How can Chicago continue its proud tradition of summer festivals, gathering safely in a time of social distancing?
Tune into BOING! 2020, a free webcast debuting on Chicago Children’s Theatre’s new YouTube channel, CCTv, dropping Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m. CST.
For four years, hundreds of friends and neighbors joined at Chicago Children’s Theatre’s West Loop home for BOING!, the city’s most imaginative and interactive community unification event for children and families.
This year, BOING! is a Big Online Indoor Neighborhood Gathering, ready to experience at home, in your pajamas, with your favorite bowl of cereal.
Chicago Children’s Theatre is working with theater artists and musicians from around the country to make BOING! 2020, a one-of-a-kind online event, all in under one hour.
The world debut of Chicago Children’s Theatre’s newest virtual puppet show, Doll Face Has a Party!, directed by Brian Selznick, writer and illustrator of “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” and “The Houdini Box,” and a “Harry Potter” illustrator, headlines this Saturday Morning Must-See CCTv webcast.
Chicago Children’s Theatre’s BOING! 2020 virtual festival, premiering on CCTv on Saturday, June 20 at 10 a.m., will boast the debut of Doll Face Has a Party!, the company's new virtual puppet show with Brian Selznick.
Based on the picture book written by Pam Conrad and illustrated by Selznick, CCT’s new virtual puppet version is designed and performed by Chicago theater artists Will Bishop and Grace Needleman, features music by Tuba Skinny and voice talent by James Lecesne.
Other artists bouncing in and out of BOING! (at press time) include GQ of the Q Brothers performing a new Javid Music Party solo song, Christian Robinson, 2016 Caldecott Honoree and winner of a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor for his art in “Last Stop on Market Street” by Matt de la Peña leading a craft activity for kids, actors from CCT's 2019 production of Leo Lionni’s Frederick performing a high-energy song from the musical, reimagined from home, and online drop-ins by Chicago theater wunderkinds Ariana Burks (Alice in CCT’s world premiere Wonderland: Alice’s Rock and Roll Adventure) and Cameron Goode (Jabari in CCT’s world premiere Jabari Dreams of Freedom).
Virtual festivalgoers will also learn epic dance moves, solve a mysterious puzzle, and sing-along with Mr. Nick Davio as he leads the world’s longest birthday song honoring everyone who have had to celebrate theirs while sheltering-in-place.
Right after its BOING! debut, Doll Face Has a Party! will be posted on CCTv: Virtual Theatre and Learning from Chicago Children’s Theatre, where it joins Frederick: A Virtual Puppet Performance, voiced by film, TV and stage star Michael Shannon. Frederick, CCT’s first free online production, debuted in April and already has had more than 8,500 views on YouTube alone.
CCTv’s line-up also is frequently updated with “how to” videos on theater crafts like costume design, prop making, puppetry and coloring book activities. CCTv also hosts a growing “best of” playlist of fun short plays created, videotaped and submitted by families while sheltering in place to Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Ralla Klepak Foundation Play@Home Contest.
BOING! 2020 proceeds benefit The Red Kite Project, Chicago’s original, internationally-known theatrical and educational experiences for youth on the autism spectrum. Each year, Red Kite serves hundreds of children through classes, camps, productions, and school residencies, providing financial aid to over 50 percent of participants.
Pivoting quickly when quarantine began, Red Kite transitioned online with Fly@Home programming, continuing to serve families affected by autism through live classes via zoom, and pre-recorded content. Red Kite Fly@Home has been embraced by these families who can be hit especially hard by disruptions in routines and the new rules of social distancing.
A screen grab from a recent Red Kite Fly@Home Shakespeare and Autism class.
About Chicago Children’s Theatre
“The Chicago theater scene is legendarily vibrant, so naturally a number of companies tailor productions to younger audiences. The cream of the crop is Chicago Children’s Theatre.”
– Chicago Tribune
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. Nearly 15 years later, Chicago Children’s Theatre is the city’s largest professional theater company devoted exclusively to children and young families, and 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.
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.
CCT provides tens of thousands of free and reduced price tickets to under-resourced schools 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.
Last year, Chicago Children’s Theatre won the 2019 National TYA Artistic Innovation Award from Theatre for Young Audiences/USA. 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.
Chicago Children’s Theatre is led by Co-Founders, Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell and Board Chair Todd Leland, with Board President Armando Chacon.
For more, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org.