Chicago Children's Theatre

Established in 2005, the Chicago Children’s Theatre (CCT) is the city’s sole professional theater company exclusively dedicated to children and families. Its stage work reflects subject matters that affect diverse communities, including immigration, female empowerment, poverty, segregation, and violence. CCT’s Access Programs -- such as The Red Kite Project, a long-standing theatrical and educational program for neurodiverse youth -- serve individuals with special needs and disabilities. This award provides general operating support to CCT in the Culture, Equity, and the Arts area of the Chicago Commitment strategy.

The vision of Chicago Children’s Theatre is to be Chicago’s premier professional theater company dedicated to creating awe-inspiring theatrical productions and programs. Through practices focused on inclusion and accessibility, it inspires young people and families to lead lives of adventure, courage, and curiosity. With this award, the Chicago Children’s Theatre offers Once Upon Our Time Capsule, which invites children to reflect on their experiences living under the COVID-19 pandemic by creating individual artistic time capsules that will be buried in City parks and recovered after several years.

In special support of start-up expenses (over three years).