Young hearing and Deaf actors will perform on stage together in a signed and voice presentation Pinocchio, only the second production in the new Chicago Children's Theatre, The Station.
Presented in association with Chicago's Neverbird Project, this all-new production of Pinocchio promises to spring to life as an inclusive and inventive take on the classic fairy tale.
Presented in association with Chicago's Neverbird Project, this all-new production of Pinocchio promises to spring to life as an inclusive and inventive take on the classic fairy tale.
You think you know the story of Pinocchio but you've never experienced it like this. Who doesn't love the familiar tale of a boy marionette, a toy maker and a talking cricket? Pinocchio's quest to become a real boy is a love letter to our youth, and the life that's ahead of us - just so long as we put one foot in front of the other.
With Neverbird's unique integration of Deaf and hearing actors, children will see this beloved fairy tale in a whole new way, and with a fresh perspective on the story's central question - how do you allow joy and grief to live in your heart simultaneously?
"This production is an example of ground floor inclusion and accessibility," said Levi Holloway, co-founder of Neverbird Project, which first presented Pinocchio in 2016 at Bell Elementary School, a CPS school with a focus on integrating Deaf and hearing students.
"We are teaching all of our hearing actors ASL to tell the story, to enrich relationships between our Deaf and hearing artists onstage and off. We at Neverbird believe that total accessibility and inclusion is a necessity in American theater."
To that end, ASL is a native part of the world of the play, and every actor will sign. Through light, sound, spectacle and ASL, this Pinocchio will speak to every age and ability for an unforgettable family theater experience about love, loss, family and hard choices that aren't so hard in the moment.
Pinocchio is based on the Italian children's novel "The Adventures of Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi, which was popularized by Walt Disney's wildly successful 1940 animated musical fantasy film.
With Neverbird's unique integration of Deaf and hearing actors, children will see this beloved fairy tale in a whole new way, and with a fresh perspective on the story's central question - how do you allow joy and grief to live in your heart simultaneously?
"This production is an example of ground floor inclusion and accessibility," said Levi Holloway, co-founder of Neverbird Project, which first presented Pinocchio in 2016 at Bell Elementary School, a CPS school with a focus on integrating Deaf and hearing students.
"We are teaching all of our hearing actors ASL to tell the story, to enrich relationships between our Deaf and hearing artists onstage and off. We at Neverbird believe that total accessibility and inclusion is a necessity in American theater."
To that end, ASL is a native part of the world of the play, and every actor will sign. Through light, sound, spectacle and ASL, this Pinocchio will speak to every age and ability for an unforgettable family theater experience about love, loss, family and hard choices that aren't so hard in the moment.
Pinocchio is based on the Italian children's novel "The Adventures of Pinocchio" by Carlo Collodi, which was popularized by Walt Disney's wildly successful 1940 animated musical fantasy film.
Pinocchio dates, times and ticket information
Performances are April 20-May 7 at the new Chicago Children's Theatre, The Station, 100 S. Racine Avenue in Chicago's West Loop. Performance times are Thursday at 10 a.m., Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
For tickets and information, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org or call (872) 222-9555. Email groupsales@
Access Weekend for Pinocchio
Saturday, April 29 at 2 p.m.
Pre-show Touch Tour of the set for guests who are blind or have low vision (starts at 12:30 p.m.)
Audio Description for guests who are blind or have low vision
Open Captioning for guests who are Deaf or hard of hearing
Saturday April 29 at 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m.
Sensory Friendly for guests on the autism spectrum. Modifications are made to production elements like lighting, sound and music to avoid sensory overload, with a nearby Quiet Room.
Pre-show Touch Tour of the set for guests who are blind or have low vision (starts at 12:30 p.m.) Audio Description for guests who are blind or have low vision
Open Captioning for guests who are Deaf or hard of hearing
Open Captioning for guests who are Deaf or hard of hearing
For more information about access services, visit chicagochildrenstheatre.org/
