Children’s Theatre of Elgin / Fox Valley Theatre Company Classes & Workshops
Hemmens Cultural Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL 60120
About
Children’s Theatre of Elgin / Fox Valley Theatre Company Classes & Workshops offers interactive workshops that teach theater skills, explore imagination, and help increase confidence on stage and off. Specific options include a Disney’s Descendants: The Musical Audition Workshop and a Wicked Dance Camp.
• Ages: 7–18 years old
• Price: If CTE cancels a workshop, parents will be notified by email along with a rescheduled date and time. If student is unable to attend, CTE will provide a full refund of fees, minus credit card fees. Due to the necessity of acquiring essential workshop materials, no refunds will given less than five days before the workshop date for any reason. Workshop cancellation and refund policy: If CTE cancels a workshop, parents will be notified by email along with a rescheduled date and time. If student is unable to attend, CTE will provide a full refund of fees, minus credit card fees. Full refunds are offered up to 24 hours before the class begins. If parents cancel a student’s workshop registration due to illness or other emergency, after that time they will receive a 75% refund, minus credit card fees if any. 75% Refunds are available within five (5) days of the class.
Children’s Theatre of Elgin (CTE) was founded in 1988 by brothers Peter and David Akemann, and Fox Valley Theatre Company (FVTC) was added as a CTE subsidiary in 1993. CTE is for children and youth in 2nd through 9th grades, and FOX VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY (FVTC) is for youth and young adults in 7th grade through 23 years. CTE/FVTC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization in-residence at the Elgin Community College Arts Center. Over the years, more than 10,000 cast members have performed for audiences of almost 400,000 people since the first performance of Snow White in 1988. CTE produces two large-scale shows each year, cast sizes can often exceed 100, and the goal is to cast everyone who auditioned and provide meaningful live-theatre instruction and experiences for all. FVTC presents a full-length Broadway-type musical each year along with a straight play, and the two troupes combine whenever a script calls for it. Programs offer children, youth, and young adults an affordable opportunity to experience the performing arts, either as participants or audience members. Interactive theatre workshops provide lively educational experiences to supplement and enhance skills as well as help prepare beginners.
Children’s Theatre of Elgin / Fox Valley Theatre Company states that it is a place where all individuals have an equitable opportunity to learn, grow, and enrich their lives through theatre. The organization notes that it would not be able to operate without its generous donors and volunteers. In 1991 it received the Illinois Community Education Association Award, in 2004 it was named one of 150 Things that Make Elgin Great, in 2006 it was listed among favorite destinations in the book Kids Love Illinois by George and Michele Zavatsky, and in 2007 it received an Elgin Image Award for helping promote a positive impression of Elgin. Over the years the company has provided performance opportunities to over 10,000 young people. In 2019 it produced its first-ever sensory-sensitive performance; in 2021 it produced its first-ever virtual show, first-ever outdoor performance, and first ASL-interpreted performance; in 2022 it launched a Technical Apprenticeship program and performed its first show with Spanish supertitles; and in 2023 it added an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Director to the Executive Board. In 2024 it updated the structure to include a straight play and greater age ranges.
One cast parent shared that CTE has been the most amazing experience for their daughter and that everyone involved has been positive, supportive, and loving, and that the daughter has made friends and found a new passion in acting. A teacher reported that students loved attending a play or musical, that for many it was the first live performance they had seen, and that they could not stop talking about it. An audience member stated that CTE does an incredible job, sets the bar high, includes many kids in productions, and that each child feels like a star.
Last updated January 9, 2026.
• Ages: 7–18 years old
• Price: If CTE cancels a workshop, parents will be notified by email along with a rescheduled date and time. If student is unable to attend, CTE will provide a full refund of fees, minus credit card fees. Due to the necessity of acquiring essential workshop materials, no refunds will given less than five days before the workshop date for any reason. Workshop cancellation and refund policy: If CTE cancels a workshop, parents will be notified by email along with a rescheduled date and time. If student is unable to attend, CTE will provide a full refund of fees, minus credit card fees. Full refunds are offered up to 24 hours before the class begins. If parents cancel a student’s workshop registration due to illness or other emergency, after that time they will receive a 75% refund, minus credit card fees if any. 75% Refunds are available within five (5) days of the class.
Children’s Theatre of Elgin (CTE) was founded in 1988 by brothers Peter and David Akemann, and Fox Valley Theatre Company (FVTC) was added as a CTE subsidiary in 1993. CTE is for children and youth in 2nd through 9th grades, and FOX VALLEY THEATRE COMPANY (FVTC) is for youth and young adults in 7th grade through 23 years. CTE/FVTC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization in-residence at the Elgin Community College Arts Center. Over the years, more than 10,000 cast members have performed for audiences of almost 400,000 people since the first performance of Snow White in 1988. CTE produces two large-scale shows each year, cast sizes can often exceed 100, and the goal is to cast everyone who auditioned and provide meaningful live-theatre instruction and experiences for all. FVTC presents a full-length Broadway-type musical each year along with a straight play, and the two troupes combine whenever a script calls for it. Programs offer children, youth, and young adults an affordable opportunity to experience the performing arts, either as participants or audience members. Interactive theatre workshops provide lively educational experiences to supplement and enhance skills as well as help prepare beginners.
Children’s Theatre of Elgin / Fox Valley Theatre Company states that it is a place where all individuals have an equitable opportunity to learn, grow, and enrich their lives through theatre. The organization notes that it would not be able to operate without its generous donors and volunteers. In 1991 it received the Illinois Community Education Association Award, in 2004 it was named one of 150 Things that Make Elgin Great, in 2006 it was listed among favorite destinations in the book Kids Love Illinois by George and Michele Zavatsky, and in 2007 it received an Elgin Image Award for helping promote a positive impression of Elgin. Over the years the company has provided performance opportunities to over 10,000 young people. In 2019 it produced its first-ever sensory-sensitive performance; in 2021 it produced its first-ever virtual show, first-ever outdoor performance, and first ASL-interpreted performance; in 2022 it launched a Technical Apprenticeship program and performed its first show with Spanish supertitles; and in 2023 it added an Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Director to the Executive Board. In 2024 it updated the structure to include a straight play and greater age ranges.
One cast parent shared that CTE has been the most amazing experience for their daughter and that everyone involved has been positive, supportive, and loving, and that the daughter has made friends and found a new passion in acting. A teacher reported that students loved attending a play or musical, that for many it was the first live performance they had seen, and that they could not stop talking about it. An audience member stated that CTE does an incredible job, sets the bar high, includes many kids in productions, and that each child feels like a star.
Last updated January 9, 2026.
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