| Disney On Ice - Frozen Opens Sep 27 |
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| Allstate Arena |
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| The complete adventure of the Academy Award winning tale will be told live in this production, capturing the dynamic of two royal sisters, Anna and Elsa. Anna, a girl with an extraordinary heart, embarks on an epic journey to find her sister, the magical Elsa, who is determined to remain secluded as she finally feels free to test the limits of her powers. Rugged mountain man Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven, the lovable and hilarious snowman Olaf and the mystical trolls help Anna along the way in this story about love conquering fear. Audiences will get to sing along with such musical favorites as "Let it Go," "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" and "Fixer Upper." |
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| Elephant and Piggie's We are in a Play! Opens Sep 29 |
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| Citadel Theatre Company |
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| In the musical, an elephant named Gerald and a pig named Piggie are best, best, "bestus" (a word Gerald and Piggie made up that means "very best") friends, but Gerald worries that something could go wrong that would end their friendship. Piggie is not worried at all. She's even happier and more excited than usual. That's because she and Gerald are invited to a party hosted by the Squirrelles, three singing squirrels who love to have a good time. And so begins a day when anything is possible. |
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| Charlie And The Chocolate Factory Opens Oct 2 |
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| Ford Oriental Theatre |
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| Roald Dahl's amazing tale is now Chicago's golden ticket! It's the perfect recipe for a delectable treat: songs from the original film, including "Pure Imagination," "The Candy Man," and "I've Got a Golden Ticket," alongside a toe-tapping and ear-tickling new score from the songwriters of Hairspray. Get ready for Oompa-Loompas, incredible inventions, the great glass elevator, and more, more, more at this everlasting showstopper! Entertainment Weekly raves "Broadway's Big Treat" and NPR exclaims "You'll have a ball!" |
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| UniverSoul Circus Opens Oct 3 |
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| Washington Park |
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| A big-top spectacle of global proportions featuring the best artists from around the world, the 2018 production of UniverSoul Circus takes fans of all ages on an unforgettable journey of light, sound and soul. Get ready for electrifying, edge-of-your-seat performances, including extreme motorsports, mind-bending acrobatics, back-flipping canines, disco-dancing pachyderms, free-flying aerial acts and much, much more. It's hailed as the most interactive circus in the world, and now you can catch this spectacular show -- which is celebrating 25 years of fun under the big top -- when it raises its tent in Washington Park. |
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| Shrek The Musical Opens Oct 5 |
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| Marriott Theatre In Lincolnshire |
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| "Once upon a time, there was a little ogre named Shrek...." And thus begins the tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wisecracking Donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you've got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there's one on hand... and his name is Shrek. |
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| Frederick Opens Oct 9 |
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| The Station |
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| While other mice are working hard gathering food for the winter, Frederick is daydreaming the summer away. But when dreary weather comes, it is Frederick who has stored up something special to help his companions survive the long cold winter. |
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| Sesame Street Live! Let's Party! Opens Oct 12 |
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| Rosemont Theatre |
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| From the moment the curtain rises, parents and children alike will be on their feet dancing along to a pop-infused soundtrack with new Sesame Street friends and live emcees Casey and Caleb. Planning a party isn't easy when everybody has a different idea of fun, but with some help from the audience, it becomes the ultimate reflection of what friendship plus teamwork can accomplish. Party guests will sing along to new and familiar songs, like "I Love Trash" and "C is for Cookie," with Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster; dance to the beat with Elmo; explore a wintry wonderland when Abby Cadabby's magic goes awry; take flight with Big Bird to learn about some of his fabulous feathered friends; and discover new cultures in an interactive Spanish lesson with Rosita. A unique, up-close-and-personal pre-show experience will be offered at an additional charge prior to select performances, allowing families the opportunity to tour the on-stage neighborhood of their favorite, furry friends before they arrive for the main show. The fun doesn't end there. A variety of interactive activities give children the chance to create, discover and learn as they help decorate for the upcoming party. |
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| Bunnicula Opens Oct 20 |
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| Lifeline Theatre |
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| At a showing of Dracula one dark and stormy night, the Monroe family discovers an abandoned rabbit. When they bring him home, resident know-it-all Chester the cat suspects the worst after spying gleaming fangs in the bunny's mouth. And as vegetables start turning up mysteriously drained of their juices, even easygoing Harold the dog wonders if they have a supernatural menace on their hands. Brave the night and dare to embrace our differences in this musical adaptation of the 1979 book by Deborah and James Howe. This production is recommended for children ages five and up (children under two not permitted), and runs approximately one hour with no intermission. |
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| Neverland Opens Oct 26 |
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| Prop Theatre |
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| NEVERLAND chronicles the final days of Peter Pan's utopia. When Wendy, an Avondale teenager, becomes the newest addition to The Lost, Peter's band of runaway teens from different decades, she discovers an underground kingdom ready to shatter. Struggling to find it's future under the direction of confused leadership, bloody past practices, and centuries long wars over legacy, the inhabitants of Neverland can no longer hide from what they've become. The journey from childhood to adulthood has never been so treacherous than in this "Peter Pan" in the era of Trump's America. |
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| Twas The Night Before Christmas Opens Nov 3 |
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| Broadway Playhouse |
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| 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS is a fantastic, slapstick holiday affair for all ages. When Santa Claus' "Naughty or Nice" list goes missing, it's up to a pair of dancing mice, a spunky girl, and an Elf-B-I agent to solve the mystery before Santa boards his sleigh. |
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| Disney's Beauty and the Beast Opens Nov 9 |
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| Drury Lane- Oakbrook |
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| Based on the beloved Academy Award winning Disney film, this nine-time Tony nominated musical continues to win the hearts of people all over the globe. Trapped in her provincial town life, an intelligent, young beauty risks everything to become the heroin of her own story and break a wicked spell imprisoning a castle full of enchanting misfits and a terrifying beast. |
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| The Snow Queen Opens Nov 10 |
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| Filament Theatre |
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| When her best friend Kai is lured to the wicked Snow Queen's palace, young Gerda embarks on an unexpected quest to the ends of the earth to save him. This epic story of courage and friendship across the wintry wonders of the North Pole and beyond will warm even the most frozen hearts with music, puppetry, and lots of theatrical magic. |
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| The Wizard of Oz Opens Nov 14 |
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| Paramount Theatre |
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| Stuck on a Kansas farm with her aunt, uncle and dog Toto, Dorothy Gale wishes for a better and more exciting life. When a twister hits, Dorothy is whisked away to the wonderful world of Oz, a fantastical place full of munchkins, a cowardly lion, a tin man without a heart, a living scarecrow...and a wicked witch who will do whatever it takes to stop Dorothy. |
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| The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party Opens Dec 8 |
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| The Station |
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| Chicago families have a new holiday tradition to look forward to again this year because The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party is back, including two new stories. Children of all ages are cordially invited to dress up and enjoy a spot of hot cocoa with CCT's favorite friends from the English Lake District. Next, they'll spend an enchanting hour with Peter Rabbit and other beloved Potter puppet characters as they delight audiences in this highly interactive trunk and puppet show. |
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| The Nutcracker Opens Dec 8 |
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| Center For Performing Arts |
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| Featuring Tchaikovsky's enchanting score, a festive set and colorful costumes, the Salt Creek Ballet's Nutcracker introduces you to the young Clara and her hero, the Prince, as they embark on a magical journey, encountering toys that come alive, dancing snowflakes, waltzing flowers and the Sugar Plum Fairy. A delightful holiday tradition for all ages, this production at the Governors State University Center for Performing Arts Theatre in University Park includes internationally recognized guest dancers and boasts a cast of 100 students from Salt Creek Ballet, ages 8 to 17. Salt Creek Ballet's Artistic Director Sergey Kozadayev trained at the famed Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. |
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| X-Marks The Spot: An Extra Sensory Experience Opens Jan 22 |
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| The Station |
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| Inspired by Evelyn Nesbit's Victorian children's novel Five Children & It, X-Marks The Spot tells the clever and funny story of a family of young adventurers who discover a mischievous wishing fairy in the sand-only to learn the old adage, "be careful what you wish for." |
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| The World Inside of Me Opens Feb 9 |
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| The Station |
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| The World Inside of Me is a new form of educational arts experience designed specifically for pre-K youth. This world premiere production is part art and part science, showcasing the creative abilities of our youngest children. The interactive experience celebrates the human body, following human development from pre-natal through age five (the age span of the participants). Artists from New York's Spellbound Theatre will lead the audience through a series of interactive vignettes that engage the body and senses, delighting the imaginations of participants. |
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| The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Opens Mar 26 |
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| The Station |
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| When Kenny's older brother starts getting into too much trouble in Michigan, it's decided that he needs to pay a visit to Grandma Sands in Birmingham, Alabama to straighten him out. The whole family - Momma, Dad, Byron, Kenny and Joetta - sets out on a wild cross-country journey in the family car, the "Brown Bomber." When they make it to Birmingham, however, they find much more than they bargained for. The powerful story reminds us that during times of crisis, hope reveals itself in the forms of family and friendships; learning, growing, and evolving. |
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