We went to the afternoon performance of Good Night Moon this afternoon and my son adored it. I was on the fence about buying tickets as it was expensive for us ($50 each) but my son did enjoy it more so than the paw patrol live shows he has seen. The show was about an hour and 15 mins and he sat through the entire show (he is 4). The props were great, the stage was great and the actors were great. We did get there about 45 mins before the show and the small parking lot next to the theater had plenty of parking spaces available. The doors opened a half hour before show start time and it gave us plenty of time to do a craft and use the bathroom before the show. Many parents must frequent the theater because they started lining up before the doors to the theater opened to get a good spot. I'd say all seats are good visually but the benches weren't the most comfortable after an hour for an adult. I do think we will be back for their next production. :) read more

Chicago Children's Theatre - Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had a very nice time here with the little one. It was a great performance and interaction from the crew. Great experience for the kids to get out and enjoy. read more

Great summer programming for all ages! My kid has done this foe several summers now and it is by far her favorite camp !

Fantastic place for taking in a show. We have been to several family friendly plays that were both enjoyable for the kids and adults. Seating is limited, but there isn't a bad seat since you are practically on the stage sitting on one of three community benches. The facility itself does a lot more than performances. They have classes, workshops, etc. Parking is easy. Staff has always been pleasant. Great, clean and open space. read more

This weekend we had the opportunity of entertaining a party at the CCT. We own Happy Kids Chicago and we were there this past Saturday with Elmo. What a great place to have a party! The front desk was super nicer and helpful. The space/ party room is bright, clean and fun (they have like a swing in the middle of the room). I would totally celebrate my child's party at the CCT read more

Chicago Children's Theatre - Elmo from Happy Kids Chicago www.HappyKidsChicago.com - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Less than a 100-person theater, bench seating (not individual seats). The staff was welcoming and friendly. We saw Last Stop on Market Street. Our 4-year old didn't understand many of the subtleties of the performance, but we were delighted with our family outing. Ticket face value was about $17. 85% of the performers were outstanding! Small bottled water, small juice, and other drinks start at $2. read more

There were many aspects I loved about our visit here & only one complaint. The show lasts only an hour which can be a good or bad thing depending on the child but after spending $50 for two adults & one child I felt like there should've been MORE. The show however is indeed incredible & the way they deal with many children interrupting the show is nothing short of an art form. The show is very engaging & they involve anyone who is willing to participate in the interactive parts of said show. There were projectors projecting pictures on the floor & backdrop, and a few props to go with the theme of the show. Unfortunately you're not allowed to film inside the theatre so you'll just have to take my word for it. There's plenty of FREE parking in the theatre's private parking lot- be sure to arrive early. I imagine the shows fill up quickly so I'd encourage you to purchase tickets online in advance. read more

Chicago Children's Theatre - Lobby/play area - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If your child is a fan of the beautiful Eric Carle books. You are in for an amazing treat! We had the privilege to attend one of the @chichildtheatre plays, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar ." Not only did my baby girl sit through the whole 45 minute play but her little heart was captivated by the gorgeous puppets and wonderful performers. Even Papa who sometimes questions my movie or theatre choices was impressed by this beautiful story line. It honestly was a stunning show and I'm sure any other show that takes place in this lovely space will be successful! Parents do your kiddos a favor and bring them to a play at this location! Tips for parents: arrive at least 15 minutes early so you can park in the parking lot there is an adorable set up in the entrance with coloring sheets, crayons, and books all describing caterpillars, butterflies and dragonflies. they have a little concession stand with kid friendly snacks available for purchase specials edition books are also available for purchase they will announce when to line up to take a seat. The seats are first come first serve so line up quickly to secure a good spot. the show is 45 min long so make sure the first thing you do is take a potty trip. You won't want to miss a single second! I promise. No texting, recording or taking pics during the play which is a pretty good idea. I wouldn't want to spoil a single detail it's better to go and see it yourself. Make sure to hang up your coats, the seating can feel a little tight and it's better for the kids to have room to wiggle around in. at the end of the performance you get to meet a few of the puppets and performers Everyone in the building is beyond sweet and accommodating! I wish I would have found out about this beautiful children's theatre sooner read more

Chicago Children's Theatre - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here for a production of Leonardo, and it was wonderful. I've been a fan of Manual Cinema for a long time, so I was really happy to share this experience with my kids. We went during Access Weekend, which is great for my son who has sensitivities to loud sounds. It also helped when my little one was getting cranky and her dad could take her out to one of the family areas to chill. Overall a completely lovely experience. We will definitely be back! read more

My wife and I took our daughter to Wake up Brother Bear today and I cannot say enough good things about this place. It's very obvious that their entire staff thoroughly enjoys their jobs. It was also great that they have a play area while you wait for the play to start. As for the play, it's very interactive theater in the round. All of the actors and musicians are superb. The actors who play sister and brother bear are nothing short of awesome. The story is engaging and educational. Children of all ages enjoyed the play thoroughly. I don't think our daughter blinked during the entire play. I was also very pleased to see that they offer financial aid to children who otherwise would not be able to afford a ticket. This place is a MUST for all children. We will definitely be back! read more

I should have written this review long ago! My son has been going to CCT (summer camps, spring and winter camps) for the past three years and I CANNOT say enough wonderful things about them! Their program pushes kids to use their imagination and creativity, independently but with the support and guidance of their very experienced and skilled staff. My son's confidence and ingenuity has shot through the roof since he started attending. We both consider everyone at CCT part of our family and look forward to many more years there! The education director, Dexter Ellis, has always gone above and beyond and is an exceptional mentor! read more

An Epic tale of scale is an epic fail. Poor props, lack of plot, lack of vision. I hope no little child who went will think this is theater. I brought my 8 year old to this experience. You go through a series of spaces in smaller groups looking for "a thing". We started by walking into a "shop" full of curious objects with another group. The shop keeper said his lines, to the first group, they were whisked away and... he started his lines from the top to us! As if we were not standing there just now! We were then taken through series of spaces representing the body. The props were best suited for about 3-4 year olds. Think two foot "zit" climbing wall (not sure why it was inside the stomach) and an intestin "bopping" table. The elevator was fun though. They made no effort to better conceal the spaces. You are walking through hallway with offices around and you are going to a set of stairs with props sitting around. Looked more like our school after a project was being taken apart. We then went into a room where the previous group was finishing working on three stations with some projects. As we got started on the stations, someone came in and invited us into the next space. I questioned the invitation because we were not finished yet and I was told we could stay behind but it would be a loooong wait. So we went on to watch the other group feed some messages they made to some creature in space. We just stood there watching them and listening to some youtube jokes. So 4 year old props, 8 year old content, 11 year old jokes. At the end, I have no idea what the connection was between the shop, body systems and space. I don't know if we found "the thing" and what the thing was. read more