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CHICAGO CHILDREN’S THEATRE TO INTRODUCE A NEW GENERATION TO LIVE THEATER BY PRESENTING MERMAID THEATRE OF NOVIA SCOTIA’S THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR AND OTHER ERIC CARLE FAVORITES,
APRIL 25 & 26 AT THE NORTH SHORE CENTER IN SKOKIE,
APRIL 29-JUNE 1 AT CHICAGO’S RUTH PAGE CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Go to hi-res photos of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
CHICAGO, February 20, 2014–Chicago Children’s Theatre is excited towelcome Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia back to Chicago tointroduce a whole new generation of young theater goers to the wonders of live theatre with the internationally acclaimed company’s popularproduction of The Very Hungry Caterpillarand other Eric Carle Favorites.
Featuring innovative puppetry, evocative musicand stunning “how did they do that?” black light visual effects, this delightful Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia production brings to life three of Eric Carle’s all-time family favorites – The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Cloud and The Mixed-Up Chameleon. The show is for ages 3 and up, and runs 50 minutes with no intermission.
Chicago Children’s Theatre is making it easy for north and northwest suburban families and schools to bring their kids to meet everyone’s favorite caterpillar by kicking off the run one weekend only, April 25 and 26, at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, 9501 W. Skokie Blvd. in Skokie. Tickets start at $20, and the North Shore Center boasts free, ample parking. Performances are Friday, April 25 at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday, April 26 at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. For tickets and information, call 847.673.6300 or visit northshorecenter.org.
Following its opening weekend in Skokie, The Very Hungry Caterpillar will move to The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, for a five-week run at Chicago Children’s Theatre’s home base. Tickets start at $25. Performances are April 29 through June 1: Tuesday at 10 a.m.; Wednesday at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.; Thursday and Friday at 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.; Saturday at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Sunday at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. For tickets and information, call the Chicago Children’s Theatre box office, (872) 222-9555or visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
More about Mermaid Theatre’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites
The Very Hungry Caterpillarand Other Eric Carle Favorites is a triple-bill of the popular children’s author and illustrator’s most beloved stories. The Very Hungry Caterpillar follows the adventures of a very tiny and very hungry caterpillar that eats his way through an amazingvariety of foods towards his eventual metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly. Children will
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Chicago Children’s Theatre presentsThe Very Hungry Caterpillar - pg 2 of 3
also delight in the antics of Little Cloud. High up in a beautiful sky, Little Cloud slips away from the rest and transforms itself into various shapes of things it sees - a sheep, and airplane, a shark and more.In The Mixed-Up Chameleon, a little chameleon is bored sitting about predictably changing color all day. So it decides to embark on an adventurous trip to the zoo. Upon seeing the beautiful animals there, the little chameleon tries changing to look like each one of them.
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia is best known for unique stage adaptations of children’s beloved literary classics.The company’s innovative puppetry, striking scenic effects, evocative original music and gentle storytelling has been applauded by five million spectators in 15 countries. “Mermaid Theatre’s emphasis on imaginative design elements, original music and challenging texts syncs right up with Chicago Children’s Theatre’s aesthetic,” said Jacqueline Russell, Artistic Director, Chicago Children’s Theatre. “So we are thrilled to close our 2013-14 season by welcoming The Very Hungry Caterpillarand giving a whole new generation of young Chicago theater goers their very first live theater experience.”
The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favoritesis a Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia production, presented by Chicago Children’s Theatre, based on the beloved children’s books by award-winning illustrator and writer Eric Carle. The production is adapted, directed and designed by Jim Morrow, with music by Steven Naylor and narration by Gordon Pinsent.
Eric Carle is the acclaimed and beloved creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for very young children. His best known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has eaten its way into the hearts of millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 50 languages and sold over 33 million copies. Since Caterpillar was published in 1969, Carle has illustrated more than 70 books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote, and more than 110 million copies of his books have sold worldwide.
Special Offers to The Very Hungry Caterpillar
To help make live theater accessible to more families, Chicago Children’s Theatre is offering the following discount offers to The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites
Fun Fridays - Tickets are only $25 to all Friday night, 5:30 p.m. performances at the Ruth Page.
Grandparents’ Weekends, May 2-4 & May 9-11 - Grandparents, use promo code GRANDPARENT online, via phone or in person and bring your grandkids to the theater for only $20 per ticket (offer available the first two weekends of the Ruth Page run only.)
Senior discount - Seniors 65 and older can always take advantage of a $7 ticket discount. Use promo code SENIOR. (Avoid online ticketing fees by purchasing in-person at the box office.)
Social media -Chicago Children’s Theatre encourages families to “like” the company’s Facebook page and follow its Twitter feed –@ChiChildTheatre – where special offers,supplemental education activities, behind-the-scenes content, and invitations to value-added events are regularly posted throughout the run of every CCT production.
Groups - For information on discounted group rates for schools, playgroups, and birthday parties, visit GroupTix.net or call (773) 327-3778.
Chicago Children’s Theatre to launch new Friday night Later Stage series for older kids during The Very Hungry Caterpillar
In response to having programming running for every aged child, Chicago Children’s Theater will launch a new series called Later Stageconcurrent with the run of The Very Hungry Caterpillar.For four consecutive Fridays in May immediately following the 5:30 p.m.performance of Caterpillar, CCT will present a Later Stage show for older kids ages 8 and up performed by smaller, cutting-edge Chicago companies.
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Chicago Children’s Theatre presentsThe Very Hungry Caterpillar - pg 3 of 3
On Friday, May 9 and May 23, Theatre Unspeakablewill present SuperMan 2050.This is anepic story with pocket proportions in which seven actors share one tiny platform, just 3-by-7 feet of space, and upon it an original Superman tale unfolds. Set in a fictional 2050 Metropolis with a remarkableresemblance to Chicago, the show’s resourceful cast members use only their bodies and voices to create every prop, scene, sound effect and character in a battle between Superman and Lex Luthor for the future of the Midwest’s beloved high-speed rail network.
On Friday, May 16 and May 30, Manual Cinema will present Lula del Rey, the story of a young adolescent girl in the mid-century Southwest, and a mythic reinvention of the classic coming-of-age story. Lula del Rey is performed with overhead projectors, shadow puppets, actors in silhouette and live music inspired by Hank Williams, Roy Orbison and Patsy Cline.
Later Stage shows start at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are only $15. For tickets and information, call the Chicago Children’s Theatre box office, (872) 222-9555or visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
More about CCT’s home, The Ruth Page Center for the Arts
Chicago Children’s Theatre is presenting its second full season at the Ruth Page Center, 1016 N. Dearborn St., located in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast neighborhood, just steps from the Magnificent Mile. Via public transit, the Ruth Page is a short walk from the CTA Red Line Clark/Division and Chicago stops, and the Clark, Broadway, Division and Chicago Avenue bus lines.Neighborhood street parking is available, and the Ruth Page offers discounted garage parking with ticket validation at 1250 N. Dearborn ($10) and 1030 N. State ($12). Nearby family-friendly restaurants include Chicago Q (1160 N. Dearborn), Epic Burger (40 E. Pearson), Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria (1120 N. State), The 3rd Coast Café (1260 N. Dearborn), and Dave and Busters (1030 N. Clark).
CCT also has expanded its children’s theater classes at Ruth Page, including Glee Club, song and dance for ages 9 to 13, Mondays from 4 to 5:30 p.m; Dream Factory, acting and story creation for ages 6 to 10, Wednesdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m.; and Tiny Sparks, a story playtime for ages 3 to 5, Saturdays from 11to 11:50 a.m.Sign up for the spring 2014 sessions at chicagochildrenstheatre.orgor call (773) 227-0180 x 15 for more information.
About Chicago Children’s Theatre
Chicago Children's Theatre (CCT) focuses on the production of first-rate children's theatre, with top writing, performing and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise. CCT aspires to enrich our community through diverse and significant theatrical and educational programming that engages and inspires the child in all of us. Launched in 2005, Chicago Children's Theatre strives to provide affordable and accessible theatre for families and area school children. To enhance the impact of any given production's themes, Chicago Children's Theatre offers educational materials and programs for families and educators.
Led by Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell, and Board Chair Todd Leland, the company is supported by a committed Artistic Council of Chicago-based actors, directors, musicians and designers, and a dynamic Board of Directors comprised of dedicated individuals from the fields of entertainment, philanthropy and business. Officers include David Saltiel, President; Jacqueline Tilton, Vice Chair; Lynn Lockwood Murphy, Vice Chair and Secretary; and David Chung, Treasurer.
Chicago Children's Theatre is sponsored in part by ComEd,Goldman Sachs Gives,JPMorgan Chase and Target.
For more information about Chicago Children's Theatre visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org, call CCT's dedicated box office line,(872) 222-9555, or the administrative office,(773) 227-0180.
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