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. We’ve taken all the guess work out of your search to find “children’s theater near me”. 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
Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture
2936 N. Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Dances from the Heart
January 24, 2026
Recommended for all ages.
Bernadette, The Musical
February 12 – March 15, 2026
Recommended for ages 12+
Beverly Arts Center
2407 W 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60655
The Mountaintop
January 15 – 18, 2026
Sons of Chicago: Rocking Tribute to Bruce Springsteen & Bob Seger
January 24, 2026
SOLD OUT
Superstar: A Tribute to Luther Vandross
February 14, 2026
SOLD OUT
Disney’s Newsies
February 26 – March 1, 2026
American English: Beatles Tribute
March 7, 2026
Motor City: The Motown Review
April 4, 2026
Ragtime
August 27 – 30, 2026
Broadway in Chicago
Cadillac Palace Theatre
151 W. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
The Phantom of the Opera
December 11, 2025 – February 1, 2026
Recommended for ages 7 and up.
The Outsiders
February 10 – 22, 2026
Recommended for ages 10 and up.
The Great Gatsby
April 21 – May 3, 2026
Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Les Miserables
May 12 – 24, 2026
Recommended for ages 12 and up.
James M. Nederlander Theatre
24 W. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60603
The Wiz
March 31 – April 5, 2026
Kinky Boots
June 9 – June 21, 2026
Water For Elephants
June 23 – July 5, 2026
Auditorium Theatre
50 East Ida B. Wells Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
Drumline Live
February 1, 2026
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
April 24 – 26, 2026
Chicago
May 5 – 10, 2026
& 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
Eureka Day
January 13 – February 22, 2026
Recommended for ages 12 and up.
CIBC Theatre
18 W Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603
Stereophonic
January 27 – February 8, 2026
Hamilton
March 4 – April 26, 2026
Spamalot
May 19 – May 31, 2026
SUFFS
July 7 – July 19, 2026
The Notebook
August 4 – 16, 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
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
Peter Pan
Stahl Family Theatre
January 23 – February 20, 2026
The Three Little Pigs
Beverly Arts Center
January 22 – 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
Be Like Blippi Tour!
February 28, 2026
Sesame Street Live! Elmo’s Got the Moves!
May 9, 2026
Click here to read about a past performance for kids at Chicago Theatre.
Cornservatory Theater (Chicago)
4210 N Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
No Upcoming Shows for Kids
The iO Theater
1501 N Kingsbury Street
Chicago, IL 60642
No Upcoming Shows for Kids
Filament Theatre
4041 N Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60641
No Upcoming Shows Listed
Lifeline Theater
6912 N. Glenwood Avenue
Chicago, IL 60626
Kitty and the Beanstalk
February 14 – March 22, 2026
Merle Reskin Theatre
DePaul University
60 E Balbo Drive
Chicago, IL 60604
Mirror of Most Value: A Ms. Marvel Play
May 14 – 30, 2026 | Saturdays at 2pm
Ages 6 and up.
Mercury Theater Chicago
3745 N. Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613
No Upcoming Shows Listed
Click here to read about our past experiences at the Mercury Theater.
Studebaker Theater
410 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
Wakka Wakka: Dead as a Dodo, Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival
January 21 – 25, 2026
Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile
January 29 – February 21, 2026
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 Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614
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
Disney on Ice! Jump In
January 22 – 25, 2026
February 5 – 8, 2026
Monster Jam Freestyle Mania
February 27 – March 1, 2026
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.
2026 season features:
Big Noise Theatre in Des Plaines
515 E Thacker Street
Des Plaines, IL 60016
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
On Your Feet!
January 28 – March 22, 2026
Father of the Bride
April 8 – May 31, 2026
Nunsense
June 10 – August 2, 2026
Annie
November 4, 2026 – January 10, 2027
9 – 5
January 27 – March 21, 2026
Guardian Angel Players in La Grange Park
St. Louise Parish Center
1125 Harrison Avenue
La Grange Park, IL 60526
No Upcoming Shows
Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire
10 Marriott Drive
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
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, 2026 – January 3, 2027
The Spongebob Musical
November 20, 2026 – 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 Boulevard
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System
March 27, 2026
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
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
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live!
January 23 – 25, 2026
Overshadowed Theatrical Productions in Medinah
900 Foster Avenue
Medinah, IL 60157
Tom Sawyer
January 23 – February 7, 2026
Paramount Theatre in Aurora
23 East Galena Boulevard
Aurora, IL 60506
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
Gabby’s Dollhouse
February 13, 2026
The Perondi’s Stunt Dog Experience
April 9, 2026
World Ballet Company: Cinderella
April 16, 2026
MJ Live
April 25, 2026
Hocus Pocus
October 29, 2026
Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont
5400 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018
Gabby’s Dollhouse Live
February 15, 2026
Dancing with the Stars Live
March 6 – 7, 2026
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
Finding Nemo Kids
March 13 – 14, 2026
Footloose
July 16 – 18, 2026
The Descendants
November 20 – 22, 2026
Little Mountain Community Theatre
800 Porter Street
Lemont, IL 60439
Grease
July 17 – 19, 2026
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
The MAC
Cirque Kalabanté
February 7, 2026
Dance Performances
Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture
2936 N. Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
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 Boulevard
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
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
Classical Music and Music Concerts
Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra
Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church
149 W Brush Hill Road
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 Street
Chicago, IL 60613
New contemporary music venue opening in a former 7-Eleven featuring classical, jazz and cabaret music. Click here for the full schedule.
Great Elgin Pipe Organ Tour
First Congregational Church of Elgin
256 E Chicago Street
Elgin, IL 60120
Great Elgin Pipe Organ Tour Dates
Athenaeum Center for Thought and Culture
2936 N. Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657
Colvin House
5940 N Sheridan Road
Chicago, IL 60660
Ravinia
418 Sheridan Road
Highland Park, IL 60035
Summer season to be announced on March 12, 2026.
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
A Year with Frog and Toad KIDS
March 21 – 23, 2026
Shrek Jr.
March 21 – 23, 2026
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
Dancing Queen
March 7, 2026
CYT Chicago
College of Lake County – James Lumber Center
19351 West Washington Street
Grayslake, IL 60030
Check out their 2026 – 2027 List of Shows
Bartlett High School
701 W Schick Road
Bartlett, IL 60103
Check their Facebook Page for Updates on Shows
Music Makers Theatre
Lyons Township Performing Arts Center
4900 S. Willow Springs Road
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 Street
Oak Park, IL 60302
Disney Pixar’s Finding Nemo KIDS
February 20 – 22, 2026
The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition
April 17 – 26, 2026
Spotlight Theater
Hanover Park Park District
1919 Walnut Avenue
Hanover Park, IL 60133
Spring Avenue Recreation Center
185 Spring Avenue
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
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
Alice in Wonderland JR
March 2026
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