HOLDEN & ARTS ASSOCIATES
SHARING STORIES AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS SINCE 1983
PETER RABBIT & FRIENDS
Based on the books by Beatrix Potter
Produced by Chicago Children's Theatre
From Chicago, Illinois
Resources
About the Company
You are cordially invited to meet Peter Rabbit and friends!
Four favorite Beatrix Potter stories, The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tailor of Gloucestor, The Tale of Jeremy Fisher, and The Tale of Tom Kitten, come to life in this mesmerizing puppet show, complete with Potter’s original text and live, original music. Various instruments, such as mandolin, violin, toy piano, and banjo, create the score and melodies behind each story. The set is filled with dynamic suitcases and trunks where levers are pulled and cranks are turned to reveal images that surprise and delight. Three charming performers interweave classic narration and puppetry with gentle interactive moments, recruiting the audience to join the adventure and encouraging young watchers to think about these iconic animal characters’ big emotions.
This handmade, lovingly crafted piece has a popular favorite at Chicago Children’s Theatre since 2018. Over the past 5 years, the production has performed an annual run at home during the holidays (under the name Beatrix Potter's Holiday Tea Party and A Snowy Day with Beatrix Potter & Friends) and has toured to local schools, libraries, and cultural institutions, as well as toured to various cities in China. 2024-2025 will be the production’s first national tour across North America.
Best for Grades: PreK - 3rd
Audience Size: Small to Medium Venues
This trailer was created for the virtual version.
This highlights trailer reflects all 4 stories in the live performance.
Please contact us to watch a full length archival recording of the live performance
Curriculum Connections
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Fine Arts: Drama, Puppetry, Music
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Language Arts: Reading, Writing, Beatrix Potter stories
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Science: Animals and their environments
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Emotional/Social Development: Self Awareness, Self Management, Identifying Emotions, Empathy, Respect for Others, Reflection and Perspective-Taking, Relationship Skills, Social Engagement, Relationship-building, Team-work and cooperation, Choices and Consequences.
Outreach and Workshops
“Relaxed” or “Sensory Friendly” Performances
This performance is available as a “sensory friendly” or “relaxed” performance if arranged with the company in advance and with specific direction as to what adjustments are necessary for your venue.
Minimum Technical Requirements
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Load In Time: Four hours (pre-rig required.)
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Crew Needs: 4 crew members - not students or volunteers. 1 crew member to operate either light or sound during show.
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Min. Stage Size: 40’ wide x 10’ deep, 12’ high. 6 ft wings on each side.
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Sound Needs: All sound will be operated via Q lab. If venue is over 250 seats we will require 4 wireless mics. 2 monitor speakers placed in the Downstage corners of the stage.
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Load Out Time: 2 hours
Artistic Team
Based on the stories by Beatrix Potter
Created by Will Bishop, Lara Carling, Kay Kron, Grace Needlman, and Ray Rehberg
Directed by Will Bishop
Music written by Ray Rehberg and Charlie Malave
Puppets designed and built by Grace Needlman
Costumes designed and built by Ian Liberman and Johan Gallardo
Based on original designs by Jillian Gryzlak
Lighting designed by Becca Jeffords
Sound designed by David Etti-Williams
Artistic Director, CCT Jacqueline Russell
24-25 Touring Cast / Crew TBD
Critical Acclaim
"Witty, warm and welcoming to youngsters and their adults." - Chicago Parent
"Simple yet magical... The stories exude childlike excitement through the work of three polished and enchanting actors... the two-dimension Potter puppets come to life with humor, mystery and spirit. The live music serves as a perfect underscore and often allows the ensemble to break into songs that heighten dramatic moments or transition actions within a story. This energy, coupled with a simple and breathtaking scenic design (which centers on magical boxes), allows for a sense of old-school magic rarely seen in this digital age." - Headliner Chicago. Full review here.
"Through the use of hand-cranks and props, sound effects and song, each of these well-known characters came to life and their stories kept us all — old and young alike — entranced until the end." - Buzz Center Stage. Full review here.
"Children will be thrilled to discover their favorite stories coming to life before their eyes. The puppets sometimes even seem to grow larger, often breaking the fourth wall and joining the audience for some interactive fun. It’s all enjoyable and artfully performed. " - Chicago Theatre & Concert Reviews. Full review here.
Company Background
Founded in 2005, the critically acclaimed Chicago Children’s Theatre focuses on the production of first-rate children’s theatre in Chicago, with top writing, performing, and directorial talent and high-quality design and production expertise. Chicago Children’s Theatre also produces The Red Kite Project, a multi-sensory interactive theatre program tailored specifically to the needs of children on the autism spectrum. In 2017, Chicago Children’s Theatre became the first theater for young audiences in the nation to win a National Theatre Award from the American Theatre Wing, creators of the Tony Awards.
Led by Artistic Director Jacqueline Russell and Co-Founder Todd Leland, Chicago Children’s Theatre has built its national reputation due to its focus on new work, producing 21 world premieres in the last 17 years including The Selfish Giant, The Hundred Dresses, Jackie and Me, Dot and Ziggy, The Houdini Box, The Elephant and The Whale (in association with Redmoon), Mr. Chickee’s Funny Money, Leo Lionni’s Frederick, Wonderland, Alice’s Rock & Roll Adventure, A Snowy Day with Beatrix Potter, Jabari Dreams of Freedom, Moonshot: A Race to Space (in association with Theatre Unspeakable), The Year I Didn’t Go To School: A Homemade Circus, Magic City (in association with Manual Cinema), My Wonderful Birthday Suit!, An Epic Tale of Scale, Last Stop on Market Street, X Marks the Spot, The World Inside Me ((in association with Spellbound Theatre), The Watsons Go To Birmingham – 1963, and Carmela Full of Wishes. These productions enjoyed successful inaugural runs in Chicago, many followed by productions at theaters across the U.S.
In 2017, Chicago Children’s Theatre began performing in their new home, the former Chicago Police Station for the 12th Precinct. In addition to presenting live shows in “The Station’s” intimate 149-seat Pritzker Family Studio Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre continues to grow its education and community programs, which are unique in Chicago for emphasizing student authorship, youth empowerment, and community leadership. CCT now offers year-round education programming for ages 0 to 13, including the city’s most diverse roster of classes, specialized workshops, winter and spring break camps, and a full slate of summer camp experiences.
Chicago Children’s Theatre is the recipient of the National Artistic Innovation Award 2019 from Theatre for Young Audiences USA.
For more information, please visit the company’s website.
Gallery of Past Productions
