Child's Play Touring Theatre Educational Programs
Child's Play Touring Theatre, 5097 N. Elston Ave., #203, Chicago, IL 60630
About
Child's Play Touring Theatre Educational Programs offers writing workshops for students in school, after school programs, and summer camps for children and teens. The program also presents workshops and residencies that include performing original works of theatre, music, and dance adapted from literature written by young authors. In addition, it offers professional development for educators connected to these creative activities.
• Ages: 5–17 years old
Child's Play Touring Theatre Educational Programs has been performing stories and poems written by young people since 1978 and has produced a number of shows and educational programs over more than 40 years. To date, it has reached over 4.5 million children, educators, and adults through workshops, residencies, after school programs, and summer camps, and has performed the original works of over 30,000 young writers. The organization was founded in 1978 by Victor and June Podagrosi while Victor was teaching theatre at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois, and June Podagrosi serves as Executive Director. It is a nationally recognized 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and its program Hands Together, Heart to Art became a finalist in the NCASS Creative and Innovative Awards Program.
Child's Play Touring Theatre Educational Programs combines the writings of children with the work of professional theatre artists and educators to create performances where children’s writing is used on stage. The company has traveled throughout the country, visiting 45 states from Alaska to Florida and Maine to California. Its productions include Global Energy: A one of a kind, educational musical about helping the planet; Global Energy: The Musical!, which focuses on different types of energy used throughout the world today and on global conservation efforts and has a digital backdrop and sound; Kids for President!, which is produced in election years; and The Great Green Adventures of R-Man and Earth Kid, a comic book style show based on stories and poems written by children from around the country. The organization has developed multiple partnerships with other arts education organizations to bring arts curricula to schools and communities throughout the United States, and it also has space and costumes available for rent.
Last updated July 30, 2026.
• Ages: 5–17 years old
Child's Play Touring Theatre Educational Programs has been performing stories and poems written by young people since 1978 and has produced a number of shows and educational programs over more than 40 years. To date, it has reached over 4.5 million children, educators, and adults through workshops, residencies, after school programs, and summer camps, and has performed the original works of over 30,000 young writers. The organization was founded in 1978 by Victor and June Podagrosi while Victor was teaching theatre at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois, and June Podagrosi serves as Executive Director. It is a nationally recognized 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and its program Hands Together, Heart to Art became a finalist in the NCASS Creative and Innovative Awards Program.
Child's Play Touring Theatre Educational Programs combines the writings of children with the work of professional theatre artists and educators to create performances where children’s writing is used on stage. The company has traveled throughout the country, visiting 45 states from Alaska to Florida and Maine to California. Its productions include Global Energy: A one of a kind, educational musical about helping the planet; Global Energy: The Musical!, which focuses on different types of energy used throughout the world today and on global conservation efforts and has a digital backdrop and sound; Kids for President!, which is produced in election years; and The Great Green Adventures of R-Man and Earth Kid, a comic book style show based on stories and poems written by children from around the country. The organization has developed multiple partnerships with other arts education organizations to bring arts curricula to schools and communities throughout the United States, and it also has space and costumes available for rent.
Last updated July 30, 2026.
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