The Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire is home to children’s theatre productions that encourage even the youngest audience members to develop an appreciation and love of live theater. Even the adults will enjoy this production and will leave inspired by this funny, upbeat, cultural and engaging performance. I must admit, I was smiling from the beginning to the finale! There are many interactive moments with the cast as well that make this performance truly special and memorable.
Marriott Theatre has mainstage productions, but we will be focusing on the Theatre for Young Audiences as those are the family-friendly shows for all ages. With it being a theater in the round, and smaller in size, there isn’t a bad seat in the house.
Our family recently attended their newest show for the 2024 children’s theatre season with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s fairy tale classic, Cinderella. Most of the youth productions at the Marriott Theatre run for approximately one hour, making it the optimal length for younger audience members.
We were invited to attend this performance to share our experiences; all opinions are my own.
Review of Cinderella at the Marriott Theatre
The newest production at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire is an adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. I have shared my love for the 1997 Disney production of the movie featuring Brandy and Whitney Houston with my kids, and they know many of the songs (and script) by heart. We have so much fun singing and acting out the scenes at home, so I was thrilled to see how my four year old daughter would react to some of her favorite parts live and in person. My family had the privilege of attending the press opening, and I will say the cast definitely did their part in making the impossible, possible! We learned during the Q&A section at the end of the performance that they only had five days of rehearsal in-person beforehand. The overall chemistry of the cast, musicality, and experience was on full display as we went on a journey with Cinderella as she makes her dreams a reality by taking a leap of faith (and a little magic from her fairy Godmother). My daughter was in absolute awe of the beautiful costumes, hair and makeup, set design, and choreography. Most of all, she was on the edge of her seat marveled by the intricate magic and humor sprinkled throughout the performance. We had a wonderful conversation about musicals, acting, and she is already asking to attend another live performance soon.
Post Performance with Cinderella (Jaeda LaVonne) and the Prince (Trey DeLuna)
Age Recommendations
I would recommend this performance for ages three and up. I also suggest familiarizing children with the characters and their relationships beforehand, if appropriate. The stepmother does have a couple of scenes where she yells at Cinderella, and little ones may be a bit sensitive to her character throughout the performance.
My four year old daughter and five year old neice loved dancing to the music, interacting with the characters, and popping bubbles as they came down from the ceiling mid-performance.
Tips for Visiting The Marriott Theatre
Parking
Parking is free and located right in front of the theater, with a nearby lot available for overflow.
Restrooms
When you enter the theater, there are bathrooms on the first level, but they are a few small corridors away. There is also a second bathroom located behind section 4. Changing tables are available.
Food
Light refreshments and snacks can be purchased at the theater, but outside food and beverages cannot be brought in. For this performance, they featured Cinderella themed cookies that were sold near the entrance by a local baker.
Seating
There truly isn’t a bad seat in the house. The theater is “in the round,” and the actors do a fabulous job of facing all sides of the stage. The seats have an unusually generous amount of leg room, so if youβre tall or have a kiddo who needs to stand or wiggle during the show, youβre good to go. The seats do fold, so if your child likes to move around be sure to keep a hand on the seat so it stays in place when they are ready to sit again!
Extra Bonus
If you are able to stay after the performance, stick around for the Q&A session! It’s a great opportunity for your kids to learn about the actors, characters in the show, and how theater works. This usually lasts around 10 minutes and is totally worth it. They take time to introduce and thank the crew, which includes a short explanation of what each crew member does and where they sit during the show. Donβt miss this part β we learned so much about the behind the scenes “magic” included in so many elements of the production.
Performance Length
Children’s Theatre productions at Marriott Theatre are under an hour (unless noted on the show page) and do not have an intermission.
Ticket Pricing
Tickets for the show are $15.75/each (plus tax and handling fees), with group discounts for 20 or more tickets. Visit the Marriott Theatre’s website or call (847) 634-0200 for tickets.
Performances are most Wednesdays through Sundays at 10:00am, with some 12:30pm performances. An ASL-interpreted performance will take place on December 21st at 10 am.
Discounts for Marriott Theatre
Marriott Theatre offers group discounts as well as discounts for seniors, military personnel, and students 17 years old and under. Call (847) 634-0200 for more information.
Special Accommodations
The Marriott Theatre offers ASL-interpreted performances and provides Hearing Loop for patrons with hearing loss. As explained on their website, “A hearing loop is a copper wire that is placed around the periphery of a room, which is powered by a loop driver generating a magnetic field. A telecoil, a common option on most hearing aids, serves as a wireless antenna to link the listener directly into the facility’s sound system.” For those who have hearing loss but do not wear hearing aids with telecoils, loop headsets are available.
Elevators can take you upstairs to the children’s theater in addition to the stairs when you enter. Accessible seating is available if you call the theater ahead of time at (847) 634-0200. The theater is upstairs with elevator access. You can read more about special accommodations on their accessibility page.
Restaurants Near Marriott Theatre
Most of their children’s theater productions end around lunchtime, and there are a few on-site restaurants at the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort if youβd like to extend your stay. There are also ample restaurants along Milwaukee Avenue if youβd prefer a more kid-friendly option. We visited Walker Bros. Original Pancake House, a brunch favorite in the north suburbs, which was just across Milwaukee Avenue from the theater. The Marriott Theatre also has a page outlining nearby restaurant options.
Please note that outside food is not allowed in Marriott Theatre. If you have take-home containers, they will hold them for you in the lobby.
About Marriott Theatre
Founded in 1975, Marriott Theatre has received 500 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations, which is Chicago’s highest theatrical honor for artistic achievement. They sell more than 400,000 tickets each year and boast the largest number of subscriptions of any musical theater.
Marriott Theatre
10 Marriott Drive
Lincolnshire, IL, 60069
(847) 634-0200
Our guide to live theater has all of the upcoming shows at The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences.
Highlights From Past Performances
Our team has been enjoying shows at Marriott Theatre for years! Here are the highlights:
Both our 10 and 8-year old thoroughly enjoyed theΒ James and the Giant Peach. They were excited to see familiar characters and laughed at the witty one-liners.
Katie Mayle about James and the Giant Peach on February 28, 2024
Getting to see a show at the Marriott Theatre was a perfect way to introduce my kids to live theatre! The unique “in the round” seating meant that everyone was closer to the stage; having the performers enter and exit through the aisles made us feel closer to the action, too.
Elyse Polickey about The Snow Queen on November 29, 2023
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 everyone cheered at the end of the musical!
Rita Barry about Youβre a Good Man, Charlie Brown on February 28, 2023
Among our highlights were the friendly ushers, who welcomed every child like a distinguished guest.
Jamie Dougherty about The Wizard of Oz on July 18, 2022
The scenes are fast and the plot moves quickly to keep the attention of little audience members.
Charlotte Belsan about The Princess and the Pea on February 19, 2020
Our girls were engaged β and the one-liners meant for parents had us all laughing.
Katie Mayle about Pinkalicious The Musical on July 25, 2018
My husband, who has been wearing hearing aids since birth, said the Hearing Loop worked perfectly. He was able to switch his βT-coilβ program and hear the production directly through their hearing aids without additional equipment. We thanked the house manager afterward for having such wonderful a system available!
Kristen Sheehan about The Emperor’s New Clothes on March 11, 2018
The performance 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.
Annie Tandy about The Velveteen Rabbit on July 19, 2016
