The holiday season is packed with entertaining shows for the whole family. If you’re looking for a new show especially for your younger ones, you must catch this dazzling Cirque du Soleil production while it’s still in Chicago.
‘Twas the Night Before… is the first holiday show from the troupe of circus performers and it’s mainly geared for families. Even little ones will recognize the words from the beloved Christmas poem as you watch performers bring festive spirit with a few sprinkles of whimsical fun. Not to mention, this show will be the perfect introduction to Cirque du Soleil for kids — we recommend ages 4 and older.
The story follows, Isabella, a girl who doesn’t seem to care much about Christmas anymore, but that changes when she’s transferred into a magical wonderland of the holidays. Watch as she experiences the magic of the holidays with more than a dozen vibrant performances.
Cirque du Soleil also stopped in Chicago back in May for the Volta show and you can see the stage has switched from a big top near Soldier Field to The Chicago Theatre. The smaller stage makes up for its size by decking out with a lot of tinsel and colorful lights — all the holiday flair!
What stands out the most about ‘Twas the Night Before… is that it’s very, very, very kid-friendly. With a runtime of 77 minutes (without an intermission), you won’t hesitate to bring your kids to experience the delight of Cirque du Soleil. Of course, saying that, you can tell certain acts might only entertain a younger crowd. It doesn’t mean that parents won’t enjoy it, but you might be watching your kid’s reactions more than the stage.
There are still other acts that will impress audience members of all ages. With the holiday theme in mind, you’ll see an aerial act on a “hotel cart” and diablo artists (which makes us wish we can make yoyoing look that cool). More importantly, for families who love this time of year, you’ll embrace the show’s energy to showcase holiday cheer.
A small warning though: There are giant inflatable holiday-themed balls that are kicked out to the audience at the end of the show. As fun as they are, you might want to keep an eye out for your younger kiddos if you’re sitting in orchestra seats because these giant inflatable balls are a lot heavier than your average beach ball. And watch your back since they make their way back to the stage. Kids will probably get a kick out of it though (no pun intended).
All in all, if you’re looking for a holiday show to take your younger kids (ages 4-10), this is the perfect show for them. Older kids and parents might not be as impressed (and maybe it’s not worth the hefty price tag for tickets), but then again, we love seeing the holiday season through our child’s eyes, don’t we?
If you go
‘Twas the Night Before… by Cirque du Soleil
Runs through Dec. 8
The Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago
Recommended for ages 4 and up
Tickets start at $34
Find more information at msg.com.
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