It’s been more than a decade since Chicago Children’s Theatre presented Goodnight Moon, the popular musical about a bunny who doesn’t want to go to bed, based on the beloved picture book by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrator Clement Hurd.
But this Spring, Bunny is coming back to Chicago Children’s Theatre in an all-new way. This time, to celebrate the company’s 20th Anniversary season finale, Bunny will be “in the house.”
Goodnight Moon set rendering (left) courtesy scenic designer Eleanor Kahn. Bunny rendering (right) courtesy co-costume designers Gregory Graham and Janelle Smith.
CCT’s 20th Anniversary production of Goodnight Moon will feature an all-new, immersive scenic design that will invite audiences for a primary-colored play date right inside Bunny’s bedroom. There, on an environmental set, both kids and parents will enjoy catchy songs, delightful dancing, the humorous antics of a very nocturnal bunny, and the quiet poetry of the iconic tale.
Immerse YOUR family in the world of Goodnight Moon. Public performances are April 11-June 7, 2026, Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.* Press openings are Sunday, April 12 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Tickets are $47.25 and on sale at chicagochildrenstheatre.org. Purchase early, as many shows will sell out. Goodnight Moon runs approximately 75 minutes. This show is recommended for all ages. Call CCT Guest Services, (312) 374-8835, or email boxoffice@chicagochildrenstheatre.org to learn about additional discounts for schools, playgroups, birthday parties and scouting groups.
*Schedule exceptions: No 11:30 a.m. show Saturday, April 11. No 9:30 a.m. shows Sunday, May 3 and May 17. Added 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, May 3.)
New in 2025-26, Chicago Children’s Theatre has introduced a “20 tickets for $20” 20th Anniversary Lottery. Patrons can enter once per production and drawings will happen each week with the winners receiving their special offer (maximum four tickets per patron).
Chicago Children’s Theatre, a “no shushing” theater, is located at 100 S. Racine Ave., at Monroe, in the heart of Chicago's West Loop, minutes from I-90 and I-290, downtown and Ashland Avenue. Free, onsite parking is available on the south side of the building. Free street parking can be found nearby on weekends, or try the Impark parking lot, 1301 W. Madison St.
A sneak-peek into Bunny’s bedroom
Goodnight Moon set rendering by Eleanor Kahn.
Costume renderings by co-costume designers Gregory Graham and Janelle Smith.
Chicago director Mikael Burke, who made his debut at CCT in 2024 with his acclaimed world premiere of Milo Imagines the World, returns to lead the production team. Diego Vazquez Gomez, whose credits include A Year with Frog and Toad at Chicago Children’s Theatre, A Tale of Two Cities at Shattered Globe, and The Full Monty at Paramount, is jumping into the role of Bunny, with Sharriese Hamilton as Old Woman, ensemble members CoCo Gonzalez and Jonah D. Winston, and musician Ellie Kahn. Book, music, and lyrics are by Chad Henry.
Chicago Children’s Theatre’s Goodnight Moon, directed by (from left) Mikael Burke, features Diego Vazquez Gome as Bunny, Sharriese Hamilton as Old Woman/ensemble, CoCo Gonzalez and Jonah D. Winston in the ensemble, and musician Ellie Kahn.
Helping bringing CCT’s immersive staging from concept to reality are Sonya Madrigal (choreographer and associate director, she/her), Andra Velis Simon (music director, she/her), Eleanor Kahn (scenic designer, she/her), Caitlin McLeod (she/her, puppet designer), Gregory Graham (co-costume designer,(he/him), Janelle Smith (co-costume designer, she/they); Eric Watkins (lighting designer, he/him), Ethan Korvne (sound designer, he/him), Harper Crewse (stage manager, any), Anastar Alvarez (assistant stage manager, they/them) and Gianni Carcagno (assistant stage manager, they/she). Understudies are Matheus Barbee, Katy Campbell, Sean Sturdivant, Adelina Marinello and Kevin Reeks.
Access performances for Goodnight Moon
Sensory Friendly
Saturday, April 25 and Saturday, May 16 at 9:30 a.m.
Audio Description and Touch Tour
Sunday, May 5 at 2 p.m.; Touch Tour at 12:30 p.m.
*To request Audio Description and Touch Tour services, tickets must be purchased three weeks before the performance.
ASL and Open Captions
*To request ASL and/or Open Captions services, tickets must be purchased three weeks before the performance you are planning to attend.
To learn more about access at CCT, go to chicagochildrenstheatre.org/access_performances or email access@chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
For full information, go to chicagochildrenstheatre.org/access_performances or email access@chicagochildrenstheatre.org.
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, the city’s first and largest professional theater devoted to young audiences, is Chicago’s destination for the best plays, musicals, classes and performing arts camps for young audiences, students and families.
The company 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. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025-26, Chicago Children’s Theatre is the city’s largest professional theater devoted exclusively to children and young families. Led by Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell and Co-Founder Todd Leland, Chicago Children’s Theatre has served over 1 million community members and built a national reputation on new work, producing 24 world premieres including Go Dog Go! • Ve Perro ¡Ve!, Milo Imagines the World, Last Stop on Market Street, Leo Lionni's Frederick, The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, and Jackie and Me.
In 2017, following 11 years of itinerancy, Chicago Children’s Theatre opened its forever home at 100 S. Racine St. in Chicago’s West Loop community. Formerly the 12th District Chicago Police Station, the building was repurposed into a LEED Gold-certified, mixed-use performing arts, education and community engagement facility. For children, parents, caregivers and teachers, CCT is now a convenient, welcoming community hub, centrally located in the city, with free, onsite parking.
Chicago Children’s Theatre 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 2017, Chicago Children’s Theatre was the first theater for young audiences to win a National Theatre Award from the American Theatre Wing, creators of the Tony Awards. In 2019, the company won the National TYA Artistic Innovation Award from Theatre for Young Audiences/USA.
In tandem with its live productions, Chicago Children’s Theatre offers a full slate of Access services for patrons with disabilities, including ASL interpretation, open captioning, touch tours and sensory friendly performances. Chicago Children’s Theatre provides live theater experiences, classes and camps for children with autism and other special needs via its Red Kite Project. CCT also provides thousands of free and reduced-price tickets to weekday student matinees to under-resourced schools in partnership with Chicago Public Schools.
In addition to shows, CCT offers a full, year-round roster of performing arts education programs for ages 0 to 14. Visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/family-programs for information on classes, workshops, winter, spring break and “school’s out” camps, and summer camps. Due to popular demand, in addition to its home in the West Loop, CCT camps and classes have expanded to new locations including Menomonee Club Drucker Center in Lincoln Park.
Chicago Children’s Theatre is supported by Goldman Sachs Gives, Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, The Ralla Klepak Foundation for Education in the Performing Arts, Polk Bros Foundation, The MacArthur Fund for Culture, Equity and the Arts, Bayless Family Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Camp Out for Kids, Crown Family Philanthropies, PwC, Rivers Gives, US Bank, Thomabravo, Theater League Kansas City, Illinois Arts Council Agency and the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).
To learn more, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org, follow the company on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to its YouTube channel, CCTv: Virtual Theatre and Learning from Chicago Children’s Theatre.