CCT SPECIAL EVENT (not part of a subscription)
Chicago Children’s Theatre will present its first-ever Chicago Sensory Theatre Summit, a new, international convening of theater professionals, teaching artists, educators and disability advocates interested in boosting accessibility and engagement in the live performing arts, in February 2026,
Theater artists, educators and audiences from around the U.S. will gather for industry-only workshops as well as public-facing events including Red Kite, Green Mountain, an immersive sensory theater experience for the very young, Red Kite Prom on Valentine’s Day, CCT’s 20th Birthday Bash Open House, and more.
Chicago Children’s Theatre Co-Founder and Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell and CCT’s education staff curated the summit by drawing from the company’s 20 years of sensory work. These include CCT’s Red Kite Project experiences for children on the autism spectrum, all-access productions like X-Marks the Spot: An X-Tra Sensory Xperience inspired by visually impaired audiences, and its recent R.O.A.R. (Residencies of Arts and Resilience) program involving trauma-informed teaching and multi-sensory integration.
“The Chicago Sensory Theatre Summit will demonstrate the positive impacts of inclusive, immersive performance experiences for diverse audiences, especially neurodivergent individuals or those with sensory sensitivities, by engaging multiple senses like touch, smell, taste, sight and sound, beyond seeing and hearing.” – Founding Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell
Thank you to the IL Arts Council and Thoma Bravo for being our Chicago Sensory Theatre Summit sponsors!
