Child's Play Touring Theatre (CPTT) is a non-profit arts-education touring theatre company based in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. Founded in 1978 by June and Victor Podagrosi, CPTT was the first theatre company where professional actors take original works written by children and perform them on stage. Since its founding, CPTT has performed in 40 states from Alaska to Florida and Maine to California, reaching an audience of over 4.5 million and performing the works of over 17,000 young writers.

History

Child's Play Touring Theatre was founded in 1978 by Victor and June Podagrosi in

Champaign, IL Champaign ( ) is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 88,302 at the 2020 census. It is the tenth-most populous municipality in Illinois and the fourth most populous city in the state outside the Chicago metr ...

while Victor was teaching theatre at

Parkland College Parkland College may refer to: * Parkland College (United States), an American community college in Champaign, Illinois * Parkland College (Canada), a post-secondary educational institution in Saskatchewan, Canada {{Hndis, Parkland College ...

. The idea for CPTT emerged after Victor was asked to stage a performance of children's writings at a Young Author's awards ceremony and was inspired by their storytelling abilities. Victor said he enjoyed using the writings of children "because there's so much truth in there. Their imagination is so very pure and simple."Taubeneck, Anne. "Cast ballot for Child's Play," ''Chicago Sun-Times'', 4 November 1988. CPTT became a non-for-profit organization in 1980 and relocated to

in 1982. Since its founding, Child's Play has performed at a number of notable venues including the

Goodman Theatre Goodman Theatre is a professional theater company located in Chicago's Loop. A major part of the Chicago theatre scene, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization. Part of its present theater complex occupies the ...

Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...

Brooklyn Academy of Music The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is a multi-arts center in Brooklyn, New York City. It hosts progressive and avant-garde performances, with theater, dance, music, opera, film programming across multiple nearby venues. BAM was chartered in 18 ...

, Ravinia, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center,

The Field Museum The Field Museum of Natural History (FMNH), also known as The Field Museum, is a natural history museum in Chicago, Illinois, and is one of the largest such museums in the world. The museum is popular for the size and quality of its educationa ...

Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago) The Museum of Science and Industry (MSI), since 2024, the Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, is a science museum located in Chicago, Illinois, in Jackson Park (Chicago), Jackson Park, in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborho ...

and at events such as

International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap The International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap was a youth-oriented festival dedicated to the performing, visual, and interactive arts. The festival is held each September at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Fairfax County, ...

.Callison, Bradley. "Child's Play Theatre Encourages Educational Creativity," ''Illinois Business'' Winter 1996: 46-48.

Organization

Child's Play is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization that is entirely self-funded through donations and sponsorships. Sponsors have included

National Endowment for the Arts The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created in 1965 as an independent agency of the feder ...

, Turtle Wax,

Dykema Gossett Dykema Gossett PLLC, is an American full-service law firm. Founded and headquartered in Detroit, it has offices in various locations around the United States including California, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, Washington, D.C., and Wiscon ...

, and DeVry, Inc. CPTT relies primarily upon the support of volunteers.

Educational Programs

CPTT offers a variety of educational programs for students and teachers alike. Some of these programs include summer camps, classes and after school programs for children and teens, teacher workshops and writing workshops for students.

Notable Projects

Over the years, CPTT has produced a number of notable shows and educational programs. Some of these projects include: *''Kids for President!'' - (1988, 1992, 1996, 2008, 2012) Produced in election years, ''Kids for President'' gives children "a unique opportunity to learn about the issues that are important to them and the election.""Child's Play: Making Politics and Government Dramatic" ''Chicago Tribune'', 1 October 1996. ''Kids for President!'' was the keynote performance at the national Kid's Convention of '96 at Chicago's Whitney Young High School held after the

Democratic National Convention The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 18 ...

. CPTT also performed ''Kids for President!'' at the

Chicago Theatre The Chicago Theatre, originally known as the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre, is a landmark Theater (structure), theater located on North State Street (Chicago), State Street in the Loop, Chicago, Loop area of Chicago, Illinois. Built in 19 ...

for the book signing of

Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, lawyer and diplomat. She was the 67th United States secretary of state in the administration of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, a U.S. senator represent ...

's ''

It Takes a Village "It takes a village to raise a child" is a proverb that means that an entire community of people must provide for and interact positively with children for those children to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment. Attributions T ...

''. *''Hands Together, Heart to Art'' - (2005, 2006) - A summer program for children who have experienced the death of one or both parents. ''Hands Together, Heart to Art'' became a finalist in the NCASS Creative and Innovative Awards Program. *''The Great Green Adventures of R-Man and Earth Kid'' - (2010–Present) A

comic book A comic book, comic-magazine, or simply comic is a publication that consists of comics art in the form of sequential juxtaposed panel (comics), panels that represent individual scenes. Panels are often accompanied by descriptive prose and wri ...

style show based on stories and poems written by children from around the country that shows how kids think the planet can be saved. *''Global Energy: The Musical'' - (2011) CPTT's most recent ongoing project focuses on different types of energy used throughout the world today and on global conservation efforts.

The Victor Award

In memory of founder Victor Podagrosi, Child's Play has established The Victor Award to "honor individuals and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, generosity, and/or service to Child's Play Touring Theatre and the arts community." There is both a Local and an International Victor Award.

The Local Victor Award

The Victor Award is "awarded locally each year to individuals and companies who have shown a strong commitment to Child's Play and to working with the arts."

Past Recipients

*1997 - Tammy Steele, Marcia Lipetz *1998 - Janet Brooks, Jasculca/Terman and Associates, Inc. *1999 - Andy Laities,

Illinois Arts Council The Illinois Arts Council is a government agency of the state of Illinois formed to encourage development of the arts throughout Illinois. Founded in 1965 by the Illinois General Assembly, the Illinois Arts Council provides financial and technica ...

*2000 - Tammy Walker,

City of Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

, Department of Cultural Affairs *2001 - Child's Play Touring Theatre Awarded by Illinois Theatre Association *2002 - Richard A. Devine, State's Attorney *2003 - Perry Cavitt *2004 - Kraft Foods, Inc., Deborah Bricker, Albert Goodman *2006 - Sondra Healy, Bernard Garbo, Jo-Ella Podagrosi-Spratt, Gigi Faraci *2007 - Darrell Barber, Eve Moran, Steve Scott, Bella Itkin – Lifetime Achievement Award *2008 - Nicole Rohr Lewis, Kevin Gate *2009 - George Bliss, Kathy Bliss, Vito Gioia *2010 - Jim Coates, Mara Georges, Sharon Thomas Parrott *2011 - Walter Jacobson, Diana Mendoza *2012 -

Jeff Richmond Jeffrey Wayne Richmond (born January 7, 1961) is an American composer, comedian, producer, and director. He composed the music for, and directed multiple episodes of ''30 Rock'', a sitcom created by and starring his wife, Tina Fey. He also execut ...

, Marj Halperin *2013 - Anita Alvarez, George Howe *2014 -

Adam McKay Adam McKay (born April 17, 1968) is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. McKay began his career as a head writer for the NBC sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') from 1995 to 2001. After leaving ''SNL'', McKay co-w ...

, Jackie Taylor *2015 - Charles Petering *2016 -

Robert Falls Robert Falls (born March 2, 1954) is an American theater director and the former artistic director of the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. Biography Early years Robert Arthur Falls was born March 2, 1954, in Springfield, IL to Arthur J ...

, Artistic Director *2017 - Jane Monzures, WGN, Shari Schlachter, Child's Play Touring Theatre

The International Victor Award

The International Victor Award is awarded every year at the International Showcase of Performing Arts for Young People to children's theatre companies "who show excellence in their ability to interact with sponsors in a prompt, efficient and compatible manner, and who demonstrate a positive attitude toward their art."

Past Recipients

*1998 - Ballet Folklorico *1999 - The Red Balloon, Visible Fictions *2000 - The Young Americans *2001 - Martha *2002 - Goodnight Opus, Mermaid Theatre *2003 - Shona Reppe Puppets *2004 - Hansel and Gretal, Theatre Sans Fil *2005 - Snowflake, LaJoye Productions *2006 - Hamlet, Det lille Turneteater *2007 - Wolf!, Huis aan de Amstel *2008 - Pero or Mysteries of the Night, Speeltheatre Holland *2009 - The Man Who Planted Trees, Puppet State Theatre Company *2010 - Shopping for Shoes, Visible Fictions *2011 - ''Grug'',

Windmill Theatre The Windmill Theatre in Great Windmill Street, London, was a variety and revue theatre best known for its nude ''tableaux vivants'', which began in 1932 and lasted until its reversion to a cinema in 1964. Many prominent British comedians of t ...

(Australia) *2012 - ''Nearly Lear'', Susanna Hamnett *2013 - ''Me and My Shadow'',

Patch Theatre Company Patch Theatre Company, formerly New Patch Theatre, is an Australian theatre company specialising in children's theatre, based in Adelaide, South Australia. Founded in 1972 by Morna Jones, the company is now funded by the federal government thro ...

(Australia) *2014 - ''Manxmouse'', Theatergroep Kwatta *2015 - ''Titus'', Macrobert Art Center *2016 - ''Tetris'', Erik Kaiel, Arch8

Notable alumni

Tina Fey Elizabeth Stamatina "Tina" Fey (; born May 18, 1970) is an American actress, comedian, writer, and producer. Known for her comedic roles in sketch comedy, television and film, Fey has received List of awards and nominations received by Tina Fe ...

Tami Sagher Tami Sagher is an American comedy writer, producer, and actress. Biography A native of Chicago, Sagher studied mathematics at the University of Chicago before joining Boom Chicago and then Second City. Career TV Sagher has written for the T ...

References

External links

Child's Play Touring Theatre official website

CPTT on Facebook
{{Chicago mtp Theatre companies in Chicago Touring theatre