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Chicago Children's Theatre Posts Fall Classes
By: A.A. Cristi Aug. 10, 2017
Parents! Chicago Children's Theatre just posted its Fall 2017 line-up of performing arts classes for newborns to young teens, which is clearly growing into one of the deepest, most diverse rosters of arts education offerings for kids anywhere in Chicago.
In addition to classes staffed by the company's own professional teaching artists, Frank Maugeri, Chicago Children's Theatre's Community Programs Artistic Director, has forged smart new partnerships with Old Town School of Folk Music, Actor's Gymnasium and The Happiness Club to grow the curriculum now being offered year-round at Chicago Children's Theatre's new home, The Station, 100 S. Racine Ave., conveniently located in the heart of Chicago's West Loop.
Notably, Old Town School of Folk Music, in its 60th year, is bringing its signature early childhood music program Wiggleworms to the West Loop, welcoming young families in the neighborhood and beyond to the world of music and creative learning. Delight in this special time for your young child to learn, play and grow through the power of song. Interactive, social, and imaginative, Wiggleworms is a rite of passage in Chicago - one that inspires new learning at the perfect time in a child's life - and starting this fall, Wiggleworms classes will be offered at Chicago Children's Theatre, The Station.
Registration is now open for the Fall 2017 session, running 10 weeks, September 11-November 18, 2017. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/classes to choose from a dynamic array of classes for children ages 0 to 14. In addition to old favorites like Hip Hop 4 Totz, Bubble Jams and Taking the Stage, look for details on exciting new classes like Owning The Stage, Comedy Club and Stage Combat.
With the best Chicago-based instruction and training in drama, hip hop, spectacle, acting, comedy, circus arts and more, children can unleash their imaginations like never before at Chicago Children's Theatre. In addition to being fun, classes at The Station are designed to help kids build confidence, overcome fears, solve problems, boost creativity, think fast on their feet, be better team players and, ultimately, gain a competitive edge.
Weekday morning courses cater to the youngest, still-at-home toddler set. On weekday afternoons, The Station becomes a top destination for older kids to enjoy after-school arts education classes. On Saturdays, there's a fun class for every age. And every other Saturday, community-focused Open Build sessions bring together entire families and community members to help create and build actual sets, props and costumes used in CCT productions and live theater experiences.
Following is the full roster of classes this fall at Chicago Children's Theatre, broken out by age range so parents can quickly find the ideal class for their child. For more information, email Chicago Children's Theatre's Education department at education@chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call The Station, (312) 374-8834.
Ages 0-2
Epic tales for tiny tots! Dive into fairy tales, myths and legends as master storytellers bring stories to life for little ones.
Mondays or Fridays, 9:30-10 a.m.; $150
Parent participation required. Drop-ins welcome pending availability.
Ages 0-3
Bubbles! Music! FUN! Listen to live music, enjoy stories, dance with your little one and have some great quality time, all in a cloud of continuous bubbles!
Mondays, 4 p.m.-4:45 p.m.; $175
Parent participation required. Drop-ins welcome pending availability.
Ages 6 months-4 years
Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m. or 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m.
$190
Parent participation required.
Register at oldtownschool.org/classes/kids/wiggleworms
Ages 3-4
Teeny Tales
See class description above.
Mondays or Fridays, 10:15-10:45 a.m.; $150
Parent participation required. Drop-ins welcome pending availability.
Hip Hop 4 Tots
Your child will learn to communicate in a new way through beatboxing: making sounds through voice and body. Children will learn new ways to use their bodies to participate in creative play while engaging with stellar musical talent in this popular class.
Tuesdays or Thursdays, 4 p.m.-4:45 p.m., $175
Ages 3-5
Bubble Jams
See description above.
Fridays, 4 p.m.-4:45 p.m.; $175
Parent participation required. Drop-ins welcome pending availability.
Ages 5-6 (Grades K-1)
Intro to Theater - NEW CLASS!Students will learn the basic principals of theater though instruction and active theater games. This game-based class prepares young performers to take the stage and encourages confidence in collaborative play.
Wednesdays, 4:15 p.m.-5 p.m.; $180
Ages 5-8 (Grades K-2)
See class description above.
Saturdays, 9:30 a.m.-10:15 a.m.; $175
Ages 6-7 (Grades 1-2)
In this energetic introduction to circus and aerial arts, presented with Actors Gymnasium, students will learn basics in tumbling, juggling and other circus arts while increasing their strength and flexibility.
Saturdays, 9:45 a.m.-10:45 a.m.; $230
Ages 7-9 (Grades 2-4)
Young performers will learn to bravely take the stage, building confidence and a sense of community. Students will experience the basics of theater-making in this introductory class by performing text, exploring movement and using objects to illustrate stories.
Mondays, 4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m.; $200
Ages 7-10 (Grades 2-5)
Students will explore intermediate level theater-making in the second installment of one of CCT's most popular classes by performing text, exploring movement and using objects to illustrate stories. Prerequisite: must have completed Taking the Stage I.
Thursdays, 4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m.; $200
Owning the Stage - NEW CLASS!
The third installment of the Taking the Stage series, students will refine and expand their skills in acting, rehearsing and auditioning. Prerequisite: must have completed Taking the Stage I and II.
Saturdays, 10 a.m.-11:15 a.m.; $200
Ages 8-10 (Grades 3-5)
In this energetic introduction to circus and aerial arts, presented with Actors Gymnasium, students will take to the air and develop core strength and aerial artistry. Through instruction in trapeze and lyra, children will increase strength, courage and coordination.
Thursdays, 4:15 p.m.-5:15 p.m.; $230
Ages 8-14 (Grades 3-9)
The Happiness Club Dance Ensemble - West Loop - NEW CLASS!Join the celebrated teaching artists of Chicago's own The Happiness Club in this celebratory dance and choreography class. Some previous dance experience recommended.
Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.; $180
Ages 10-14 (Grades 5-8)
In this new class students will design and craft puppets of all shapes and sizes (and shadows!) to illustrate classic and original stories. Perfect for children who love to create something out of nothing.
Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m.; $200
Shake the Stage - NEW CLASS!
Explore the stage with the Bard. Advanced acting and drama students read, analyze, perform and find meaning in Shakespearean classics.
Fridays, 4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m.; $190
Stage Combat - NEW CLASS!Does your child dream of being a Jedi, a Ninja Turtle or the next Bruce Lee? In this exciting new class, students will receive instruction in the basics of classic hand-to-hand stage combat and choreography, with a strong focus on safety practices.
Mondays, 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.; $220
Comedy Club - NEW CLASS!
What's the deal with comedy? In this new class, students will explore the basics of comedic performance through exploration of stock characters, character development, technique and style.
Saturdays, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; $200
Ages 11-14 (Grades 6-9)
Aerial Arts
See class description above.
Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.; $230
All ages!
Entire families and community members come together every other Saturday at Chicago Children's Theatre, The Station, to create and build actual artistic elements of CCT's productions and experiences.
Saturday, September 16, September 30, October 14, October 28 and November 11; 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.; $5
About the new Chicago Children's Theatre, The Station
Chicago Children's Theatre has transformed the former 12th District Police Station, located in the heart of Chicago's West Loop neighborhood at 100 S. Racine Avenue, at the intersection of Racine and Monroe Street, into its first permanent home. The new Chicago Children's Theatre, The Station, opened its doors in January 2017, and now serves as a beautiful, mixed-use, centrally-located performing arts, education and community engagement facility that welcomes all Chicago families.
For its 2017-18 season launching this fall, Chicago Children's Theatre will present five terrific new productions in The Station's Pritzker Family Studio Theatre, starting with a reimagined production of A Year with Frog and Toad, the Tony-nominated musical based on Arnold Lobel's Frog and Toad book series, directed by Stuart Carden, with musical director Andra Velis Simon (September 19-October 29, 2017). Next, children of all ages are invited to enjoy a spot of tea or hot cocoa with CCT's friends from the English Lake District at the Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party, an interactive trunk-style show directed by Will Bishop and designed by Grace Needlman (December 2-17).
After the new year, at a magical birthday party, in a room overflowing with beautifully wrapped presents, three children will explore their friendship in My Wonderful Birthday Suit!, a world premiere written and directed by Gloria Bond Clunie (January 16-February 18, 2018). In the spring, The Station itself transforms into an all-immersive, two-story theatrical environment, totally unique to Chicagoland, titled An Epic Tale of Scale, written and directed by Henry Wishcamper and Jo Cattell, collaboratively designed by CCT Community Programs Artistic Director Frank Maugeri, with original music by Gabriel Ruiz. Think The Magic School Bus meets Sleep No More, and you're close for an encounter that surely defies description (March 10-April 8).
For its finale, Chicago Children's Theatre, in a co-commission with Children's Theatre Company of Minneapolis, will debut Last Stop on Market Street, a world premiere musical based on the award-winning book by Matt de la Peña and illustrator Christian Robinson. Playwright Cheryl L. West is creating this first-ever stage adaptation of one of the most celebrated children's books ever, winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal, a 2016 Caldecott Honor Book and a 2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book. Back are Motown music legend Lamont Dozier and his son, Paris Ray Dozier, the musical duo behind the company's 2015 smash hit Mr. Chickee's Funny Money, to create the show's original score. Henry Godinez directs with Andra Velis Simon, music director (Apr. 24-June 3).
Savvy, culturally inclined families know they can save lots of money with Chicago Children's Theatre 2017-18 multi-show Subscription Packages, now on sale at chicagochildrenstheatre.org or by calling (872) 222-9555. Choose between pre-built packages by age range, or a Choose Your Own package for maximum flexibility. Benefits include flexible ticketing exchange, a 10% discount and no processing fees on additional tickets, and discounts on classes and camps at Chicago Children's Theatre.
In addition to a full slate of shows in the Pritzker Family Studio, The Station has four classrooms for a year-round roster of classes and camps for toddlers to teens, along with a variety of community engagement programs. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/education for the full roster of educational offerings.
Additionally, CCT now has a dedicated space at The Station for Red Kite programming for children on the autism spectrum and other special needs. The all-new Red Kite Treasure Adventure, an interactive theatrical experience created by CCT Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell, will debut February 2-March 4, 2018. Inspired by characters from Edith Nesbit's The Story of the Treasure Seekers, this intimate production creates a safe and exciting theatrical environment for young people with autism and their families. Chicago Children's Theatre's annual Camp Red Kite, the only summer arts camp of its kind in Chicago, now has a permanent home at The Station as well. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/redkite to learn more.
Led by Co-Founders, Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell and Board Chair Todd Leland, Board President Eric Neveux and Community Programs Artistic Director Frank Maugeri, Chicago Children's Theatre is supported by a dynamic Board of Directors comprised of dedicated individuals from the fields of entertainment, philanthropy and business. Chicago Children's Theatre is sponsored in part by ComEd, Goldman Sachs Gives and JP Morgan Chase. For more information, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org
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