Child's Play Touring Theatre
Encyclopedia
Child's Play Touring Theatre (CPTT) is a non-profit arts-education touring theatre company based in Chicago
. 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 38 states from Alaska to Florida and Maine to California, reaching an audience of over 4 million and performing the works of over 15,000 young writers.
. 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." CPTT became a non-for-profit organization in 1980 and relocated to Chicago
in 1982.
Since its founding, Child's Play has performed at a number of notable venues including the Goodman Theatre
, Smithsonian Institute, Brooklyn Academy of Music
, Ravinia, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, The Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)
and at events such as International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap
.
, Turtle Wax
, Dykema Gossett
, and DeVry, Inc.
CPTT relies primarily upon the support of volunteers.
Artistic
To share, encourage, and validate the creativity of children by performing original works of theatre, music and dance adapted from literature written by young authors.
Educational
To motivate children to write and think creatively and to enhance writing education in schools by sharing drama-based approaches to writing instruction.
Organizational
To elevate the status of theatre for young people by providing full time employment, with benefits, to theatre artists.
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. 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 38 states from Alaska to Florida and Maine to California, reaching an audience of over 4 million and performing the works of over 15,000 young writers.
History
Child's Play Touring Theatre was founded in 1978 by Victor and June Podagrosi in Champaign, IL while Victor was teaching theatre at Parkland CollegeParkland College
Parkland College is a is a two-year community college in Champaign, Illinois, a member of the Illinois Community College System serving Community College District 505. District 505 includes all of Ford County, and parts of Coles, Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Iroquois, Livingston, Moultrie,...
. 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." CPTT became a non-for-profit organization in 1980 and relocated to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1982.
Since its founding, Child's Play has performed at a number of notable venues including the Goodman Theatre
Goodman Theatre
The Goodman Theatre is a professional theater company located in Chicago's Loop. A major part of Chicago theatre, it is the city's oldest currently active nonprofit theater organization...
, Smithsonian Institute, Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music is a major performing arts venue in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, United States, known as a center for progressive and avant garde performance....
, Ravinia, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, The Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)
Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)
The Museum of Science and Industry is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA in Jackson Park, in the Hyde Park neighborhood adjacent to Lake Michigan. It is housed in the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition...
and at events such as International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap
International Children's Festival at Wolf Trap
The International Children s Festival at Wolf Trap is 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 Vienna, Virginia, which is the United States' only national park...
.
Organization
Child's Play is a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) non-for-profit organization that is entirely self-funded through donations and sponsorships. Current sponsors include National Endowment for the ArtsNational Endowment for the Arts
The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent agency of the United States federal government that offers support and funding for projects exhibiting artistic excellence. It was created by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. Its current...
, Turtle Wax
Turtle Wax
Turtle Wax is a manufacturer of automotive appearance products. The company was founded by Benjamin Hirsch in 1941 and is currently headquartered in Willowbrook, Illinois...
, Dykema Gossett
Dykema Gossett
Dykema is a law firm founded in 1926. The firm has offices in various locations around the United States including Detroit, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. It currently employs more than 400 lawyers and lobbying professionals...
, and DeVry, Inc.
DeVry, Inc.
DeVry Inc. is a United States corporation based in Downers Grove, Illinois, that operates several for-profit higher education institutions, including Advanced Academics, Becker Professional Education, Carrington Colleges Group, Chamberlain College of Nursing, DeVry Brasil, DeVry University and Ross...
CPTT relies primarily upon the support of volunteers.
Mission
Child's Play has a threefold artistic, educational and organizational mission:Artistic
To share, encourage, and validate the creativity of children by performing original works of theatre, music and dance adapted from literature written by young authors.
Educational
To motivate children to write and think creatively and to enhance writing education in schools by sharing drama-based approaches to writing instruction.
Organizational
To elevate the status of theatre for young people by providing full time employment, with benefits, to theatre artists.
Educational Programs
CPTT offers a variety of educational programs for students and teachers alike. Some of these programs include a yearly summer camp, 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) Produced in past election years, Kids for President gave children "a unique opportunity to learn about the issues that are important to them and the election." 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 ConventionDemocratic National ConventionThe Democratic National Convention 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 1852 national convention...
in ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. CPTT also performed Kids for President! at the Chicago TheatreChicago TheatreThe Chicago Theatre, originally known as the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theatre, is a landmark theater located on North State Street in the Loop area of Chicago, Illinois. Built in 1921, the Chicago Theatre was the flagship for the Balaban and Katz group of theaters run by A. J. Balaban, his brother...
for the book signing of Hillary Clinton's It Takes a VillageIt Takes a VillageIt Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us is a book published in 1996 by First Lady of the United States Hillary Rodham Clinton. In it, Clinton presents her vision for the children of America...
.
- 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 bookComic bookA comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
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 CouncilIllinois Arts CouncilThe 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 technical assistance to artists, arts organizations, and...
- 2000 - Tammy Walker, City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs
- 2001 - Child's Play Touring Theatre Awarded by Illinois Theatre Association
- 2002 - Richard A. DevineRichard A. DevineRichard A. "Dick" Devine was the State's Attorney of Cook County, Illinois, United States from 1996 to 2008. He was elected to his third term in November 2004. Devine is a graduate of Loyola Academy, Loyola University Chicago, and the Northwestern University School of Law...
, 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
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 "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, Speeltheatre Holland
- 2009 - The Man Who Planted Trees, Puppet State Theatre Company
- 2010 - Shopping for Shoes, Visible Fictions