Children's Theater & Live Shows for Kids in Chicago
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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CSO for Kids: Philharmonia Fantastique
Featuring stunning animation and a virtuosic score by Mason Bates, Philharmonia Fantastique takes audiences inside musical instruments and shows how they work together as an orchestra.
Milo Imagines The World (Chicago Children's Theatre)
10/19/2024, 10/20/2024, 10/26/2024
9:30 & 11:30am
$35/person
Age 6+
Through vibrant song, expressive dance, and a whole lot of imagination, this magical, musical journey takes us through the mind of a child, as he learns to see the world as it really is.
Chicago Magic Lounge
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.
Peter Rabbit & Friends (Gorton Center)
Disney's Frozen the Musical (Paramount Theatre)
Jack and the Beanstalk (Chicago Kids Company)
10/30/2024, 10/31/2024, 11/01/2024
10/30-11/14 at Apollo Theater
11/15-11/27 at Wright College
$18-$22/person
Age 2-10
Russ Ramstrom: Come along with Jack and his best friend Carmelita (a Spanish-speaking cow), as they try to save their village from a crazy giant! Along the way you’ll meet a beautiful singing Harp, a Golden Goose, and a wacky Bean Salesman. Watch the Giant Beanstalk grow on stage!
Sesame Street Live! Say Hello (Rosemont Theatre)
Say Hello, sing, dance, and play alongside your favorite furry friends, all while you follow Elmo’s puppy, Tango, in a fun game of hide & seek.
Alice in Wonderland (Chicago Kids Company)
11/06/2024, 11/07/2024, 11/12/2024
Weekdays 10:30am
Weekends 11am
$18-$22/person
Age 2-6
Russ Ramstrom: Follow Alice as she travels down the Rabbit Hole to the most amazing places! Along her fantastic journey she’ll meet the Mad Hatter, March Hare, Cheshire Cat, Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum, the Queen of Hearts… and many more. This one-hour musical is geared for children ages 2 to 6.
Disney Jr. Live On Tour: Let's Play (Rosemont Theatre)
The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party (Chicago Children's Theatre)
Four adorable Beatrix Potter favorites come to life in this mesmerizing, interactive trunk and puppet show, complete with original music.
CSO for Kids Once Upon a Symphony: The Little Red Hen
Produced and presented in partnership with Chicago Children’s Theatre, the classic story of the solitary, hard-working hen explores the importance of working together as a community.
CSO for Kids: The Music of Our Emotions
Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser and members of the CSO present Tchaikovsky’s courageous journey and show how music helps all of us express our emotions.
CSO for Kids Once Upon a Symphony: Abiyoyo
Produced and presented in partnership with Chicago Children’s Theatre, this redemptive tale of a boy and his father who rid their town of a monster features enchanting music performed by members of the CSO.
CSO for Kids: Community Pride
Joined by the winner of the 2024 Crain-Maling Foundation CSO Young Artists Competition, Thomas Wilkins conducts a program celebrating the joy, power and beauty of community.
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.
Primary photo: Blue Man Group
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