Skyline Children's Theater

Skyline Children's Theater gives actors a musical theatre experience that includes creating a fully-staged musical with auditions, learning a dance routine, and learning a song from the seasonal title. Actors use scripts, read lines for various characters, sing solos at certain levels, learn the rehearsal process, and work together as an ensemble cast in rehearsals before performing a final show on a stage. Depending on level, activities include guided theater games, basic narration provided by the director, memorizing lines at home, reciting lines in character, learning fundamental and more advanced musical theatre choreography, learning more complex blocking and scene work, taking notes in scripts during rehearsal, and practicing at home to return off-book.

• Ages: 3–14 years old

Broadway Tots is described as a play-based, high-energy introduction into the world of musical theater for pre-K actors, where all Tots sessions culminate in a final 15 minute performance and families receive instructions a few weeks in advance on how to assemble a costume. Juniors sessions focus on learning five songs and dances from the session's musical, playing games that practice teamwork, singing and dancing as an ensemble in every musical number without solos, and culminate in a 30 minute show where actors stay on stage in a U-formation except when stepping into the spotlight or during choreographed formation changes; families receive detailed instructions a few weeks in advance on how to assemble an original costume. Stars and Performers levels include developing a named character, learning independence, responsibility, and self-sufficiency through the ownership of a named role, learning complex scene work and blocking, learning more advanced musical theatre choreography, collaborating as a cast to rehearse their show, reflecting on strengths and weaknesses, and serving as dance, singing, or backstage captains during final rehearsals, with hour-long final performances and detailed costume assembly instructions provided to families weeks in advance.

Skyline Children's Theater is described as an award-winning and prestigious children's theater company and as one of the largest and longest-running children's theaters and children's theater programs in the Chicagoland area, with a presence across 20+ locations and tailored classes for a diverse age range from preschool to eighth grade. It is described as offering a fun and fulfilling musical theatre experience for ages 3–14, including summer 2026 titles such as Cinderella Jr., The Jungle Book Jr., The Wizard of Oz Jr., Legally Blonde Jr., and Descendants Jr. Skyline Children's Theater is a no-cut program where every participant who auditions becomes part of the show's ensemble, with auditions held on the first day of each session, during which directors teach a dance routine and a song from the seasonal title and casting decisions factor in age, development, and experience; actors at Stars and Performers levels can audition for singing solos. Skyline Children's Theater believes that every actor, regardless of age, deserves their moment in the spotlight, believes in providing equal opportunities for all actors, and is committed to creating a collaborative environment where actors feel supported, challenged, and empowered. Skyline actors are described as forging lasting connections, cultivating interpersonal skills, and nurturing confidence, and Skyline's work with young actors was cited as a major component to the success of theatre in the state of Illinois. In November 2004, college roommates and friends Erica and Jacqui conceived the idea for Skyline Children's Theater, and twenty years later it is described as one of the largest and most enduring children's theater programs in the Chicagoland area.

Last updated July 30, 2026.