As the curtain goes up on the 1995-96 season of children’s theater in Chicago, the stage is set with scenes that mirror productions for adult audiences.
“Chicago offers such a diverse range of adult theater, from large musicals to improv, from new works and works with political themes to outstanding drama and classics, and Chicago also offers that diversity in children’s theater,” says Lisa Bany-Winters, artistic director of Emanon Theater Company. Her group deconstructs well-known stories, such as tales about Peter Rabbit and Rip Van Winkle, and then redevelops them through improvisation.
This season’s productions for young audiences do indeed run the gamut. There are Marriott’s Lincolnshire Theatre for Young Audiences, which will bring its Broadway-style staging to a musical version of “Pinocchio,” and Lifeline Theatre’s adaptation of Betty Brock’s book “No Flying in the House,” which puts live actors on stage with puppets to tell the story of a talking dog that’s only 3 inches high.
There are the touring performances of Chicago TheatreWorks, such as “A Christmas Carol” and “Treasure Island,” in which a few actors play many roles and their folding scenery opens up like pages in a pop-up book.
And there is the exciting excess of special effects in “Jack and the Beanstalk,” presented by the Children’s Theatre Fantasy Orchard.
The company’s artistic director, Dana Low, describes her style as “rumblerama”–the seats will really shake when the giant appears.
Low has written her own adaptation of the familiar story of Jack and his magic beans and, just as theaters for adults present new works, other companies performing for children also continually search out new scripts and subjects.
Northwestern University has commissioned award-winning playwright Aurand Harris to write “The Orphan Train,” based on true stories about homeless children in New York City at the turn of the century who were sent to the Midwest for adoption.
Chicago Playworks will present “This Is Not a Pipedream,” which playfully portrays the life of artist Rene Magritte as a child. Chicago Playworks’ artistic director, David Avcollie, points out that the play shares a similarity with a current trend in plays for adults.
“This is the art of the theater’s paying homage to an artist in another art form, which we are currently seeing in works for adults about writers, artists and dancers,” he says.
In addition, Chicago Playworks commissioned a new version of “Androcles and the Lion” for this year’s season. It is based on the original version, in which Androcles was a slave from Africa, and includes two new characters to heighten the drama.
Chicago Playworks will also present “The Yellow Boat,” which reflects yet another theme from drama for adults. The play portrays the true story of a boy who contracted AIDS from a blood transfusion.
“It’s not an educational play about safe sex and IV drug use,” says Avcollie. “It’s about a boy who chronicled his life and his death in paintings and drawings, and it’s a celebration of courage and imagination and creativity and not a dirge for the dead.”
Avcollie once before directed a play about death and loss and knows that he is taking a chance in presenting subject matter that some people consider taboo for young people.
He says, however, that “It’s not risky for children to see a play about AIDS, because you don’t protect them by keeping them ignorant, but it is risky for the box office.”
He is quick to point out that while theater in many cities throughout the United States is safe, theater in Chicago is synonymous with risk-taking. “In the 25 years I’ve lived in Chicago,” he says, “it seems that every time someone got safe someone else got dangerous.”
As further proof of that, Lifeline Theatre will also tackle the theme of mortality this season in an original adaptation of Natalie Babbitt’s popular book “Tuck Everlasting,” about a young girl who encounters a family who long ago drank water from a magic spring that prevents them from aging.
“It’s an accessible-but-honest way of dealing with issues of death and mortality and old age that young audiences can grasp,” says Meryl Friedman, a member of the Lifeline Artistic Collective, “because the protagonist is a young girl who asks some of the same questions they ask, and yet the story never becomes preachy.”
In another form of risk-taking, the Chicago Children’s Theatre is taking a giant step this month and moving its successful production of “The Princess and the Pea” from the Diller Street Theatre in Winnetka, which has almost 500 seats, to the 1,500-seat Skyline Stage at Navy Pier.
Rives Collins, the company’s co-artistic director, sees the move as an opportunity and a challenge. “We want to reach out and make our theater as accessible to as many people in Chicago as possible,” he says.
“We also want to make sure that in the Skyline theater it doesn’t feel like the play is very far away, because we still want to reach the hearts of the audience.”
While the members of Chicago’s children’s theater community are as diverse and daring as their counterparts who create theater for adults, one dissimilarity remains.
“There is a difference between us and the big people,” says Nora Blakely, artistic producer-director of Chocolate Chips Theatre Company. “Children’s theater isn’t appreciated, and I sometimes feel like we’ve been sent over to the children’s table for dinner, or that we are the stepchild of the theater scene.”
That reputation of children’s theater as being stuff and nonsense may, however, be changing.
“The Magic City Festival (a three-day event of performing arts for children held at Navy Pier in August) found many extraordinary artists doing work for children,” says Collins.
“It would be wonderful if we could look at that as a turning point.”
Another phenomenon that lends credence to the quality of children’s theater is the fact that adult theaters are beginning to borrow from the children’s repertory.
Lookingglass Theatre, for example, is presenting a play based on “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” and Collins will direct the Broadway musical version of “The Secret Garden” at Northwestern.
Explaining why theaters for adults are borrowing from the realm of childhood, Collins says, “Stories for children often have elements of magic, and this forces theater artists to break out of American realism and naturalistic styles that use talking heads and actors that mumble and scratch, and invites them to open themselves up to new styles and a sense of wonder and discovery and growth.”
In addition, well-established theater companies that produce plays for adults are adding offerings that appeal to younger audiences.
Wisdom Bridge Theatre Chicago is presenting “Little Women” this season and Northlight Theatre is offering two productions suitable for families: “Mark Twain and the Laughing River,” performed by folk singer and storyteller Jim Post, and the musical “Bubbe Meises: Grandmother Stories.”
Richard Friedman, Northlight’s managing director, says that last year when the company presented “Quilters,” the number of young people who attended was quite surprising.
“Unless it’s something like `A Christmas Carol,’ teenagers aren’t usually theatergoers, but a lot of families came to see `Quilters,’ ” he says. “I think musicals are easier for families to relate to.”
He speaks, in part, from personal experience. “My 6-year-old stuck with me for the workshop version of Mark Twain,” he says, “and I think people who liked `Fiddler on the Roof’ will be attracted to `Bubbe Meises’ because it is also about family traditions.”
Whatever the play, Avcollie says, the give-and-take reaction expected from audiences in Chicago remains the same.
“They used to say `Don’t go to Steppenwolf because they might hit you in the face with a play,’ and I think it’s true that all theater in Chicago demands an active participation of its audience,” he says.
“We don’t want people to just sit there and watch us like we were a movie or television; we want them to get involved because that interaction between the audience and the player makes theater what it is, and I clearly believe that to be true in children’s theater.”
THEATERS USE SOURCES ANCIENT OR UP-TO-DATE
It’s always difficult to pick winning plays before they open, but some tend to raise high expectations.
Lifeline Theatre’s Mainstage production “Tuck Everlasting” and the KidSeries show “No Flying in the House” are appealing because they are based on books that are so well-loved.
“Jack and the Beanstalk,” by the Children’s Theatre Fantasy Orchard, is guaranteed to include lots of special effects and fight choreography.
And the Chicago Playworks’ production of “Androcles and the Lion” brings an adventurous new version of the old fable to the stage.
Outstanding productions from last season that are being remounted this fall include “The Princess and the Pea” by the Chicago Children’s Theatre and “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf” from Steppenwolf Theatre’s Family Series.
The series is geared for young people in their teens.
Teenagers also might relate to “Electronic Baby,” a new rock musical performed by Chicago-area high-school students.
Here is a sample of children’s theater performances. Some details are subject to change, so be sure to call in advance for up-to-date information.
In almost all cases, reservations are recommended. Group rates are available for many performances.
AlphaBet Soup Productions, 708-932-1555: “Snow White,” Oct. 4-Dec. 20, Lewis University Philip Lynch Theatre, Ill. Hwy. 53, Romeoville, Oct. 13, Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago Ave., Joliet, Dec. 1-4, North Central College Pfeiffer Hall, 30 N. Brainard St., Naperville; “Cinderella,” Nov. 7-Dec. 1, Triton College, Richard Burton Theatre, 2000 5th Ave., River Grove, Dec. 5-15, Museum of Science and Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive; $5 in advance, $5.25 at door.
Candlelight Theatres, 5620 S. Harlem Ave., Summit, 708-496-3000: “AlphaBet Soup’s production of “Beauty and the Beast,” Oct. 25-Feb. 10; AlphaBet Soup’s production of “Peter Pan,” Feb. 21-Aug. 10; $5.50-$6. “A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 21-Dec. 30; $15-$20 for dinner and show, $8-$14 for show only.
Centre East, 7701 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie, 708-673-6305: Singer Tom Chapin, Oct. 15; “Tales of Beatrix Potter,” Nov. 12; “Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins,” Nov. 26; “Sleeping Beauty,” Dec. 3; “Dr. Dinosaur,” Jan. 21; “Babar,” Jan. 27; “Ichabod! The Legend of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow,” Feb. 25; “Tom Sawyer,” March 2; all shows are at 1 p.m., $8. “The Nutcracker” by the Salt Creek Ballet, 2 p.m. Dec. 9, $13; “The Incredible Acrobats of China,” 1 p.m. Feb. 10, $10.
Chicago Children’s Theatre, 312-262-9848: “The Princess and the Pea,” Sept. 27-30, Skyline Stage, Navy Pier; “Alice in Wonderland,” March 26-April 21, Diller Street Theatre of the North Shore Country Day School, 310 Green Bay Rd., Winnetka; May 8-11 (dates are tentative), Skyline Stage, Navy Pier; $10 adults, $5 children; $17 adults, $9 children for a subscription.
Chicago Playworks of DePaul University, Merle Reskin Theatre, 60 E. Balbo Drive, 312-325-7900: “Androcles and the Lion,” Oct. 10-Dec. 9; “This is Not a Pipe Dream,” Jan. 9-March 9; “The Yellow Boat,” April 2-May 25; $5, $8-$12 for a subscription.
Chicago TheatreWorks, 312-868-9746: “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 13, “Treasure Island,” Jan 17, “Tom Sawyer,” March 14, Forest View Education Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Rd., Arlington Heights; $4 in advance, $5 at the door, 708-364-8707. “A Christmas Carol,” 1:30 and 3 p.m. Nov. 20, Dec. 19 and 21, Museum of Science and Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, free with museum admission ($6 adults, $4 children); 312-684-1414; “Tom Sawyer,” 2 p.m. March 30, Northbrook Park District, 3323 Walters Ave., Northbrook, $5, 708-291-2367.
Children’s Theatre Fantasy Orchard, Ivanhoe Theater, 750 W. Wellington Ave., 312-539-4211: “Jack and the Beanstalk,” Oct. 13-Dec. 23; $6 adults, $4.50 children.
Child’s Play Touring Theatre, Gateway Theatre of the Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., 312-235-8911: “The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t,” Nov. 27-28; “Kids for President,” April 1-4; $5 adults-$3 children.
Chocolate Chips Theatre Company, Dunham Theatre of Kennedy-King College, 6800 S. Wentworth Ave., 312-994-7400: “Grimm Goodies, 7 p.m. Nov. 11; “And Everybody Came to Harlem,” 7 p.m. Feb. 3; “Candy Day,” 7 p.m. May 25; $4.
Classics on Stage, Pickwick Theater, Touhy Avenue and Northwest Highway, Park Ridge, 312-989-0598: “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” Oct. 18-Nov. 18; ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” Nov. 29-Dec. 22; “Pinocchio,” March 13-June 7; a live half-hour theater pipe organ concert before performances; $5-$6 (reservations necessary).
Drury Lane Oakbrook Children’s Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace, 708-530-0111: “A Christmas Carol,” Nov. 14-Dec. 29; $5.
Drury Lane Theatre, 2500 W. 95th St., Evergreen Park; 708-422-0404: “Jack and the Bean Stalk,” through Oct. 19; “The Nutcracker on Ice,” Nov. 8-Jan. 14; $7.50 adults, $6.50 children.
“Electronic Baby”: Oct. 6-28, Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., 312-327-5252; $6-$10.
Emanon Theater Company: “Rip Van Winkle,” Dec. 3-March 4, Mayer Kaplan Jewish Community Center, 5050 Church St., Skokie; 708-675-2200, ext. 178, $5. “Peter Rabbit and Friends,” 10 a.m. and noon March 7, Museum of Science and Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, $3.50; and 10 a.m. and noon March 20-21, Enchanted Castle, Main Street and Roosevelt Road, Lombard, $7, includes meal and tokens; call 708-564-9060 for both “Peter Rabbit” performances.
ETA Creative Arts Foundation, 7558 S. South Chicago Ave., 312752-3955: “The Black Fairy,” Oct. 2-Dec. 22; “Young John Henry,” Jan. 8-March 1; “The Positive Evolution of Bongo Baker,” March 11-April 26; “The Reading Machine on Sunnyside Lane,” May 6-June 14; $4 (reservations required).
Griffin Theatre, 5404 N. Clark St., 312-769-2228: “1001 Arabian Nights,” Oct. 7-Nov. 5; “The Whipping Boy,” Jan. 20-Feb. 18; “Sleeping Beauty/Sleeping Ugly,” March 23-April 21; $5. The plays will also be performed at the Harold Washington Library Center and selected neighborhood branches; free.
“Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”: Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., 312-902-1500, Sept. 29-Nov. 18; $37-$67.50.
Lifeline Theatre, 6912 N. Glenwood Ave.; 312-761-4477: KidSeries Productions–“No Flying in the House,” Sept. 23-Dec. 3; “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” Dec. 16-March 10; “The Story of Ferdinand,” April 13-June 30; $6 in advance, pay what you can at the door on day of performance. Mainstage production–“Tuck Everlasting,” Oct. 6-Dec. 3; $16 adults, $6 children.
Marriott’s Lincolnshire Theatre for Young Audiences, Milwaukee Avenue south of Half Day Road, Lincolnshire; 708-634-0200: “Pinocchio,” Nov. 17-Dec. 30; $6.
“The Masterpiece . . . A Toymaker’s Dream”: Impact Productions presented by New Life Community Church, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 6-7, Curie High School, 4959 S. Archer Ave., 312-376-0637; call to reserve free tickets.
New Tuners Theatre, Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave., 312-327-5252: “Hans Brinker,” Nov. 10-Jan. 7; $16-$22.
Northlight Theatre, 708-869-7278: “Bubbe Meises: Grandmother Stories,” Nov. 22-Dec. 31, Barber Theatre, 1979 S. Campus Drive, Northwestern University campus, Evanston; “Mark Twain and the Laughing River,” Feb. 21-March 17, Louis Theatre, 1979 S. Campus Drive, Northwestern University campus, Evanston; $21-$30, call for special family rates.
Northwestern University, 708-491-7282: “The Secret Garden,” Nov. 10-19, Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston, $20 adults, $9 children; “The Orphan Train,” March 1-3, Mussetter-Struble Theatre, 1979 S. Campus Drive, Evanston, and May 15-18, Josephine Louis Theatre, 1979 S. Campus Drive, Evanston, $12 adults, $6 children.
Paramount Arts Centre, 23 E. Galena Blvd.; 708-896-6666: “Pippi Longstocking,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20, $8.75 adults, $6.75 children; “The Nutcracker” by the Salt Creek Ballet, 1 and 5 p.m. Dec. 2, $17 adults, $15 children; “A Christmas Carol,” 3 p.m. Dec. 10, $20.75 adults, $18.75 children; “Shining Time Station-Live,” 1 and 4 p.m. Jan. 27, $12.75 adults, $10 children; “Amelia Bedelia,” 7:30 p.m. March 22, $8.75 adults, $6.75 children; “Freedom Train,” 7:30 p.m. May 3, $6 adults, $4 children; “Alice in Wonderland,” 7:30 p.m. May 17, $6 adults, $4 children.
Pheasant Run’s Children’s Theatre, 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, 708-584-6300: “Rat Dog and Princess Toad Meet the Big Bad Wolf,” Oct. 22-Feb. 25; $6 for show only, $12 with brunch.
Players Workshop, 2636 N. Lincoln Ave.; 312-929-6288: “We’ll Make It Up as We Go Along,” through Oct. 15; “Ebenza,” Nov. 12-Dec. 17; “Captain Virtue and the Fabulous Four,” dates to be announced; $5.
Second City, 1616 N. Wells St., 312-337-3992: “No Height Requirement,” 3 p.m. Sundays, open run, $5.
Star Plaza Theatre, Int. Hwy. 65 and U.S. Hwy. 30, Merrillville, Ind.; 312-734-7266: “The Blackstone Magic Show,” 8 p.m. Sept. 29; “Nickelodeon Weinerville,” 3 p.m. Oct. 1; $12.50; “Aladdin,” 7 p.m. Nov. 14 and 10 a.m. Nov. 15, $8; “Beauty and the Beast,” 3 and 8 p.m. Nov. 18; $24-$27.
Steppenwolf Theatre’s Family Series: “for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf,” Oct. 5-Nov. 26, DuSable Museum, 740 E. 56th Pl., 312-947-0600, ext. 500, $10 adults, $7 students; “The Crucible,” Oct. 10-Nov. 4, Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., 312-335-1650, $10 adults, $7 students.
Wisdom Bridge Theatre Chicago, Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St., 312-341-2550: “Little Women,” Nov. 29-Dec. 10; $16-$29.
