Chicago’s Raven Theatre Company today announced the cast and production team for the limited run of Chicago Children’s Theatre’s THE BEATRIX POTTER TEA PARTY. The show runs April 5 - 20, 2025 on Raven Theatre’s stage at 6157 N. Clark St. Tickets ($40; $20 ages 3 and under) on sale March 1, 2025 at www.raventheatre.com.
Four favorite Beatrix Potter stories, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tailor of Gloucestor, The Tale of Jeremy Fisher, and The Tale of Tom Kitten, come to life in this mesmerizing puppet show, complete with Potter’s original text and live, original music. Various instruments, such as mandolin, violin, toy piano, and banjo, create the score and melodies behind each story. The set is filled with dynamic suitcases and trunks where levers are pulled and cranks are turned to reveal images that surprise and delight. Three charming performers interweave classic narration and puppetry with gentle interactive moments, recruiting the audience to join the adventure and encouraging young watchers to think about these iconic animal characters’ big emotions.
The production features puppeteers Lily Emerson, Felix Mayes, Magdalena Dalzell, and Diego Vazquez Gomez; and musicians Charlie Malave and Quinn Rigg. The puppeteers and musicians will alternate performances throughout the run.
Created by Will Bishop, with Lara Carling, Kay Kron, Grace Needlman and Ray Rehberg, and directed by Bishop, the production team includes Grace Needlman (puppet design), Ray Rehberg and Charlie Malave (composers, with Malave also as sound designer), Janelle Manno and Jillian Gryzlak (costume design), Becca Jeffords (lighting design), Anastar Alvarez (production coordinator).
FACT SHEET:
THE BEATRIX POTTER TEA PARTY
Title: THE BEATRIX POTTER TEA PARTY
Created By: Will Bishop, with Lara Carling, Kay Kron, Grace Needlman, and Ray Rehberg, from the classic stories by Beatrix Potter
Directed By: Will Bishop
Puppeteers: Lily Emerson, Felix Mayes, Magdalena Dalzell, Diego Vazquez Gomez
Musicians: Charlie Malave, Quinn Rigg
Production Team: Grace Needlman (puppet design), Ray Rehberg and Charlie Malave (composers, with Malave also as sound designer), Janelle Manno and Jillian Gryzlak (costume design), Becca Jeffords (lighting design), Anastar Alvarez (production coordinator)
Dates: April 5 - 20, 2025
Schedule: Saturdays and Sundays at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.
Running Time: Approximately 1 hour
Location: Raven Theatre (6157 N. Clark St.)
Tickets: General Admission: $40; children 3 and under $20
Box Office: www.raventheatre.com
ABOUT RAVEN THEATRE COMPANY
Raven Theatre tells stories of today and the past that connect us to our cultural landscape. Through its plays, as well as its educational programming, Raven is committed to serving our communities’ needs through the arts. Raven Theatre Company is funded in part by Polk Bros Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, S&C Electric Company Fund, Paul M. Angell Foundation, and The Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. This programming is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. For more information: www.raventheatre.com.
ABOUT CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE
Chicago Children’s Theatre is the city's largest professional theater company devoted exclusively to children and young families. The company launched 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 a popular destination centrally located in the heart of Chicago's West Loop community for the best plays, musicals, classes and performing arts camps for young audiences, students and families. For more information, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.