Love Conquers All in ‘The Snow Queen’ at the Marriott Theatre

‘You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown’ at the Marriott Theatre is a Lovable, Musical Trip Down Memory Lane

This review by Rita Barry originally published on February 28, 2023.

Marriott Theatre offers live theater productions for young audiences in Glenview, IL. The seating is “in the round”, which gives everyone a great view!

The second I knew this classic production of Charlie Brown and the Peanut gang was going to be at the kicked off for 2023, I knew this was one I had to review. As personal fan of the comic strip, which brought back some childhood memories, I walked in with extremely high expectations… as well as nerves about whether my twin 5 year old boys would enjoy the hour-long musical.

Did it live up to being of interest for all ages? Absolutely.

The theater was filled with laughter from parents, grandparents, and little ones. The energy brought on by the cast from start to end was absolutely infectious, and the cheering at the end of the musical proved how successful the musical was.

We were invited to attend this performance to share our experiences; all opinions are my own.

Review of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Marriott Theater

This was our first time at the Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire. When we walked in, we were greeted by seating on four sides of the theater, with focused lights on a small square stage in the middle of the room. It was a simple set up, with colorful boxes on stage. This special one-hour presentation is directed and choreographed by Linda Fortunato, with Musical Director/Conductor Rick Bertone and Musical Supervisor Ryan T. Nelson. This musical kicked off the 2023 children’s theater season for the Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences series.

The Peanut gang in attendance included Linus and his blanket, bossy Lucy, Schroeder showing off his piano skills, Sally figuring out perfection, Charlie Brown the lovable loser, and Snoopy in his doghouse. Props were minimal throughout the entire musical, the most we saw outside of the colored boxes on stage were a kite, Snoopy’s doghouse, a mailbox, and Lucy’s psychiatrist booth. The focus was truly on the music, singing, and the story.

The high-energy performance kept the audience’s attention for the full hour. From Charlie Brown hoping for a Valentine’s day card, Lucy hoping Schroeder would reciprocate her love, Linus sharing what happiness is through his love for his blanket, Snoopy in the dog house singing about how great life is, Charlie Brown attempting to fly his kite, to a phenomenal piano session for Beethoven day, Sally figuring out her life philosophy to a baseball game, there was no break in the energy. The hour flew past act after act, leaving the audience in stitches.

My twins loved it when Charlie Brown attempted to fly his kite. The stage was simple and the ceilings were low, so you could hear kids in the audience get excited when the kite went up. A similar reaction came during the baseball scene when a ball fell from the ceiling. The production was very well thought-out, and the details were well-received by the younger audience. On a personal note, I was in awe at the stellar cast who played their characters so well, along with music that was delightful and dancing that was full of passion and energy.

While Marriott Theatre provided extremely comfortable seating, booster seats for younger children were not provided. I saw younger children on their parents laps to be able to see the stage if there was someone taller in front of them. There was ample space for walking in and out as needed with your children. Free parking is available onsite.

The boys and I laughed and smiled throughout the hour. They understood the simple scenes, they loved the energy, and it brought me back to my simple childhood days. This is one not to be missed.

You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown plays most Wednesdays through Sundays at 10am with select 12:30 pm performances. To reserve tickets, please call The Marriott Theatre Box Office at (847) 634-0200 or visit www.MarriottTheatre.com. Tickets are $15.75, plus tax and handling fees.

The Wizard of Oz

This review by Jamie Dougherty originally published on July 18, 2022.

We’re off to see…a charming, talent-filled stage production of The Wizard of Oz! Whether you’re a fan of the classic movie or just love live theater, this hour-long, child-friendly presentation is a great choice for kids of all ages. It was the ideal first live stage show experience for our kids – not too long, and really engaging. Among our highlights were the friendly ushers, who welcomed every child like a distinguished guest, and the live dog playing the role of Toto. After all, who can resist an adorable fluff ball whose real-life name is Sir Reginald?

We were invited to attend this performance to share our experiences; all opinions are my own.

To Know Before You Go:

• The theater is “in the round,” meaning that the stage sits in the center of the room, and is surrounded on all sides by the seating. The acting and dancing are designed to present to every side. It’s an intimately sized theater, so there isn’t a bad seat in the house – truly – and my kids were fascinated to see the ways the cast members navigated the set pieces and spaces.
• Due to the length of the show, there was not an intermission, which meant that the onsite concessions booth was not open. If your little one needs to step out and have a snack, you’ll have to bring one from home.
• The seats have an unusually generous amount of leg room, so if you’re tall or have a kiddo that needs to stand or wiggle during the show, you’re good to go. My 4-year-old couldn’t even reach his feet to kick the seat in front of him. You’re welcome, lady who was sitting in the seat in front of my 4-year-old.    
• After the show ends, the house lights go up and the cast members take the stage for a short Question & Answer session. They also introduce and thank the crew, which includes a short explanation of what each crew member does and where they sit during the show. Audience members are encouraged to text their questions to the theater (number provided) before and after the show, and some of those questions are selected to be answered by the cast during the session. Don’t miss this part – it’s fascinating!
  

Real Kid Reviews:

• Alexis, age 9: “The dog was sooooo cute.”
• Connor, age 4: “My favorite part was when the flying monkey did flips, and when the bubbles came down from the ceiling!”
• Griffin, age 7: “I didn’t love the loud, dark parts but everything else was awesome.” (Mom note: when the Wicked Witch enters and exits, the lights go out and there’s some dramatic music but it’s not super scary)
• Grandma Julie, kid at heart: “Wonderful for children, but I enjoyed it too! The Cowardly Lion was my favorite character.”

The Wizard of Oz plays most Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10am, Fridays at 6pm, Saturdays at 10am and 12.30 pm and Sundays at 10am. Visit MarriottTheatre.com or call 847.634.0200 for exact schedule, as show times and dates vary. Tickets are $15, excluding tax and handling fees. Call for group discounts over 20 tickets. Free parking is available at all performances.

Click your heels three times, and head to the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, where the show is running now through August 7 and returning November 15 through December 31, 2022. (Glittering, red slippers optional) We know you’ll enjoy the show!

Please note that Marriott Theatre no longer requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test. Face masks are optional to attend the Wizard of Oz. Protocol detail can be found here. 

Wanna see more? Kidlist has you covered when it comes to theater in our area. Click here for our 2022 spring/summer live theater guide.

The Princess and the Pea

This review by Charlotte Belsan originally published on February 19, 2020.

When my family walked into the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, I got excited right away. The stage is in the center of the room, with seating on all sides. Just a few rows circle the stage. That means every seat is a great seat! This theatre in the round setup was a new experience for us. Read on for our review of the newest show to come to the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire!

The Princess and the Pea at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire

We were invited to attend this performance to share our experiences; all opinions are my own.

About The Princess and the Pea

This version of the Princess and the Pea feels very different from the Hans Christian Andersen original. Told as a tale of true love outsmarting a broken system, it is set in a kingdom holding an elaborate contest to find a princess for its prince. The play nods to reality television and dating shows and it ups the silliness level with campy costumes and characters.

Conniving Queen Evermean and bumbling Princess Buffy are played big and loud. The whole audience booed their badness. Kindhearted reader Ruth is the heroine. She and quiet writer Prince Wellington find true love outside the contest, but she must play and win it to marry her prince. The queen sneaks a pea under a stack of mattresses in the final test of the competition, which was the only scene that felt familiar.

We didn’t mind the changes to the story. It felt fresh and fun. The message was that a person’s character is more important than being a real princess.

Best Ages for The Princess and the Pea

The one-hour show was the right length for my three- and seven-year old kids. This production would be fun for kids aged three to ten. The scenes are fast and the plot moves quickly to keep the attention of little audience members.

This is a musical with fun original songs in nearly every scene. Between scenes, videos from the fictional kingdom play on large screens on the back walls. We had something to watch at all times and lots of opportunities to clap enthusiastically.

Seeing The Princess and the Pea with Kids

The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire is a bit farther from our house in the western suburbs than we usually travel for activities, but it was straight up 294 and just a couple turns off the highway. On a Saturday morning, it was an easy drive. I would happily do it again.

Parking is free and right in front of the entrance. We arrived half an hour early and had plenty of time to walk around a bit. My big kid loved the chandeliers in the lobby. The restrooms were located down long hallways far from the theatre and into the adjoining hotel. It was far enough that I wouldn’t have felt comfortable letting my bigger kid go unaccompanied. We went as a family before finding our seats.

Concessions are available and allowed in the theater. We didn’t purchase any, but probably should have! It was nearly lunchtime when we left and my three-year old was headed toward hangry by the very end. Even so, we stayed for the question and answer session after the performance . . . and I’m glad we did. It gave my kids insight into the play and how it was made.

Children in the audience asked great questions, and the actors were gracious and thoughtful in answering them. We learned that the entire cast had only ten days to rehearse together before opening the show! They do the Q&A after every children’s show and it’s a real bonus.

We all enjoyed the experience. My three-year old declared it, “Good, very good.” My seven-year old though it was “cool,” and she liked that the heroine loves books and has brown hair just like she does.

Tickets and Showtimes at the Marriott Theatre

Performances of the Princess and the Pea are running now through April 19, 2020 at 10:00am many weekdays and most weekends at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. There are 12:30pm shows on a couple select dates as well. You can find tickets online — or get a great deal on this show on our half-price tickets page! Children under two may sit in the lap of a ticketed adult for free.

Pinkalicious the Musical

This review by Katie Mayle originally published on July 25, 2018.

When we first read them, the Pinkalicious books instantly became a family favorite in our house. Our two young girls, ages four and three, were excited to see Pinkalicious’s cupcake predicament come to life on stage. This production did not disappoint. Our girls were engaged — and the one-liners meant for parents had us all laughing.

The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences presents Pinkalicious the Musical. This hour-long production takes audiences on a musical adventure adapted from the children’s book written by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann.

Pinkalicious the Musical at The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire

“This is the tale of Pinkalicious, a little girl who can’t stop eating pink cupcakes despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor’s office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe – a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, she must figure out a way to get out of this pink predicament.”

The entire production from start to finish was approximately one hour. At the end of the production, they take questions from the audience for a short Q&A session. We all enjoyed the show tremendously! I cannot recommend it enough. The production was perfect for young children, and we loved a special morning out together as a family.

Most audience members were young children, accompanied by their parents or grandparents, and nearly all in pink. My older daughter has seen a few musical productions before, but none caught her attention like this. With catchy songs and bright costumes, she was in (pink) heaven. We only saw a few very small children (likely under two years old) get antsy and leave early.

The theater itself is on the smaller side; with arena seating, there is not a bad seat in the house. Also, with small children in seats or sitting on their parents’ laps, it is easy to switch seats around for a good view of the stage.

When arriving at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort, you’ll immediately see the theater to the left. There are signs everywhere directing you, and you’ll notice all the small families heading the same direction. There is parking immediately in front and overflow parking set back a bit, with all spots free. We arrived approximately 15 minutes before the show and ended up in overflow parking. The entryway is small and easy to navigate. Pinkalicious posters are spaced around the lobby for photos. They do not have a formal meet-and-greet setup, but after the show, Peter and Allison came out and stood near one of the posters for a quick picture with audience members.

The production ends around lunchtime, and there are a few on-site restaurants at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort if you’d like to extend your stay. There are also ample restaurants along Milwaukee Avenue if you’d prefer a more kid-friendly option.

More Details

• Shows run from now until August 19th at The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL 60069
• Performances take place Wednesdays through Sundays, mostly at 10:00 am, with select performances at 12:30 pm
• Tickets cost approximately $18 per person, with group pricing available
• For tickets, visit Marriott Theatre’s website or call (847) 634-0200

Shrek The Musical

This review by Claudia Coyne originally published on October 16, 2018.

Shrek The Musical is at The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire! Yes, I know we’re talking about a theater outside the typical Kidlist area, but this theater is worth the drive. With “theatre in the round” seating and a live band, it’s the perfect place to take the kids for their first show or to revisit on a regular basis. Keep reading for our review of Shrek The Musical, including a special opportunity available to all guests after the show.

The Emperor’s New Clothes

This review by Kristen Sheehan originally published on March 11, 2018.

My family and I were given the opportunity to go to see The Emperor’s New Clothes at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire. We had with us my 5-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son, both of whom have never been to see live theater. While we weren’t entirely sure how this adventure would go, we were pleasantly surprised!

Review: The Emperor’s New Clothes at Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire

The show loosely follows the classic story The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Andersen. We have this book at home, and in the days leading up to the show, we made certain to read it several times. I definitely think this helped our children enjoy it.

This production is from the creators of Seussical, so we knew it would be fun and entertaining! The show features five main characters including Emperor Marcus III, a young 14-year-old about to be crowned Emperor of his land. Marcus deals with an internal battle of how to become a good emperor like those who have come before him. He accepts the offer from a swindler who promises her “magic” clothes would make him the wisest in the land.

In addition to this plot, there is a side story about Marcus becoming friends with Arno, the palace scrub boy. The friendship is tossed aside as the two come from very different classes. Without giving away the ending, all ends well, with the valuable lessons for children that they can be whomever they wish, and be friends with whomever they like.

The show is a musical and the theater is “in the round.” All of the music, singing, and people coming and going from all aspects of the theater kept our kids’ interests. Throughout the show, the audience was treated like “the people of the kingdom” so there was frequent waving and gesturing to the audience, which definitely kept my kids involved.

How long is The Emperor’s New Clothes?

The running time of the show was about an hour. This was perfect timing for our kids. All performances have a Q & A session afterward. It is optional to stay, but during ours, we were introduced to all of the cast and crew, and the actors fielded a few questions from the audience, which took about 15-20 minutes.

Parking and Special Accommodations at Marriott Theatre

There is ample free parking, elevator access to the theater upstairs, and restrooms accessible with a changing table.

The Marriott Theatre is one of the few theaters in the Chicagoland area with a hearing loop installed. My husband has been a hearing aid wearer since birth. This loop system allows anyone with hearing aids to switch to their “T-coil” program and hear the production directly through their hearing aids without additional equipment. My husband said it worked perfectly. We thanked the house manager afterward for having such wonderful a system available. This is definitely an added bonus if you choose to see this show with anyone who is a hearing aid wearer.

If you are looking for live theater for your children to experience, I would highly recommend The Emperor’s New Clothes. It was definitely a fun outing for us and you will not be disappointed in the retelling of this classic tale. This production opened our eyes to the wonderful world of children’s theater. We hope to attend more shows at the Marriott Theatre in the future!

Performance Information

February 23 – May 12, 2018
Marriott Theatre
10 Marriott Drive
Lincolnshire, IL 60069
(847) 634-0200

Recommended for kids and parents of all ages.
Performances run Tuesday – Saturday at 10:00 am. On select days, there is an additional performance at 12:30 pm. Tickets are $18.23 (including taxes and fees), and all patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket. Purchase tickets here.

Madagascar: A Musical Adventure

This review by Annie Tandy originally published on March 8, 2017.

Madagascar – A Musical Adventure is at The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences now through April 15, 2017. It’s a musical twist on the DreamWorks motion picture. It’s a musical for all ages and features actors dressed as various zoo animals. The costumes are very creative and well done and the music is upbeat and fun, with our favorite “Move It, Move It!”

Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the Hippo and, of course, those hilarious, plotting penguins as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar.

Costume designer (and assistant director) Jesus Perez assures that audiences will be dazzled by the unexpected costumes and innovative puppetry. “Madagascar is already an established idea, but since this is a live production and not a movie, it has opened up a world of creativity for us. This is the perfect vehicle for me as a designer to bring this fantastical world to life,” said Perez.

“Madagascar – A Musical Adventure,” an hour long performance followed by a Question & Answer session with the cast, runs most Tuesdays through Sundays at 10 a.m. with certain performances at 12:30 p.m. Visit MarriottTheatre.com or call 847.634.0200 for exact schedule, as show times and dates may vary. Single ticket prices are $17.23 per person. Groups of 20 or more receive a discount by calling 847.634.5909. Free parking is available at all shows. To reserve tickets, call the Marriott Theatre Box Office at 847.634.0200 or visit www.MarriottTheatre.com.

The Velveteen Rabbit

This review by Annie Tandy originally published on July 19, 2016.

The Velveteen Rabbit is at the Marriott Theatre! Lincolnshire is usually outside the area that Kidlist covers, but I continue to be impressed with the productions there and would consider it worth the drive.

When Steve comes upon one of his long lost toys, it sparks a memory that takes him back in time to when he was an inspired 6-year-old. We meet his 12-year-old brother, Ben, a typical tween who’s more interested in playing videogames and meeting girls then playing with his little brother. Left alone with his toys, Steve’s imagination leads him on exciting adventures with his new best friend, the Velveteen Rabbit, whose dream is to someday become “real”. As Steve and the Velveteen Rabbit’s bond grows, the other toys’ spirits are brought to life on stage as they learn what it means to love, and be loved in return. Return to a simpler time with this heartwarming retelling of the enchanting children’s story, reminding audiences of all ages of the true power of love.

The Velveteen Rabbit is about an hour and does not have an intermission. There is a question and answer section after the play and your kids can ask the actors questions, which is a nice addition to the performance. The Velveteen Rabbit sparked my kids’  imagination and they spent the whole way home talking about what they saw in the clouds on the way home. It warms my heart when things we do together inspires them.

The story is endearing and the actors are talented in presenting it! Both the songs and characters are enjoyable and my family felt it was great for all ages. The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences provides quality performances and even has live music to enhance the experience. I would also add that the theater is chilly, so dress accordingly (maybe a little sweater or sweatshirt just in case?).

The Velveteen Rabbit plays most Tuesdays through Sundays at 10 AM now through August 14, 2016. July 28 is a special hearing impaired interpreted performance. Visit MarriottTheatre.com or call (847) 634-0200 for exact schedule, as show times and dates vary. Single ticket prices are $17.23 per person (includes fees and taxes). Groups of 20 or more receive a discount by calling (847) 634-5909. Free parking is available at all shows. To reserve tickets, call the Marriott Theatre Box Office at (847) 634-0200 or visit www.MarriottTheatre.com.