Governor Quinn Announces Chicago Children's Theatre to Receive Capital Investment

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced a $5 million state investment to help create a permanent home for the Chicago Children's Theatre. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to provide educational and artistic opportunities for all Illinois children.

"A new investment in the Chicago Children's Theatre will help the beloved organization continue to reach young people and help them foster a passion for the arts," Governor Quinn said. "A permanent home will ensure hundreds of children and families around the city and state have the opportunity to learn, perform and develop their talents on stage."

The project is funded through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and will establish a single location for theatrical and educational activities conducted by the Chicago Children's Theatre. The theater is negotiating an acquisition of property at 100 South Racine Avenue in Chicago. The $5 million investment will help the organization repurpose a former police station that will house a 299-seat main-stage, 149-seat studio performance space, classrooms and administrative space. The project will also create more than 20 permanent jobs and nearly 250 seasonal positions, along with 75 construction jobs.

"Chicago Children's Theatre is incredibly grateful to Governor Quinn and the State of Illinois for this grant," Chicago Children's Theatre Co-Founder and Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell said. "After ten years of itinerancy, we will now be able to welcome children and families from Chicago, the state of Illinois and from around the world to a permanent new home centrally located in the very heart of the city, wholly dedicated to providing greater access to world class professional theatre and theatre arts education."

Currently, the Children's Theatre uses multiple rented locations throughout Chicago, often changing sites from year to year. The non-profit organization enriches the community through diverse theatrical and educational programming exclusively devoted to children and families. The theater works with more than 100 Chicago schools. They have a special commitment to the very young and children on the autism spectrum, two significantly underserved populations.