Chicago Children's Theatre

Project Details

Project Description

As an incubator and laboratory for and by the young, the design of the Chicago Children’s Theatre speaks strongly to the purpose of the activity it houses, rather than the monumentality of the space. Located in the Near West Side, the project transformed an abandoned and deteriorating 1948 police station into the organizations first permanent home. Named “The Station”, the new facility includes a 149-seat studio performance space, classrooms, administration and support space, and a lobby with an area for storytelling. A theme for the children’s theatre is exposing what typically hides “Behind the Curtain.” By exposing all areas of activity that are usually hidden from view, emphasis can be placed on the process, reinforcing the idea that all of the program spaces can be places to explore the artistry, craft, and technology of the theater. By making these spaces transparent, the entire process of theatre is on stage. Back of house spaces, where children can make scenery and props for their own performances, are left in plain view rather than concealed. Parents and children arriving for classes enter at the corner of Monroe and Racine, where they encounter a generous reception space adorned with costumes and props from past and future performances. A small café, flanking the reception area, provides refreshments for waiting parents. The heart of The Station is the 149-seat Pritzker Family Studio Theatre, located in the footprint of the former jail cell block. The studio is designed with flexible seating to accommodate student performances, smaller professional shows, and Red Kite interactive theater involving students with autism. Once fulfilling a role of authority and confinement, the building is now a place of unbridled joyful interaction with the arts.