Your 2024-25 Guide to Children’s Theater and Live Performances in Chicagoland

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

Beverly Arts Center

2407 W 111th Street
Chicago, IL 60655

Beyond The Door
September 13-15

Briar Street Theatre in Chicago

3133 N. Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60657

Blue Man Group
Ongoing dates; check the calendar online.
Read our Blue Man Group review!

Broadway in Chicago

Cadillac Palace Theatre

151 W. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601

Back to the Future: The Musical
August 13 – September 1, 2024
Suitable for ages 6 and up.

The Book of Mormon
September 10 – 15, 2024
Contains Explicit Language

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse in Concert
September 28, 2024
For ages 10 and up.

& Juliet
December 3 – 15, 2024
For ages 8 and up.

The Hip Hop Nutcracker
December 10 – 15, 2024

Les Misérables
December 17 – January 5, 2025
Suggested age 10 and up.

Beauty and the Beast
July 9 – August 2, 2025
Recommended for ages 6 and up.

James M. Nederlander Theatre

24 W. Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60603

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
September 10 – February 1, 2025
For ages 8 and up.

Auditorium Theatre

50 East Ida B. Wells Drive
Chicago, IL 60605

Mean Girls
November 26 – December 1, 2024
Suitable for ages 10 and up.

Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place

175 E Chestnut Street
Chicago, IL 60611

Fairytale of New York
December 17 – 18, 2024

CIBC Theatre

18 W Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60603

Shucked
January 7 – January 19, 2025
For ages 10 and up.

Come From Away
January 21 – 26, 2025
For ages 10 and up.

Clue
February 18 – March 2, 2025
Recommended for ages 12 and up.
Click here to read about our experience at Broadway in Chicago with kids.

Chicago Children’s Theatre

100 S. Racine Avenue
Chicago, IL 60607

Milo Imagines the World
Opens October 12, 2024
Best enjoyed by ages 6 and up.

The Beatrix Potter Holiday Party
Opens Nov. 23 | Saturdays & Sundays @ 9:30am & 11:30am
Ideal for Ages Up to 8

Manual Cinema’s The Magic City
Opens Jan. 25 | Saturdays & Sundays @ 9:30am & 11:30am
Ideal for Ages 7 & Up

GO DOG GO! • VE PERRO ¡VE!
Opens March 15 | Saturdays & Sundays @ 9:30am & 11:30am
A World Premiere Bilingual Musical | Ideal for All Ages

Click here to read about our past experiences at Chicago Children’s Theatre.

Chicago Kids Company

Alice in Wonderland
Beverly Arts Center
November 6, 2024 – March 7, 2025

Elf Jr. The Musical
Wright College
December 9th and 10th at 7:00pm

Sleeping Beauty
Wright College
Dates Will Be Announced Soon

Chicken Little
Wright College
Dates to be announced

Jack and the Beanstalk
Beverly Arts Center
May 1 – 24, 2024 & June 28 – July 26, 2024

Peter Pan
Beverly Arts Center
March 12 – August 18, 2025

Chicago Theatre

175 N State Street
Chicago, IL 60601

Annie
November 12 – December 1, 2024

Click here to read about a past performance for kids at Chicago Theatre.

DePaul University Merle Reskin Theatre

60 E Balbo Drive
Chicago, IL 60604

Little Women
October 12 – November 09, 2024

Mercury Theater Chicago

3745 N. Southport Avenue
Chicago, IL 60613

Click here to read about our past experiences at the Mercury Theater.

Studebaker Theater

410 S. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605

The Second City

230 W North Avenue – 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60660

No Grown-Ups Allowed
September 21, 2024

Young People’s Theatre at The Greenhouse Theater Center

2257 N Lincoln Ave 
Chicago, IL 60614
Shows to be announced.

Live Theater in the Suburbs of Chicago

Allstate Arena

6920 Mannheim Road
Rosemont, IL 60018

Monster Jam
September 20 – 22, 2024

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.

2024 – 2025 season features:

• Elephant & Piggie
• The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t
• The Jungle Book
• Beauty and the Beast

Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace

100 Drury Lane
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

The Little Mermaid
Novemeber 6, 2024 – January 12, 2025

Guardian Angel Players in La Grange Park

St. Louise Parish Center
1125 Harrison Avenue
La Grange Park, IL 60526

Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire

10 Marriott Drive
Lincolnshire, IL 60069

Click here to read about our experiences at the Marriott Theatre.

Cinderella
November 15 – December 29, 2024

Maywood Fine Arts

Thatcher Woods Pavilion
8030 Chicago Avenue
River Forest, IL 60305

Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights

111 W Campbell Street
Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Cinderella
September 26 – October 20, 2024
Recommended for ages 5+, Children under 3 will not be permitted

The Spongebob Musical Youth Edition
October 26 & 27

A Christmas Carol
November 24 – December 23
Recommended for ages 5+, Children under 3 will not be permitted

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
2024 – 2025 season information coming soon.

NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates

5333 Prairie Stone Parkway
Hoffman Estates, IL 60192

Cirque Du Soleil
February 13 – 16, 2025

Overshadowed Theatrical Productions in Medinah

900 Foster Avenue
Medinah, IL 60157

Forever Plaid
September 13 – October 5, 2024

A Christmas Carol
November 29 – December 21, 2024

Paramount Theatre in Aurora

23 East Galena Blvd.
Aurora, IL 60506

Frozen, The Musical
October 30 – January 19, 2025

Click here to read more about Paramount Theatre in Aurora.

Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet

102 N. Chicago Street
Joliet, IL 60432

Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont

5400 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018

Sesame Street Live
November 1 & 2, 2024

Disney Jr. Live
November 7, 2024

Steel Beam Theatre (St Charles)

111 W Main Street
St. Charles, IL 60174

WeGo Community Theatre in West Chicago

Wheaton Academy Fine Arts Center
900 Prince Crossing Road
West Chicago, IL 60185

Frozen
November 14-26, 2024

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.

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 Blvd
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137

The Dazzling Dancers of Ballet Folklorico Quetzalcoatl Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
October 12, 2024

Click here to read about previous experiences at The MAC.

Ruth Page Center for the Arts

1016 N Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60610

Refocus: 50 Years of the Joel Hall Dancers
September 9, 2024 | 7:00pm – 8:30pm

The School of Ballet 5:8

11545 183rd Pl | Suite 101
Orland Park, IL 60467

Beyond the Nutcracker
December 21 & 22, 2024

Cinder Ella
May 24 & 25, 2024

Classical Music and Music Concerts

Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra

Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church
149 W Brush Hill Rd
Elmhurst, IL 60126

The Planets and Star Wars
October 5, 2024

Northbrook Symphony Orchestra

Sheely Center for the Performing Arts
2300 Shermer Road
Northbrook, IL 60062

Beethoven Lives Upstairs
September 29, 2024
Family performance. Ages 6-17 enter free with paying adult.

First Presbyterian Church of Evanston

1427 Chicago Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201

Santiago Cañon Valencia Cello Recital with Victor Santiago Asunción
October 25, 2024

Chicago a cappella

Szold Hall at Old Town School of Folk Music
4545 N Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60625

Holidays a cappella- Family Edition
December 7, 2024 | 3:00pm – 4:00pm

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

Matilda, Jr.
November 22, 23, and 24

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

Night of the Living Dead
October 31 – November 3, 2024

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka Jr.
December 6 – 15, 2024

Little Women
March 14 – 16, 2025

Spongebob the Musical, Youth Edition
April 11 – 20, 2025

CYT Chicago

755 Industrial Drive
Cary, IL 60013

Learn more about their various productions for the 2024 – 2025 season, including The Sound of Music and The Little Mermaid.

Eisenhower Junior High School

1410 75th Street
Darien, IL 60561
Dates have not yet been released.

Footlight Players

Park Junior High School
325 N. Park Rd.
La Grange Park, IL 60526

A Christmas Story
December 6 – 22, 2024

Ghostlight ETC

923 Curtiss Street
Downers Grove, IL 60515

Lombard Park District

Sunset Knoll Recreation Center
820 S. Finley Road
Lombard, IL 60148

Marquee Youth Stage

619 W Main Street
St. Charles, IL 60174

Music Makers Theatre

Lyons Township Performing Arts Center
4900 S. Willow Springs Rd.
Western Springs, IL 60558

Lion King
Tentative Dates; Friday, January 24 & Saturday, January 25 OR Friday, January 31& Saturday, February 1, 2025

Oak Park and River Forest High School

201 N Scoville Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
Dates have not yet been released.

Ovation Academy for the Performing Arts

Madison Street Theatre
1010 Madison St.
Oak Park, IL 60302

Winnie the Pooh Kids
October 4 & 5, 2024

Junie B.’s Essential Survival Guide to School, JR
October 25 – 27, 2024

Spotlight Theater

Hanover Park Park District
1919 Walnut Avenue
Hanover Park, IL 60133

Seussical Jr.
December 6-8, 2024

Beetlejuice Jr.
April 18, 19, 25, 26, 2024 | 7:00pm

St James the Apostle School

490 S Park Blvd
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Dates have not yet been released.

Stage Door Fine Arts Theatre

The Community House
415 W. Eighth Street
Hinsdale, IL 60521

Charlie and The Chocolate Factory
January – February 2025

Finding Nemo
May – June 2025

Alice by Heart
June 2025

WeGo Community Theatre

Wheaton Academy Fine Arts Center 
900 Prince Crossing Road
West Chicago, IL 60185

Frozen Jr.
November 14-16, 2024

Wheaton Park District Children’s Playhouse

Wheaton Park District Community Center
1777 S Blanchard Street
Wheaton, IL 60189

Disney’s Moana Jr.
Performances will be held on November 14 & 15 at 6:30P | November 16 & 17 at 2P

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!