While we can’t wait to see Chicago Children’s Theatre productions in person again, the local theater company continues to provide us with at-home entertainment. The latest project direct to its YouTube channel brings one of our favorite picture books to life.
Maybe Something Beautiful, based on the children’s book of the same name by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, debuted in April as a bilingual production with music, art and puppets. The 13-minute video is about Mira, a young girl who wants to add some color to the gray city she lives in. She’ll need help from a muralist and the rest of the community to accomplish her dream.
Narrator Jasmin Cardenas tells us the story in both English and Spanish, while Chicago Children’s Theatre artists recreated puppets based on the book illustrations by Rafael López. Also, the theater teamed up with the Negaunee Music Institute at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) to provide music performances featuring classical works by Latino composers.
“Chicago Children’s Theatre and the CSO have created something beautiful here,” says F. Isabel Campoy, co-author of Maybe Something Beautiful, in a press release. “The CSO took the magic wand from Rafael López and transformed color into music, art to sound, ‘oneness’ to community … Chicago Children’s Theatre’s beautiful puppetry and Jasmin Cardenas’ warm voice are charming to follow through the streets of San Diego, or actually, any street now.”
If you want to make this video into a learning activity, Chicago Children’s Theatre has provided free study guides in both English and Spanish. Families can find the video for free on both CCTv: Virtual Theatre and Learning from Chicago Children’s Theatre and CSOtv.
Looking for more virtual options provided by Chicago Children’s Theatre? Check out video productions like Diamond’s Dream and Frederick. If you want to get out of the house, we suggest following the CCT audio series, Walkie Talkies, where you can explore different neighborhoods with your family.
Details
Maybe Something Beautiful
Stream now
- Presented by: Chicago Children’s Theatre and Negaunee Music Institute at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Cost: Free, suggested donation of $25
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