Chacon, a West Loop business and community leader and father of four, will now play a volunteer lead role at Chicago’s largest professional theater company devoted exclusively to children and young families. He is a five-year CCT board member, and was instrumental in the company’s renovation and move into its new West Loop home, Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station.
“I’m always looking for ways to make my community better and help people from all walks of life,” said Chacon. “Helping convert a shuttered police station into the state-of-the-art new home for Chicago Children’s Theatre has been profoundly gratifying. I’m thrilled to help guide its future path of growth and success. It makes me excited about Chicago’s future and all we can do to make it better for all.”
"Armando has been an incredible supporter of Chicago Children's Theatre, welcoming us into the West Loop community and making so many important introductions to our wonderful new neighbors," said Jacqueline Russell, Co-Founder and Artistic Director, Chicago Children's Theatre. "When Armando and his wife Bridgette bring their four children to enjoy shows or take classes at Chicago Children's Theatre, I see a great devotion to CCT, the community and the future of Chicago."
Armando Chacon at the grand opening of the new
Chicago Children's Theatre, The Station, on January 17, 2017.
Credit: Charles Osgood
Chacon was born and raised in Chicago and has lived on the near west side and the West Loop for over 25 years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Today, he is an accomplished real estate professional who has worked hard to build a successful business serving people from all walks of life. Chacon has been recognized as one the top brokers in the near west side and the city of Chicago and recognized as a top producer and in the top 1% by the Chicago Association of Realtors. He became a principal and managing partner of Century 21 SGR in 2014.
For more than 20 years, Chacon has acquired a passion to give back to his community, working to spur economic development on the near west side in an equitable and responsible manner. He also serves as president of the West Central Association and the Mary Bartelme Park Advisory Council, where he started several events such as the annual party for the park, Christmas tree lighting ceremony, Menorah lighting ceremony, movies in the park, farmers market, and others that have helped build a stronger sense of community in the West Loop.
Chacon has addressed local education issues serving three terms as a community representative on the Skinner West Local School Council. He helped transform an old school building in Little Italy into what is now STEM Elementary. He is currently working with his community and Chicago Public Schools to bring a new high school to a growing near west side. He also helped the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago move to the West Loop and served on its advisory committee.
Chacon has worked closely with local aldermen, the department of planning and development and other community stakeholders on several community initiatives. He recently served on a task force created by the department of planning and development to create the now completed West Loop Design Guidelines. He currently co-chairs the Madison Row committee comprised of Madison Street business and property owners focused on vitalizing the street with its own identity true to its history.
Chacon follows Eric Neveux’s highly successful tenure as Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Board President, during which time Neveux, a Goldman Sachs Managing Director, led the company’s fundraising efforts through the finishing stages of the new facility’s capital campaign. Chacon has expressed his main areas of focus will include board development, West Loop partnerships and raising the overall profile of Chicago Children’s Theatre in the city.
Chacon resides in Chicago’s West Loop community with his wife Bridgette and four kids Isabella, Isaac, Vince and Charlie.
About Chicago Children’s Theatre
Chicago Children's Theatre, The Station, 100 S. Racine Ave., in Chicago's West Loop
Led by Founding Artistic Director, Jacqueline Russell, Chicago Children’s Theatre was founded in 2005 with a big idea: Chicago is the greatest theater city in the world, and it deserves a great children’s theater. Fourteen years later, CCT is Chicago’s largest professional theater company devoted exclusively to children and young families. It has established a national reputation for the production of first-rate children’s theater, with professional writing, performing, and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise. Chicago Children’s Theatre remains dedicated to creating awe-inspiring theatrical productions and programs through inclusion and accessibility, and inspiring young people and families to lead lives of adventure, courage and curiosity.
In January 2017, the company celebrated the opening of its new, permanent home, Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, located at 100 S. Racine Avenue in Chicago’s West Loop community. The building, formerly the Chicago Police Station for the 12th District, was repurposed into a beautiful, LEED Gold-certified, mixed-use performing arts, education and community engagement facility that now welcomes all Chicago families.
Since its founding, Chicago Children’s Theatre has produced 20 world premieres including The Selfish Giant, The Hundred Dresses, Jackie and Me, The Houdini Box, Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money, Leo Lionni’s Frederick, Wonderland, Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, Jabari Dreams of Freedom, The Year I Didn’t Go To School: A Homemade Circus, Manual Cinema’s Magic City, My Wonderful Birthday Suit!, Last Stop on Market Street, X Marks the Spot, The World Inside Me (with New York’s Spellbound Theatre) and The Watsons Go To Birmingham - 1963. These productions enjoyed successful inaugural runs in Chicago, many followed by productions at theaters across the U.S.
Earlier this year, Chicago Children’s Theatre won the 2019 National TYA Artistic Innovation Award from Theatre of Young Audiences/USA, the national service organization supporting, connecting and advocating for the field of theater for young audiences. In addition, Chicago Children’s Theatre has garnered six NEA Art Works grants, and in 2017, became the first theater for young audiences in the U.S. to win a National Theatre Award from the American Theatre Wing, creators of the Tony Awards.
CCT offers free tickets to more than 5,000 low-income students each season in partnership with Chicago Public Schools. CCT also continues to grow its performing arts and STEAM education programs, offering classes, workshops, winter and spring break camps, and summer camps for ages 0 to 13. For more, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Board of Directors are Todd Leland, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs International, Founder and Board Chair. Officers are Armando Chacon, President, Principal and Managing Partner, Century 21 S.G.R. Inc.; David Saltiel, Vice-Chair, Partner, Golan & Christie, LLP; Jack Lavin, Vice-Chair, President, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce; Anne Ray, Secretary, Senior Claims Attorney, Markel Insurance; and David Chung, Treasurer, Founder, The Snowball Project. Board members are Brian Crouch, Director, North America for Imageware; David Gaito, Senior Vice President & Regional Executive, PNC Business Credit; Sonny Garg, Energy Solutions Lead, Uptake; Michael Gordon, Partner, Sidley Austin –Chicago Office; Meridith Kaminski, Civic Leader/HBK Engineering; Ariel Knowles, Civic Leader/ Philanthropist; Sharone Levy, Senior Counsel, Chapman and Cutler; Beth Loeb, Solo Practitioner, Real Estate Law; Mark Melendes, Managing Director, & Specialized Industries Head, CIBC Bank; Eric Neveux, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs; Beatrice “Bici” Pritzker, Civic Leader; Jason Sussman, Principal Investments Team Member, The Pritzker Organization, L.L.C.; and Kelly Waller, President, Chicago Media Angels.
Chicago Children’s Theatre’s 2019-20 Season: A Season to Celebrate
Chicago Children’s Theatre just announced a one-month extension of its smash hit 2019-20 season opener, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show, playing now through December 1. Back for its fifth year is CCT’s popular holiday season attraction The Beatrix Potter Holiday Tea Party, returning December 7-29. After the new year, CCT will debut the new “mom & tot” show Wake Up, Brother Bear!, January 21 – February 16, 2020; a new Red Kite, Brown Box production for children on the autism spectrum, February 28-March 21, 2020; and the Chicago premiere of Me…Jane: The Dreams & Adventures of a Young Jane Goodall, March 31-April 26, 2020.
Chicago Children’s Theatre 2019-20 Subscription Packages are on sale now, starting at just $80 for three shows. Subscribers save up to 30% on single tickets and fees and received many other perks including 15 percent off all camps, and 10 percent off classes and birthday party rental fees. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call Chicago Children’s Theatre Guest Services, (312) 374-8835, to subscribe.
Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Station, is located at 100 S. Racine Avenue, at Monroe, in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. The theater is minutes from I-90 and I-290, as well as downtown and Ashland Avenue. Chicago Children’s Theatre offers quick and easy pick-up and drop-off with free onsite parking on the south side of the building, enter from Racine Avenue. For more information, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.