuring Time Brickey!
Edward the Elephant was always told he couldn't live his dream of being a famous tap dancer - but when he sneaks out of the zoo to meet his tap dancing idol he finally gets a shot at stardom! This charming story and song is brought to life on camera with hand-illustrated puppets by Will Bishop and green-screen tap dancing by Time Brickey.
Submit A Red Kite Residency Inquiry Form
Red Kite Drama Time is an adaptive theater program for young people on the autism spectrum and other neurodiverse learners. The primary pillar of our curriculum is social-emotional learning (SEL), utilizing sensory drama games to engage each student’s ability to work within a group and explore their emotional expressivity and understanding. Our classes engage in creative play and sensory experiences to encourage students to connect with their unique body, voice, imagination, and with the community around them. The main goals of this program include: imaginative play, improved communication, facial emotion recognition, turn-taking and eye contact. This program is inclusive for children without language and limited mobility.
“This clearly was a beautiful experience, one that more children, autistic or not, should have.” -H. Schubert, Professor and University Scholar, Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Illinois at Chicago
Submit A R.O.A.R. Residency Inquiry Form
R.O.A.R. (Residencies of Arts and Resilience) will provide an opportunity for students to authentically reflect on challenging or stressful situations, gaining the tools for sharing with others, self care and self agency in those moments. The curriculum (developed in partnership with the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Center for Childhood Resilience) uses children’s literature, theatre and other multi-disciplinary art forms as the source material for trauma-informed activities and conversations that promote coping mechanisms, social-emotional expression, and resilience. Our goal is for 100% of our students to "ROAR" with confidence, “I am a brave person.”
“I just wanted to let you know how much the students and teachers love the program. A fellow teacher told me yesterday that one of the students that never speaks in her class participated and shared for the first time with your teachers. This also happened in my class with a student – she has never spoken out loud before. She speaks little English and is self-conscious, but this program has helped her overcome it. I just wanted to say thank you for all of the great work that you are doing.” - Alison, Hamline Elementary
Children’s author and illustrator Arnold Lobel’s beloved characters hop from the page to the stage in the Tony-nominated musical A Year With Frog And Toad, based on his popular children’s book that follows two best friends – the cheerful, popular Frog and grumpy, but lovable Toad – through four fun-filled seasons.
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A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD was originally presented on Broadway by Bob Boyett, Adrianne Lobel, Michael Gardner, Lawrence Horowitz and Roy Furman. The play had its world Premiere at The Children’s Theatre Company Minneapolis, Minnesota.