On the heels of its acclaimed world-premiere family musical The Emperor's New Clothes, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) continues the 2010/11 CST Family Series with another joyous musical event for the entire family. From the Courtyard Theater stage, audiences embark on an adventure through the animal kingdom with The Chicago Chamber Musicians (CCM) in their ninth annual CST collaboration, The Carnival of the Animals and The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant, on November 6 and 7, 2010. These spirited concerts, performed at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. each day, are appropriate for all ages and most enjoyed by children four and up. Later this season, from January through March, the CST Family Series will draw to a close with Short Shakespeare! Macbeth, a 75-minute abridged production of Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Camille Saint-Saens' The Carnival of the Animals turns a parade of marching animals into a lively musical romp, where the tales of donkeys, turtles and swans are told through charming melodies. In Francis Poulenc's The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant, a curious elephant leaves the jungle for the big city. Whimsical tunes tell the story of Babar's travels, where he learns to wear a suit, drive a car and read books before returning to the jungle to become king of the elephants. Between concerts each day, interactive exhibits staged in the CST lobby will give children a chance to explore the instruments representing the animals-musicians will be available for autographs and young performers will demonstrate their craft and answer questions about the featured instruments.

Five of CCM's Ensemble Artists will play in the November concerts: Jasmine Lin (violin), Dennis Michel (bassoon), Rami Solomonow (viola) and CCM founding members Gail Williams (horn) and GRAMMY winner Larry Combs (clarinet).

Founded in 1986, The Chicago Chamber Musicians is a society of musicians and music devotees committed to building an internationally recognized chamber music institution in Chicago. Since its inception, CCM has launched a critically and popularly acclaimed subscription series; an award-winning annual series of contemporary chamber music; a touring program; the annual Family Concerts; and a remarkable set of community service programs. A staunch advocate for new music, CCM has commissioned 17 works, and has received two ASCAP-Chamber Music America Awards for Adventurous Programming. CCM's recordings include previously unrecorded works from composers such as John Harbison, David Diamond and Bruce Adolphe as well as works from the chamber canon including the GRAMMY-finalist Chamber Works for Winds and Strings by Mozart. Among CCM's numerous awards are the 2006 ABBY Award for Arts Management Excellence and the 2007 Chamber Ensemble of the Year Award from the Illinois Council of Orchestras. Annually, CCM shares the joy of chamber music with more than 5,000,000 radio listeners, audience members and students throughout Chicago and beyond.

The Carnival of the Animals and The Story of Babar, the Little Elephant run November 6 and 7, 2010, at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in Chicago Shakespeare's Courtyard Theater. Tickets are $15-$18 with special discounts available for groups of 10 or more. All patrons receive a 40% parking discount at Navy Pier garages. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Chicago Shakespeare Theater's Box Office at 312.595.5600 or visit the Theater's website at www.chicagoshakes.com.