Chicago's Stages, Sights & Sounds fest offers broad selection for young audiences
This year's Stages, Sights & Sounds festival, Chicago's only international performance fest for young audiences, covers a wide range of topics - everything from the American Revolution to camera obscura.
The 16th annual event, put on by the Chicago Humanities Festival, runs from May 7-20 at Victory Gardens Biograph Theater in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood. In addition to international productions from Scotland and Canada, as well as a local favorite, event highlights include interactive workshops and film screenings.
"This year's festival is more diverse than ever," says CHF Associate Artistic Director Alison Cuddy. "It's a great way to celebrate more than 15 years of bringing quality, affordable programs to area families and young audiences."
International productions include "The Secret Life of Suitcases" by Ailie Cohen Puppet Maker from Scotland and "Ondin" by Montreal-based group L'Illusion, Théâtre de marionettes. In addition, Chicago's own Theater Unspeakable will put on a special production of "The American Revolution."
In the 50-minute show, seven actors will be confined to a 21-square-foot platform as they re-create the American fight for independence with the theater's trademark imaginative style.
"It's a really small stage, and they do amazing things," Cuddy says. "It's very humorous."
The fest also offers hands-on experiences, including a writing workshop with 826 CHI, a Lego stop-motion animation workshop and a camera obscura workshop with The Liminal Camera.
Another highlight is a film screening of "The Homestretch," which follows three homeless teens as they fight to stay in school, graduate and build a future. The screening will be followed by a discussion with filmmakers.
Cuddy says interactive opportunities like this - where guests can chat with performers about how they create their art - help make the festival a unique experience.
"We try to pick productions that will spark our guests' imaginations," she says. "We want them to learn what it means to be a producer of art. It's an educational opportunity but also an entertaining one."
Many event guests are school group members and may be seeing a play or production for the very first time, Cuddy says. "Just to be able to experience that is a significant part of the festival," she says.
New this year is the fest's hub system, with all performances taking place in one location. Most are at Victory Gardens, but others are nearby.
"All our venues are within a 15-minute walk so you really get that festival experience," she says.
Stages, Sights & Sounds 2015
When: Thursday, May 7, through Wednesday, May 20
Where: Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago
Tickets: $14 for adults, $7 for children. (312) 494-9509 or