There’s nothing quite like live theater, especially when it can be enjoyed with the whole family. There are so many great options of children’s theater in the Chicagoland area. Live performances are a beautiful way to experience music and stories together in and around Chicago while supporting local artists.
We’re lucky to be surrounded by countless local performances both in the city and the suburbs that are tailored just for kids. From professional children’s theater with adult performers to productions for kids with young actors, we have a fantastic line-up of shows for you to check out with your family in the year ahead. This is surely a top pick from our map of things to do with our kids in Chicagoland!
As the season goes on, be sure to refer back to this list for updates as theaters continue to announce their plans. We keep this article updated throughout the year with the latest shows and performances.
Below you will find live theater in Chicago and the suburbs, dance performances, classical music, and shows for kids at children’s theater schools and high schools.
Live Theater for Kids in Chicago
Note: The Blue Man Group ended their long-running show at The Briar Street Theater in Chicago in January of 2025.
Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture
2936 N. Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Bernadette, The Musical
February 12 – March 15, 2025
Recommended for ages 12+
Beverly Arts Center
2407 W 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60655
Oliver
August 28 – 31, 2025
The Crucible
September 18 – 21, 2025
Tribute to Earth, Wind and Fire
September 26 – 27, 2025
Marrakesh Express
October 3, 2025
Ruth Page’s The Nutcracker Suite
November 22, 2025
The Mountaintop
January 15 – 18, 2026
Sons of Chicago: Rocking Tribute to Bruce Springsteen & Bob Seger
January 24, 2026
Disney’s Newsies
February 26 – March 1, 2026
Ragtime
August 27 – 30, 2026
Broadway in Chicago
Cadillac Palace Theatre
151 W. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
The Lion King
October 3 – 19, 2025
Recommended for ages 6 and up.
PlayStation the Concert
October 31 – November 1, 2025
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Twilight in Concert
November 7 – 8, 2025
A Beautiful Noise
November 19 – 30, 2025
Suitable for all ages.
The Phantom of the Opera
December 11 – February 1, 2026
Recommended for ages 7 and up.
The Outsiders
February 10 – 22, 2026
The Great Gatsby
April 21 – May 3, 2026
James M. Nederlander Theatre
24 W. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60603
The Sound of Music
October 21 – November 2, 2025
Hell’s Kitchen
November 11 – 30, 2025
Mannheim Steamroller Christmas
December 20, 2025
Water For Elephants
June 23 – July 5, 2026
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
Auditorium Theatre
50 East Ida B. Wells Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in Concert
October 25, 2025
Costumes encouraged!
Elf The Musical
December 2 – December 14, 2025
& Juliet
July 22 – August 2, 2026
This show is suitable for ages 8 and up.
Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place
175 E Chestnut Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Dungeons & Dragons The Twenty-Sided Tavern
August 12 – September 28, 2025
Rocky Mountain High Experience®: A John Denver Christmas
December 12 – 14, 2025
Christmas with C.S. Lewis
December 16 – December 21, 2025
Eureka Day
January 13 – February 22, 2026
CIBC Theatre
18 W Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603
The Book of Mormon
October 14 – 19, 2025
A Magical Cirque Christmas
November 25 – 30, 2025
SIX
December 2 – December 14, 2025
Stereophonic
January 27 – February 8, 2026
Hamilton
March 4 – April 26, 2026
Spamalot
May 19 – May 31, 2026
SUFFS
July 7 – July 19, 2026
Click here to read about our experience at Broadway in Chicago with kids.
Chicago Children’s Theatre
100 S. Racine Avenue
Chicago, IL 60607
Leo Lionni’s Frederick
September 27 – November 16, 2025
Suitable for all ages.
The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party
December 6 – 28, 2025
Ideal for ages up to 8.
Goodnight Moon
April 11 – June 7, 2026
All Ages
Click here to read about our past experiences at Chicago Children’s Theatre.
Chicago Kids Company
Mrs. Claus!
Beverly Arts Center
December 3 – 23, 2025
Stahl Family Theatre
December 11 – 23, 2025
Chicken Little
Beverly Arts Center
October 29 – November 26, 2025
Peter Pan
Stahl Family Theatre
October 24 – November 26, 2025
January 23 – February 20, 2026
The Three Little Pigs
Beverly Arts Center
January 21 – April 3, 2026
Stahl Family Theatre
May 6 – July 31, 2026
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Stahl Family Theatre
February 25 – May 1, 2026
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Beverly Arts Center
April 8 – July 31, 2026
Chicago Theatre
175 N State Street
Chicago, IL 60601
Straight No Chaser, Holiday Road Tour
November 29, 2025
‘Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil
December 11 – 28, 2025
Click here to read about a past performance for kids at Chicago Theatre.
Cornservatory Theater (Chicago)
4210 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60618
No Upcoming Shows for Kids
The iO Theater
1501 N Kingsbury St
Chicago, IL 60642
Imaginarium
Saturdays, September 13 – October 4, 2025
Improv show for kids ages 4 and up
Filament Theatre
4041 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
No Upcoming Shows Listed
Lifeline Theater
6912 N. Glenwood Ave
Chicago, IL 60626
CLICK, CLACK, BOO! A TRICKY TREAT
October 4 – November 2, 2025
The Conductors
December 6 – 21, 2025
Kitty and the Beanstalk
February 14 – March 22, 2026
Merle Reskin Theatre
DePaul University
60 E Balbo Drive
Chicago, IL 60604
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience
October 25 – November 8, 2025 | Saturdays at 2pm
Mirror of Most Value: A Ms. Marvel Play
May 14-30, 2026 | Saturdays at 2pm
Ages 6+
Mercury Theater Chicago
3745 N. Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613
Temporarily Closed
Click here to read about our past experiences at the Mercury Theater.
Studebaker Theater
410 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
Chicago Sinfonietta presents Bollywood & Beyond Symphony Masala & East Meets West
October 18, 2025
The Second City
230 W North Avenue – 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60660
No Upcoming Kids Shows Listed
Young People’s Theatre at The Greenhouse Theater Center
2257 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
Elephant & Piggie’s “We are in a Play”
September 27 – October 19, 2025
A Year with Frog and Toad
November 29 – December 21, 2025
The Hobbit
February 7 – March 1, 2026
The Hula Hoopin’ Queen
May 9 – 31, 2026
Live Theater in the Suburbs of Chicago
Allstate Arena
6920 Mannheim Road
Rosemont, IL 60018
Monster Jam
September 12 – 14, 2025
Pentatonix
December 2, 2025
Alphabet Soup Productions in Chicago’s Suburbs
Shows at various times and locations throughout Chicagoland including: Cicero, Des Plaines, Downers Grove, Naperville, Palos Hills, Romeoville and Schaumburg. Check their website for the current schedule.
2025 season features:
- Little Red Riding Hood’s Big Adventure
- Little Red Riding Hood’s Holiday Adventure
- Charlotte’s Web
- The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
Big Noise Theatre in Des Plaines
515 E Thacker St,
Des Plaines, IL 60016
Annie
September 26 – October 12, 2025
Pete the Cat
February 14 – March 8, 2026
The Wizard of Oz
April 24 – May 10, 2026
Cahn Auditorium in Evanston
Northwestern University
600 Emerson Street
Evanston, IL 60201
No Upcoming Shows Listed
Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace
100 Drury Lane
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Sister Act
November 12, 2025 – January 11, 2026
On Your Feet!
January 28 – March 22, 2026
Guardian Angel Players in La Grange Park
St. Louise Parish Center | 1125 Harrison Avenue
La Grange Park, IL 60526
A Christmas Carol
November 13 -16, 2025
Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire
10 Marriott Drive
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Disney’s Finding Nemo
October 10 – January 4, 2026
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
February 13 – March 29, 2026
Frog and Toad
July 10 – August 9, 2026
Disney’s Frozen The Broadway Musical
November 4 – January 3, 2027
The Spongebob Musical
November 20 – January 3, 2027
Click here to read about our experiences at the Marriott Theatre.
Maywood Fine Arts
Thatcher Woods Pavilion
8030 Chicago Avenue
River Forest, IL 60305
No Upcoming Shows Listed
McAninch Arts Center (The MAC)
College of DuPage
425 Fawell Blvd
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Ailey II
October 25, 2025
New Philharmonic Present Romeo And Juliet, Cinderella
November 1 – 2, 2025
Soweto Gospel Chair – Peace
November 8, 2025
Click here to read about previous experiences at The MAC.
Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights
111 W Campbell Street
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
Grease
September 17 – October 19, 2025
Beetlejuice Jr.
November 7 – 8, 2025
A Christmas Carol
November 25 – December 24, 2025
Lionel Bart’s OLIVER! • A Staged Concert
January 21 – February 8, 2026
The Wizard of Oz
July 8 – August 9, 2026
Morton Arboretum in Lisle
4100 IL-53
Lisle, IL 60532
Be sure to check out their website for more details about their Walking Plays.
North Central College Fine & Performing Arts in Naperville
Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College
171 E Chicago Avenue
Naperville, IL 60540
No Upcoming Shows Listed
NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates
5333 Prairie Stone Parkway
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192
No Upcoming Shows for Kids
Overshadowed Theatrical Productions in Medinah
900 Foster Avenue
Medinah, IL 60157
No Upcoming Shows Listed
Paramount Theatre in Aurora
23 East Galena Blvd.
Aurora, IL 60506
Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
November 12, 2025 – January 11, 2026
Dear Evan Hansen
February 4 – March 22, 2026
Click here to read more about Paramount Theatre in Aurora.
Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet
102 N. Chicago Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Elmo and Friends Say Hello
November 8, 2025
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland
November 26, 2025
The Nutcracker
November 30, 2025
A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage
December 8, 2025
Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont
5400 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018
Nutcracker Magical Christmas Ballet
Deember 14, 2025
Steel Beam Theatre (St Charles)
111 W Main Street
St. Charles, IL 60174
Some Enchanted Evening: The Music of Rodgers and Hammerstein
February 21 – Mar 2, 2026
WeGo Community Theatre in West Chicago
Wheaton Academy Fine Arts Center
900 Prince Crossing Road
West Chicago, IL 60185
Disney High School Musical Jr.
November 20 – 22, 2025
Little Mountain Community Theatre
800 Porter Street
Lemont, IL 60439
Firefly Family Theatre in Glen Ellyn
Firefly Family Theatre performs in-person and pre-recorded shows. Right now, they are offering various shows at libraries across the suburbs. Check their website for the current schedule.
Circus Performances
CIBC Theatre
A Magical Cirque Christmas
November 25 – 30, 2025
Rialto Square Theatre
Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland
November 26, 2025
Chicago Theatre
‘Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil
December 11 – 28, 2025
Dance Performances
Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture
2936 N. Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Grand Kyiv Ballet’s Nutcracker
November 20, 2025 | 7:00pm
A&A Ballet’s Art Deco Nutcracker
December 6, 2025 | 1:00pm
Ballet Chicago: The Nutcracker
December 12-14, 2025
Ensemble Español Spanish Dance Theater
Northeastern Illinois University Auditorium
5500 N. St. Louis Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
Giordano Dance Chicago
Harris Theater at Millennium Park
205 E. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
McAninch Arts Center (The MAC)
College of DuPage
425 Fawell Blvd
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Ada Twist, Scientist & Friends
October 24, 2025 | 7:00pm
Ruth Page Center for the Arts
1016 N Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60610
The School of Ballet 5:8
Lincoln-Way North Performing Arts Center
19900 South Harlem Avenue
Frankfort, IL, 60423
Beyond the Nutcracker
December 6-13, 2025
Rialto Square Theatre
15 E. Van Buren St.
Joliet, IL 60432
World Ballet Company: Cinderella
April 16, 2026 | 7:00pm
Classical Music and Music Concerts
Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra
Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church
149 W Brush Hill Rd
Elmhurst, IL 60126
Northbrook Symphony Orchestra
Sheely Center for the Performing Arts
2300 Shermer Road
Northbrook, IL 60062
Orchestra occasionally hosts family performances. See the lineup.
Old Town School of Folk Music
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 N Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625
Chicago Sinfonietta
Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College
171 E Chicago Avenue
Naperville, IL 60540
Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University
50 East Ida B. Wells Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
See the program schedule for concerts. Chicago Sinfonietta offers children’s pricing on tickets and advises that concerts are suitable for ages 6+.
The CheckOut
4116 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60613
New contemporary music venue opening in a former 7-Eleven. classical, jazz and cabaret music Click here for the full schedule.
Great Elgin Pipe Organ Tour
First Congregational Church of Elgin
256 E Chicago St
Elgin, IL 60120
Great Elgin Pipe Organ Tour
September 28, 2025 | 4:00pm
Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture
2936 N. Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Lakeview Orchestra presents Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker
December 21, 2025 | 2:00pm
Colvin House
5940 N Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60660
Markus Rutz & Third Coast Sounds
November 18, 2025 | 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Ages 13+
Ravinia
418 Sheridan Road
Highland Park, IL 60035
Jazz Trio: A Charlie Brown Christmas
December 7, 2025 | 1:30pm
Shows for Kids at Children’s Theater Schools and High Schools
Academy of Music & Art
Mario Parente Theatre
1S325 Ardmore Avenue
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181
Disney’s Descendants, The Musical
November 21 – 23, 2025
BAM Theatre
Madden Theatre at North Central College
171 E Chicago Avenue
Naperville, IL 60540
Children’s Theatre of Western Springs
Children’s Theatre of Western Springs
4384 Hampton Avenue
Western Springs, IL 60558
Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors
October 16 – 26, 2025
CYT Chicago
College of Lake County – James Lumber Center
19351 West Washington Street
Grayslake, IL 60030
Check out their 2025 – 2026 List of Shows
Bartlett High School
701 W Schick Rd
Bartlett, IL 60103
Check their Facebook Page for Updates on Shows
Music Makers Theatre
Lyons Township Performing Arts Center
4900 S. Willow Springs Rd.
Western Springs, IL 60558
Oak Park and River Forest High School
201 N Scoville Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
Ovation Academy for the Performing Arts
Madison Street Theatre
1010 Madison St.
Oak Park, IL 60302
Shrek KIDS
October 10 – 12, 2025
Dot and the Kangaroo JR
October 24 – 26, 2025
Spotlight Theater
Hanover Park Park District
1919 Walnut Avenue
Hanover Park, IL 60133
Spring Avenue Recreation Center
185 Spring Ave
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Jazz in the Park
September 11, 2025
Glen Ellyn’s Got Talent
October 3, 2025
Stage Door Fine Arts Theatre
The Community House
415 W. Eighth Street
Hinsdale, IL 60521
No Upcoming Shows Listed
Wheaton Park District Children’s Playhouse
Wheaton Park District Community Center
1777 S Blanchard Street
Wheaton, IL 60189
No Upcoming Shows Listed
Many times after taking in the beauty of a live performance, kids are inspired to learn the craft themselves! If that’s the case in your family, we have the perfect listing of kids theater and drama classes for you. And, don’t miss our Events Calendar filled with great options for making the best, fun-filled family memories!
1 Comment. Leave new
Thanks so much. I have signed up for a few plays to take my Grand Daughter! Mary Ellen Gavin