
Find the best children's theater near you on our interactive map & calendar, where we're listing upcoming plays, musicals, concerts & kids shows around Chicago and the suburbs!
Many of these are live shows for kids that offer shorter lengths or interactive performances meant to engage younger audiences.
Help other parents discover a new show to watch with their family by liking & commenting on any you've seen. And if we've missed any great Chicago kids theater shows near you, please recommend them below so we can add to the list!
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Sound Waves (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Alexandra F.: Explore the beauty and majesty of water with the music of the CSO.
Once Upon a Symphony: Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Alexandra F.: Produced and presented in partnership with Chicago Children’s Theatre, young children will delight in this musical telling of the classic story of Goldilocks, who stumbles into the home of a family of bears and eats their porridge.
Carnival of the Animals (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Alexandra F.: A fun, kid-friendly orchestral performance depicting some of nature's most incredible animals.
Once Upon a Symphony: The Three Little Pigs (Chicago Symphony Orchestra)
Alexandra F.: Produced and presented in partnership with Chicago Children’s Theatre, the classic tale of the 3 little pigs and the big bad wolf is brought to life on stage with music and child-friendly story-telling.
'Twas the Night Before... by Cirque du Soleil (The Chicago Theatre)
Upparent: A holiday spectacular with acrobatic feats for the whole family to enjoy.
Blue Man Group Chicago
RebeccaH: A dynamic combination of art, music, comedy and technology, Blue Man Group encourages audiences to reconnect with their inner (and outer) child in order to see the world through a new perspective. Blue Man Group originally debuted at the Briar Street Theatre in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood in 1997. Three bald and blue men explore today’s cultural norms with wonder, poking fun at the audience’s collective quirks and reminding them how much they all have in common. The show is continually refreshed with new music, stories, custom instruments and state-of-the-art technology.
Chicago Magic Lounge
Shila: The Chicago Magic Lounge is typically an adult-only bar and entertainment venue that features a calendar of events full of invigorating magic show performances. On select Sundays, they present family-friendly showcases geared for kids and adults alike. Performances vary and can range from magicians full of funny jokes for kids to mysterious illusionists full of jaw-dropping tricks.
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (AlphaBet Soup Productions)
10/11/2023
10/12/2023
10/13/2023
Location varies by date (see website for details)
$12
Grade PreK-3
Upparent: See Mo Willem's wily pigeon driving the bus at a local theater near you, thanks to the traveling children's theater shows by AlphaBet Soup Productions. Be sure to click through to the website to see which dates the show will be playing at each theater.
The Christmas That Almost Wasn't (AlphaBet Soup Productions)
11/29/2023
11/30/2023
12/01/2023
Location varies by date
$12
Grade PreK-4
Upparent: A group of life-sized toys set out to save Christmas in this traveling children's theater show by AlphaBet Soup Productions. Be sure to click through to the website to see which dates the show will be playing at each theater.
James and the Giant Peach (AlphaBet Soup Productions)
01/24/2024
01/25/2024
01/26/2024
Location varies by date
$12
Grade PreK-5
Upparent: Catch this Roald Dahl classic at a local theater near you, thanks to the traveling children's theater shows by AlphaBet Soup Productions. Be sure to click through to the website to see which dates the show will be playing at each theater.
Alice in Wonderland (AlphaBet Soup Productions)
04/10/2024
04/11/2024
04/12/2024
Location varies by date
$12
Grade PreK-4
Upparent: Follow Alice on her famous adventures through Wonderland at a local theater near you, thanks to the traveling children's theater shows by AlphaBet Soup Productions. Be sure to click through to the website to see which dates the show will be playing at each theater.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol (Drury Lane Theatre)
Upparent: This production of the classic Christmas tale is only one hour long, and perfect for children of all ages to enjoy! On select dates, you and your family are invited to have breakfast or dinner with Santa, too.
Daniel Tiger Live: King for a Day (Genesee Theatre)
Upparent: A grrr-iffic musical adventure with Daniel and his friends.
The Snow Queen (Marriott's Theatre for Young Audiences)
11/17/2023
11/18/2023
11/19/2023
10am & 12:30pm (select days)
$15.75
Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences concludes the 2023 children’s theatre season with its winter production, THE SNOW QUEEN. Kids (and parents!) of all ages are invited to enjoy a musical take on Hans Christian Andersen’s coming-of-age adventure that inspired the hit Disney Movie, Frozen, running November 17 to December 31. Each one-hour performance will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the cast.
A Christmas Carol (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre)
11/25/2023
11/26/2023
11/30/2023
Run time: 2 hrs (with a 15 min intermission)
$20+
Age 5+
The Music Man in Concert (Metropolis Performing Arts Centre)
02/02/2024
02/03/2024
02/04/2024
Run Time: 2 hrs 25 mins (with 15–min intermission)
$20+
Age 6+
Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Paramount Theatre)
11/08/2023
11/09/2023
11/10/2023
Run time: appx 2 hrs 30 min
$28+
Paramount Theatre: NOMINATED FOR 7 LAURENCE OLIVIER AWARDS!
This fantastical musical follows young Charlie Bucket and his Grandpa Joe as they join four other Golden Ticket winners to tour the magical and mysterious chocolate factory of eccentric “Candy Man” Willy Wonka. When the factory gates are opened, experience the lifechanging journey through a world of “Pure Imagination,” revealed with Wonka’s army of curious “Oompa-Loompas.” Who will win the lifetime supply of chocolate?
When you arrive at Paramount you’ll be greeted in our Grand Gallery, transformed into a Christmas wonderland with a two-story fully decorated tree.
Primary photo: Blue Man Group
Upparent collects community-submitted recommendations and reviews, and any ideas that are shared reflect the opinions of individual contributors.