Parents and caregivers, registration is now open for a fun variety of summer camp experiences, for all sorts of kids ages 4 to 14, at Chicago Children’s Theatre, the city’s largest professional theater company devoted exclusively to children and young families.
Summer camps at Chicago Children’s Theatre’s prioritize young people’s creativity, ingenuity and self-expression. That’s why CCT encourages its campers to devise new works, creating original theater pieces as a group and then performing that original work together.
CCT encourages its summer campers to devise new works, creating original theater pieces as a group and then performing that original work together.
In the first half of camp, campers practice their performance skills, generate ideas for characters and scenes, and collaborate with professional teaching artists to mold their big ideas into a cohesive piece of theater. In the second half, campers finalize, rehearse and perform their original work. All camps culminate in a performance on the final day for family and friends, many held in CCT’s Pritzker Family Studio Theatre.
Through theater education, CCT not only fosters students’ artistic skills, but develops confident voices, encourages open-mindedness and builds community. Programs are led by experienced teaching artists who are passionate about championing young people’s stories regardless of background. CCT programs emphasize student authorship, youth empowerment and community leadership.
Register online at chicagochildrenstheatre.org/camps, or call (312) 374-8828 with questions. All camps are held at Chicago Children’s Theatre, 100 S. Racine (at Monroe), in Chicago’s West Loop.
Chicago Children’s Theatre believes that every child should have access to its programming regardless of their financial situation. CCT makes every effort to provide scholarships for children and families with a demonstrated need. To learn more, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/financial-assistance.
2024 Summer Camp Sessions (chronological order):
Adventure Camp: The Great Spaghetti Storm
For rising grades 1-2
One week: June 10-14, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free before-care 8:30-9:30 a.m., free after-care 4-5:30 p.m.
$550
It's a beautiful day in Chicago, partly cloudy with a chance of... FLYING SPAGHETTI?! Explore music, drama, movement, and prop design with a culinary twist.
Adventure Camp: The Rebels of Cat City
For rising grades 2-5
Two weeks: June 17-28, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free before-care 8:30-9:30 a.m., free after-care 4:00-5:30 p.m. No camp June 19.
$990
What happens when the cats converge? Through explorations of cunning creatures, you’ll gain confidence in acting, character creation, movement, collaborative story development, and more!
Musical Theatre Adventures: Swapped!
For rising grades 4-7
Two weeks: July 1-12, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free before-care 8:30-9:30 a.m., free after-care 4:00-5:30 p.m. No camp July 4.
$990
Who’s that new kid in town, and why do they look just like you? In this not-yet-written tale of mistaken identity, you’ll create unique characters, scenes, and show-stopping musical numbers for the stage.
The Sensational Sea Serpent Parade
For rising grades 1-3
One week: July 1-5, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Free before-care 8:30-9:00 a.m., free after-care 3:30-5 p.m. No camp July 4.
$440
The Sensational Sea Serpent Parade is setting off! Drawing from traditions of outdoor spectacle theater, you’ll collaborate with professional theatre artists to create your very own oceanic characters, costumes, and scenery to parade with.
KIDPROV!
For rising grades 1-2
One week: July 8-12, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Free before-care 8:30-9 a.m., free after-care 3:30-5 p.m.
$550
Get your giggles on and join us for this fun-filled improv camp! KIDPROV will build your stage presence, confidence, and teamwork through improv games
and drama activities designed for all kinds of learners to have all kinds of fun.
Camp Red Kite 2024
Three weeks: July 15 - August 2, 2024 (three weeks)
Monday-Friday, 8:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
For ages 8-22
$900
Camp Red Kite is a dynamic theater day camp for young people on the autism spectrum. During three fun-filled weeks campers ages 8-22 explore drama, music and visual arts. Each day, campers rotate through engaging arts classes with their peers, growing their sense of community, imaginative thinking and self-confidence.
Camp Red Kite is led by a trained team of theater artists, administrators and CPS diverse learner teachers dedicated to creating a safe, welcoming and engaging environment for youth on the autism spectrum. For more information or to register your child, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/red-kite-classes-camp or email redkite@chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
Comedy Performance: Improv and Sketch
For rising grades 3-5
One week: July 15-19, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free before-care 8:30-9:30 a.m., free after-care 4-5:30 p.m.
$550
Find your power and unlock your funny! Comedy Performance is a week-long improv and sketch comedy camp for those ready to find their funny bone.
Music & Drama: The Fantastic Forest Fable
For rising grades 1-3
One week: July 22 - 26, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free before-care from 8:30 -9:30 a.m., free after-care 4-5:30 p.m.
$550
Into the woods we go! In this lively camp for young music lovers, you’ll sing nature-filled songs, practice basic acting skills, create woodland characters, and dance your heart out to bring your favorite forest folktales to life.
Mission Improbable: Stage Combat Intensive
For rising grades 5-9
One week: July 29-August 2, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free before-care 9-10 a.m., free after-care 4-5:30 p.m.
$550
Be bold and be you! In this week-long stage combat intensive for girls (both trans and cis), non-binary kids, and trans boys, you’ll smash the glass ceiling through hand-to-hand stage combat techniques, character exercises, and scene creation.
Adventure Camp: Mishaps in the Milky Way
For rising grades 1-4
Two weeks: August 5-16, Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Free before-care 8:30-9:30 a.m., free after-care 4-5:30 p.m.
$1,100
Shoot for the stars! Inspired by outer space adventures and the aliens of our wildest imaginations, you’ll blast off into the basics of acting, music, movement, and theatrical design. Create a brand new short play that’s out of this world!
New this summer: Story Explorers!, three fun-filled, half-day camps for rising grades 4-6:
Story Explorers: Tales with Tails
June 17-21, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to noon. No camp June 19.
$220
Calling all kitties, critters, and animal lovers! In this half-day drama camp, kids will explore the animal world through story-based drama, animal folk tales, music, creative play and movement. Through multi-sensory creative drama activities, campers will run with cheetahs, chatter with monkeys, and create wildlife characters all their own. On the final day, campers will share their new animal adventures with family and friends in a mini performance.
Story Explorers: Superheroes Save the Day!
June 24-28, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to noon
$275
It’s a bird…it’s a plane…it’s Story Explorers! In this half-day drama camp, soar into story-based drama, music, and movement. Through multi-sensory creative drama activities, campers will explore superhero stories, play thrilling theater games, and create characters in their own heroic journey using their biggest superpower: their imaginations. On the final day, campers will share their super adventures with family and friends through a mini performance.
Story Explorers: Dino Dance Party
August 5-9, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to noon
$275
Is that the thump of a groovy beat or a T-Rex coming our way? In this half-day drama camp, kids will explore the dinosaur world through story-based drama, music and movement. In fun-filled multi-sensory creative drama activities, capers will stomp with a Stegosaurus, soar with the Pterodactyls, and boogie with a Brontosaurus, all while developing social emotional skills and imaginative thinking. On the final day, campers will we share their Jurassic adventures with family and friends through a mini performance.
On stage at Chicago Children’s Theatre: Coming soon
(left, from left) Matthew Yee played Frog and Andy Nagraj (right) 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), 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. Cast is TBA. The design team includes Micah Figueroa (choreographer and associate director), Courtney O'Neill (set), Rachel Healy (costumes), Christie Chilles Twillie (sound) and Lonnae Hickman (props).
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, Chicago Children’s Theatre offers a full roster of performing arts education programs year round 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, Bayless Family Foundation, Rivers Casino/Rivers Gives, 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.