GOODMAN'S BOOK UP! “THEATER FOR THE VERY YOUNG” (0-5) APPEARS IN 12 CHICAGO PARKS OVER THREE WEEKS, NOW THROUGH AUGUST 10, 2025

 ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List: FREE Family Friendly Fun

BOOK UP!

Directed by Tor Campbell and Raquel Torre

July 23 – August 10, 2025

(L-R) Madie Doppelt, Kylie Anderson, Robbie Matthew and Jean Claudio

Photos by Justin Barbin

A high-octane outdoor circus spectacle

NEWEST “THEATER FOR THE VERY YOUNG” (0-5)

Goodman Theatre’s summer 2025 “Theater for the Very Young” (TVY) production, BOOK UP!—a high-octane outdoor circus spectacle that invites little ones and their grown-ups to move, play and discover the magic of reading—are now available. Specially made for children aged 0–5 years and their adult friends and family, BOOK UP! is co-directed by Goodman Michael Maggio Directing Fellow Raquel Torre and Northwestern University Directing Fellow Tor Campbell. BOOK UP! will bring its high-flying energy to eight more Chicago parks through August 10. Remaining performances include July 30 (Hale Park/Clearing), July 31 (Hayes Park/Ashburn/Wrightwood), August 2 (Haas Park/Logan Square), August 3 (Marquette Park/Chicago Lawn), August 6 (Homan Square Community Center Park/North Lawndale), August 7 (Brighton Park Community Campus/Brighton Park), August 9 (Portage Park) and August 10 (Oriole Park/Norwood Park). 

(L-R) Kylie Anderson, Robbie Matthew and Madie Doppelt

Two FREE 60-minute performances appear in each park (at 9:30am and 11:30am) and a hands-on workshop immediately follows. Tickets are not required, but registration is encouraged; visit GoodmanTheatre.org/FreeActs. The Goodman is grateful to Kirkland & Ellis, Arts and Community Sponsor for Theater for the Very Young programming.

(Kneeling, L-R) Madie Doppelt and Robbie Matthew. (Aerial) Kylie Anderson

“Think Reading Rainbow meets the circus meets Chicago’s beautiful parks network,” said Jared Bellot, Goodman’s Clifford Director of Education and Engagement. “BOOK UP! is joyful, imaginative and built to meet children exactly where they are—physically, developmentally, and creatively. We believe that live performance has the power to spark curiosity, build connections and foster a lifelong love of storytelling. And by bringing this work directly into neighborhoods across the city, we’re saying every child deserves access to the arts, and every park can be a stage. This is about nurturing early literacy, yes—but it’s also about creating shared moments of wonder and joy for families and communities.”

Jean Claudio

A traveling librarian (Jean Claudio) rolls into town with a magical book cart, ready to spark big imaginations everywhere and beyond! With a little wiggle, a little giggle and a whole lot of wonder, stories leap off the pages through juggling, tumbling, clowning and aerial acrobatics—with Kylie Anderson, Madie Doppelt and Robbie Matthew, all ProTraining alumni of Chicago’s famed Actors Gymnasium. 

BOOK UP! is presented as part of Goodman’s 100 Free Acts of Theater program and the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks series, both supported by the Mayor’s Office and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE). The Night Out in the Parks program presents cultural events year-round in neighborhood parks throughout the city. The Chicago Park District in partnership with 100 local artists and organizations, presents engaging events and performances that enhance quality of life across Chicago and amplify the artistic and cultural vibrancy in every neighborhood. Through multiple disciplines, which include theater, music, movies, dance, site-specific work, nature programs, and community festivals, the series aims to support Chicago-based artists, facilitate community-based partnerships and programs, cultivate civic engagement, and ensure equity in access to the arts for all Chicagoans. www.nightoutintheparks.com.

(Right) Jean Claudio

Full Company of BOOK UP!

Directed by Tor Campbell and Raquel Torre

Created by Raquel Torre, Originally Devised by La Vuelta

Kylie Anderson…Kid 1/Teaching Artist

Jean Claudio…Librarian/Teaching Artist

Maddie Doppelt…Kid 3/ Teaching Artist

Robbie Matthew…Kid 2/Teaching Artist/US Librarian

Robbie Matthew

Creative Team

1st Line Producer…Jared Bellot

2nd Line Producer…Raquel Torre

Production Manager…Claudette Przygoda

Set Designer…Alyssa Mohn

Scenic Builder…Luke Lemanski

Costume Designer…Ben Argenta Kress

Composer & Sound Designer…Justin Cavazos

Casting Director...Lauren Port, CSA

Production Associate…Jojo Wallenberg

Production Assistant & Circus Rigger…Glenna Broderick

(L-R) Robbie Matthew, Kylie Anderson and Madie Doppelt

ABOUT 100 FREE ACTS OF THEATER

An unprecedented citywide event spanning Goodman Theatre’s Centennial 2025/2026 Season, 100 Free Acts of Theater activates all 50 wards of Chicago. The Goodman partners with local organizations to amplify existing creative programming and collaborate on new efforts—from performances to special events to community engagement offerings—to celebrate the city’s rich cultural landscape and honor the communities that have inspired and supported Chicago’s flagship resident theater over the past 100 years. Each Act, developed in close collaboration and in tune with that partner organization’s mission, is programmed to take place at destinations in its community. Produced in partnership with the Department of Cultural Events and Special Affairs (DCASE), all 100 Acts are offered FREE with participation open to Chicagoans of all ages and backgrounds. Together, DCASE and The Goodman help provide resources to make each Act possible—including but not limited to artistic personnel, tech support, assistance with marketing/publicity and more. Allstate Insurance Company is additionally a Corporate Sponsor Partner for 100 Free Acts of Theater. The first quarter of Free Acts is now live; additional Acts will be announced as the Centennial Season continues. Visit GoodmanTheatre.org/FreeActs for more information.

ABOUT CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AND SPECIAL EVENTS 

The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city—to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city—serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via our newsletters and social media.

ABOUT GOODMAN THEATRE

Chicago’s theater since 1925, Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit arts and community organization in the heart of the Loop, distinguished by the excellence and scope of its artistic programming and community engagement. Led by Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director John Collins, the theater’s artistic priorities include new play development (more than 150 world or American premieres), large scale musical theater works and reimagined classics. Artists and productions have earned two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards and more than 160 Jeff Awards, among other accolades. 

The Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” Its longtime annual holiday tradition A Christmas Carol, now in its fifth decade, has created a new generation of theatergoers in Chicago. The Goodman also frequently serves as a production and program partner with national and international companies and Chicago’s Off-Loop theaters.

Using the tools of theatrical practice, the Goodman’s Education and Engagement programs aim to develop generations of citizens who understand and empathize with cultures and stories of diverse voices. The Goodman’s Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement is the home of these programs, which are offered for Chicago youth—85% of whom come from underserved communities—schools and life-long learners.

Goodman Theatre was built on the unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa and Potawatomi Nations. We recognize that many other Nations consider the area we now call Chicago as their traditional homeland—including the Myaamia, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac and Fox, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Wea, Kickapoo and Mascouten and remains home to many Native peoples today. The Goodman is proud to have a relationship with Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum. Located in Evanston, the Museum honors the survival and perseverance of Indigenous communities and promotes a greater understanding of Indigenous peoples: gichigamiin-museum.org.

Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation on the new Goodman center in 2000.

Marsha Cruzan is Chair of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Diane Landgren is Women’s Board President and Kelli Garcia is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals.

 (Above) Kylie Anderson. (Below) Robbie Matthew

OPENING: World Premiere of Mesmerized: A Ben Franklin Science & History Mystery at Chicago Children’s Theatre September 23-October 15, 2023

 

ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new play  Mesmerized: A Ben Franklin Science & History Mystery  to electrify kids, parents and teachers this fall

The creative team for Chicago Children’s Theatre’s world premiere of Mesmerized: A Ben Franklin Science & History Mystery includes (from left) Suzanne Maynard Miller (adaptor), Tommy Rapley (director) and (at press time, June 22) cast members China Brickey, Kasey Foster, Rika Nishikawa and Shawn Pfautsch. Here at ChiIL Mama, we've been huge fans of Chicago Children’s Theatre since their inception, 19 years ago, when I brought my then toddlers to see their first show ever, A Year with Frog and Toad. Over the years my son and daughter grew up with Chicago Children’s Theatre and so many original, world class productions and book based adaptations. Fast forward to the present, where and my now 20 and 22 year olds still adore theatre, and my son has graduated from Northwestern with a degree in the field, and a passion for theatre for young audiences and teaching children! Theatre sparks creativity and empathy as well as opening doors in the imagination. You never know where those doors might lead. We're excited for Chicago Children’s Theatre's latest brand new production, and I'll be out to review at the press opening, still with my son. How many parents of adult children can say that? I'm one lucky mama.  Chicago Children’s Theatre, Chicago’s largest professional theater devoted to children and young families, is amped to launch its 19th season with an electrifying new production, the world premiere of Mesmerized: A Ben Franklin Science & History Mystery. Part farce, part docudrama, Mesmerized is a fun new introduction for kids to Ben Franklin, one of our country’s founding fathers and most famous scientists, best known for being the first to harness electricity with a kite and a key. Through fabulous storytelling, fast-paced comedy and audience interaction, Ben and his smart, outspoken young niece, Sarah, embark on a journey to France where they discover that people are being magically cured by a mysterious man - Dr. Mesmer. So Ben and Sarah agree to employ the Scientific Method to put Dr. Mesmer's mystical powers to the test. Is it science, is it magic, or will we all be Mesmerized?  Watching the on-stage pandemonium unfold through the eyes of young Sarah, kids will be having such a good time that they won’t even realize they’re learning about science, history, the American Revolution and Ben Franklin’s many scientific discoveries and inventions.  Mesmerized: A Ben Franklin Science & History Mystery runs September 23-October 15, 2023, Saturdays and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Press openings are Saturday and Sunday, September 23 and 24 at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Run time is 60 minutes. Mesmerized is recommended for ages seven and up.  Single tickets, $30-$40 (including fees), are on sale now. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org, call (312) 374-8835, or email boxoffice@chicagochildrenstheatre.org for tickets, group rates and more information. Even better, subscriptions to Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 2023-24 season are now on sale at chicagochildrenstheater.org. Three-show packages including Mesmerized, The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party, and A Year with Frog and Toad, start at just $83. Or, choose a two-play package starting at just $53.  Chicago Children’s Theatre is located at 100 S. Racine Ave., at Monroe, in the heart of Chicago's West Loop. It’s minutes from I-90 and I-290, as well as downtown and Ashland Avenue. Free, onsite parking is available on the south side of the building. Free street parking can be found nearby on weekends, or try the Impark parking lot, 1301 W. Madison St. For more, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org, follow the company on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to its YouTube channel, CCTv: Virtual Theatre and Learning from Chicago Children’s Theatre.

Behind-the-scenes of Mesmerized: A Ben Franklin Science & History Mystery Mesmerized: A Ben Franklin Science & History Mystery is based on a real-life, scientific stand-off between Ben Franklin and Dr. Franz Mesmer, an Austrian physician known for coining the term “animal magnetism” and one of very few people whose name has become a verb in everyday use – mesmerize. In 1782, at the behest of the King of France and his teen bride, Marie Antoinette, Franklin was summoned to the halls of Versailles, where he used the Scientific Method to put Dr. Mesmer’s dubious new miracle cure-all to the ultimate test. “In the end, the story of Ben Franklin and Franz Mesmer exhibits the strength of the imagination and the power of the Placebo Effect,” says Suzanne Maynard Miller, who adapted the play, inspired by Mara Rockcliff’s book “Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery that Baffled All of France.” “But, most of all, this narrative explores the idea of science and its capacity to guide us as we navigate this thing called life.”  Chicago Children’s Theatre’s debut production of Mesmerized is directed by Tommy Rapley, who previously staged the company’s acclaimed production of Leo Lionni’s Frederick, also adapted by Suzanne Maynard Miller, and choreographed CCT’s productions of The Hundred Dresses and A Year with Frog and Toad.  The cast for Mesmerized features China Brickey as Marie Antoinette, Tony Carter as Mesmer, Kasey Foster as Charles, Rika Nishikawa as Sarah, Eli Sulkowksi as the King, and Shawn Pfautsch as Ben Franklin. They’ll be supported by a nimble ensemble working at lightning speed to tell the true story of a defining moment in science history.  Per usual, this CCT world premiere also showcases the work of top Chicago professional designers, including Collette Pollard (set), Mieka van der Ploeg(costumes), Trey Brazeal (lights), Matthew Muñiz (sound and original music), Bren Coombs (props), Megan E. Pirtle (wigs, assistant costume designer), Lauren Nichols (assistant scenic designer), Anastar Alvarez(production stage manager) and Shannon Golden-Starr and Zachary Crewse(assistant stage managers).  Coming soon at Chicago Children’s Theatre

(left) Returning cast members Felix Mayes and Lily Emerson in the 2022 production of The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party. (right) Audience members enjoying the post-show holiday tea party. Photos by Charles Osgood.  The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party Based on the stories by Beatrix Potter Created by Will Bishop, Lara Carling, Kay Kron, Grace Needlman and Ray Rehberg Directed by Will Bishop Puppet designs by Grace Needlman Original music by Ray Rehberg and Charlie Malave Starring Lily Emerson, Charlie Malave and Felix Mayes Designed by Grace Needlman (puppets), Johan Gallardo (costumes) and Daniel Etti-Williams (sound) November 4-December 31, 2023 Public performances: Saturdays and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., with added weekday morning matinees for school groups and the holidays For ages up to 8 Children, you are cordially invited to meet your favorite Beatrix Potter friends, including Mrs. Tittlemouse, the Two Bad Mice, the Tailor of Gloucester, and of course, Peter Rabbit. These four adorable Beatrix Potter favorite tales come to life in Chicago Children’s Theatre’s ever-popular, interactive trunk and puppet show, complete with original music on mandolin, violin, toy piano and banjo. Levers are pulled and cranks are turned to reveal images that surprise and delight children, many experiencing live theater for the first time.  This handmade, lovingly crafted piece is an annual favorite at CCT. Over the past seven years, Beatrix Potter & Friends has toured to schools, libraries, cultural institutions, and even to China. CCT’s charming storytellers interweave the classic narration and guide 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.

(left, from left) Matthew Yee played Frog and Andy Nagraj was Toad in Chicago Children’s Theatre’s A Year with Frog and Toad in 2017. Photo by Charles Osgood. (right) Michelle Lopez-Rios will direct CCT’s new 2024 staging of A Year with Frog and Toad. A Year with Frog and Toad Book and lyrics by Robert Reale and Willie Reale Based on the books by Arnold Lobel  Directed by Michelle Lopez-Rios Music Direction and Musical Reductions by Christie Chilles Twillie Designers include Micah Figueroa (choreographer and associate director), Courtney O'Neill (set), Rachel Healy (costumes), Trey Brazeal (lights), Christie Chilles Twillie (sound) and Lonnae Hickman (props)  April 13-June 9, 2024 Press opening: Saturday and Sunday, April 13 and 14 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Public performances: Saturdays and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. For all ages

Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 19th season finale is a celebration of the joyful energy that launched the company, A Year with Frog and Toad. Children’s author and illustrator Arnold Lobel's beloved characters hop from the page to the stage in this Tony-nominated musical based on his popular children’s book that follows two best friends – the cheerful, popular Frog and the rather grumpy Toad – through four fun-filled seasons.  Michelle Lopez-Rios, who staged CCT’s 2022 world premiere Carmela Full of Wishes, returns to direct a new take on this beloved tale of friendship that endures, weathering all seasons. The design team features top Chicago professionals like Courtney O’Neill (set), Lonnae Hickman (props) and Christie Chilles Twillie (sound), underscoring CCT’s commitment to producing high caliber productions for children. The cast is TBA. 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.  

About Chicago Children’s Theatre

“The Chicago theater scene is legendarily vibrant, so naturally a number of companies tailor productions to younger audiences. The cream of the crop is Chicago Children’s Theatre.” – Chicago Tribune Chicago Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine St. in Chicago’s West Loop, is Chicago’s destination for the best plays, musicals, classes and performing arts camps for young audiences.  The company was founded in 2005 with a big idea: Chicago is the greatest theater city in the world, and it deserves a great children’s theater. Today, Chicago Children’s Theatre is the city’s largest professional theater company devoted exclusively to children and young families.  In 2017, following 11 years of itinerancy, Chicago Children’s Theatre celebrated the opening of its forever home in Chicago’s West Loop community. The building, formerly the 12th District Chicago Police Station, was repurposed into a LEED Gold-certified, mixed-use performing arts, education and community engagement facility. For children, parents, caregivers and teachers, CCT is a convenient, welcoming community hub, centrally located in the city, with free, onsite parking.  Chicago Children’s Theatre has established a national reputation for the production of first-rate children’s theater with professional writing, performing, and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise. In 2019, the company won the National TYA Artistic Innovation Award from Theatre for Young Audiences/USA. Chicago Children’s Theatre has also garnered six NEA Art Works grants, and in 2017, was the first theater for young audiences to win a National Theatre Award from the American Theatre Wing, creators of the Tony Awards. In tandem with its live productions, Chicago Children’s Theatre offers a full slate of Access services for patrons with disabilities, including ASL interpretation, open captioning, touch tours and sensory friendly performances. CCT also provides thousands of free and reduced-price tickets to under-resourced schools each season in partnership with Chicago Public Schools. In addition to live shows, CCT offers a full roster of performing arts education programs for ages 0 to 14. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/family-programs for information on classes, workshops, winter, spring break and “school’s out” camps, and summer camps. Due to popular demand, in addition to its home in the West Loop, CCT camps and classes have expanded to new locations including Menomonee Club Drucker Center in Lincoln Park. Chicago Children’s Theatre also provides live theater experiences, classes and camps for children with autism and other special needs via its Red Kite Project, celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2023. Chicago Children’s Theatre is supported by Goldman Sachs, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts, The Shubert Foundation, Polk Bros Foundation, The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity and the Arts at Prince, Bayless Family Foundation, The Crown Family, Rea Charitable Trust, ComEd, US Bank, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Illinois Arts Council, Illinois Humanities Council, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), The Susan M. Venturi Fund in memory of James and Roslyn Marks to Support Theatre Education Access, and Erin and Jason, Ben, Bici and David Pritzker.  Chicago Children’s Theatre is led by Co-Founders, Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell and Board Chair Todd Leland, with Board President Armando Chacon.  For more, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org, follow the company on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to its YouTube channel, CCTv: Virtual Theatre and Learning from Chicago Children’s Theatre.

OPENING: Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster at Chicago Children’s Theatre September 10 - October 16, 2022

 ChiIL Mama’s ChiIL Picks List

MANUAL CINEMA’S NEW ALL-AGES SHOW 

LEONARDO! A WONDERFUL SHOW ABOUT A TERRIBLE MONSTER

COMING DIRECT FROM EDINBURGH AND NYC TO LAUNCH CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE’S 18TH SEASON, SEPTEMBER 10-OCTOBER 16, 2022

Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster is ideal for ages 3 and up. 

Hundreds of illustrated puppets, fuzzy Muppet-style puppets, hilarious actors on live cameras, and a live music soundtrack bring the popular children’s books by Mo Willems to life in a new Manual Cinema show that is...

“more like seeing a movie than attending a play…just one of this interactive production’s charms,” using “paper cutouts, fuzzy puppets, an energetic cast and funny songs to tell a story that is seamlessly projected onto a huge screen hanging over the stage.”  -The New York Times

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 to scare the tuna salad out of someone? Or will it be the start of an unlikely friendship.

The plot thickens when Leonardo and Sam meet Kerry and Frankenthaler, an even scaredier-cat and her monster friend. Kerry and Sam need to make a big decision: will they just be scaredy cats or can they become friends?

Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster is directed by Sarah Fornace, co-director of Manual Cinema, the Chicago-based, internationally-acclaimed multimedia artist collective known for their mind-bending fusion of shadow puppetry, video projection, DIY cinema, green screen techniques, original music, and immersive sound.

Performances are September 10-October 16, 2022

at Chicago Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine in the West Loop. 

(Free parking adjacent to the theater.)

Hundreds of illustrated puppets, fuzzy Muppet-style puppets, hilarious actors on live cameras, and a live music soundtrack bring the popular children’s books by Mo Willems to life in a new Manual Cinema show the whole family will enjoy.

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 to scare the tuna salad out of someone? Or will it be the start of an unlikely friendship?

The plot thickens when Leonardo and Sam meet Kerry and Frankenthaler, an even scaredier-cat and her monster friend. Kerry and Sam need to make a big decision: will they just be scaredy cats or can they become friends?

Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster returns for its hometown debut after summer runs in Edinburgh and at New York’s New Victory Theater. There, the New York Times raved Leonardo! is “more like seeing a movie than attending a play…just one of this interactive production’s charms,” using “paper cutouts, fuzzy puppets, an energetic cast and funny songs to tell a story that is seamlessly projected onto a huge screen hanging over the stage.”

Leonardo! is directed by Sarah Fornace, co-director of Manual Cinema, the Chicago-based, internationally-acclaimed multimedia artist collective known for their mind-bending fusion of shadow puppetry, video projection, DIY cinema, green screen techniques, original music, and immersive sound.

In 2017, CCT was thrilled to present the world premiere of Manual Cinema’s The Magic City as the inaugural production in its now “forever home” at Monroe and Racine in Chicago’s West Loop. In 2018, Manual Cinema was named Chicago Tribune “Chicago Theater Artists of the Year.” Their national profile jumped again in 2021 thanks to their shadow puppet animation sequences in the critically acclaimed horror film Candyman, produced by Jordan Peele.

But Leonardo? He’s not scary.  

Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster is ideal for ages 3 and up. The show will delight audiences whether or not they have read the books, but there are plenty of easter eggs to delight fans of Mo Willems.

Performances are September 10-October 16, 2022, Saturdays and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Single tickets are $25-$36, fees not included. Mark your calendar, because these shows will sell out.

Or, guarantee your seats, save money and see three great plays – Manual Cinema’s Leonardo!, The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show  – by purchasing a two- or three--show subscription to CT’s 2022-23 season, starting at just $37.

Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale now at chicagochildrenstheatre.org. Email boxoffice@chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (312) 374-8835 to learn more about discounted rates for schools, playgroups, birthday parties and scouting groups.

Chicago Children’s Theatre is a “no shushing” theater. It is centrally located at 100 S. Racine Ave., at Monroe, in Chicago's West Loop, in the former 12th District Chicago Police Station, now home to the city’s largest professional theater devoted to children and young families.]

Chicago Children's Theatre is minutes from I-90 and I-290, as well as downtown and Ashland Avenue. Free, onsite parking is available on the south side of the building. Free street parking can be found nearby on weekends, or try the Impark parking lot, 1301 W. Madison St.

BOO! Behind-the-scenes of Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster

Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About A Terrible Monster is created by Manual Cinema, and is inspired by the books “Leonardo, The Terrible Monster” and “Sam, The Most Scaredy-Cat Kid in the Whole World” by Mo Willems. The production is directed by Sarah Fornace, from an adaptation by Sarah Fornace and Drew Dir, with music, lyrics and sound design by Ben Kauffman and Kyle Vegter. 

The cast features Leah Casey (Kerry, puppeteer), Lily Emerson (narrator, character voices, guitar and vocals), Julia Miller (Sam, puppeteer) and Lindsey Noel Whiting (Leonardo, Puppeteer). 

The creative team includes Drew Dir, 2D paper puppet and prop design; Lizi Breit, hand and rod puppet design; Mieka Van der Ploeg, costume and wig design; Trey Brazeal with Nick Chamernik, lighting design; Megan Alrutz, dramaturgy; Maydi Díaz, stage manager and board operator; and Mike Usrey, technical director 

Manual Cinema is an Emmy award winning performance collective, design studio, and film/ video production company founded in 2010 by Drew Dir, Sarah Fornace, Ben Kauffman, Julia Miller and Kyle Vegter. Manual Cinema combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic techniques, and innovative sound and music to create immersive stories for stage and screen. Using vintage overhead projectors, multiple screens, puppets, actors, live feed cameras, multi-channel sound design, and a live music ensemble, Manual Cinema transforms the experience of attending the cinema and imbues it with liveness, ingenuity, and theatricality. The company was awarded an Emmy Award in 2017 for “The Forger,” a video created for The New York Times and named Chicago Theater Artists of the Year in 2018 by the Chicago Tribune. In 2020 Manual Cinema celebrated their ten year anniversary and had their South American premiere at the Santiago a Mil festival. Their shadow puppet animations were featured in the 2021 film remake of Candyman, directed by Nia DaCosta and produced by Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions. 

Manual Cinema has been presented by, worked in collaboration with, or brought its work to Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC), BAM (NYC), Arts Emerson, Yale Repertory Theatre, The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, The Kennedy Center (DC), Under the Radar Festival (NYC), La Monnaie-DeMunt (Brussels), The Noorderzon Festival (Netherlands), The Kimmel Center (Philadelphia) The O, Miami Poetry Festival, The Tehran International Puppet Festival (Iran), Davies Symphony Hall (SF), The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Saudi Arabia), The Ace Hotel Theater (LA), The Hakaway International Arts Festival (Cairo), The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and elsewhere around the world. They have collaborated with StoryCorps (NYC), Erratica (London), The Belgian Royal Opera (Brussels), Hubbard Street Dance (Chicago), Pop-Up Magazine (SF), Nu Deco Ensemble (Miami), New York Times best-selling author Reif Larsen (NYC), three time Grammy Award-winning eighth blackbird (Chicago), NPR’s Invisibilia, Topic Magazine, Grammy Award winning Esperanza Spalding and The New York Times. Learn more at manualcinema.com.

Mo Willems is an author, illustrator, animator, playwright, and the inaugural Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence, where he collaborates in creating fun new stuff involving classical music, opera, comedy concerts, dance, painting, and digital works with the National Symphony Orchestra, Ben Folds, Yo-Yo Ma, and others. Willems is best known for his #1 New York Times bestselling picture books, which have been awarded three Caldecott Honors (“Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!,” “Knuffle Bunny,” “Knuffle Bunny Too”), two Theodor Geisel Medals, and five Geisel Honors (“The Elephant & Piggie” series). Willems’s art has been exhibited around the world, including major solo retrospectives at the High Museum (Atlanta) and the New-York Historical Society (NYC). Over the last decade, Willems has become the most produced playwright of Theater for Young Audiences in America, having written or co-written four musicals based on his books. He began his career as a writer and animator on PBS’ Sesame Street, where he garnered six Emmy Awards (writing). Other television work includes two series on Cartoon Network: Sheep in the Big City (creator + head writer) and Codename: Kids Next Door (head writer). Willems is creating new TV projects for HBOMax, where his live action comedy special Don’t Let the Pigeon Do Storytime! currently streams. His papers reside at Yale University’s Beinecke Library. For more, visit pigeonpresents.com.

Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About ATerrible Monster was commissioned by The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts with additional support from Chicago Children’s Theater and Utah Presents.

Playing next at Chicago Children’s Theatre in 2022-23

Later this fall, Chicago Children’s Theatre’s popular holiday show, The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party, returns for its seventh season, November 19-December 24, 2022. 

A seasonal rite of passage for Chicago toddlers, this mesmerizing, interactive trunk and puppet show brings four adorable Beatrix Potter stories to life, followed by a festive holiday spread of juice, cookies and chocolate milk. 

Next spring, CCT will present The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show by Jonathan Rockefeller, creator of Disney’s Winnie the Pooh. 

Kids love this bright, bold spectacle production with 75 larger-than-life puppets that bring four Eric Carle favorites – “The Very Busy Spider,” “10 Rubber Ducks,” “Brown Bear, Brown Bear” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” – from the page to the stage. 

The Chicago Tribune called it “incredible work…Eric Carle’s books are brought beautifully to life.” Chicago Parent wrote “be wowed by the live action colorful world.” Jerrell L. Henderson directs. Performances are April 10-June 4, 2023.

About Chicago Children’s Theatre

“The Chicago theater scene is legendarily vibrant, so naturally a number of companies tailor productions to younger audiences. The cream of the crop is Chicago Children’s Theatre.” – Chicago Tribune

Chicago Children’s Theatre was founded in 2005 with a big idea: Chicago is the greatest theater city in the world, and it deserves a great children’s theater. Today, Chicago Children’s Theatre is the city’s largest professional theater company devoted exclusively to children and young families. CCT has established a national reputation for the production of first-rate children’s theater with professional writing, performing, and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise.

In January 2017, the company celebrated the opening of its new, permanent home, Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, located at 100 S. Racine Avenue in Chicago’s West Loop community. The building, formerly the Chicago Police Station for the 12th District, was repurposed into a beautiful, LEED Gold-certified, mixed-use performing arts, education and community engagement facility that now welcomes all Chicago families.

CCT provides tens of thousands of free and reduced-price tickets to under-resourced schools each season in partnership with Chicago Public Schools. CCT also continues to grow its performing arts and STEAM education programs, offering classes, workshops, winter and spring break camps, and summer camps for ages 0 to 14.

In 2019, Chicago Children’s Theatre won the National TYA Artistic Innovation Award from Theatre for Young Audiences/USA. In addition, Chicago Children’s Theatre has garnered six NEA Art Works grants, and in 2017, became the first theater for young audiences in the U.S. to win a National Theatre Award from the American Theatre Wing, creators of the Tony Awards.

Chicago Children’s Theatre is supported by Goldman Sachs, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts, The Shubert Foundation, Polk Bros Foundation, The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity and the Arts at Prince, Bayless Family Foundation, The Crown Family, Rea Charitable Trust, ComEd, US Bank, City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Illinois Arts Council, Illinois Humanities Council, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), The Susan M. Venturi Fund in memory of James and Roslyn Marks to Support Theatre Education Accession, and Erin and Jason, Ben, Bici and David Pritzker.

Chicago Children’s Theatre is led by Co-Founders, Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell and Board Chair Todd Leland, with Board President Armando Chacon.

For more, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.