Chicago Children's Theatre

Chicago Children's Theatre
Name	Chicago Children's Theatre
Founded	1986
Location	Chicago, Illinois
Genre	Children's theatre, family theatre, educational theatre

Chicago Children's Theatre Chicago Children's Theatre is a professional company based in Chicago focused on producing theatrical works for young audiences and families. The company presents touring productions, in-house performances, and education programs that engage children through storytelling, music, and movement. It collaborates with regional institutions, festivals, and schools to expand access to live theatre across the Chicago metropolitan area and beyond.

History

The company was founded in 1986 amid a resurgence of regional theatre practice that included institutions such as Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Early years saw partnerships with venues like the Chicago Cultural Center and festivals such as the Chicago Humanities Festival and the Ravinia Festival. Founding artists drew inspiration from international practitioners associated with Bread and Puppet Theater, Complicite, and Theatre de la Jeune Lune, while engaging local ensembles connected to Victory Gardens Theater and Northlight Theatre. Over decades the organization navigated funding landscapes shaped by grantmakers such as the MacArthur Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Illinois Arts Council, and adapted programming during citywide events including the 1996 Democratic National Convention (Chicago) and the NATO Summit in Chicago (2012).

Artistic Programming

Artistic programming blends adaptations of classic literature with new commissions by playwrights who have worked with New Dramatists, Arena Stage, and The Public Theater. The repertoire often includes works based on texts by authors associated with Roald Dahl, Shel Silverstein, and Maurice Sendak, while also commissioning pieces from writers who have collaborated with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and Seattle Children’s Theatre. Musical collaborations have involved musicians tied to Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Old Town School of Folk Music, and composers from BMI-affiliated projects. Co-productions and residencies frequently intersect with community organizations such as Chicago Parks District, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (Chicago), and educational institutions like University of Chicago and DePaul University.

Education and Outreach

Education initiatives include touring school performances, artist residencies in classrooms, and professional development for teachers in partnership with entities like Chicago Public Schools, National Association for the Education of Young Children, and Erie Neighborhood House. Outreach programs have coordinated with social service organizations including Girl Scouts of the USA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and local chapters of United Way. Curriculum alignment efforts referenced standards promoted by organizations such as Common Core State Standards Initiative and collaborations with arts education advocates like Americans for the Arts and Teach For America-affiliated programs. Accessibility efforts connected to disability-rights groups and advocacy from American Alliance for Theatre & Education.

Productions and Notable Works

Repertoire highlights include adaptations staged in collaboration with dramaturges affiliated with Lincoln Center Theater, costumes by designers who have worked at Lyric Opera of Chicago, and direction influenced by artists from Pittsburgh Public Theater and Chicago Opera Theater. Touring productions have visited venues including Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago), Field Museum of Natural History, and regional stages such as Indiana Repertory Theatre and Children’s Theatre Company (Minneapolis). Notable original commissions have premiered during seasons at festivals like Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival and have been reviewed in outlets aligned with critics from Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and national coverage in The New York Times arts pages.

Leadership and Organization

Governance follows a nonprofit model with a board composed of leaders from organizations such as JPMorgan Chase, Kraft Heinz Company, and academic institutions including Northwestern University and Loyola University Chicago. Artistic leadership has included directors and producers whose careers intersect with Tony Awards, Joseph Jefferson Awards, and fellowships from MacDowell Colony and Guggenheim Foundation. Administrative partnerships have involved collaborations with union bodies like Actors' Equity Association and arts service organizations including League of Chicago Theatres and Chicago Cultural Alliance.

Awards and Recognition

The company and its artists have been recognized by local and national honors including Joseph Jefferson Award nominations, grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and awards administered by Illinois Arts Council Agency. Individual alumni and collaborators have received accolades such as MacArthur Fellows Program fellowships, Tony Award nominations for related artists, and citations from civic bodies like the Chicago City Council and Office of the Mayor of Chicago for contributions to arts education.

Facilities and Venue(s)

Performance and rehearsal activity has been housed in spaces across Chicago neighborhoods, using stages within institutions such as the Chicago Theatre, Atwater Elementary School (Chicago), and community centers managed by Chicago Park District. The company has produced site-specific work in cultural sites such as the Garfield Park Conservatory and the Lincoln Park Zoo, while touring to regional venues including Steinmetz Hall and university theaters at University of Illinois at Chicago.

Category:Theatre companies in Chicago